Low Emission Neighbourhoods to be established in London

Four new Low Emission Neighbourhoods (LENs) will be established in London, as part of a range of new schemes to improve air quality. 

The Low Emission Neighbourhoods will be in Hackney, Dagenham, Southwark and Camden. LENs receive funding and support to install electric vehicle charge points, expand cycle lanes, establish green walls and investigate traffic reduction schemes. This funding will be matched with almost £3 million from the relevant boroughs.

The City Fringe LEN is a collaborative scheme between the boroughs of Hackney, Islington and Tower Hamlets, based in Shoreditch.

The LEN has pioneered the world’s first Ultra Low Emission-only Streets. These are two small clusters of streets in Hackney which prohibit the entry of petrol, diesel and older hybrid vehicles at certain times of the day restricting entry to only cyclists, pedestrians and Ultra Low Emission Vehicles – the first zone of its type anywhere in the world.

Other measures from the Mayor of London include a project to tackle emissions from South London construction sites, an anti-engine-idling campaign spread across 27 boroughs, a zero-emission zone in the City, cargo bikes in Camden and retrofitting boats to cut emissions on the Thames.