Greenwich Council is developing a proposal to implement a borough-wide 20mph speed limit, aiming to improve road safety and reduce casualties. The proposal supports the council's Transport Strategy and Carbon Neutral Plan, aligning with goals to improve safety, encourage healthy lifestyles, reduce car dependency, and improve air quality.
The proposal was discussed at the Transport and Place Scrutiny Panel meeting on Thursday, 3 July 2025, as part of a broader transport work programme for 2025/26, detailed in the Transport Work Programme Update. Alongside the borough-wide 20mph proposal, the council plans to deliver road safety schemes at Plumstead High Street (between Wickham Lane and Walmer Terrace) and Western Way Roundabout. The council hopes that the implementation of 20mph speed limits across the borough will reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on Greenwich roads.
The move aligns with Transport for London (TfL) research indicating a 34% reduction in deaths and serious injuries following the implementation of 20mph speed limits on borough roads between 1989 and 2013. The research also indicated a 75% reduction in the number of children killed.
Following implementation, the council plans to measure the effectiveness of the 20mph speed limit by monitoring recorded speeds and the number of speed-related collisions, as outlined in the Road Safety Action Plan Update.
The council is currently in preliminary design and plans to hold a public consultation in Winter 2025.
The Transport and Place Scrutiny Panel is scheduled to receive updates on the Local Implementation Plan (LIP) and the development of the Local Plan at its next meeting on 18 September 2025.