Opening of 400m of dual cycle track and 40m of upgraded footway marks major milestone in the Council’s Building a Fairer Newham plans to create London’s first Green Zone in Stratford
• £12m investment will support walking and cycling to and from Westfield Stratford City, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and Hackney
• Works across the project will continue until completion in 2026
The Mayor of Newham, Rokhsana Fiaz OBE, was joined by Shazia Hussain, Chief Executive of the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC); Mete Coban, Deputy Mayor of London for Environment and Energy; and Dr. Will Norman, London’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, on Monday (25 November) to mark the first major milestone in construction of the Westfield Avenue Public Realm Improvement scheme.
Westfield Avenue now features 400m of dual cycle track and 40m of upgraded footway now open to the public, along with 25 new trees. The Westfield Avenue Public Realm Improvement scheme, which runs on Westfield Avenue and Waterden Road between Montfichet Road and Marshgate Lane, will continue construction until 2026. When complete, it will improve the public realm and transport links to support walking and cycling, including wider pavements; a segregated cycle track; extra cycle stands; improvements to crossings; and the addition of 60 new trees, 31 rain gardens, and 15 planting beds.
Mayor of Newham, Rokhsana Fiaz OBE, said: "I’m pleased that we’ve reached the first major milestone of the project and the public can start to enjoy the benefits. This £12 million project was made possible with the combined efforts with our partners as we transform Stratford to become London’s first ever Green Zone as part of our Just Transition Climate Action plans. By 2026, residents and visitors to our borough will enjoy wider pavements, segregated cycle tracks, improved crossings and connections from Stratford Station to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park; with more trees and green spaces to support better transport connectivity and encourage walking and cycling along the entire Westfield Avenue route. It’s a major milestone in our vision for Stratford as we future-proof Newham and transform it to become the fairest, greenest and most exciting borough in London.”
Shazia Hussain, Chief Executive of LLDC, said: “It’s wonderful to see this project completed and a credit to the great joint working with our partners at London Borough of Newham and the Greater London Authority (GLA) and a host of local businesses. It is a major milestone for the local area that will bring huge benefits for the public realm. More trees, fewer cars and dedicated space for cyclists and pedestrians make this a fitting and welcoming area for all.”
Mete Coban, Deputy Mayor of London for Environment and Energy, said: “This project is an important milestone in the hugely exciting work to make Stratford greener and safer. The new dual cycleway, upgraded footway and improved crossings will transform travel around the area, enabling people to walk and cycle easily, and trees and rain gardens funded by the Mayor will help prevent flooding and make the area more climate resilient. These measures will make a huge difference to residents and visitors to Westfield Avenue as we continue to build a greener, healthier London.”
Will Norman, London's Walking and Cycling Commissioner, said: “I’m delighted that these new upgrades along Westfield Avenue are open, making it easier for people to walk and cycle to and from Westfield Stratford City, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and Hackney. Improving our infrastructure and making walking and cycling as accessible as possible for Londoners lies at the heart of the Mayor's vision for a safer and greener London for everyone. We’ll continue to work with our partners, including the boroughs and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, to enable more Londoners to choose affordable and sustainable travel when moving around the capital.”
The £12m grant-funded project is an initiative between Newham Council, the LLDC, the GLA and Transport for London (TfL). The project has also received funding from the Mayor of London’s Green and Resilient Spaces Fund, London Stadium, and local developers; Lendlease, Westfield, Telford Homes, and East Bank.
Newham Council is progressing a number of projects as part of its Stratford Vision plans, including the new entrance at Stratford Station; major expansion plans for the Station and London’s largest estate regeneration and restoration scheme at the Carpenters Estate which will deliver 2,152 homes, of which 50 percent will be genuinely affordable homes.
