What is changing in the area?

We want to reimagine the Slade Gardens neighbourhood so it can meet the challenges of the future. This means creating an area that is low-traffic, climate resilient and suitable for active travel. 

These changes to the Slade Gardens area would reduce car usage, promote more sustainable modes of transport, and make the area greener and more climate resilient, while ensuring everyone has equal access to our streets.

Research has shown that a third of car journeys made in London are shorter than 2km, and 60% of car journeys are made alone, many of which could be switched to greener transport modes. 

Why are things changing?

Lambeth was the first local authority in London to declare a Climate Emergency in 2019. Lambeth’s Climate Action Plan aims to reduce vehicle journeys by 27 percent, while increasing walking, wheeling, cycling and public transport usage by 85 percent in order to become Net Zero by 2030. The Citizens’ Assembly held in 2021 saw 47 Lambeth residents contribute to shaping the council’s climate response and called for new routes for walking and cycling, and an integrated green transport system.

Lambeth has one of the lowest car ownership rates in London, with just two in five households owning a car. Disadvantaged groups are even less likely to own a car, but more likely to be affected by the effects of car use such as poor air quality, climate change and increased road danger.

Lambeth’s Transport Strategy aims to create a transport network that is inclusive and accessible to all, has a positive impact on quality of life and the environment, and will prioritise walking, wheeling and cycling as well as a high-quality street environment. It envisions that the vast majority of trips in the borough will be made on foot/wheeling, by cycling or using public transport and that Lambeth’s neighbourhoods are connected through low/no traffic routes for walking, wheeling and cycling to give people a real alternative to short car trips.

Lambeth’s Emergency Transport Strategy was introduced as a response to the Covid-19 pandemic, encouraging walking, wheeling and cycling, introducing new Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) and creating more Healthy Routes. 

Slade Gardens was identified as potential future LTN as part of the Emergency Transport Strategy.

The Mayor of London’s Healthy Streets Approach is a new framework to improve air quality, reduce congestion and make communities healthier and greener. It includes a range of initiatives and elements, all of which aim to make our local streets more appealing, more accessible, and safer for people walking, wheeling, cycling, and taking public transport

Lambeth’s Air Quality Action Plan prioritises continuing to encourage sustainable travel and reduce exposure to air pollution. In order to achieve this, especially pollution from road transport needs to be reduced. The plan calls for a modal shift towards more sustainable modes, including for sectors such as delivery & freight and construction.  

Community engagement will guide the design of the LTN

The specific changes introduced for this LTN will develop through engagement with the local community.  Find out more about our engagement process. 

The LTN will be introduced using experimental traffic measures

The Slade Gardens LTN will be introduced using non-permanent experimental traffic orders, which are used to make improvements to streets and infrastructure. These traffic orders allow the council to trial the new designs and respond to feedback from those who use the LTN when it is operational. The suggestions from the public will be used to refine the permanent scheme.

More questions?

Please take a look at our FAQ.