Help shape plans for Dalston Liveable Neighbourhood

• Over 10,000 vehicles pass through Shacklewell Lane each day
• More than 9,000 vehicles use St Mark’s Rise daily, and 40% of them don’t stop in the area, using it as a shortcut
• The neighbourhood is surrounded by busy through roads, leading to a high number of collisions, especially at junctions
• Ridley Road Market visitors have to negotiate fast-moving, noisy and polluting traffic 
• Car ownership is low - only around 30% of households own a car, one of the lowest rates in the UK
• Walking is by far the most common way people get around, and we want to make it safer, easier and more enjoyable
• Cycling is also popular, but current conditions need improvement

• 70% of residents support improving walking, cycling and air quality, even if it might lengthen motor vehicle journeys by a few minutes
• Almost 90% of non-car owners would support these improvements, and 57% of car owners would also support this
• Walking is by far the most common way people travel in the local area
• Nearly two-thirds of respondents walk, cycle or use a manual wheelchair for at least 20 minutes a day

This would prioritise passage for buses and emergency vehicles, and improve conditions for walking and cycling. This means that most Other (non-exempt) vehicles would not be able to pass through the bus gate on Shacklewell Lane to and from Amhurst Road. 

Vehicles would still be able to enter Shacklewell Lane from Kingsland High Street. 

At the bus gate, we would add more greenery and public space improvements, such as widening the footpath with high-quality surfacing.

A camera would be used to enforce the bus gate and allow easy passage for buses,  emergency services, cyclists and pedestrians. Other exemptions would include Council refuse vehicles and HAC01 permits, including eligible blue badge and Taxicard holders. An appeals process would apply for other emergency situations.

Diagonal traffic diverters would be installed at the junctions of Downs Park, Sandringham Road, and Colvestone Cresent. These would allow vehicles to turn left or right at these junctions, but not continue straight through. Buses and emergency services would be exempt. 

Example of a diagonal Filter:

Traffic filters to prevent vehicles turning in from and turning left out onto the
A10 (Stoke Newington Road).

Similar traffic filters would be installed to prevent vehicles from entering from or turning left out onto Amhurst Road.

To prevent a shortcut developing between the A10 and Pembury Circus, which would make pedestrian access to Ridley Road Market more difficult, we propose a left turn ban for vehicles exiting Ridley Road onto Dalston Lane. All existing access points to the market would remain, as well as all existing parking spaces. 

Would be made two-way to help local access. 

This would mean that most motor traffic would not be permitted to enter during school drop-off and pick-up hours on school days during term times.

Emergency services and Council refuse vehicles would be exempt. Permits would be introduced for people who live within the zone or have a special need to be there.

School Streets are already in place at over 50 schools in Hackney, helping over 20,000 pupils get to school safely and sustainably.  

As part of this programme, we want to provide more outdoor space for children and young people to socialise and play. We propose restricting a short section of road at the Shacklewell Lane end of Arcola Street to support this. Access to Arcola Street would be available only from the A10 direction, with a closure at the Shacklewell Lane end.

Share your ideas for improvements in question 7 of the survey.

All suggestions will be assessed and prioritised for feasibility and benefits.

There will be more opportunities to help shape the designs, through pop-ups and various enagagement events. For updates, visit the consultation page: consultation.hackney.gov.uk 

To read more about the Dalston Plan, visit: https://hackney.gov.uk/dalston-spd 

Would I still be able to drive to my home or business if the proposals are implemented?

While some routes will be different, this proposal has been designed to maintain existing access to all properties at all times. The aim is to encourage active and sustainable travel where possible for short local journeys, and to maintain full access for emergency services, council refuse vehicles, and people with disabilities using the free HAC01 permit.

What measures would be in place to monitor the impact of the changes on traffic and air quality? 

We would monitor the impact on air quality if the proposal is implemented. Our modelling suggests that there would be less traffic on Shacklewell Lane and Cecilia Road, a very small increase in traffic on Amhurst Road in the westbound direction, and Dalston Lane in the westbound direction.

We would work with TfL to improve bus services on routes 236 and 488, following the introduction of the bus gate on Shacklewell Lane, which is designed to improve bus journey times.

For more information on air quality monitoring locations and results, visit: hackney.gov.uk/air-quality