London LTNs shelved after report found little impact on car use, emails reveal
Internal messages show officials considered how to spin findings that LTNs did not curb car journeys, even as the study noted increased cycling
London’s Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) did not reduce car use, according to a university-commissioned study funded by Transport for London, and the Mayor of London’s team subsequently shelved the project after learning the results. The report, conducted by the University of Westminster, found that while LTNs did boost cycling, they had little to no effect on whether residents stopped driving. The study was initially funded at about £82,095 and was planned to run for three years, with more than 4,500 residents surveyed about their travel in the week prior to the assessment and cross-referenced against the proportion of streets encompassed by LTNs. Officials said the funding for the research was withdrawn in June last year.
Emails obtained between TfL and Westminster researchers show the officials’ concern about the results and discussion of how the findings could be framed to align with Sir Sadiq Khan’s public positions on LTNs. In one email, a researcher noted that “all of this stuff is FoI-able” and could be released through a Freedom of Information request. The same message acknowledged publication seemed unlikely given that outside of the transport system, few people were aware of the study. Westminster researchers described the conclusions as “underwhelming” and proposed a “suitably contextualised and caveated summary” for TfL to publish. The reluctance to publish intensified in the wake of the study’s softer reception within the department.
Officials later stated that the results were not published because the report was “full of jargon” and the language was not accessible to the general public. The assertion about accessibility contrasted with the emails’ portrayal of a study whose conclusions were considered insufficiently supportive of the Mayor’s environmental messaging. The review, which cost the public purse about £82,095 and was intended to inform policy over several years, nonetheless remains part of a broader debate about whether LTNs deliver meaningful reductions in car travel.
The controversy has intensified as data from other sources highlighted practical disruptions associated with LTNs. In the western corridor along the A23, TfL data showed that the buses serving the area were frequently delayed, with one instance where a bus took 121 minutes to travel 2.9 miles. Another route was diverted around the Streatham Wells LTN during rush hour, while a different route was forced to travel through the area. Department for Transport data underscores the extent of these bottlenecks, prompting complaints from residents and businesses. The Streatham Wells LTN, introduced in October 2023, has been described by some locals as chaotic, drawing criticism from motorists and shopkeepers who say the new controls created more congestion on surrounding roads.
Campaign groups reacted strongly to the revelation that TfL and Khan’s office chose not to publish the Westminster study. John Stewart of the campaign group Social and Environmental Justice argued that suppressing the report deprives local authorities and councils of information they could use to determine whether LTNs are the best approach to improving air quality and reducing emissions. He said the decision not to publish could be seen as an attempt to avoid admitting a policy shortfall, and stressed that transparency would help decision-makers assess the true impact of LTNs on urban mobility and environmental aims.
The Times cited the study’s findings as showing that LTNs did not significantly curb car usage, even though they may have encouraged more cycling. The Mail has contacted the Mayor of London and Transport for London for comment. The episode adds to ongoing scrutiny of LTNs as London and other cities weigh the balance between encouraging active travel and maintaining reliable road networks, with environmental goals potentially at odds with everyday commuting needs. As climate and urban planning discussions continue, officials and advocates alike will be watching for more robust, accessible data on how LTNs shape travel behavior, air quality, and city resilience.