Harrow Road Improvements

In August, September, and then October 2020 we installed a series of experimental Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) in the South Leytonstone, Maryland, and Forest Gate areas in partnership with the London Borough of Newham. 

The schemes aimed to remove through traffic across these areas to create safer, more inviting, and accessible streets for residents to walk, cycle and generally get around. 

Find out more about the South Leytonstone LTN.

Our monitoring data collected throughout the schemes showed that the schemes generally performed well, achieving many of the original objectives such as an overall decrease in traffic volumes and speeds on roads within the scheme areas, fewer injuries caused by road traffic collisions, and an increase in cycling trips. 

However, alongside these benefits, we recognised that there were still challenges relating to some roads within the area, and that there were some remaining concerns among residents over the scheme's operation. As part of the decision to make the schemes permanent, we were also committed to working with residents, businesses, and TfL to identify further solutions to address these.

Harrow Road was a key concern for the many residents during the statutory consultation period for the South Leytonstone Scheme. Therefore, as part of our commitment to deliver further enhancements within the South Leytonstone area, we developed an initial corridor improvement scheme on Harrow Road, to help address several traffic-related concerns and further support and enable walking and cycling in the area. 

In October 2022, we invited Harrow Road residents to comment on the following proposals to help address previously raised concerns. Due to funding constraints, the proposals were split into two phases.

Highways and pedestrian improvements

• Harrow Road junction with High Road Leytonstone. Install a raised junction entry treatment and install a kerb build-out to reduce the crossing width at the entrance of the junction.
• 27 and 31 Harrow Road. Remove the speed cushions and kerb build-out from outside 31 Harrow Road and install a sinusoidal speed hump (a type of speed hump with a curved profile that makes it comfortable to cycle over) outside 27 Harrow Road. Also, install a kerb build-out with up to two trees near 31 Harrow Road.
• 67 and 87 Harrow Road. Remove the speed cushions from outside 67 Harrow Road and install a sinusoidal speed hump outside 87 Harrow Road.
• 145/147 Harrow Road. Remove the kerb build-out from outside 145/147 Harrow Road and install a sinusoidal cycle-friendly speed hump.
• 207-208 Harrow Road. Remove the speed cushion from outside 207 Harrow Road and install a sinusoidal speed hump, remove the northern build-out and plant a new tree in an upgraded kerb build-out on the southern side.
• 183-185 Harrow Road. Remove the existing speed cushions and islands at the railway bridge.
• 237 - 239 Harrow Road. Install a raised table with tactile paving (textured paving designed to aid the visually impaired) and a kerb buildout outside 237/239 Harrow Road, to improve pedestrian accessibility.
• 277-279 Harrow Road. Install a sinusoidal speed hump and a new tree in an upgraded kerb build-out.

Public realm and environment improvements

The following improvements are proposed to upgrade the streetscape and enhance the look and feel of the area. Rain gardens are small green spaces for plants and possibly trees that collect rainwater to help prevent flooding.

• Matcham Road junction with Harrow Road.  Install rain gardens and provide high-quality paving at the existing modal filter.

Continuous footways (blended ‘Copenhagen’ Crossings)

We have been introducing continuous footways, which prioritise pedestrians at junctions across the borough since 2015. They are popular in Europe and extend the pavement across side streets at key junctions, giving pedestrians a continuous pavement rather than a traditional kerb that they need to wait at before crossing the side road. This encourages vehicles to slow down when entering or exiting the side road, ensuring that pedestrians or people on cycles have the right of way, as per the Highway Code.

Continuous crossings are proposed at the following junctions:

• Newcomen Road with Harrow Road
• Montague Road with Harrow Road

Pedestrian and cycle crossing improvements

The following improvements are proposed to improve accessibility across Harrow Road for pedestrians and cyclists, by creating a safe link for cyclists connecting Newcomen Road to Montague Road, and to encourage more people to walk and cycle for local journeys.

• Harrow Road (just north of Montague Road) Install a shared pedestrian and cyclist zebra crossing on a new raised table.

Highways and pedestrian improvements

• Harrow Road (just south of Howard Road) Install a raised table with tactile paving, and a kerb buildout outside 57 to 61 Harrow Road, to improve pedestrian accessibility.
• Beachcroft Road junction with Harrow Road. Install a raised table entry treatment to reduce the speed of vehicles entering and leaving Harrow Road.
• Harrow Road north of Courtenay Road. Install a raised table with tactile paving, and a kerb buildout outside 193 Harrow Road, to improve pedestrian accessibility.

Modal filter and environment improvements

Modal filters (where the road is closed to motorised vehicles) help reduce traffic volumes as well as improve air quality and reduce noise pollution on residential streets. They often include new trees, planting and communal areas, which can be adopted and maintained by the local community.

A modal filter is proposed on Cecil Road at its junction with Harrow Road.

Continuous footways

Continuous footways are proposed at the following junctions:

• Woodhouse Road junction with Harrow Road
• Howard Road junction with Harrow Road
• Courtenay Road junction with Harrow Road.

Pedestrian and cycle crossing improvements

The following improvements are proposed to improve accessibility across Harrow Road for pedestrians and cyclists, to create a safe link for cyclists connecting Woodhouse Road to Cecil Road, and to encourage more people to walk and cycle local journeys.

• Harrow Road near the junctions of Cecil Road and Woodhouse Road. Install a pedestrian and cyclist-shared zebra crossing on a raised table.

Segregated cycle track

A segregated cycle track is a dedicated cycle lane with a physical kerb separation to stop motor vehicles from entering the space. The route listed below aims to provide a safe, continuous, high-quality walking and cycling connections along the mid-section of Harrow Road and further links to the LTN improvements that have already taken place within the adjoining areas.

• Harrow Road between Woodhouse Road and Montague Road. Install segregated cycle tracks on each side of the road.

Between 29 September and 7 November 2022, we carried out a public consultation with the local community on our plans for Harrow Road.

A total of 51 ‘verified’ responses were received during the consultation and the key results are summarised below in the consultation report which you can find in the useful documents at the bottom of this page.

The overall response has been positive, therefore the scheme was approved to proceed to the detailed design and construction stages. 

Following further review of the design and consultation feedback for the phase 2 proposals the proposal for a segregated cycle track along Harrow Road, between Woodhouse Road and Newcomen Road will no longer proceed, due to site constraints and the inability to retain sufficient footway space for pedestrians. 

We do, however, feel the overall scheme offers a well-balanced approach to improvements for all road users.