Newham Council has approved the introduction of a 24-hour bus lane on Romford Road, overriding objections from residents and businesses. The decision, made by Dhiresh Bhatt, Director of Highways, Parking and Transportation, forms part of the wider Romford Road Public Realm Improvement Scheme aimed at enhancing road safety, air quality, and sustainable travel.
The scheme, which has secured over £10 million in funding since 2021, includes the creation of segregated cycle lanes, improved footways, new pedestrian crossings, and the controversial 24-hour bus lane on Section F, between Katherine Road and Shrewsbury Road. The overall Romford Road Public Realm Improvement Scheme is approximately 50% completed and is due to finish in around 3-4 years.
Despite 28 objections received during the statutory consultation, primarily concerning the loss of parking and the impact on businesses, council officers concluded that the benefits of the 24-hour bus lane outweighed these concerns. A report detailing the decision stated that independent traffic modelling by AECOM, audited by Transport for London (TfL), indicated only limited localised increases in traffic delays and no significant adverse effects on air quality.
The AECOM modelling, audited by TfL, suggested that while some localised increases in delay were identified, the overall impact on the road network would be limited. The modelling found that changes in queueing and journey times across the network were generally limited and not significant enough to adversely affect the operation of the road network. It also concluded that the scheme would deliver significant bus journey time improvements while having minimal overall impact on general traffic users. The report also mentions the creation of stepped separated cycle lanes
as part of the proposals for Section F, and that the modelling assessed the impact of the proposed 24-hour bus lanes and associated active travel improvements.
Officers also highlighted that TfL's Bus Priority Team advised that 24-hour operation was necessary to maximise bus priority benefits and ensure consistency with the approved corridor strategy. Evidence from comparable schemes in London suggests that such public realm improvements can support local economic vitality by increasing footfall and improving the attractiveness of town centres.
Concerns regarding impacts on elderly and disabled users were addressed by noting that improvements to bus reliability offer direct accessibility benefits. The scheme aligns with the Mayor's Transport Strategy, Vision Zero, and TfL's Cycling Action Plan, aiming to encourage a modal shift away from private car use.
Regarding the impact on businesses, appropriate loading and servicing arrangements have been incorporated into the design wherever practicable. Officers worked closely with TfL through the RSPRG process, and agreement was reached to retain loading provision where necessary, balancing continuous bus priority with the operational needs of local businesses and residents. Officers remain committed to continuing this dialogue during implementation and will offer ad hoc correspondence to address any further concerns related to loading activities, and will continue to engage with businesses to explore and implement feasible solutions where appropriate.
For the Section F southwest segment, works to a value of £0.470m are expected to be delivered in 2026/27, with the remaining works, valued at approximately £0.440m, expected to be delivered in 2027/28. The estimated cost for the Section F southwest segment works is £0.910 million, funded by TfL and Newham Council's Active Sustainable Transport budget.
Alternative options considered included a 'do nothing' approach and extending existing bus lane hours, both of which were deemed less effective in meeting the scheme's objectives.
