Croydon Council has unveiled plans to boost sustainable travel across the borough by making a raft of successful walking and cycling schemes permanent in the town centre and London Road.
Announced ahead of the COP26 climate change summit, the proposals are a significant step toward Croydon achieving its target of a 34% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2025, encouraging more people to leave the car at home for more journeys.
Encouraging healthy transport is one of several actions the borough is taking to fight climate change and make Croydon greener, and an overview is available on the council website.
The cycle lanes and street improvements were put in temporarily in August 2020 as part of the council’s Streetspace programme, and are part of the council’s cycling offer that includes the successful Try Before You Bike scheme.
Public feedback was collected via an online survey for several months, and has been used to make changes to the permanent proposals, which are now open for consultation.
Proposals for London Road from Thornton Heath Pond to North End include:

  • Making the cycle lanes safer by adding improved measures to separate cyclists from vehicles and making them permanent
  • Making the street safer and more attractive for pedestrians with increased footway space, and new and improved crossings
  • Making the 20mph speed limit permanent
  • Tree planting and a new sustainable water drainage “rain garden” to improve street scene and environmental resilience
  • Addition of parking and loading bays on side roads for use by local businesses

Dingwall Road will see a new public space created at the former junction with Lansdowne Road, as well as new zebra crossings, making it a more pleasant and safe place for pedestrians. In response to feedback, improved taxi and loading facilities will also be included.
In the town centre, the safer separated cycle lanes on High Street and Mint Walk would be made permanent, and quicker bus journeys can be expected for public transport users thanks to improvements around St. George’s Walk. These proposals will bring bus stops back into the town centre, and changes to traffic flow will mean buses will no longer have to divert onto the Park Lane roundabout.

“The council declared a climate emergency in 2019, and we remain absolutely committed to reducing emissions and enabling a green recovery from Covid-19. Everyone can do their bit to make healthier, sustainable travel choices, but it is our responsibility to enable those choices by making streets safer and more friendly spaces for walking and cycling.”
Councillor Muhammad Ali, cabinet member for sustainable Croydon
The consultation is open from 28 October to 18 November. Residents are asked to submit any comments in writing by email to Parking.Design@croydon.gov.uk or post to Order Making Section, Parking Design Team, Place Department, Croydon Council, Floor 6, Zone C, Bernard Weatherill House, 8 Mint Walk, Croydon CR0 1EA.
Detailed instructions on how to submit comments to the consultations are available on the council website, along with more in-depth information on proposals for the town centre and London Road.
Works are funded by Transport for London and the Department for Transport Active Travel Funding and by the Croydon Growth Zone.