The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced that £69m per year will now go to boroughs to help them deliver even more School Streets.
The funding will help grow the capital’s growing network of School Streets, which restrict car access to streets outside schools at drop off and pick up times.
First introduced in Camden in 2017, there are now 547 across nearly every London borough with a quarter of primary schools now located on School Streets.
Nearly all schools and colleges (97%) in outer London still exceed revised air quality targets set by the World Health Organization.
Mayor Khan commented: ‘School Streets are a key tool in helping to reduce air pollution around schools. They have made a massive difference to the way our children travel and there are now more children than ever in London benefiting from cleaner air, less congestion and safer roads.
‘Despite progress being made, air quality around schools in outer London is still unacceptably poor which is why I have consulted to expand the Ultra-Low Emission Zone London-wide - to help save lives and build a better, greener and cleaner London for everyone.
‘Even so, I can’t do it alone. The Government must stop disregarding the dangers of air pollution and act now to introduce bolder air quality targets under the Environment Act, to protect the next generation from the scourge of toxic air.’
Penny Rees, Transport for London's (TfL) head of Healthy Streets Investment, said: ‘Enabling parents and children to walk, cycle or scoot to and from school has so many benefits and is a vital part of making our capital safer, healthier and more sustainable.
‘We’re delighted to see the School Streets network continue to grow, improving air quality across our capital. We’ll continue to work closely with schools, local communities and boroughs as we deliver further schemes across London so that all children can breathe cleaner air on their journey to and from school.’
