The UK public is split down the middle when it comes to their sentiment towards Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs), the number of which has increased by almost 20% over a two-year period, at a cost of around £23.4m.
Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) have existed in the UK since the 1970s, but during the pandemic in 2020/21, a huge number of LTNs were rolled out across London.
In the years since, they have started to appear across the nation. Now, LTNs are in the headlines once again, accused of increasing congestion and pollution in their surrounding areas which means, in essence, that they’re reducing the problem in one area by simply forcing it onto another.
Regency Living’s analysis shows that the number of LTNs is on the rise, increasing by 18% over a two year period.
LARGEST NUMBER
According to government statistics London is home to the largest number of LTNs with the capital home to 56 – accounting for 62% of the nation’s schemes.
But it’s not just London that’s being impacted by the initiative, with the likes of the East of England (12%), North West (8%), and Yorkshire & Humber (7%) also home to a considerable proportion of LTNs.
It is estimated that a Low Traffic Neighborhood costs an average of £259,996 to implement*, which means England’s taxpayers have so far been charged £23.4m to implement the current schemes.
In London, where the average cost of an LTN is £264,048, the total cost is estimated to be £14.8m.
The West Midlands is looking at a cost of £2.1m, followed by Yorkshire & Humber (£1.8m), and the North West (£1.4m).
SPLIT OPINION
Regency Living has surveyed the UK public and found that opinion is split down the middle when it comes to LTNs with 49% saying they’re in favour of them, and 51% saying they’re not.
When asked whether they think more LTNs should be introduced, 49% once again said ‘yes’, while 48% said they would be more inclined to move to an area if it was an LTN.
Tim Simmons, Sales and Marketing Director at Regency Living, says: “LTNs have once again been making the headlines, attracting strong opposition from those in surrounding areas, who feel they are suffering from a greater degree of congestion and pollution due to these pedestrianised areas funnelling traffic through other roads.
“Despite this, it seems as though a large proportion of the UK public are in favour of LTNs and would like to see more introduced, even going as far as to say they would be more likely to move to an area if it was an LTN.
“This could well cause property prices in LTNs to climb due to the fact that, as they remain in their relative infancy, there’s a very limited level of stock available.”
“This could well cause property prices in LTNs to climb due to the fact that, as they remain in their relative infancy, there’s a very limited level of stock available.
“The appeal of living in an LTN comes from the very same reasons that they are currently being opposed, as they offer safer streets for pedestrians to live on, whilst also offering a reduced level of pollution due to the lack of traffic.
“It’s this exact improvement to quality of life that makes our residential park home complexes appealing to downsizers, as they not only value the increased safety and air quality, but also the peace and quiet of living away from a main road.”
“You could say that residential park home sites are the original LTNs, but unlike those currently being implemented, they don’t come at the expense of those living in the surrounding areas.”
