Camden High Street is set to become permanently traffic-free as the council invests £1million into community safety, following a successful trial that reduced antisocial behaviour and pollution.
The decision comes after a pedestrianisation trial launched in May 2025 aimed at creating a "safer, healthier and more enjoyable space" in response to feedback that motor vehicles were creating a negative experience for residents and visitors.
Consultation and Support
In a follow-up consultation, 57% of respondents agreed with the proposal to make the changes permanent, though only 51% of Camden Town area residents agreed, with some noting their bus routes have been impacted.
Councillor James Slater, cabinet member for planning and a sustainable Camden, said: "Since May last year, we have been trialling a traffic-free section of Camden High Street, in response to feedback that the dominance of motor vehicles on this stretch of road was creating a negative experience for residents and visitors. Pedestrians overspilling from the pavement as well as poor air quality meant we needed to act, so we launched a pedestrianisation trial."
"After 18 months, we asked this summer whether you wanted to see the pedestrianisation become permanent. Based on our consultation and the positive outcomes we have seen, we have made the decision to make it permanent."
Crime and Pollution Reduction
The pedestrianised zone will come into effect between Britannia Junction and the cross section with Jamestown Road and Hawley Crescent. The temporary barriers in place for the trial will be replaced with new permanent barriers early next year.
The council reported lower recorded instances of antisocial behaviour, pickpocketing and other crimes during the trial, with no evidence of crime displacing to neighbouring areas. The Camden High Street pedestrianised area and surrounding roads saw an average 14.4% reduction in harmful NO2 across all monitoring sites for the year after the trial was implemented, compared to the previous year.
Road safety also improved, with no collisions reported on Camden High Street in the nine months following the start of the trial within the pedestrianised area and the northern section to Chalk Farm Road, compared to six collisions in the corresponding nine months the previous year. Spending at businesses remained in line with pre-trial levels during both daytime and evening peak periods.
Future Plans
Extensions of the pedestrianised zone could be considered over the Camden Lock bridge towards the junction with Chalk Farm Road. The council will explore this in the coming months and publish information next spring to seek views from residents.
In response to feedback about bus journeys being affected, a trial bus lane will be introduced on Kentish Town Road to speed up northbound bus journeys. Additional community safety patrols will be introduced as part of the £1million investment in Community Safety Officer patrols around Camden's town centres, with a deep clean of the high street to be carried out in the coming weeks.
