Amhurst Road Transformation Scheme rebalances the corridor by reducing through traffic, improving walking, cycling and bus travel, and creating greener, safer public spaces.

The Hackney Central Town Centre Strategy (2023, We Made That) sets out the community's vision for making Hackney Central more welcoming, greener, and safer enhancing its cultural and community offer, increasing footfall, supporting local businesses, and improving public spaces for people to come together.

To translate this vision into concrete physical, economic, and environmental change, the LRF transformation programme was established as the delivery mechanism for the Strategy's key ambitions. Rooted in the 'Green and Resilient Hackney Central' theme, the programme is designed to make the town centre fairer, greener, and safer through a coordinated set of interventions.

At the project level, this means creating a healthier town centre gateway through public space improvements, supporting active travel, and reducing traffic. Specific interventions include intensive greening through new pocket and linear parks, removing through traffic from Amhurst Road, and improving junctions and transport gateways.

Historically, Amhurst Road has functioned as a heavily trafficked urban corridor, creating separation between surrounding residential neighbourhoods and Hackney Central town centre. Despite its strategic location, the street environment has prioritised vehicular throughout over pedestrian connectivity, safety and public realm quality.

The scheme introduces a coordinated package of interventions to address these challenges, including targeted traffic management measures, reallocation of carriageway space, junction simplification and enhanced pedestrian crossing provision at key desire lines. These transport changes are complemented by public realm improvements and the introduction of greening and sustainable drainage features, enhancing both environmental performance and street character.

The result is a calmer, more legible and more accessible corridor that strengthens local connectivity, improves conditions for walking and cycling, and supports more reliable bus movement through reduced conflict and improved network efficiency. Amhurst Road is focused on improving connectivity, reducing severance, enhancing climate resilience and rebalancing the town centre around sustainable movement and public space. Within this wider context, Amhurst Road acts as a key corridor intervention that helps reconnect surrounding neighbourhoods, improve access to Hackney Central town centre and support a healthier, greener and more resilient urban environment. Amhurst Road Transformation Scheme is a corridor-scale transport and public realm intervention that rebalances one of the area’s key north–south routes in favour of people, place and sustainable movement.