Mayor of London coughs up £130k to cut air pollution in Hackney

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has stumped up £130,000 for Hackney Council and Homerton Hospital Trust to jointly create a Business Low Emission Neighbourhood (LEN).

The project will see hospital staff trial electric vehicles, with charging points to be installed across the grounds.

Hackney Council says the cash from the Mayor’s Business Air Quality Fund will also be used to improve walking routes to Hackney Central and Homerton stations, and to introduce more cycle parking at the hospital.

The borough’s neighbourhoods and transport chief Cllr Feryal Demirci 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.”

It is hoped the interventions will help reduce the hospital’s impact on local air quality and congestion.

The council says it will also work with Homerton residents to encourage them to walk and cycle more.

Chris Forster, the hospital’s estates director, 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.”

If the project is successful, Homerton will become the second Business LEN in Hackney.

Work on the City Fringe LEN, which covers Shoreditch and Old Street, began last year.