Plans that will see a rethink on London’s streets to encourage walking and improve air quality have been unveiled.

London’s first Walking Action Plan targets an extra million walking trips a day

The Mayor of London wants to increase the proportion of people walking, cycling and taking public transport to 80% of journeys by 2041, from 63% now, and is investing £2.2bn to help drive this. The funds will see streets will be designed, built and managed to support people walking – with new infrastructure, better signposting and maps, and more pedestrian crossings.

The new plans have been unveiled by London’s first ever walking and cycling commissioner, Will Norman, supported by Public Health England (PHE), which has set out that it wants London to become the most walkable city in the world.

Norman said: “By making it easier for Londoners to leave their cars at home and walk instead, it will tackle the air pollution crisis and reduce congestion as London’s population continues to grow. It will have a truly transformational impact on our city.”

Measures already adopted by the Mayor to improve air quality include the introduction last year of the T-Charge in central London, which will be replaced by the Ultra-Low Emission Zone in 2019 – 17 months earlier than originally planned – before being expanded to the North and South Circular roads in 2021.

The Mayor also announced recently that London could get its first electric vehicle only ‘Zero Emission Zones’ by 2020.