TfL proposals for a new high-quality Cycleway between Wembley and Willesden Junction

 From Transport for London

Since April 2019, we have been working closely with Brent Council to develop a scheme that would make it easier for local people to walk and cycle between Wembley and Willesden Junction.

Our proposals for a new high-quality Cycleway between Wembley and Willesden Junction would make streets in the area safer and more pleasant by enabling people to walk and cycle more and drive less. This would help us to reduce air pollution, carbon emissions and congestion in the area.

The proposals would support local businesses by keeping existing loading and parking bays and introducing new and improved pedestrian crossings over Harrow Road. Better street lighting and more trees and plants will help make the area feel safer and more welcoming.

An update on previous engagement

From January to March 2020, we spoke with communities in the Wembley, Stonebridge, and Harlesden neighbourhoods to help us develop our proposals so that they meet local priorities. We have now published a detailed report on this engagement. The report details who we spoke with, what we found, and includes actions and recommendations that we have taken forward. The pandemic delayed the publication of this report and the project overall until now as we were forced to pause work on some of our walking and cycling schemes.

Phase 1: Wembley Central station to Harlesden station

In Autumn 2022, vital investment was secured as part of TfL’s funding agreement with Government to take forward our key priority Healthy Streets schemes to make the capital's roads safer and more attractive for those walking and cycling.

We and Brent Council have since agreed to progress the first phase of walking and cycling improvements between Wembley Central station and Harlesden station. 

 Frequently Asked Questions

Why have you chosen this area of Brent for this scheme?

Cycling in London has grown significantly over the past 15 years. There are now more than 670,000 cycle trips a day in London, an increase of over 130% since 2000. 

In 2017, TfL published its latest Strategic Cycling Analysis (SCA) - the latest datasets, forecasts and models showing potential locations across London where cycling demand, current and future, would justify investment.

The SCA identified the Wembley to Willesden Junction corridor as being on one of the top six routes in London with the greatest potential future demand for cycling, but only if we provide new facilities to help and encourage people to cycle.

A fully segregated cycleway was originally considered on main roads between Wembley and Willesden Junction. In light of local concerns around road congestion this has since been scaled back to a less intrusive scheme based mostly on quiet residential back streets, with some main road segregated sections where impacts on traffic are expected to be low.

Work on this scheme was paused in March 2020 due to the pandemic and resumed in autumn 2022 following our financial settlement with Government, which provides us with funding to spring 2024. 

What benefits does this scheme aim to bring to the local community?

Seven people tragically lost their lives while cycling in London in 2022. That is simply unacceptable.

Between 2015 and 2018, 24 collisions on between Wembley and Willesden Junction involved cyclists. In the same period 93 collisions involved pedestrians. One person sadly lost their life. 

Between 22 January 2018 and 28 December 2020, 90 collisions occurred on Harrow Road (where we are proposing to build a section of segregated cycle track and improve pedestrian crossings) resulting in 109 casualties. Nine of these casualties were cyclists. Fourteen were pedestrians, two of which sadly suffered serious injuries.

We would improve this by providing a safe cycle route connecting Wembley Central and Harlesden stations. Crossing the A406 north circular is particularly perilous and puts many would-be cyclists off getting on a bike in the first place. 

Our proposals will provide a fully segregated cycle track over the north circular, giving cyclists of all confidence levels a safe route between communities on the north and south of this busy junction for the first time. Making cycling a safe, attractive, genuinely viable alternative to completing local journeys by car would decrease the reliance on driving, reduce congestion, make the area more walkable, and improve air quality.

What is Vision Zero for London?

Vision Zero represents our aim to eradicate deaths and serious injuries from our roads and make London a safer, healthier and greener place by 2041.   

Major cities around the world are taking a stand to end the toll of deaths and injury seen on their roads and transport networks by committing to Vision Zero. London is at the forefront of this approach and the Mayor's Transport Strategy sets out the goal that, by 2041, all deaths and serious injuries will be eliminated from London's transport network. 

It is neither inevitable nor acceptable that anyone should be killed or seriously injured when travelling in London. When we leave our homes each day, we should feel safe and confident about the journey ahead. 

The proposals for a safe walking and cycling route between Wembley Central and Harlesden stations are part of the work we are doing towards meeting the Vision Zero.

Will this scheme cause more congestion in the area, especially on Wembley Stadium event days?

The first phase of the scheme - between Wembley Central and Harlesden stations - will run mostly along quiet residential streets. The only section of the scheme currently proposed on main roads is the section on the A404 Harrow Road/Brentfield which crosses the north circular between Sylvia Gardens and First Drive. 

We continue to engage with Brent Council and The Football Association / Wembley Stadium about post-event traffic arrangements. As we are not proposing to reduce road capacity on Harrow Road southbound towards the north circular (which is the main exit route for most traffic after events) we do not anticipate the scheme will increase congestion. This is something that we, The FA and Brent Council will continue to monitor very closely.

Will the residential streets you are proposing to run the scheme along be able to cope with the predicted number of cyclists using the scheme?

• North side of A406: London Road, Tokyngton Avenue, Sylvia Gardens
• South side of A406. First Drive, Stonebridge Park, Albert Terrace, Milton Avenue, Shelley Road, Mordaunt Road

We are confident that these streets will provide more than enough safe space for cyclists without impacting on residents who will continue to be able to access and park outside their homes.

In the future, should the scheme prove popular enough that cyclist numbers increase to a level where these streets can no longer safely accommodate them, we will consider bringing forward  proposals for a fully segregated cycle track along main roads between Wembley Central and Willesden Junction stations. 

In spring 2023 we plan to launch a public consultation on proposals for this first phase.

If you want to find out more about this project, email us at: localcommunitiesandpartnerships@tfl.gov.uk(External link) and quote “Wembley to Willesden” in the subject line.