Highbury Corner revamp linking roundabout to station gets the go-ahead from Islington Council

An artist impression of the plans for Highbury Corner. Photograph: Islington Council

A massive overhaul of Highbury Corner is expected to be approved by Islington Council tomorrow night (22 March) at a meeting of its executive.

The plans include linking green space on the roundabout with the entrance to Highbury and Islington Station, creating two-way traffic, closing some roads and creating new crossings for pedestrians and cyclists.

A report for the meeting states: “The proposal presents a unique opportunity to create a new and attractive place at the heart of the borough, unlocking part of the arboretum for informal recreation and seating, while easing pedestrian overcrowding and reducing dominance of motorised traffic.”

Under the plans, drivers will be banned from turning right into Canonbury Road from Upper Street and left onto Upper Street from Canonbury Road.

Highbury Station Road and Hampton Court, which are already closed for bridge construction works, would stay closed for cars permanently.

The southern one-way section of Corsica Street would also be closed for cars so bikes can cycle through the junction more safely without cars turning left into Corsica Street.

The 277 bus will no longer stop near Highbury Corner, with the daytime route being scrapped between Highbury and Dalston, but there will be extra buses on the number 30 route.

This article was amended at 4:35pm on Thursday 22 March 2018. The original article incorrectly stated Karen Thomas is Islington’s executive member for environment and transport and quoted her as the author of the report. However, it is Cllr Claudia Webbe, rather than Karen Thomas, who is Islington’s executive member for environment and transport. Karen Thomas was the co-author of the report, with Martijn Cooijmans.