Highbury Corner to gain public space and segregated cycle paths

Transport for London has announced that it will modify Highbury Corner, Islington to include segregated cycle paths and more public space, starting in 2018.

Under the proposals, changes to Highbury Corner would include:

• Closing the western side of the roundabout to create two linked public spaces and include a new square in front of the station
• Improved pedestrian facilities to allow more people to move around Highbury Corner, including widened crossings at the junctions of Holloway Road, Canonbury Road and Upper Street
• New segregated cycle lanes and cycle-specific signals on all three remaining sides of the road layout
• Changing the current one-way gyratory into a two-way traffic system

Of the 2,823 respondents, 71 per cent thought the changes would improve conditions for pedestrians, 67 per cent thought they would improve conditions for cyclists and 59 per cent thought they would improve conditions for Tube and Rail users. Concerns were raised by around a third of respondents about the changes to bus routes that would be necessary while 28 per cent felt that the changes would have a negative impact on traffic. TfL and Islington Council will now carefully consider all responses to the proposals before setting out the next steps.

Alan Bristow, Director of Road Space Management at TfL, said: “We’re pleased that so many people have fed back on our proposals to improve Highbury Corner. We are now carefully reviewing all the issues raised to ensure that any proposed improvements work for everyone and can create a better environment for all those who live in, work in or visit the area.”

The delay until 2018 is said to be because of current works on the Highbury Corner Bridge, set to be completed in 2017.

Cllr Claudia Webbe, Islington Council’s Executive Member for Environment and Transport, added: “I am pleased that so many people gave their views during this joint consultation. It is encouraging that the majority agree that these ambitious plans will improve Highbury Corner, which is badly congested, difficult for pedestrians and cyclists, and leaves green space stranded on a traffic island. We look forward to continuing to work with TfL on our vision for transforming the gyratory and its surroundings into an attractive, pleasant environment for everyone.

“The next step is to carefully consider all the responses and look at how best to minimise the effect of changes to bus routes, before publishing our response, which will outline a way forward.  If proposals do go ahead, we will work with TfL to minimise the gap between the end of the current bridge work at Highbury Corner and the start of improvement work.”

Of the 2,823 respondents to this particular consultation, 71 per cent thought the changes would improve conditions for pedestrians, 67 per cent thought they would improve conditions for cyclists and 59 per cent thought they would improve conditions for Tube and Rail users. A full breakdown can be viewed here.

Concerns were raised by around a third of respondents about the changes to bus routes that would be necessary, while 28 per cent felt that the changes would have a negative impact on traffic.

TfL and Islington Council will now carefully consider all responses to the proposals before setting out the next steps.