Holborn Liveable Neighbourhood
Transforming Holborn: Delivering a Major Liveable Neighbourhood Scheme
The Challenge
The London Borough of Camden commissioned NRP to lead the Holborn Liveable Neighbourhood programme to Transport for London’s Gate 2 approval stage. The project covers a one‑square‑kilometre area in central London; one of the city’s busiest pedestrian and cycling environments, but also an area with a long‑standing poor safety record, including several serious cycling incidents.
Its delivery would provide wide-ranging benefits to the Holborn area through the prioritisation and improved safety of sustainable transport modes. This will help to support the growing number of residents, visitors, and businesses, as well as the local economy and delivers on Camden Council’s Climate Action Plan and We Make Camden vision as well as Mayor’s Transport Strategy, which focuses on the ‘Healthy Streets Approach.’
The Solution
NRP led the development of the scheme, providing; project management and coordination; feasibility and concept design; traffic modelling and impact assessments; stakeholder engagement; and reporting and documentation for TfL Gate 2 approval.
Working in close collaboration with Camden and LDA, the project’s Landscape Architects, the team developed an ambitious but deliverable proposal that includes:
- 6,000+ m² of additional footway and pedestrian space
- 16 new or enhanced public spaces
- 5 new and 22 upgraded controlled pedestrian crossings
- Cycle‑safety improvements at 13 signalised junctions and multiple priority junctions
- Over 1 km of new segregated cycle infrastructure
- Wider, more direct crossings and improved pedestrian comfort
- 400 m of new bus‑ and cycle‑only links
- 24‑hour bus lane operations, with off‑peak loading where appropriate
- Rationalised parking and loading arrangements
- Improved cycling permeability across the network
NRP ensured that all design, modelling, and reporting met both Camden and TfL requirements, while enabling the scheme to progress within compressed timescales
The Results
Through coordinated working with Camden and LDA, NRP delivered:
- A robust and evidence‑led feasibility and concept design package, successfully progressing the scheme through TfL’s Gate 2 approval process.
- A comprehensive set of proposals offering major safety, public realm, and sustainability benefits.
- A clear pathway for delivery that builds upon emergency safety interventions and accelerates long‑term improvements for walking and cycling.
The Holborn Liveable Neighbourhood now stands as a flagship initiative for Camden, set to transform one of London’s busiest districts into a safer, greener, and more welcoming environment for all.
Client:
London Borough of CamdenLocation:
Holborn, LondonSector:
Highways and InfrastructureServices:
Traffic Engineering & Modelling
