Low traffic neighbourhood LTN
A low traffic neighbourhood (LTN) is a scheme where motor vehicle traffic in residential streets is greatly reduced. Other terms describing similar approaches to highway and neighbourhood planning include: homezones or home zone residential areas, traffic management schemes, people friendly streets, modal filters, play streets, school street schemes, pedestrian priority schemes, pedestrian priority streets and so on.
The definition of a low traffic neighbourhood (LTN) used in the Statutory guidance - Implementing low traffic neighbourhoods published by the UK government reads "An area-wide traffic management scheme aimed at reducing or removing through traffic from residential areas, put in place using traffic signed restrictions or physical measures such as planters or bollards."
Sustrans defines the way low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) are created as being "by minimising the amount of traffic that comes from vehicles using the streets to get to another destination. This is often referred to as ‘through-traffic’ or ‘rat-running’. Private motorised vehicles still have easy access to all homes and businesses without driving directly through the neighbourhood. This opens up networks of streets so people can safely travel through the area on foot, bicycle, by wheeling or by bus. Emergency vehicles can also be prioritised to reach their destinations quicker.
"Traffic is reduced by using temporary or permanent barriers called “modal filters”. These can include putting up bollards or planters. Or they can be camera operated. Residents and businesses still have access to the neighbourhood by motor vehicle using different routes, but through-traffic is greatly reduced." Low Traffic Neighbourhoods; Research report. March 2024
In 2023 the Department for Transport commissioned a review of low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs)
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- 15 minute city.
- Accessible.
- Are electric bikes the future?
- Close proximity.
- Connectivity.
- Cycling and walking plan.
- Designing for pedestrians.
- Integrated transport system.
- London car charging infrastructure.
- Low traffic neighbourhood LTN
- Pathway
- Pavement.
- Pedestrianised.
- Pedestrian shed.
- Pedestrian priority street.
- Pop-up cycle lanes.
- Road traffic management.
- Safe pedestrian route.
- Sustainable transport.
- Terraced houses and the public realm.
- Transport assessment.
- Types of road and street.
- Walkable catchment.
- Walking distance.
Featured articles and news
Shortlist for the 2025 Roofscape Design Awards
Talent and innovation showcase announcement from the trussed rafter industry.
OpenUSD possibilities: Look before you leap
Being ready for the OpenUSD solutions set to transform architecture and design.
Global Asbestos Awareness Week 2025
Highlighting the continuing threat to trades persons.
Retrofit of Buildings, a CIOB Technical Publication
Now available in Arabic and Chinese aswell as English.
The context, schemes, standards, roles and relevance of the Building Safety Act.
Retrofit 25 – What's Stopping Us?
Exhibition Opens at The Building Centre.
Types of work to existing buildings
A simple circular economy wiki breakdown with further links.
A threat to the creativity that makes London special.
How can digital twins boost profitability within construction?
The smart construction dashboard, as-built data and site changes forming an accurate digital twin.
Unlocking surplus public defence land and more to speed up the delivery of housing.
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill
An outline of the bill with a mix of reactions on potential impacts from IHBC, CIEEM, CIC, ACE and EIC.
Farnborough College Unveils its Half-house for Sustainable Construction Training.
Spring Statement 2025 with reactions from industry
Confirming previously announced funding, and welfare changes amid adjusted growth forecast.
Scottish Government responds to Grenfell report
As fund for unsafe cladding assessments is launched.
CLC and BSR process map for HRB approvals
One of the initial outputs of their weekly BSR meetings.
Building Safety Levy technical consultation response
Details of the planned levy now due in 2026.
Great British Energy install solar on school and NHS sites
200 schools and 200 NHS sites to get solar systems, as first project of the newly formed government initiative.
600 million for 60,000 more skilled construction workers
Announced by Treasury ahead of the Spring Statement.