Travel Survey for employees and employers working in Romford

During February and March 2026, in partnership with Romford BID (Business Improvement District), we carried out an eight-week survey to better understand how people travel to and from work in Romford. Romford BID works alongside the council to support local businesses and help make the town centre a leading destination for visitors.

Businesses and employees in the BID area and beyond, were invited to share their experiences of commuting to and from work, helping to inform future travel improvements in Romford.

The survey asked both employees and employers about their travel patterns, the barriers they face to more sustainable and efficient travel, their ideas for improvement, and the impact of infrastructure works, ULEZ and local transport services on their commute.

We received 115 responses to our on-line consultation.

102 responses were from employees:

• The most popular reasons for working in Romford are Proximity to Home (66%), Career Opportunities (40%), and Accessibility and Transport Links (29%).
• The majority of employees (75%) feel that Romford has adequate transport options for their commute.
• The largest overall barrier to using public transport is Cost (40%) followed by Lack of Direct Routes (28%) then Personal Safety Concerns (25%).
• The most cited barrier for active travel (such as cycling or walking) is Personal Safety Concerns (17%), followed jointly by Poor Walking Infrastructure and Lack of Direct Routes (both 9%), then jointly by Lack of Confidence or Ability (8%) and Poor Cycling Infrastructure (8%).
• The Gallows Corner improvement works were the most frequently mentioned issue throughout the survey comments with drivers more affected than non-drivers.  78% of all employees reported some impact on their commute to work, with 58% reporting a significant impact.
• 73% of all employees suggested at least one improvement that would make their commute easier or more sustainable – 21% of employees selected to Increase Bus Frequencies and Reliability, followed by Create Safe, Continuous Walking and Cycling Routes from Romford Station (9%) and Implementing Greening and Lighting Improvements along Pedestrian Paths (7%).

13 responses were from employers:

• 6 employers said that current travel links either moderately or significantly improve their business operations, whereas 7 said they either moderately or significantly hinder business operations.
• Of the 10 employers who shared at least one challenge related to staff travel, 90% cited Congestion, 60% mentioned Personal Safety Concerns and 50% referred to Parking Availability.
• All employers suggested at least one improvement to local transport or infrastructure that would make their site more accessible.  The most popular option was to Implement Greening and Lighting Improvements along Pedestrian paths (54%), followed by Create Safe, Continuous Walking and Cycling Routes from Romford Station (38%), Increasing Bus Frequency and Reliability (30%) was jointly with “Nothing, we have good transport links” (30%).
• 11 employers (85% of those surveyed) stated that the ongoing and overdue transport infrastructure works – with Gallows corner improvements given as an example in the question – are currently affecting their business to some degree.  All 11 employers said that customer or visitor access was affected, 9 of these reported impacts on staff commuting, 5 said that deliveries or logistics were impacted, and 4 of these 11 respondents said that their overall business operations were impacted.

The survey has provided valuable insight into how employees and employers in Romford currently travel, the challenges they face, and the improvements they would like to see. We will use this evidence to strengthen future funding bids for transport improvements in and around Romford, helping to secure investment that benefits both residents and businesses.

The findings will also support the Council’s efforts to encourage more journeys by walking, cycling and public transport, contributing towards TfL’s goal of 65% of trips in Havering being made by sustainable travel by 2041.

By improving transport connections and accessibility, we can help create a town centre that is easier to reach, better connected and offers more practical travel choices. The results will also provide a strong evidence base for future engagement with local businesses and stakeholders as we continue to shape Romford’s future.