Essex Road transport improvements

Islington Council is committed to creating greener, healthier, and more welcoming streets, where people can connect and communities can thrive.

In March 2023, we consulted on three projects for the Essex Road area aimed at making it easier and safer to walk, wheel and cycle, while also improving route options for drivers on the main road network and reducing cut through traffic on Popham Road, Greenman Street and around New North Academy. The original proposals are outlined further down on this page under the information from 2023.

Project 1 update – Essex Road / New North Road / Canonbury Road junction change

We are preparing to deliver this junction project in November 2025, with a key change to the consultation plans following traffic modelling analysis. 

We proposed removing two banned right turns at the junction, allowing vehicles under 7.5 tonnes to turn right from both Canonbury Road and new North Road into Essex Road. Under the revised plan, we will remove the banned right turn from New North Road into Essex Road for vehicles under 7.5 tonnes. The banned right turn form Canonbury Road into Essex Road will remain in place for all vehicles. You can view the scheme design by clicking here. 

The change is scheduled to be implemented over two separate Saturdays, 22 November and 29 November 2025, from 08:00am on both days. Notification letters will be sent locally with more details of the work.

Map showing location of banned right turn to be lifted for vehicles under 7.5t

 What’s changing at the junction

• There will be no changes to the physical layout of the junction.
• Signage and road markings will be updated to allow vehicles under 7.5 tonnes to turn right from New North Road into Essex Road at the signalised junction. 
• Three signal heads will be replaced to install a new demand-dependent, indicative green light arrow signal to assist vehicles making the right turn from New North Road, and to remove existing signage prohibiting the turn.
• Existing bus lanes and Advanced Stop Lines for cyclists will be retained.
• Pedestrian signal times will remain unchanged for people walking and wheeling.
• The overall signal cycle time will stay the same, with a slight reduction in green time for other stages to accommodate the new right-turn signal.

Project 2 – New North Academy School Street 

This project is still under development – an update will follow in due course.

Project 3 update – Essex Road crossing scheme 

We have implemented the Essex Road crossing scheme, incorporating changes to the original proposal based on feedback received during the 2023 consultation. You can view the scheme design by clicking here.

The scheme was delivered between March and July 2025 and opened fully in August 2025. 

Visualisation of the new crossing on Essex Road

Key features of the scheme include:   

• a new parallel, signalised crossing for walking, wheeling and cycling across Essex Road, with a connection to Rotherfield Street for people cycling
• new planting areas and upgraded street lighting. 
• a new traffic filter at the Canonbury Street junction with Essex Road, maintaining access for emergency services and people cycling

The information below is from 2023.

We would like to hear from local people about how we can improve the Essex Road area.

We’re proposing changes to Essex Road to help create more pleasant streets and make it easier and safer to walk, cycle and scoot, including outside of New North Academy.

Our proposals are designed to make it easier for vehicles to drive freely around the main roads, while reducing cut-through traffic around New North Academy.
 
The proposals include:

• Project 1: Allowing vehicles to turn right from Canonbury Road and New North Road into Essex Road. Currently, vehicles are not allowed to turn right, and this has contributed to vehicles cutting through Popham Road, Greenman Street, and the area around New North Academy. This proposal will make it easier for vehicles to travel on these roads and will help reduce the number of vehicles cutting through local streets.
• Project 2: Creating a more welcoming area outside New North Academy by creating a School Street on Popham Road. This will include introducing a banned left turn on Greenman Street into Essex Road to reduce through-traffic around the school.
• Project 3: Traffic filter at Canonbury Street and new crossing for pedestrians and people cycling from Rotherfield Street to Canonbury Street. This will allow us to create a new signalised pedestrian and cycle crossing, which will support active travel and make it easier to cross Essex Road. The crossing will form part of the future Regent’s Canal to Highgate cycleway.

The proposals will help to bring about a reduction in though-traffic on local roads, while the creation of the new signalised pedestrian and cycle crossing will provide a key new cycle route that connects safe cycling routes across Essex Road and Islington.

Map showing Essex Road Transport Improvement Projects

Transport projects for Essex Road

Project 1: Allowing vehicles to turn right from Canonbury Road and New North Road into Essex Road

We are proposing to:

• remove the right banned turn from Canonbury Road into Essex Road
• remove the right banned turn from New North Road into Essex Road.

Allowing vehicles to turn right from Canonbury Road and New North Road into Essex Road will mean that people who drive in the area are able to travel in all directions, without the need to cut through local roads.

Project 2: Creating a more welcoming area outside New North Academy by creating a School Street on Popham Road

We are proposing to implement:

• a School Street outside New North Academy on Popham Road and Greenman Street
• a left banned turn on Greenman Street into Essex Road
• additional greening and pavement improvement.

These changes will help reduce the number of vehicles travelling around the school and improve air quality outside the school gate. They will also support children’s development by making it easier and safer to walk, cycle, and wheel on the school run.

Project 3: Introducing a physical traffic filter on Canonbury Street, at the junction with Essex Road

• create a new pedestrian and cycle signal crossing at the junction of Canonbury Street and Rotherfield Street. This will involve moving the existing pedestrian signal crossing 20 metres north. Example of crossing: Youtube video of Bee Network, Gillbent Road parallel signalised crossing
• bring new cycle tracks to Essex Road, near to the proposed crossing. This will allow cycles to make safe turning movements in and out of Canonbury Street and Rotherfield Street
• introduce a new traffic filter on Canonbury Street at the junction with Essex Road. We will install new planters that motor vehicles will be unable to pass through
• remove 7 metres of resident and business permit parking and 6m of short stay parking bays on Canonbury Street, near the junction with Essex Road. This will create more turning space for vehicles around the new traffic filter
• create a more pleasant area for all through additional greening and pavement improvements.

The creation of the new traffic filter on Canonbury Street at the junction with Essex Road will enable us to introduce a proposed new crossing between Canonbury Street and Rotherfield Street. These improvements will bring significant benefits, such as making it easier to walk and cycle, improving the cycle network, and reducing road danger in the area.