The Mayor of London and Transport for London last week announced the first round of winners of a new multi-million pound funding programme, which will transform neighbourhoods across the capital into greener, healthier, more attractive public spaces.

Ealing, Greenwich, Hackney, Haringey, Havering, Lewisham and Waltham Forest boroughs were all successful in their initial bids for funding from the new ‘Liveable Neighbourhoods’ programme, which is the first scheme set up to directly deliver the Mayor’s new Health Streets Approach across London. The seven boroughs will now develop their proposals further to secure a share of the £114 million in funding for their schemes. They will involve changes to town centres and their surrounding residential areas to directly improve conditions for walking and cycling, while reducing traffic dominance and supporting businesses by making local town centres more attractive.

There will be another round of funding next year, where other boroughs will be able to come forward with proposals for further ‘Liveable Neighbourhoods’ funding.

As outlined in his draft Transport Strategy, the Mayor wants to increase the proportion of trips in London made on foot, by cycle or using public transport to 80 per cent by 2041, compared to 64 per cent now, meaning an average of 3 million fewer car journeys in London each day. This includes Londoners doing at least the 20 minutes of active travel each day that they need to stay healthy.

This year’s projects are:

West Ealing, Ealing

• Proposals include comprehensive improvements along the Broadway and to parallel quieter routes, reduced rat-running in the adjoining residential areas, parking controls, and new walking and cycling routes, including links to the new Elizabeth line station

Greenwich Town Centre, Greenwich

• The scheme aims to transform Greenwich Town Centre by removing the dangerous and intimidating gyratory and providing a much more generous pedestrian environment, in particular on the approach to the World Heritage Site. It will also provide a safe cycling route through the town centre

Hackney Central, Hackney

• Key routes in the town centre will be transformed by a reduction in traffic, the introduction of two-way protected cycle lanes on Mare Street, a ban on general traffic at the south end of Amhurst Road, and making three dangerous junctions safer, including Pembury Circus

Crouch End, Haringey

• Under the proposals, pedestrian and cycling conditions in Crouch End town centre will be improved to help encourage more active travel in the area, tackling congestion and improving air quality and residents’ well-being. The proposals, which residents will be consulted on, look to create a new square incorporating the clock tower, currently surrounded by traffic on all sides. Segregated cycle routes will feed the town centre, pedestrian crossings will be improved and traffic will be reduced on residential streets with new modal filters

Romford Town Centre, Havering

• The project will enable more walking and cycling in Romford town centre by making the busy Ring Road easier to cross on foot and by bike. Existing subways will be replaced by pedestrian and cycle crossings at street level along with new bus lanes and public spaces

Deptford Parks, Lewisham

• Streets in North Deptford will see reduced traffic through new restrictions. Walking and cycling will be transformed by a new north-south traffic-free route along the former Grand Surrey Canal, new Copenhagen crossings, cycle parking, and street lighting. New cycle routes through the park will link to the proposed new Bakerloo line station (New Cross Gate)

Coppermill Village, Waltham Forest

• The funding will support the regeneration of St James Street and Blackhorse Road and will create access routes to the newly opened Walthamstow Wetlands. Coppermill Lane will be turned into a ‘cycle street’, safer junctions and crossings will be added and the area will be improved with new wayfinding and planting

At this stage £1.25m is being given to the boroughs to help develop their proposals further.