A Salford neighbourhood could change forever in plans to ‘open’ the streets for people and bring in new restrictions for cars.

The Islington ‘active neighbourhood’ scheme is aiming to completely transform how it feels to live in the area and move around.

It covers an estate of high-rise tower blocks and terraced houses located between the busy routes of Oldfield Road, Chapel Street, and Trinity Way in central Salford.

The area has a primary school, Islington Park, and is home to Islington Mill music and arts venue.

A Salford council report explained that the neighbourhood is suffering from commuter traffic clogging up local roads as drivers search for short cuts on their journeys.

The report explains the aims of the new active neighbourhood plans: ‘The objective is to open the streets up for residents, businesses and visitors, while limiting vehicular movements to prevent general traffic from using local roads as a cut-through between Chapel Street and Oldfield Road.

‘People in ‘filtered neighbourhoods’ benefit from living in areas with less motor vehicle traffic, significantly improved air quality, and quieter and safer streets without fast-moving vehicles.’

The area was chosen because of longstanding issues with congestion.

The busy roads surrounding the estate carry ‘in the region of 20,000 – 35,000 vehicles per day’, Salford council said.

The council’s report continued: ‘During peak travel times when there is congestion on the road network, motorists will seek alternative local routes to reduce their journey times which imposes the undesirable impacts of noise and air pollution as well as road safety risks on the local community.’

A raft of changes are being brought in to change things in Islington.

It includes a new ‘prohibition of motor vehicles restriction’ on Rocket Way, creating a ‘pedestrian and cycle zone’ along East Ordsall Lane, and a new ‘prohibition of waiting on footways’ order to be in effect at all times.

Other changes will see new ‘no waiting’ and ‘no loading’ restrictions for vehicles, and new ‘no stopping on school entrance’ markings outside the local primary school.

There will also be ‘new and updated extents’ of disabled parking bays, goods loading parking spaces, and ‘limited waiting’ parking areas.

The changes could be funded through ‘external sources such as Bee Network / Active Travel allocations and developer contributions’, Salford council’s report stated.

The move follows other major changes in the area such as new cycling lanes on Chapel Street, which is one of the busiest arteries in Salford city centre.

A series of permanent traffic regulation orders in Islington were signed off by the council earlier this month ahead of the change.

Labour Councillor Mike McCusker said:

“Salford City Council has developed a comprehensive plan for our city centre designed to reduce reliance on private cars and encourage people to travel by walking, cycling, and using public transport.

“There is clear evidence that this approach is working. Active travel across Greater Manchester surged to more than 700m trips last year, an increase of almost 200m since 2021.

“In Islington, our objective is to create streets that are open, accessible, and welcoming for residents, businesses, and visitors, while preventing general traffic from using local roads as a shortcut between Chapel Street and Oldfield Road.

“Residents will benefit from living in an area with less traffic, improved air quality, and quieter, safer streets free from fast‑moving vehicles.

“Drivers and bus passengers on the main roads will also benefit, as fewer cars cutting through local streets will help improve journey times and reduce congestion.”