Mayor's Air Quality Fund
Mayor's Air Quality Fund- Burnt Oak Low Emission Neighbourhood
On 9th March 2024 the Mayor of London announced that Barnet Council had successfully been awarded nearly £600,000 towards creating a Burnt Oak Low Emissions Neighbourhood.
The funding runs from 2024/2025 – 2026/2027.
It covers the entire neighbourhood of Burnt Oak with a particular focus on air quality.
The key problems Burnt Oak are:
High concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) along Watling Avenue which exceed World Health Organisation levels and national air quality objective.
Lack of greening on the high street and sustainable connections to greenspaces.
Life expectancy is the lowest in the borough.
Lower percentage of physically active people in Burnt Oak in comparison with other areas of the borough.
Obesity levels of children are high.
To tackle these problems we are looking to deliver the following interventions:
Improved public realm, greening and cycle parking
Delivery of Cycleway 51 (part of Barnet Loop)
Creating a circular economy with businesses
Pedestrianising Barnfield Road temporarily
Air Quality campaigns including anti-idling outside schools / bus shelter advertising and other visual assets
Pedometer challenge for Burnt Oak schools
Air Quality monitors to be installed
Collaborating with Middlesex University to use Portable Air Quality Monitors in the area
Undertake surveys to assess the before and after
We hope the overall benefits of the Low Emission Neighbourhood will be:
Benefit | Quantified Results |
Reduced NO2 | Below 40 μg/m3 |
Reduced PM | Below 15 μg/m3 for PM10 and between 5-10 μg/m3 for PM2.5 |
Increased Footfall / People walking | Increased footfall above 659 people per peak hour on Watling Avenue |
More welcoming high street | Less people say area is not welcoming, ideally below 50% |
Increased cycling | 54% increase in people cycling along Barnet Loop (Cycleway 51) |
Reduced Crime | Under 163 crimes per month in Burnt Oak |
Increased sustainable school travel | Increase in children stating they use sustainable modes to travel to school |