The Council is planning to introduce 20mph speed limits on most streets in the borough to significantly improve road safety, health and wellbeing, and health inequality.
- Phased introduction of 20mph speed limits planned to launch in spring 2024
- Speed limit rollout will create safer, quieter, and cleaner streets
- Works will include new signs and road markings to inform drivers
As outlined in Newham’s Corporate Plan for local neighbourhoods, and following Cabinet approval, the reduction in speeds will help to create quieter, safer and cleaner streets. The programme will also support the Mayor of London’s Transport Strategy, including Vision Zero, which aims to eliminate all deaths and serious injuries from road collisions on London’s streets by 2041.
The phased rollout will also reduce traffic noise while encouraging a greater use of active travel choices, like walking and cycling.
Councillor James Asser, Cabinet Member for Environment and Sustainable Transport, said: “We are committed to making our roads safer and playing our part in ending deaths and serious injuries on London’s roads. To help achieve this we committed in our election manifesto to delivering a 20mph speed limit.
“We want to ensure that everyone feels safe on Newham’s roads. Reducing speed reduces the chances of collisions and significantly reduces the chances of serious injury if a collision occurs.
“20mph speed limits have an important role to play in making the borough safer, and are part of the measures we are introducing to improve road safety in Newham, especially around schools and in residential areas, which will benefit all residents.”
The 20mph programme is planned to be completed in phases. Works for Phase 1, which consist of streets in the northern area of the borough, are proposed for spring 2024. These works will include new signs and road markings to inform drivers of the new speed limit.
The full 20mph programme is planned to be undertaken in five phases and is expected to be complete by 2025.
To find out more, including the location of each phase, the major roads excluded, and how you can have your say, visit: www.newham.gov.uk/20mph. You can also contact the team by email: 20mph@newham.gov.uk; or call: 0208 430 2000.
More information on implementation timescales for the remaining phases will be shared in future.
A Traffic Order has been prepared for new 20mph streets in Phase 1. The Traffic Order includes information on our plans and also provides an opportunity for the public to formally comment or object to any changes we are proposing.
Comments should be made in writing by Wednesday 29 November. A copy of the traffic order notice is available at www.newham.gov.uk/20mph.
Transport for London (TfL) and neighbouring boroughs, including Hackney, Tower Hamlets, and Waltham Forest, have also introduced borough-wide 20mph speed limits. Introducing Newham’s 20mph programme will help to create consistency in the road network.
A third of Newham’s streets already have a 20mph speed limit. Over the next two years, all remaining streets in the borough, for which Newham Council is responsible (apart from those listed below) will become 20mph. The following roads are excluded from the 20mph programme and will retain their current speed limits:
- Newham Way (A13)
- Royal Docks Road (A1020)
- Lower Lea Crossing
- Albert Road / Woolwich Manor Way / Sir Steve Redgrave Bridge (A112) between King George V DLR station and Gallions Roundabout
- Private streets (e.g. in developments or estates) and streets that are not managed by the Council.