The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has welcomed the findings of a new report that calls for the formation of a regeneration body dedicated to improving the prospects of people living and working in Tottenham.
Published by the Independent Panel on Tottenham, which was convened by the Mayor after the riots in 2011, the report outlines a number of key challenges that should be tackled in partnership by the London Borough of Haringey, the Greater London Authority (GLA) and central Government.
Chaired by leading property developer, Sir Stuart Lipton, the panel recommends the creation of a dedicated organisation to spearhead Tottenham’s regeneration, with representation from the borough, the GLA, the Government, as well as those with relevant expertise from the public and private sectors.
The Mayor, who will be considering the report closely as part of his own strategy for the area, made Tottenham a key priority for regeneration before the disturbances. Since then he has allocated £28m worth of funding to support development and regeneration in the area, including better transport links, public realm improvements and help to boost employment opportunities.
As well as support to help unlock the development of the North Tottenham and Northumberland Park areas, the Mayor’s funding has also been used to help transform the site of the borough’s former planning offices, which were burnt out during the riots, into a new community hub at 639 High Road as part of the Mayor’s Team London volunteering initiative.
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “What happened in Tottenham last year was a wake up call to us all and I am determined that those scenes should never be repeated. There can be no doubt that Tottenham needs greater support in grappling with the challenge of delivering jobs and improved infrastructure and this report details the challenges we face to achieve this. The idea of a new organisation to help drive forward lasting change in Tottenham is particularly compelling and one that I will be looking at closely. I’d like to thank Sir Stuart and all of the team who’ve worked hard on this report, which puts renewed focus on a part of London that has been overlooked for far too long.”
Sir Stuart Lipton, Chair of the Independent Panel on Tottenham, said: “A new vision for Tottenham will create real change for the community producing growth and social change. The GLA have already shown their financial support and commitment for new projects. Opportunities in Tottenham will allow Government to implement existing policies for change which, with appropriate substantial financial support, will make a real difference to the area.”
As well as the establishment of a new regeneration body, the panel’s report identifies a number ofkey challenges which the Mayor agrees need to be addressed, including improved housing and transport links, increased employment opportunities, better community relations with the police, better youth engagement and the need to improve Tottenham’s public image.
The Mayor’s Chief of Staff, Sir Edward Lister and the Leader of Haringey Council, Councillor Claire Kober, will meet early in the New Year to discuss the report’s findings and the future plans for Tottenham’s regeneration in more detail.
Notes to editors
The report, ‘It Took Another Riot’, can be viewed and downloaded online at http://www.london.gov.uk/priorities/business-economy/investing-future/m… Stuart Lipton was appointed by the Mayor of London in December 2011 to act as a champion for Tottenham following last year's riots. He has chaired an independent panel of experts to produce this report, meeting with large numbers of local community members, activists, volunteers and representatives, some of whose comments are included throughout this document.
Several members of this group, including Sir Stuart, have also sat separately on the Tottenham Taskforce alongside representatives of the London Borough of Haringey, as well as David Lammy MP, meeting fortnightly to discuss and aid the council's regeneration activities.
The members of the panel include: • Brian Boylan, Wolff Olins• Rana Brightman, Wolff Olins• Andrew Campling, British Telecom• Paul Finch OBE, Design Council Cabe• Matthew Girt, Diocese of London• Roger Graef, Criminologist• Kay Horne, Business in the Community• Don Levett, Report Author• Sir Stuart Lipton, Chairman of the Independent Panel on Tottenham• Tony Travers, London School of Economics
Since the riots/civil disturbances, £28m of GLA funding has been allocated to Haringey to support development and delivery of regeneration priorities in Tottenham by London Borough of Haringey. This funding is linked to £12.8m of funding provided by LB Haringey creating a total of £40.8m to invest in the social, economic and environmental transformation of the area.
The projects focus on the following interventions:
£0.6m to develop a regeneration and investment strategy that sets out opportunities and delivery options for the Tottenham area in the short and medium terms.
£27 million in the North Tottenham/Northumberland Park area to support transport infrastructure and public realm improvements to help unlock proposals for the major stadium-led regeneration scheme.
£2.9 million into a package of works to improve the High Road, bringing disused buildings back into use, paving the way for growth in terms of housing, employment and community.
£3.7 million to support an Opportunity Investment Fund that will be managed to purchase key sites and bring forward development and commercial opportunity on the High Road and at Tottenham Hale.
£3.6 million for an Employment and Skills programme to provide support for hard to reach young people and problem families in terms of employability, access to jobs and skills training.
£3 million to transform 639 High Road into an enterprise centre for use by the community. Work on the regeneration and investment strategy has been ongoing since July 2012 while the repair and re-fit of 639 High Road commenced in August, and both are due for completion in early 2013.
Works to improve the High Road and Northumberland Park through the North Tottenham/Northumberland Park project commenced in late-September, and a co-ordinated series of events including public art exhibitions, markets, film screenings, a carnival and a winter festival were held in venues along the High Road, in Bruce Castle Park and on Tottenham Green between June and early-December.
Regarding next year, design work is underway to enhance Tottenham Green, improving facilities and links with local civic buildings, and will be delivered by late-summer 2013.
The 639 High Road community enterprise hub will be open for business from March 2013, and work is also underway to provide more design options to improve the High Road in 2013.
The delivery of this work is being integrated where necessary alongside other works in the area, such as the improvements by TfL to convert the Tottenham Hale Gyratory into two-way working.