The council is calling on residents to have their say on two new proposed Healthy Neighbourhoods – one centred around Walnut Tree Walk, and another around Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. Public engagement for both schemes is now live and will run until 11 June 2025.
The proposals aim to make both areas safer, greener, and more people-friendly by discouraging cut-through motor traffic and redesigning streets to support walking, cycling, scooting, and wheeling. These initiatives are part of the council’s broader goals to build healthier, more active communities while addressing road danger, pollution, and climate change.
Healthy Neighbourhoods are residential areas redesigned to prioritise people over vehicles. Key features typically include:
- Measures to remove through-traffic and reduce vehicle speeds
- Safer, more attractive spaces for walking, cycling, and wheeling
- New green infrastructure such as tree planting and parklets
- Better kerbside use – like cycle parking and electric vehicle charging
- Support for local businesses through improved footfall and street environments
In areas where similar schemes have been introduced, speeding has typically fallen by 75%, and public spaces have become more accessible and welcoming.
Word from the council
Cllr Rezina Chowdhury, Deputy Leader of Lambeth Council, said: “These proposals are about making our streets safer, our air cleaner, and our neighbourhoods more liveable.
“We want to hear from as many residents as possible during several rounds of engagement.”
Walnut Tree Walk
In the Walnut Tree Walk area, several streets – including Fitzalan Street, Lambeth Walk, and Lambeth High Street – are currently dominated by cut-through traffic, with more than 75% of vehicles using them as shortcuts.
Other key facts driving the proposal include:
- 69 % of households in the area do not own a car or van
- The local streets were not designed to handle current traffic volumes
- The scheme would be introduced on a trial basis to test its impact and gather feedback
The proposed changes are based on engagement sessions held in 2024 and 2025, along with traffic and air quality data.
Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens
The Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens area faces similar challenges, with local roads like Tyers Street, Glasshouse Walk, and Sancroft Street experiencing a high proportion of through-traffic.
Key facts about this area include:
- Over 71% of households do not own a car or van
- Just 8% of kerbside space is currently used sustainably
- The council’s borough-wide target is to raise this to 25%
Both Healthy Neighbourhoods are expected to begin as trial schemes, allowing residents and the council to assess their effectiveness before making any long-term changes.
The public engagement for these schemes, is part of Lambeth’s Borough Plan and align with the Kerbside Strategy and Climate Action Plan, which promote sustainability, public health, and fair access to public space.
Have Your Say
Residents can view detailed maps, read more about the proposals, and complete the surveys for Walnut Tree Walk Healthy Neighbourhood and Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens Healthy Neighbourhood. Feedback must be submitted by 11 June 2025.
