Safer, Greener, Healthier Braintree

Due to its large rural location and fragmented bus and cycle networks, Braintree has a high reliance on car use, with car ownership - at 83% - higher than the regional or national average. With traffic returning to pre-pandemic levels, it’s important to make changes to meet our carbon zero targets, cut air pollution and reduce congestion so that the town can be used and enjoyed for generations to come.

Walking, cycling, or using public transport for a short journey just twice a week could see a reduction of 50,000 car journeys from within the town.

The active travel 2 works for Braintree include:

• A new cycle route which will connect the train station with the town centre and links to Coggeshall Road. The vision is to encourage walking and cycling through the town centre and onto Panfield Lane.
• A segregated cycleway and footways installed on each side of Panfield Lane with a 20mph limit. A further 20mph limit has been implemented on Station Approach.
• The signalised crossing on South Street has been widened to provide more space for both cyclists and pedestrians.
• Introducing a 20mph speed limit on Fairfield Road, connecting with Manor street and the Avenue to Coggeshall Road.
• A partially segregated cycleway on Coggeshall Road, Rayne Road and Bank Street will be installed summer 2023.
• Healthy School Street zones have been introduced on Gilchrist Lane and Lancaster Way including temporary street art, "20s Plenty" signage and pencil bollards.

Please see the story mapper in the section below which sets out the original scheme details consulted on between May and July 2021.