Connecting Hoxton Design Consultation

Closes 18 Jan 2026

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PACKAGE 3 - Hare Walk to Kingsland Road

Objective: Improving the pedestrian experience in Hoxton

Current Situation

Hare Walk is a narrow (only around 4.2m wide at the narrowest point) two-way residential street. Drivers often use it as a shortcut between Kingsland Road and Hoxton Street, sometimes driving onto the pavements to pass. The pavements are missing dropped kerbs, have uneven surfaces and many bollards and lampposts blocking access. As a result, residents often avoid the street and use the John Parry Court alley instead, as it feels safer and easier to navigate.

Challenges

  • Footways are not continuous and there are very few dropped kerbs.
  • Parking spaces interrupt footways, blocking routes for people walking or using mobility aids.
  • Bollards and lampposts sit in already-narrow pavements, making access difficult.
  • Vehicles mount the kerb because the carriageway is too narrow for two-way traffic, which also leads to speeding.
  • There have been collisions between vehicles and cyclists at the eastern junction with Kingsland Road.

Proposed Plan Summary

The aim is to create a continuous, wider and safer walking route along Hare Walk, with better crossings, clearer pavements and measures to slow traffic and prevent vehicles from driving onto the footway.

Key design changes include:

  • Dropped kerbs added throughout to improve accessibility.
  • ‘Build-outs’ to widen the pavement, slow traffic and discourage drivers from using Hare Walk as a cut-through (as shown on the east and west ends of Hare Walk in the drawing below).
  • A raised crossing near John Parry Court to improve pedestrian safety and visibility.
  • A ‘Copenhagen crossing’ (a raised, level crossing that gives priority to pedestrians) at the Tyssen Street end.
  • Planters, shrubs, bulb planting and new trees added along the street to green the route and create a buffer between pedestrians and traffic.
  • Relocated lamp post to remove an obstruction on the pavement.
  • Improved paving, including tactile paving and concrete slabs matching existing surfaces.
  • Soft landscape enhancements, including relaxed grass and ground flora to improve biodiversity along the street edge.
  • Tree planting in ground planters to protect pedestrians from the carriageway and increase biodiversity.

View drawing – Hare Walk: Existing and Proposed Plan

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1. What is your first impression of the proposed design for Hare Walk to Kingsland Road?
2. What features of the proposed design do you like?
3. What features of the proposed design do you dislike?
4. Is there anything you would improve?
5. The Hare Walk proposal aims to create a continuous, wide, accessible, and safe walking route. Do you believe the proposed changes—including dropped kerbs and 'build-outs'—will effectively solve the current problems of inaccessible pavements and vehicles mounting the kerb?
6. The proposal is considering a one-way traffic system to reduce congestion and stop vehicles driving onto the pavement. What is your opinion on changing Hare Walk to a one-way street?
7. How do you feel about the plan to add planters and trees to create a buffer between pedestrians and the road? Are there any specific planting ideas you would like to see?
8. The proposal includes moving an obstructing lamp post and addressing issues like bollards. Do you think all key physical obstructions have been identified and addressed in the plan?