School Streets in Peterborough

We launched our School Streets initiative in 2020 following a successful bid to the UK Government’s Emergency Active Travel Fund. Initially as response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the scheme aimed to create safer, cleaner and more spacious environments around schools by temporarily restricting motor vehicle access during peak drop-off and pick-up times.

Implementation of School Streets in Peterborough

The initiative involves the use of Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) to close roads outside school entrances during opening and closing times. These closures transform the streets into pedestrian, cycle, and scooter zones, encouraging active travel and reducing congestion and improving air quality.

As of mid-2025, fourteen schools and nurseries are actively participating, with three more in the pipeline. Schools currently involved include:

• Southfields Primary
• St Michael’s Church
• Lime Academy Parnwell
• St Thomas More Catholic Primary School
• St John Fisher Catholic High School
• Brewster Avenue Infant & Nursery
• Orton St John Pre-School
• St Michael’s Pre School
• St Johns Church (Orton) Primary
• Stanground St Johns Primary
• Gladstone Primary Academy (Bourges Boulevard)
• Queens Drive Infant School
• Little Stars Day Nursery (Queens Drive West)
• Gunthorpe Primary (temporarily suspended)

Impact

The School Streets initiative has delivered multiple benefits:

• Improved safety for children and families during school commutes.
• Reduced air pollution and traffic congestion at school gates.
• Increased physical activity through walking, cycling, and scooting.
• Enhanced community engagement, with schools and residents actively involved.

Importantly, all participating schools have recorded an increase in active travel, with a reduction in car journeys. Monitoring data shows an 18% increase in walking and cycling, demonstrating the scheme’s effectiveness in promoting healthier travel habits.

The “Road” Ahead

Peterborough’s School Streets initiative exemplifies how local authorities can foster safe, active, and community-led environments around schools. Its success lies in strong partnerships, low-cost implementation, and a shared vision for healthier urban spaces and Peterborough City Council remains committed to expanding the scheme. With continued interest from schools and support from groups like Mums for Lungs, the council is evolving the initiative to ensure long-term sustainability and wider adoption.

To ensure the long-term sustainability of the School Streets initiative, Peterborough City Council is exploring ways to reduce the reliance on school staff and volunteers for daily operations.

A key development has been the installation of an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera at one School Street site. This technology allows for automated enforcement, removing the need for manual supervision and ensuring consistent compliance with traffic restrictions.

This pilot installation marks a significant step forward in the evolution of the scheme. The council is now actively seeking funding opportunities to roll out ANPR cameras at additional sites, with the goal of making School Streets more scalable, self-sustaining, and resilient over time.

By combining community engagement with smart enforcement, Peterborough is setting a strong example of how School Streets can evolve from temporary interventions into permanent, transformative infrastructure for safer and healthier school environments.

Any schools, parents or residents that want to request that a scheme is implemented outside of schools can contact – Rebecca.Presland@peterborough.gov.uk for further details.