Plans to improve the public realm around Hackney Downs Station have been abandoned following significant public opposition, particularly to proposals for two-way traffic on Sigdon Road and Wayland Avenue. The decision was made by the Assistant Director, Streetscene, at an Officer Executive Decisions meeting on Friday, March 20, 2026.
The Hackney Downs Station Area Public Realm Improvements scheme, part of a wider £19 million Levelling Up Fund programme for Hackney Central, aimed to enhance safety and accessibility in the vicinity of the station. The proposed changes included a range of traffic management measures, such as installing a restricted parking zone, altering parking and loading bays, introducing no waiting restrictions, and creating raised tables and cycle lanes.
However, a public consultation held between July and August 2025, which received 185 responses, revealed strong objections to the proposed two-way traffic on Sigdon Road and Wayland Avenue. Concerns were raised about safety near schools, increased congestion, and the loss of parking. Mossbourne Parkside Academy, for instance, voiced concerns about pupil safety and delivery logistics. Parents repeatedly highlighted child safety around schools and crossings.
Beyond the two-way traffic proposals, other elements of the public realm improvements faced significant opposition. These included concerns about the adequacy and siting of proposed cycle crossings, with some respondents stating they were incredibly weak,
poorly located, and likely to be ignored. There were also objections to shared pedestrian/cycle spaces, with calls for clear segregation and direct routes. Residents felt the scheme lacked ambition and failed to deliver radical reductions in car use, describing the proposals as barely a change.
Furthermore, the removal of existing traffic refuge islands was opposed, as residents considered them important safety features for crossing busy roads. Concerns were also raised about the potential for increased anti-social behaviour and crime in new seating and planting areas, and the fear that illegal parking and business access conflicts at Sandringham Road shops would be exacerbated by further parking removal.
The public also raised concerns about traffic displacement, pollution, and the adequacy of cycling infrastructure. Specific suggestions from the public included calls for clear segregation and direct cycling routes, increased enforcement with cameras, and structural measures like bus gates/filters to address dangerous driving and rat-running. There was also a request for better, widespread surveillance via CCTV and traffic enforcement cameras to combat dangerous driving, anti-social behaviour, and crime. Some residents also suggested formalizing and lighting the gated alleyway along the railway tracks to create a formal, publicly accessible, well-lit footpath. Concerns were also raised about the necessity and safety of curved cycle chicane designs, with a preference for more direct routes. Additionally, residents requested further traffic calming and speed control on Spurstowe Terrace, such as raised crossings or speed bumps.
An Equalities Impact Assessment (EQIA) had concluded that the scheme would have an overall positive impact, particularly on health, safety, and air quality. However, it acknowledged potential negative impacts on a minority of car users primarily related to parking changes. Specifically, it noted the removal of shared-use bays and a loading bay in Sigdon Road, Reading Lane, and Wilton Way, and the introduction of a Restricted Parking Zone on Dalston Lane. The assessment mentioned the removal of 5 shared-use bays and 1 loading bay as a negative impact. The significance was perceived as limited, as the assessment concluded that the overall net loss of parking is balanced by the introduction of new disabled bays
and that all properties and shops remain accessible by vehicle.
The negative impacts were described as limited and localised
and primarily affecting a minority of car users through minor journey disruption or parking changes.
The scheme was intended to align with various council strategies, including the Hackney Transport Strategy, Road Safety Plan, and Hackney Town Centre Strategy, as well as the Mayor of London's Transport Strategy and Climate Action Plan. The report detailing the proposed improvements and public engagement can be found in the Public reports pack. The final decision is documented in the Decisions document.