Introduction
In an effort to enhance road safety and improve the quality of life in our
communities, we are excited to introduce the new 20mph policy. The
policy allows communities greater opportunity to reduce the speed limit,
where appropriate, in residential and high-pedestrian areas to 20mph.
By implementing this policy, we hope to create safer environments for
pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike.
The decision to lower speed limits is backed by extensive research and
successful case studies from other regions. Studies have shown that
reducing speed limits can significantly decrease the number and severity of
road accidents. Additionally, slower speeds contribute to a more pleasant
and liveable community, encouraging outdoor activities and fostering a
sense of neighbourhood cohesion.
We will work closely with local communities to ensure smooth
implementation and compliance.
Together, we can make our streets safer and more
enjoyable for everyone.
The 20mph assessment process
The new policy is focused on the function of the road and actual speeds.
This means where communities want lower speed limits, and the speeds
are already low, the presumption in favour of a lower limit will apply. To aid
decision making and provide local communities a clear understanding we
have provided criteria for when a 20mph speed limit might be acceptable,
and the considerations for ensuring good compliance with the new limit.
20mph
Policy
6
1Sufiolk County Council 20mph PolicyVersion 1 | February 2026

The process for communities to apply for a 20mph limit
Needs the approval of
County Councillor(s)
and formal approval
by Parish/Town
Council, following an
area wide
consultation
Officers will create
a 20 mph Design
Guide/Framework
to assist Parishes In
deciding if 20 mph
will be appropriate
Signing alone 20 mph
technically feasible
20 mph only
acceptable with
traffic calming, which
will require Pariah
funding
20 mph unlikely
to be technically
acceptable without
extensive and
complex, locally
funded, traffic
calming
measures
Community
Request
Community/
Councillor Fund
Speed Surveys
This will require the
technical advice and
approval of officers
to ensure that the
correct number /
location of surveys
are selected
Mean Speeds less than
28 mph
Mean Speeds between
28 and 32 mph
Mean Speeds higher
than 32 mph
2Suffiolk County Council 20mph PolicyVersion 1 | February 2026

The local community or councillor will then have to fund speed surveys in
locations agreed as being representative with SCC officers. Existing data
may already exist and may be used instead if considered suitable by officers.
Once the survey data has been reviewed a recommendation will be made
based on the observed traffic speeds.
Once the assessment has been made, and a recommendation provided,
the scheme can progress to the design stage if sufficient local funding is
available for both the estimated costs of design and construction, based on
other similar projects.
Additional considerations
Primary consideration will be given to the function of the location. Where
the focus is on ‘place’ and significant numbers of more vulnerable road
users are likely to be present, support is likely to be forthcoming. However,
where the focus of the road is on ‘movement’ and traffic speeds and / or
volumes are naturally higher, support is unlikely.
Requests are therefore unlikely to be taken forward on the major roads,
such as the Major Road Network (including the A12 and A140 for example).
Generally, the local community would arrange the engagement and
consultation. However, in larger towns only a small number of streets
may be affected and therefore consulted. The relevant local County
Councillor(s) will have a key role in this situation to bring a scheme forward.
A minimum length of 600m for a speed limit would be expected, but 400m
could be considered, especially if covering multiple roads.
The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) recommends 24mph as the
threshold for signed only limits and this position is maintained locally by
Suffolk Police. The Police may formally object to individual schemes on a
The initial request would come from the local community, typically a
parish or town council. It would need the support of the local County
Councillor(s) and be based on meaningful local engagement to test
the local appetite. This should show clear support from a Parish survey
or similar consultation (e.g. through a neighbourhood plan). County
Councillors are encouraged to engage with the Community Liaison
Engineer in the first instance.
Guidance is provided for local communities as to where 20mph speed
limits are generally successful, and where they are not, to prevent too much
abortive work being carried out by the community. See the Guidance note
for local communities.
Observed
mean traffic speeds
Acceptability of 20
mph speed limit
Expected measures
Below 28 mph Likely
to be acceptable.
Sign only speed limit.
Gateway signing for
conspicuous entrance
and compliance
would be recommended
8–32 mph Unlikely to be
acceptable
with signing alone.
Gateway signing,
traffic calming
throughout the area.
Above 32 mph Unlikely to be
acceptable without
extensive measures.
Extensive and high
influence traffic
calming (e.g., road
humps, cushions,
buildouts, chicanes),
illumination to
avoid hazards at
night, subject to
Road Safety Audit.
3Suffolk County Council 20mph PolicyVersion 1 | February 2026

Specific circumstances
regarding schools
Speeding in the vicinity of schools can create additional risk, particularly for
young people. Typically, around a quarter of pedestrian KSI accidents are
under 16 years of age. Children have a less developed sense of the speed of
approaching vehicles than adults when the vehicle is travelling in excess of
20mph and this can cause them to take on additional risks.
When considering the implementation of a 20mph limit around a school,
opportunities to extend the scheme to produce a coherent ‘area’ plan
should be taken. Driver compliance is lower for ‘school only’ schemes and
increases in direct proportion to the length of the 20mph limit. It is likely
that the minimum length expected for other 20mph limits would not apply
outside schools, and would be the exception to shorter lengths. Other
measures such as warning signs to highlight the presence of both the
school and the limit should be considered.
It is consistently reported that perceived safety is the most significant
barrier to active travel and providing a safe ‘area’ around the school
for more vulnerable road users will encourage active travel with the
associated positive benefits around child health and learning outcomes
and could lead to a reduction in inconsiderate driver behaviour and non-
compliant parking.
In the interests of coherence and increased compliance, it is anticipated
that many school 20mph limits will be considered as part of a wider
town or parish scheme. However, where this opportunity does not
exist or is inappropriate, schools will be able to directly request and
implement a 20mph limit.
variety of grounds, for example, if they deem existing speeds to be too high
and there is insufficient traffic calming included.
Reducing the speed limit will therefore not result in any likelihood of
additional enforcement. Communities need to understand this and
consider if a 20mph speed limit is appropriate or would require additional
traffic calming to be effective. In the situation that a new speed limit has
been implemented and has poor compliance the local community will
need to reconsider if the limit:
• Is inappropriate (and should be raised back to its original limit).
• Requires additional traffic calming (to be funded locally).
• If they need to deploy local resources (such as a Community
Speed Watch scheme).

In some cases, Suffolk County Council will promote 20mph speed limits,
linked to specific improvement schemes. These proposals will often be
linked to areas where zonal pedestrian improvement schemes or active
travel corridor schemes are proposed, in most cases these will be in
the larger towns, with the highest potential for sustainable transport.
These schemes will be considered against the policy criteria above, and
as required will be supplemented with traffic calming and engineering
measures to ensure compliance with the new 20mph speed limit.
The formal acceptance of Speed Limit Orders will still require approval
as set out in the Council’s constitution, at the end of the Statutory
Consultation period. The decision makers will use discretion to decide on
marginal cases, or request the opinion of the Development and Regulation
Committee where appropriate.
4Sufiolk County Council 20mph PolicyVersion 1 | February 2026