Regent's Park Area Safe and Healthy Streets

Project updates

In April, we launched the Regent’s Park Area Safe and Healthy Streets project, during which we met with you to hear your views to improve road safety in the area.  The next step is now to meet with you again to design solutions to the issues you have identified previously.

We now want to give you the opportunity to design together to improve your local area.

We will be holding two public workshops where we will work together with you to design solutions to the issues faced locally.

Please join us at :

 • A drop-in session on Thursday 28th September at the Old Diorama Art Centre from 4 to 7.30pm (Regent’s Place, 201 Drummond St, London NW1 3FE).

• The Play Street organised on Stanhope Street (London NW1 3EX) on Wednesday 18th October, where we hold a Co-design stand from 3.30 to 5.30pm.

Both events are free and will only require a few minutes of your time, so feel free to come and share your views!

Background

People living close to HS2 construction sites have seen their lives disrupted with additional lorry traffic, road closures and construction noise. Camden Council has been working hard on behalf of residents to keep disruption to a minimum and we are empowering residents to make improvements in their area. 

We’ve secured £2.4 million in funding from the HS2 Road Safety Fund for road safety improvements, especially regarding improvements for pedestrians and cyclists. This includes traffic calming, safer road crossings and improvements to junctions and routes for pedestrians and cyclists. This funding will be spent in the Regent’s Park Area, as it is currently the most affected by HS2 construction. We therefore want to work with the community to build a legacy of safe, healthy and sustainable streets.

What you told us

We asked you recently to help us identify issues in the local neighbourhood regarding road safety issues. Feedback was collected via an online Commonplace survey, events with the local community, a workshop with primary school students, a disability audit and a stakeholder management group.  

The most frequently raised issues were: 

• High traffic speeds. 
• Poor pedestrian crossings. 
• Traffic congestion and rat running traffic.  
• Issues with pavement surface, width and accessibility. 

 The most frequent suggestions for changes were: 

• Reduction in traffic volumes.  
• New / safer crossings, and creating safer pedestrian routes.   
• More seating, greenery, artwork and improved cleanliness.  
• More cycling infrastructure.  

The following locations were identified as hotspots for road safety issues: 

• Augustus Street
• Albany Street
• Cumberland Market
• Hampstead Road*
• Robert Street

Building on Existing Engagement

Potential improvements for the Regent's Park Area will also be based on the Camden Transport Strategy, We Are Camden and local people's vision for the area. 

The Camden Transport Strategy sets out the following priorities:

• Increasing walking and cycling
• Improving public transport in the borough
• Reducing car ownership and use
• Improving the quality of our air
• Making our streets and transport networks safe, accessible and inclusive for all

What's more, creating safe and healthy conditions for walking and cycling was a key outcome of the Camden Citizen's Assembly on the Climate Crisis. 

In past engagement with local people, the following issues have been highlighted in the Regent’s Park area specifically :

• High volumes of traffic
• High speed vehicles
• Lack of cycle facilities
• Lack of green/play space
• Pedestrian facilities issues
• Cycle route issue
• Rat-running traffic
• Public Transport issues
• Excessive parking
• Pollution issues

As a result of this, a number of changes have been made to the Regent’s Park area including extensive green space improvements.

What's next?

Once Camden officers have reviewed the feedback, we will create some concept designs for the proposed changes in Autumn 2023. These options will be shared on a scheme by scheme basis with residents for public consultation, where residents will be able to comment on the proposals. 

Implementation of schemes will be subject to the decision taken following consultation, considering consultation feedback and alignment with Council. Some schemes may be tested by trialling the proposed changes under an Experimental Traffic Order. Other schemes may be implemented as permanent measures.