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The original 'Liveable Neighbourhoods' policy in London was intended for poorer communities with few or no other environmental advantages. Guidance on their use included ensuring 'robust' boundary roads - that is, the four lane highways typical of A roads outside inner London.
No creditable research demonstrates that such areas 'reduce' traffic. Both traffic reduction and pollution can be hard to analyse, but effectively, we all breathe the same air. The exception is that those living within 30 metres of major roads experience high levels of unmeasured particulates arising from brakeware and tyres, which are implicated in serious health conditions. Although 'Liveable Neighbourhoods' was abandoned, schemes such as the 'Hills and Vales' - essentially traffic reduction for a small and already environmentally privileged neighbourhood - were looking (unsuccessfully) to the scheme for funding when the pandemic struck. Council officers now claim that TfL Healthy Streets policy is being applied. The rushed implementation of government measures in 2020, to prevent a 'traffic-led' recovery from the pandemic, gave schemes all over London a share of available transport cash following a collapse in TfL revenues. Journalist Paul Wheeler, writing in OnLondon, sets out the case that politicians should pursue policies on streets and pollution that are rooted in democracy and social justice. Click here for Paul Wheeler's "Last Rites for the Covid LTNs". Meanwhile, policy emerging from Transport for London and the Mayor shows a clear trend towards road charging to end the tidal waves of traffic converging on inner London. Discussion is also heading towards distance-charging as distinct from the unpopular daily charge.
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