Haringey Council's Cabinet Member for Climate Action, Councillor Gio Iozzi, has approved changes to bus routes serving the new Heartlands development in Wood Green, at a cost of £30,000. The decision will facilitate Transport for London's (TfL) extension of routes 91, N91, and 232 to the development, which will provide approximately 2,000 new homes.
The new routes will operate along Mayes Road, Coburg Road, Western Road, Mary Neuner Road, and Clarendon Road. The approval includes the making of necessary traffic management orders to implement parking, waiting, and loading changes required for a bus stand in Coburg Road and a bus stop in Mayes Road. Councillor Iozzi also authorised the Head of Highways and Traffic to undertake the necessary highway infrastructure works.
These changes follow a TfL consultation on proposed route alterations between October and December 2023, with TfL deciding in March 2024 to implement its proposals. A subsequent statutory consultation on the council-led highway changes, which included the removal of parking bays and the introduction of double yellow lines, received 81 responses. Objections primarily concerned the loss of parking, potential for increased traffic and congestion, noise, and air quality impacts.
One point of contention was the proposed location of a bus stop on Mary Neuner Road, with residents raising concerns about noise and congestion. Officers noted that this bus stop had been approved in April 2024. Discussions were held with the affected resident to address their access needs, and a dedicated parking space would be provided for their sole use if the proposals are implemented. A revised plan for the bus stand on Coburg Road, extending it to accommodate two buses simultaneously, was also approved. This extension did not result in any net loss of parking provision.
The council decided against holding a public inquiry, deeming it unnecessary and likely to cause expense and delay without altering the ultimate decision. The report further elaborates that the Traffic Management Orders (TMOs) will prohibit loading and unloading, but none of the objections relate to this prohibition, thus there is no obligation to hold a public inquiry. The council has discretion to hold one, but it was deemed unlikely to alter the outcome and would lead to expense and delay. The decision aligns with the council's Transport Strategy, aiming to prioritise sustainable transport choices for safer and less congested highways. The £30,000 cost will be met from the Housing Department budget.
The council's Transport Strategy prioritizes sustainable transport choices to connect communities, workplaces and high streets in managing growth impacts, carbon emissions by prioritising sustainable transport choices,
aiming for safer and less congested highways.
The new bus routes are intended to provide access to public transport in close proximity to the premises
and align with the council's Transport Strategy (2018), the Mayor of London's Transport Strategy, and the Council's own Transport Strategy, all of which seek to improve air quality, reduce congestion, and increase public transport use.
Concerns raised by residents included the loss of parking spaces, increased traffic, noise, and air pollution, particularly along Mary Neuner Road, Coburg Road, Western Road, and Clarendon Road. Several objections highlighted the impact on vulnerable residents, families with young children, and key workers. The Haringey Cycling Campaign supported the bus route extension but requested consideration for cycle route provision and clarification on the temporary nature of a bus stop on Mayes Road.
If the proposed changes are approved and the bus routes become operational, TfL will prepare a route timetable. The timings will be monitored to understand if there are delays and whether mitigation measures can be made to reduce congestion. The implementation of the proposed changes was expected to be completed by the end of July 2026.
Councillor Iozzi considered all feedback and approved the implementation of the revised proposals, authorising the Head of Highways and Traffic to make the necessary orders and undertake the required works.
