Kennington Oval Reimagined

After considering all the data we have collected, and feedback received during the trial, the council has made the decision to make the Kennington Oval Reimagined scheme permanent. 

Context 

The Kennington Oval Reimagined trial was designed to make the neighbourhood safer, healthier and more climate resilient. The trial launched on 3 June 2024 under an Experimental Traffic Management Order (ETO). For 6 months (3 June 2024 - 3 December 2024) there was a public statutory objection period. 

In November 2025 we published data that showed the scheme was reducing overall traffic in the area, supporting the wider objectives of our Climate Action Plan (CAP), Transport Strategy and the Lambeth 2030 Borough Plan.  

The decision report for this can be viewed here: https://moderngov.lambeth.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=10076 

What is happening now? 

Permanent traffic order 

We have decided to make the scheme permanent, based on analysis of the consultation responses and data on the impact of the scheme. Monitoring from the Kennington Oval Reimagined shows that: 

• Traffic has dropped by an average of 34% across the internal roads of the trial area and by 2% on the surrounding boundary roads 
• Cycling has increased by an average of 41% across the internal roads of the trial area and by 11% on the surrounding boundary roads 

The traffic order for the project is now permanent. The infrastructure used for the trial will remain in place for now - there will be no visible changes to the Kennington Oval Reimagined scheme and how it looks on the ground. 

 In the longer term, this infrastructure may be upgraded with permanent materials. This would be subject to further engagement with the community and funding. Until that time, the current infrastructure will be maintained. 

Supporting improvements 

In addition to making the scheme permanent, a number of supporting measures have been identified based on feedback received during the trial, with the aim of further improving the area: 

• We have slightly shifted the planters at the north end of Bowling Green Street to improve vehicle access. 
• We’re planning to alter the arrangement of the Bowling Green Street traffic filter to include a collapsible bollard which will allow greater access to Emergency Services to pass through when required.  
• We will keep monitoring feedback about cycle speeds and support the police to enforce against illegal e-bikes which can cause road danger through excessive speeding.  
• In response to personal safety concerns that reference lighting, we will explore options for improving lighting on certain streets.  
• We will continue to monitor the traffic impacts on Clayton Street (which saw a 13% traffic increase - the only street which saw a traffic increase in the area), recognising that local development work may impact this. Findings from any further monitoring would inform any potential changes or improvements.  
• We will keep working with delivery companies to ensure they are aware of where they can load and unload, and to support their operations in the area. 

To further improve access, we identified specific changes relating to parking.  The council is therefore now consulting on introducing the following proposed amendments: 

• A new loading bay on Kennington Oval to serve properties on Harleyford Road 
• Double yellow lines near Clayton Street to allow for safer turning movements of larger vehicles from Kennington Oval into Clayton Street 
• A new taxi rank on Kennington Oval to serve local residents, and visitors to the Oval Cricket Ground and wider area. 
• St Mark’s Primary’s School Street on Kennington Oval is being reduced in size as the space outside of the school, from the school’s car park to Harleyford Road, is no longer accessible to motor vehicles.   

Between 16 January 2026 and 6 February 2026, there is an online statutory consultation which you can respond to. To respond to the statutory consultation, please follow the instructions below: 

• Visit our consultation portal www.consultation.appyway.com/lambeth 
• Select “Active Consultations”  
• Select “Kennington Oval - Parking amendments (ref.173)” 
• Click on “Submit Feedback” 

If you have any issues accessing the consultation portal or submitting your feedback, please contact the Transport Strategy Team through our online form https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/form/transport-strategy-project and quote “Kennington Oval - Parking amendments (ref.173)”. This contact form is provided only to support people to respond via the consultation portal. 

If you do not have access to the internet, you can telephone us on 020 7926 6799 to request a paper copy of the map showing the proposals. Please mention “Kennington Oval - Parking amendments (ref.173)” when you leave your message. Feedback may also be submitted by letter to: Transport Strategy (Community Services), London Borough of Lambeth, PO Box 80771, London, SW2 9QQ by no later than 6 February 2026.