Sutton streets ranked among London's least healthy
The borough scored 30th out of 33 in the 2026 Healthy Streets Scorecard, with minimal protected cycle tracks.
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Sutton's streets have been revealed as among the least healthy in London, according to the 2026 Healthy Streets Scorecard. The borough achieved an overall score of 1.79 out of 10, placing it 30th out of 33 boroughs. This position means Sutton is among the four lowest-performing areas in the capital, with only Bexley, Hillingdon, and Havering scoring lower.
The Healthy Streets Scorecard evaluates how effectively boroughs are making travel easier and safer for residents who choose to walk, cycle, or use public transport over private cars. It examines ten key measures, including the prevalence of speed limits, dedicated cycle routes, School Streets initiatives, bus lanes, and parking restrictions.
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Signs of Progress Amidst Low Ranking
Despite its low overall ranking, Sutton shows some positive trends. The proportion of journeys made by walking, cycling, or public transport has increased from 45.8% to 47.2%. Additionally, the number of adults who regularly walk has risen to 30.3%. Participation in the Travel for Life programme, which encourages active and safe travel for children and families, has also seen an increase, reaching 28.3% of schools.
The measure for polluting vehicles within the borough has also improved, decreasing from 6.51 to 6.30. However, these improvements have not significantly altered Sutton's standing in the scorecard.
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Limited Infrastructure for Active Travel
The scorecard highlights that Sutton continues to have limited infrastructure to support safer and easier walking, cycling, and public transport use. Only 25.7% of roads have a 20mph speed limit, and Low Traffic Neighbourhoods cover 14.1% of the borough. Controlled Parking Zones are in place across 16.3% of Sutton.
School Streets, which restrict traffic outside schools during busy periods, are implemented at 16 locations, covering 23.5% of the borough's schools. Bus priority measures, such as bus lanes, are present on just 4.1% of roads. Critically, protected cycle tracks, designed to offer safe spaces for cyclists, cover only 1.8% of Sutton. The proportion of residents regularly cycling has consequently fallen to 8.4%, and the borough still experiences one of London's higher cyclist casualty rates.
Car ownership remains high, with only 26% of households in Sutton being car-free.
Comparison with Other Boroughs
The City of London topped the Healthy Streets Scorecard with a score of 7.95 out of 10. It was followed by Islington with 7.61 and Hackney with 7.46. Waltham Forest was recognised as the 'star improver' for climbing four places in the rankings.
Sutton Council has been contacted to outline its plans for improving the borough's street infrastructure and its performance in the Healthy Streets Scorecard over the next twelve months.
Questions this report answers
+What is the Healthy Streets Scorecard?
The Healthy Streets Scorecard is an assessment that evaluates London boroughs on how well they make it easier and safer for people to walk, cycle, and use public transport. It considers ten measures, including speed limits, cycle routes, School Streets, bus lanes, and parking controls.
+How did Sutton perform in the 2026 scorecard?
Sutton ranked 30th out of 33 boroughs with an overall score of 1.79 out of 10. This places it among the lowest-performing boroughs in London, with minimal infrastructure for active travel, such as protected cycle tracks.
+Are there any positive signs in Sutton's transport data?
Yes, more journeys in Sutton are now being made by walking, cycling, or public transport, rising to 47.2%. The number of adults who regularly walk has also increased, and participation in school travel programmes is up.
+What are Sutton Council's plans for improvement?
Sutton Council has been asked about its plans to improve the borough's streets and its position in the Healthy Streets Scorecard over the next twelve months. Specific details of these plans have not yet been released.
WE FILE
No invented reporter. No hidden source trail.
The London Travel Desk assembled this report from the outlets listed below. Language-model drafting is reviewed under human editorial supervision, with scoring notes and corrections kept visible.
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