Staff will trial electric vehicles and new facilities will encourage more people to walk and cycle to and from Homerton University Hospital, as part of a new Business Low Emission Neighbourhood (LEN).
The LEN will be delivered by Hackney Council and the Homerton Hospital Trust as a result of £128,400 of funding from the mayor of London’s Business Air Quality Fund.
Charging points will be installed across the hospital grounds to pave the way for the electric vehicle trial.
Walking routes to Hackney Central and Homerton Stations will be improved, with more ‘good quality’ cycle parking provided at the hospital.
These interventions are designed to help improve air quality and reduce congestion, and enhance the pedestrian environment for residents and visitors. Hackney Council will also work with local residents in the Homerton area to encourage them to walk and cycle more.
Cllr Feryal Demirci, cabinet member for neighbourhoods, transport and parks, said:
“I’m delighted to receive this funding which will help add to the work we are already doing to clean up the air across the borough.
“The Homerton is one of the biggest employers in Hackney, with thousands of people travelling to and from the site every day.
“We will use this funding to help reduce the number of polluting vehicles driven in the area around the hospital and enable people to switch to zero emission modes of transport – walking, cycling and electric vehicles.”
Chris Forster, director of estates and facilities at Homerton University Hospital, said:
“The Trust is really pleased to receive funding and looks forward to continue working with Hackney Council to improve air quality and the local environment.
“The Trust has worked hard to reduce its carbon emissions and has a long term strategy to do more working with partners and the local community.”
The new Business LEN will be the second to be introduced in Hackney, joining the City Fringe LEN which develops schemes that prioritise walking, cycling and electric vehicles.
27 February 2018