As part of the Essex Road Bus Priority project supported by TfL, Islington Council is making changes to Essex Road aimed at improving bus journey time reliability, supporting use of public transport and contributing to a more sustainable, healthier Islington.
In January and February 2026, we consulted on two proposals: 1. the relocation of the bus lane on Essex Road between Dove Road and Mitchison Road; and a 2. a new partially inset loading bay outside Sainsbury’s Local at 325 Essex Rd (northbound side). Further details of these proposals are provided below under ‘What we’re proposing’. A report of the consultation results is available in the ‘Project Documents’ section.
Project 1 update - Bus lane changes between Dove Road and Mitchison Road
We are now preparing to implement the bus lane relocation scheme on Essex Road between Dove Road and Mitchison Road, as consulted on and outlined below. The scheme will also include resurfacing across most of the project area, improving the condition of the road and addressing rutting and other surface defects.
The scheme is designed to help northbound buses bypass congestion on the approach to the junction with St Paul’s Road, reducing delays and improving journey time reliability on a number of routes. You can download a PDF of the design here.
Map showing location of Project 1: Bus lane changesConstruction works to implement these changes are due to begin on 24 November 2026, and are expected to take approximately two nights to complete.
To enable the works to be undertaken safely, temporary traffic restrictions will be required, including a full road closure on the northern section of Essex Road between St Paul’s Road / Balls Pond Road junction and Mitchison Road. Signed diversion routes will be in place for the duration of the works. Parking and bus stop suspensions will also be required during the construction period to enable the works to be carried out safely. Please refer to on-street notices for the latest information on bus stop and parking suspensions.
Project 2 update – New partially inset loading bay outside Sainsbury’s Local
Following further discussions with TfL, this project will not be progressed at this time.
The below information is from the Public Consultation in January - February 2026.
What we're proposing
1. Bus lane relocation
We propose relocating the existing bus lane south of the junction of Essex Road with St Paul’s Road/ Balls Pond Road from the southwest-bound side to the northeast-bound side. This change aims to help northeast bound buses bypass traffic on the approach to the junction. This will include:
- Introducing a new 104-metre bus lane on the northeast-bound side from north of Mitchison Road to near Marquess Road (north end). The bus lane will be in operation Monday to Saturday, 7am - 7pm.
- Removing the 126-metre existing bus lane on the southwest-bound side along the same stretch of Essex Road (between Dove Road and Marquess Road).
- Adjusting traffic lane positions to enable the revised bus lane layout. The southwest-bound bus stop (CG) will remain in its current location, which will be within the general traffic lane.
- Removing two pay-by-phone parking spaces on the southwest-bound side outside Mercers House, which is necessary to support the relocation of the bus lane.
- Making associated changes to kerbsides, signage and road markings.
You can download the PDF of the design here.
2. New timed loading bay outside Sainsbury’s Local at 325 Essex Rd (northeast-bound side)
A partially inset, timed loading bay (Monday to Friday, 10am - 4pm and Saturday 7am - 7pm) is proposed to help reduce obstruction in the single northeast-bound traffic lane while goods vehicles are loading. A fully inset bay is not feasible due to shallow utility cables beneath the footway. This proposal will include:
- Installing a 21 metre-long timed loading bay, partially inset into the footway and partially overhanging the road. The northeast-bound traffic lane adjacent to the loading bay will be widened from 3.3 metres to 3.7 metres while the southwest-bound general traffic lane will be reduced from 3.7 to 3.3 metres wide.
- Reducing the footway adjacent to the new loading bay from 4.2 to 2.8 metres-wide, which is necessary to accommodate the partial inset of the loading bay.
- Retaining the existing 3 metre-wide southwest-bound bus lane.
- Making associated changes to kerbside, signage and road markings.
You can download the PDF of the design here.
Map showing indicative locations of proposed bus priority measuresWe want to hear from you
We welcome feedback from residents, businesses and other members of the local community on these bus priority proposals for Essex Road.
Please submit your comments by Sunday 8 February 2026 by completing the online survey. Once the consultation period has closed, we will review all feedback to help inform the next steps for the project.
You can pick up paper copies of the proposals and the survey, and return completed surveys, at Islington Town Hall (Upper St, London N1 2UD) or Islington South Library (115-117 Essex Road, N1 2SL). You can also email us photo of your completed survey or return it by post.
Email: essexroadbus@islington.gov.uk
Postal address: Environment, 1 Cottage Road, Islington, N7 8TY.
As part of the Essex Road Bus Priority project supported by TfL, Islington Council is making changes to Essex Road aimed at improving bus journey time reliability, supporting use of public transport and contributing to a more sustainable, healthier Islington.
In January and February 2026, we consulted on two proposals: 1. the relocation of the bus lane on Essex Road between Dove Road and Mitchison Road; and a 2. a new partially inset loading bay outside Sainsbury’s Local at 325 Essex Rd (northbound side). Further details of these proposals are provided below under ‘What we’re proposing’. A report of the consultation results is available in the ‘Project Documents’ section.
Project 1 update - Bus lane changes between Dove Road and Mitchison Road
We are now preparing to implement the bus lane relocation scheme on Essex Road between Dove Road and Mitchison Road, as consulted on and outlined below. The scheme will also include resurfacing across most of the project area, improving the condition of the road and addressing rutting and other surface defects.
The scheme is designed to help northbound buses bypass congestion on the approach to the junction with St Paul’s Road, reducing delays and improving journey time reliability on a number of routes. You can download a PDF of the design here.
Map showing location of Project 1: Bus lane changesConstruction works to implement these changes are due to begin on 24 November 2026, and are expected to take approximately two nights to complete.
To enable the works to be undertaken safely, temporary traffic restrictions will be required, including a full road closure on the northern section of Essex Road between St Paul’s Road / Balls Pond Road junction and Mitchison Road. Signed diversion routes will be in place for the duration of the works. Parking and bus stop suspensions will also be required during the construction period to enable the works to be carried out safely. Please refer to on-street notices for the latest information on bus stop and parking suspensions.
Project 2 update – New partially inset loading bay outside Sainsbury’s Local
Following further discussions with TfL, this project will not be progressed at this time.
The below information is from the Public Consultation in January - February 2026.
What we're proposing
1. Bus lane relocation
We propose relocating the existing bus lane south of the junction of Essex Road with St Paul’s Road/ Balls Pond Road from the southwest-bound side to the northeast-bound side. This change aims to help northeast bound buses bypass traffic on the approach to the junction. This will include:
- Introducing a new 104-metre bus lane on the northeast-bound side from north of Mitchison Road to near Marquess Road (north end). The bus lane will be in operation Monday to Saturday, 7am - 7pm.
- Removing the 126-metre existing bus lane on the southwest-bound side along the same stretch of Essex Road (between Dove Road and Marquess Road).
- Adjusting traffic lane positions to enable the revised bus lane layout. The southwest-bound bus stop (CG) will remain in its current location, which will be within the general traffic lane.
- Removing two pay-by-phone parking spaces on the southwest-bound side outside Mercers House, which is necessary to support the relocation of the bus lane.
- Making associated changes to kerbsides, signage and road markings.
You can download the PDF of the design here.
2. New timed loading bay outside Sainsbury’s Local at 325 Essex Rd (northeast-bound side)
A partially inset, timed loading bay (Monday to Friday, 10am - 4pm and Saturday 7am - 7pm) is proposed to help reduce obstruction in the single northeast-bound traffic lane while goods vehicles are loading. A fully inset bay is not feasible due to shallow utility cables beneath the footway. This proposal will include:
- Installing a 21 metre-long timed loading bay, partially inset into the footway and partially overhanging the road. The northeast-bound traffic lane adjacent to the loading bay will be widened from 3.3 metres to 3.7 metres while the southwest-bound general traffic lane will be reduced from 3.7 to 3.3 metres wide.
- Reducing the footway adjacent to the new loading bay from 4.2 to 2.8 metres-wide, which is necessary to accommodate the partial inset of the loading bay.
- Retaining the existing 3 metre-wide southwest-bound bus lane.
- Making associated changes to kerbside, signage and road markings.
You can download the PDF of the design here.
Map showing indicative locations of proposed bus priority measuresWe want to hear from you
We welcome feedback from residents, businesses and other members of the local community on these bus priority proposals for Essex Road.
Please submit your comments by Sunday 8 February 2026 by completing the online survey. Once the consultation period has closed, we will review all feedback to help inform the next steps for the project.
You can pick up paper copies of the proposals and the survey, and return completed surveys, at Islington Town Hall (Upper St, London N1 2UD) or Islington South Library (115-117 Essex Road, N1 2SL). You can also email us photo of your completed survey or return it by post.
Email: essexroadbus@islington.gov.uk
Postal address: Environment, 1 Cottage Road, Islington, N7 8TY.
