Tulse Hill Low Traffic Neighbourhood

The Tulse Hill Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) makes it safer and easier to walk, wheel, scoot and cycle by stopping cars, vans and other vehicles from using local neighbourhood streets as through roads.

It was first introduced as a trial in 2020, and then made permanent in June 2022. 

Since then we have been working on designs to upgrade the existing filters from temporary measures such as planters to permanent schemes at the following locations:

  • Craster Road (moving from Craignair Road junction with Elm Park)
  • Leander Road
  • Roupell Road
  • Arodene Road 
  • Cotherstone Road
  • Claverdale Road

These upgraded filters will provide a range of features including biodiverse planting, narrowing the junctions and enhanced public realm. 

In addition to this major street improvements have been delivered on Elm Park shopping parade which will be finalised in November 2024.

The trial

In 2020, we introduced the Tulse Hill Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) on a trial basis to help people travel safely whilst capacity on public transport was dramatically reduced due to COVID-19. 

Although the LTN was accelerated as part of the pandemic emergency response, Tulse Hill was also a strategic part of the council’s 2019 Transport Strategy Implementation Plan to achieve a 27% reduction in traffic across the borough by 2030.

LTNs make it safer and easier to walk, wheel, scoot and cycle by increasing feelings of safety, reducing air pollution and making local destinations more appealing.

Over time, LTNs can encourage people to switch from driving to healthier and more sustainable ways of travelling. 

This is one impactful way we can tackle the climate emergency in Tulse Hill and throughout Lambeth.

Lambeth commissioned independent transport consultancies (including SYSTRA, MHTC and The Floow) to collect data on changes to traffic volume and air quality throughout the trial. 

You can read the Tulse Hill LTN monitoring stage 2 report. 

Analysis of the data demonstrates that:

  • Overall, traffic reduced by 2%, or 2,000 vehicles a day, when measuring traffic volumes on all the roads within the LTN and on the boundary roads.
  • Traffic reduced by 31% on internal streets. On external streets (boundary roads) it increased by 6%.
  • Traffic has reduced by 73% on Elm Park and by 89% on Cotherstone Road, which has two schools. It increased by 27% on Brixton Water Lane.
  • Cycling has increased by 107% on internal roads and by 67% on external roads.
  • All the places where we analysed air quality that were classed as sensitive, such as outside schools and care homes, had air quality within legal limits. This includes sensitive sites on boundary roads.
  • Overall air quality in Lambeth is improving, partly due to measures such as the Ultra-Low Emission Zone. We expect to see greater improvements over time.

Following a thorough analysis of consultation responses and monitoring data, we have decided to make the Tulse Hill LTN permanent. 

We’ve taken residents’ concerns into account by:

Since making the scheme permanent

Before designing and constructing several new and upgraded schemes within the LTN, we consulted with the local community to better understand their needs and thoughts on potential new features. 

An online consultation where residents can contribute ideas for changes on Elm Park Parade and Upper Tulse Hill / Claverdale Road was open from 16 January to 28 February 2023. 

To reach as many people as possible, we encouraged residents to submit their hand-written ideas to our neighbourhood mailboxes. 

Council officers also organised in-person engagement events, including leafletting, door-knocking and stakeholder workshops.

Upgrading the existing traffic filters

We will upgrade existing traffic filters at 6 different locations: 

  • Elm Park
  • Leander Road
  • Roupell Road
  • Arodene Road
  • Cotherstone Road 
  • Claverdale Road.

A decision report enabling us to deliver these upgrades was published in November 2024. 

It should be noted that this report contains details of a range of wider improvement schemes that will not be delivered at the same time as the filter upgrades due to budget constraints. 

However, the intention is that these schemes can be delivered at a later date should further funding become available. 

Elm Park Shopping Parade

The Elm Park Shopping Parade major street improvements signify Lambeth's substantial investment in the Tulse Hill community. 

These enhancements, crafted from community feedback and uniquely tailored to the neighbourhood, were due to be completed in November 2024.

The design for the Elm Park Shopping Parade creates a bespoke community space enhancing the Tulse Hill neighbourhood.

One-way for motor vehicles along the shopping parade

The Elm Park Shopping parade will become one-way heading south for motor vehicles. This will extend from the junction with Leander Road through to Craster Road. The northern stretch of Ostade Road (where it meets Elm Park) will also become one way.

These changes will reduce the volume of traffic travelling through the shopping parade, enabling significant increases to the width of pavements which will make it safer for active travel and more enjoyable when visiting the parade shops.

Cyclists will continue to be able to travel in both directions along the Elm Park Shopping Parade. 

Cyclists will find additional cycle parking along the shopping parade so they can safely lock up their bikes while visiting the shops, café or pub.

Improved pavements and community space

The roadway will be brought level with the walkways to create a unified space that is both accessible and pedestrian friendly.

Repurposing the kerbside space will provide wider pavements, giving space for greening and offering seating outside the pub and café. 

This will support your local businesses and enhance Elm Park Shopping Parade as a local destination.

Trees and greening

The design incorporates several new street trees, keeping Elm Park Shopping Parade shaded and cool over the summer months and making the area more attractive. 

As part of the Lambeth Urban Forest Strategy, these trees contribute to Lambeth’s 2022 commitment to plant 5,000 trees over four years.

Further enhancing the area and increasing local biodiversity are new planting spaces at each end of the shopping parade on Elm Park as well as new planting areas both across from the pub on Ostade Road and where the raised section of Ostade Road begins.

Reduced street clutter

We received feedback regarding council wheelie bins cluttering the pavement. The new design incorporates bin bays, giving residents of Elm Park Shopping Parade set locations for their wheelie bins. 

This will reduce pavement cutter, making the shopping parade more attractive and improving accessibility.

Following our engagement with residents and businesses on Elm Park, we provided:

The works for the Elm Park shopping parade improvements began 2 September 2024 and ran for 10 weeks until 11 November 2024  

Local residents and businesses were notified by post with a letter dated 19 August 2024.