Southwark receives £3.2m to create Healthy Streets in the Old Kent Road area

The Mayor of London and Transport for London (TfL) have announced eleven new successful bids in the multi-million pound Liveable Neighbourhoods programme.

This includes £3.2m for Southwark to help improve the Old Kent Road area.

The funding, which has increased from £33 million in November 2017 to £53.4m this year, will be used to transform local neighbourhoods in inner and outer London, with new walking and cycling infrastructure, new pedestrian crossings and rat runs closed to motor traffic. New pocket parks and revamped public spaces will improve air quality and make local streets more attractive places, helping to support local high streets.

The project in Southwark includes investment around the Bonamy and Bramcote estates, which will reduce car use by make walking and cycling much easier for local residents and connect the area with the future Cycleway 4 and Old Kent Road. Roads will be closed to through traffic, junctions re-designed and streets made easier to cross on foot.

Recent TfL research has highlighted the economic benefits of walking and cycling in local areas, with infrastructure improvements such as new cycle routes leading to increased retail spending of up to 30 per cent.

Cllr Richard Livingstone, Cabinet Member for environment, transport management and air quality at Southwark, said: “We are thrilled to have secured funding from the Mayor’s Liveable Neighbourhoods programme, and are keen to build on our borough-wide initiatives, encouraging people to walk and cycle more. Earlier this year, residents around Bramcote Grove were telling me of their concerns regarding parking and traffic and I look forward to working together with TfL and all of the people who live around and pass through the Bonamy and Bramcote estates to transform the area into a safer, greener and healthier space.”

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “For too long streets around London have been designed solely around cars and motor traffic. Our £50 million investment will transform neighbourhoods and local town centres in inner and outer London, making them cleaner, greener and more pleasant places to spend time. Working with these boroughs to make our streets more welcoming for walking and cycling is vital for our health and wellbeing, but also essential for the future vibrancy and success of London’s local high streets.”