Contents

Environment and Climate

Travel

The most popular method of travel in Bexley is by car followed by walking and then public transport

Highest method of travel is by car 56%, walking 23% and train 10% [1]

environment and climate

Active travel in 2020

Cycling

  • 6.8% of residents cycled at least once a month, 4.8% cycled at least once a week
  • 6.2% of residents cycled for leisure at least once a month, 3.5% cycled for leisure at least once a week
  • 2.8% of residents cycled for travel at least once a month, 2.6% cycled for travel at least once a week [2]

Walking

  • 67.5% of residents walked at least once a month, 57.5% walked at least once a week
  • 50.9% of residents walked for leisure at least once a month, 40.5% walked for leisure at least once a week
  • 40.8% of residents walked for travel at least once a month, 32% walked for travel at least once a week [2]

We are the 11th highest borough in London for the number of vehicles on the road and the 11th highest for cars specifically - both figures have been steadily rising until 2020. However, we do have lower levels of traffic than our neighbours (Greenwich, Bromley, Havering). [3]

We are the 8th highest borough in London for car ownership [4].  We are the 4th lowest borough in London for Road Traffic Collision deaths and serious injuries. [1]

While we have 12 rail stations and 34 bus routes, we are 31st in London for public transport usage. [1]

CO2

Climate & Energy

  • Our CO2 emissions are caused by domestic (39.2%), transport emissions (30. 6%), industry (11.1%), waste management (3.1%) and public sector (2.3%) [5]
  • Our emissions have declined 40.9% from 2005 to 2020 which is at a slower pace than London (43.4%) but Bexley emissions are lower than the London average [5]
  • Bexley has had a steady decline in emissions at the average rate of 2.7% per year [5]
  • Bexley is the 16th highest borough in London for consumption of electricity per household [6]
  • Bexley is the 16th highest borough in London for consumption of gas per household [7]

Green Space

  • we have 105 parks and open spaces and we have 32 playgrounds in Bexley [8]
  • we have 1110 hectares of designated Green Belt Land making us the 9th highest borough in London for green space [9]
  • 18% of Bexley is green belt land [9]

Bexley contains:

  • two geological Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) - Lesnes Abbey Woods in Belvedere and Wansunt Pit, in Crayford [10]
  • three Regionally Important Geological Site (RIGS) - North End Pit (Erith Park), Chalky Dell (Lesnes Abbey Woods) and Erith Submerged Forest and Saltings [10]
  • one Locally Important Geological Site (LIGS) - Parish's Pit in Erith [10]
  • 62 Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) [11]
  • 23 conservation areas [11]
parks and open spaces
recycling

Waste & Recycling

We are amongst the top boroughs in London for recycling household waste - almost half of our household waste is recycled [12]

Sources

  1. Mayor's Transport Strategy Outcomes data pack TfL- 2020
  2. Walking and Cycling statistics for England, DFT - 2020
  3. Traffic Flow by borough DFT - 2020
  4. Vehicle statistics by borough DFT - 2021
  5. Local authority greenhouse gas emissions dataset DBEIS - 2020
  6. Electricity consumption, DBEIS - 2020
  7. Gas Consumption DBEIS - 2020
  8. LBB Parks and Open Spaces - 2020
  9. Green belt statistics MHCLG - 2020/21
  10. SSSIs, RIGS and LIGS, London's Foundations - 2021
  11. SINCs and conservation areas, LBB Conservation heritage and biodiversity - 2022
  12. Household Waste Recycling Rates, borough DEFRA - 2021