Frequently asked questions

When will the project construction works start and finish?
When will you be introducing traffic filters in the Mildmay Liveable Neighbourhood area?
What are traffic filters?
Will anyone be exempt from the traffic filters?
When will you create a liveable neighbourhood in the Highbury New Park area and west of Mildmay?

    When will the project construction works start and finish?

    We started to construct the Mildmay Liveable Neighbourhood improvements from autumn 2024. We expect construction of the various measures to take around 12-18 months to complete. We will notify affected residents and businesses ahead of construction, and will work to keep any disruption to a minimum. We will keep you updated as the project progresses.

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    When will you be introducing traffic filters in the Mildmay Liveable Neighbourhood area?

    The first batch of traffic filtering measures as part of the Mildmay Liveable Neighbourhood project were introduced from Monday 27 October 2025. These traffic filters are located at the east end of Mildmay Road, at the east end of St Jude Street, and on King Henry’s Walk adjacent to the Adventure Playground.

    A fourth planned northbound-only bus gate on Boleyn Road, and the linked reversal of direction to the short one-way section of Boleyn Road (at its very southern end where it meets the A10) are both planned to be implemented at a later date. Islington Council continue to work closely with Hackney Council and Transport for London to progress these schemes, which together form a further part of the overall Mildmay Liveable Neighbourhood project.
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    What are traffic filters?

    Traffic filters are fixed points on local streets, which most motor vehicles are not permitted to drive through. (See our FAQ "Will anyone be exempt from the traffic filters?" to find out who will be permitted to drive through the traffic filters).

    Filters prevent motor vehicles from cutting through local streets in a neighbourhood, while still enabling people and visitors to drive in and out of their streets. 

    All addresses that can be reached by vehicle before the scheme is implemented will still be able to be reached by vehicle, but there will be reduced traffic in the area as people will not be able to take short-cuts through the area as part of wider motor vehicle journeys.

    You can find out more about traffic filters in Islington by visiting our FAQs page on our website.

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    Will anyone be exempt from the traffic filters?

    Most people will not be entitled to an exemption to drive through the traffic filters. Residents in the area (including people holding an Estate car parking permit or an on-street parking permit) do not automatically get an exemption to the traffic filters.

    This approach matches the other schemes already in place around other parts of the borough which have been implemented over the last few years, such as in parts of Canonbury, Highbury, St Peters, and Amwell. You can see a full map of these restrictions around the borough(External link).

    The "MIL" exemption permit allows people to drive through the traffic filters in the Mildmay LN area. This area bounded by Balls Pond Road, Mildmay Park, Newington Green, Matthias Road, and Boleyn Road. If you live in this area and hold a Blue Badge or Free Resident's Permit, you are eligible to get the "MIL" exemption permit.

    We also have an Individual Exemptions policy which gives exemptions to all Islington traffic filters to people whose health and wellbeing would be severely impacted by traffic filters.

    You can find out more about our Blue Badge holders exemptions policy(External link)(External link) and Individual exemptions policy(External link)(External link) on our website.

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    When will you create a liveable neighbourhood in the Highbury New Park area and west of Mildmay?

    In the future, we expect a separate liveable neighbourhood scheme will focus on the area west of Newington Green and Green Lanes and east of Highbury Barn, which includes Highbury New Park and Canonbury Station. We will be in contact with residents and businesses in this area in due course to hear your views about how we should improve this area.

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