Leytonstone Business Low Emissions Neighbourhood (BLEN)

In 2020, Waltham Forest Council received funding from the Greater London Authority (GLA) Mayor’s Air Quality Fund to create the Leytonstone Business Low Emissions Neighbourhood (BLEN).

The scheme focuses on the main commercial/ retail town centre area located along Church Lane, High Road Leytonstone and Kirkdale Road. It aims to reduce exposure to road transport generated pollutants and improve overall air quality through a range of active and sustainable travel infrastructure improvements, traffic management measures that prioritise low and zero emissions transport options, behaviour change initiatives, and increased green infrastructure.

The Leytonstone BLEN includes the following elements:

• Active travel infrastructure and public realm enhancements including:
  a. Extension of the existing Gainsborough Road/Grove Green Road cycle tracks towards the Green Man roundabout to connect with existing cycle infrastructure along High Road Leytonstone and support journeys to the town centre by bike.
  
  b. Creation of Green Links between the Town Centre and Wanstead Flats to make routes to and from the town centre, from adjacent residential areas, more attractive for walking and cycling.
• Increase the green infrastructure within the BLEN area to include Micro-Parklets to re-purpose the kerbside, removing visitor parking capacity while incorporating green infrastructure and features that will encourage visitors to stay longer, supporting local businesses.
• Kerbside activity and servicing study to understand current kerbside use and business servicing activities and requirements. This includes meeting a sample of businesses in the area to discuss their current servicing patterns and requirements in addition to kerbside data collection. This study is to inform other proposals set out in the original bid and aid the development of further ideas.
• Investigation and scoping study for an Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) restriction zone and ULEV priority parking controls in the town centre area.
• Increase cycle parking provision within the town centre area through additional on-street visitor parking – with emphasis on providing parking solutions on the carriageway to minimise impact on pedestrians and reduce on-street car parking capacity.

Micro-Parklets

In late 2020 we worked with businesses in the area to introduce lower scale interventions in Church Lane, which included the installation of new Micro-Parklets and replacing the red and white barriers with more aesthetically pleasing items of street furniture (granite boulders, cycle stands, oil drums with trees and planters). Due to the success of the Micro-Parklet we have been looking to introduce more across the area. 

You can view an image of the micro parklet in the useful documents list below.
 

High Road Leytonstone Cycleway to Gainsborough Road

In 2022, plans were finalised for the High Road Leytonstone Cycleway to improve cycle infrastructure between Gainsborough Road and Bush Road. The cycleway aims to provide a better link from the town centre to Bush Road and the existing off-road walking and cycling network at the Green Man roundabout, in turn providing better access to Whipps Cross and Redbridge for people cycling.

The plans identified a number of improvements that needed to take place along the cycle route to address key issues and barriers and ensure it is as safe, accessible and continuous as possible. The proposals included junction improvements, sections of segregated cycle track and public space improvements.

You can view a map of the plans in the useful documents section at the bottom of this page.

In spring 2022, the proposals were taken to Statutory Consultation stage for local people to comment on the plans. Following the Statutory Consultation, the High Road Leytonstone Cycleway was approved by Waltham Forest Council and constructed in autumn/ winter 2022. 

Green Links 

The Green Links are green walking and cycling routes between the Town Centre and Wanstead Flats linked together with public realm improvements, wayfinding elements and public art to provide more attractive and pleasant routes for local people to enjoy.

The Green Links element has been developed in phases, which are outlined below:

Phase 1
In October 2021, the project team met with the local community in a series of two online Teams meetings to help develop the existing Preliminary Design and to collaborate on planting specifications and future maintenance.

In November 2021, the project team arranged two “Green Walks” with the local community to help us understand local concerns and aspirations; and to assist with further development of the scheme.

In December 2021, the plans for Phase 1 were finalised and taken to the Statutory Consultation stage of the scheme for local people to comment of the plans. You can view the plans in the useful documents section at the bottom of this page.

Following Statutory Consultation, the plans for Phase 1 were approved by Waltham Forest Council and the scheme was constructed in spring/summer 2022.

You can view an image of the completed Phase 1 works in the useful documents below.

Phase 1a - Davies Lane
In early 2022, Waltham Forest Council received further funding from the GLA to expand the Green Links scheme and develop proposals in the vicinity of Davies Lane. The proposals are similar to the Phase 1 Green Links scheme outlined above and also aim to achieve the BLEN objectives of improving air quality by introducing the following elements if feasible:

• Innovative Green Links wayfinding / biodiversity information points / public art installations
• Public realm improvements combining planting, natural materials, permeable surfaces, and Pocket Parks
• Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) installations
• Comprehensive landscape, planting and biodiversity improvements
• Tree planting.

In July/August 2022 the design team prepared initial concepts focusing on opportunity areas, key public realm areas, gateways and wayfinding initiatives. To help develop the proposals further, in July 2022, we arranged a community Walkabout in Davies Lane and Mornington Road with residents to discuss the initial ideas, identify any further areas we could explore, and to understand if there were people within the community willing to look after any new planting in the longer term.

We also met with Davies Lane school and conducted a fun desktop exercise with the pupils, and arranged a walkabout with the pupils in July 2022, to collect their ideas for the scheme.

In November 2022 the scheme design was finalised and taken to the Statutory Consultation stage for people to provide final comments on the scheme.

You can view the plans in the useful documents section below.

Following Statutory Consultation, the scheme was approved by Waltham Forest Council and constructed in spring/summer 2023.

Phase 2
Following the success of Phase 1, Waltham Forest Council has recently developed preliminary plans to expand the Green Links to five areas around the existing Phase 1 scheme.

Unfortunately, as of 2024, there is currently no funding to progress Phase 2 of the scheme, however once funding becomes available, we will look to initiate engaging with the community to develop and finalise the plans.

Phase 3
In 2024, Waltham Forest Council began developing preliminary public realm improvement proposals for the Mornington Road area to include a new raised junction with new surfaces, a new community green space with tree planting, bike parking, footpaths, cycle routes and porous surfaces and a new enclosed mini-forest area with tree planting. 

Once the preliminary designs are ready, we will reach out to the community for feedback to help us develop the plans further.

We will write to local residents in early summer with more information.