Oval to Stockwell Low Traffic Neighbourhood

The Oval to Stockwell LTN helps to make it safer and easier to walk, wheel, scoot and cycle by stopping cars, vans and other vehicles from using quiet streets as shortcuts.

In 2020 we introduced the Oval to Stockwell LTN in response to the impact of Covid-19 on travel in the borough. However, low traffic neighbourhoods were something we had been considering before the pandemic as part of our long-term transport strategy, which launched in 2019. The Oval to Stockwell LTN and other similar schemes were introduced more quickly than planned because we needed to help people travel safely and sustainably whilst capacity on public transport was dramatically reduced during the pandemic.

Following monitoring and public consultation on the scheme, we decided to make it permanent in December 2021.

What is an LTN?

Low traffic neighbourhoods make it safer and easier to walk, wheel, scoot and cycle by stopping cars, vans and other vehicles from using quiet streets as shortcuts. Over time, LTNs can encourage people to switch from driving to more sustainable ways of travelling, like walking, public transport and cycling. This is one of the ways we can tackle the climate emergency in Lambeth.

The impact of the LTN and our future plans

Following the emergency introduction of the LTN, we have been monitoring the impact on local traffic, cycling and air quality and have been responding to resident feedback on the scheme.

In August 2021, we published data that showed the scheme was successfully reducing traffic in and around the area and increasing cycling.

As a result, we announced we were considering making the scheme permanent and held a public consultation to hear people's views on the trial.

We analysed the consultation responses and data on the impact of the scheme before deciding to make the scheme permanent in December 2021.

Our monitoring found that: 

  • Motor vehicle traffic fell by a quarter inside the LTN and by 8 per cent when including boundary roads.
  • The largest reduction on a boundary road was 1,300 vehicles a day on Clapham Road.
  • Traffic did not reduce much on Harleyford Road and increased 3 per cent on South Lambeth Road.
  • Cycling increased by 87 per cent, with increases in cycling seen at 12 of the 15 monitoring locations.
  • Traffic has reduced on a further five streets in the area by enough to be added to our ‘Healthy Routes Network’, which means we class them safe enough for a 12-year-old to cycle independently.
  • The LTN has had some impact on air quality and we expect to see more substantial changes over time.
  • Reductions in nitrogen dioxide are five times greater in London than elsewhere in the UK, partly due to measures such as the Ultra-Low Emission Zone.
  • All the places where we analysed air quality that was classed as sensitive, such as outside schools and care homes, had air quality within legal air quality limits.

Oval to Stockwell LTN monitoring reports

We have published two monitoring reports on the Oval to Stockwell LTN. These contain detailed data on the impact of the scheme.

View the monitoring reports

Read more about the scheme

This project is one of five low traffic neighbourhoods that were accelerated as part of our emergency response to the coronavirus pandemic. Our Low Traffic Neighbourhood programme is an important part of our transport strategy and climate action plan to reduce traffic across the borough by 27% by 2030. You can read more about other projects in the programme.