Mayor invests £12.4 million to transform public spaces across the capital

• The funding will allow Londoners of all backgrounds a greater role in shaping how their city grows and delivering better public spaces to live, work and play
• The selected projects across the five boroughs will create open, connected and inclusive public spaces and high streets
• Over the next three years the selected projects will yield new or improved public space nearly four times the size of Wembley football pitch

Five projects to transform the public spaces and deliver environmental improvements in five boroughs have been awarded a share of £12.4 million from the Mayor of London’s Civic Partnership Programme (CPP).

Over the next three years the five projects in Brent, Redbridge, Hackney, Lewisham and Croydon will deliver up to 28,000 sqm of new or improved public space – nearly four times the size of Wembley football pitch – see 220 trees planted and provide green spaces for local communities and businesses. The aim of all the projects is to create open, connected and inclusive public spaces and high streets, work with underserved communities and strengthen London's climate resilience.

The CPP supports boroughs to deliver projects that create open, connected and inclusive public spaces, regenerate high streets, and partner with the communities they serve, particularly those from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, disabled Londoners and younger and older Londoners. The programme also works to give expert advice on capital funding to communities to build up the local stakeholders, as well as respond to the impacts of the cost-of-living crisis and the climate emergency in local areas. To date 12 boroughs have received funding of £480,000 for projects to improve community halls and communal areas on estates, revamp pedestrian routes in and around high streets, regenerate sports grounds for children and young people and improve access to transport links and green spaces.  

The projects awarded the funding are:

• Neasden Town Centre - £3,100,000 

Neasden Town Centre is surrounded by heavily trafficked roads and as a result is the most polluted town centre in London. The London borough of Brent plans to use the funding to invest in green spaces, realign and improve crossings at the eastern road junctions to make it safer and more accessible for pedestrians, and refresh the high street to include a community training kitchen - engaging with young people and the local community.

• Ilford Arrival - £3,000,000

The Ilford Arrival will see five interventions to better connect Ilford Town Centre with the Roding Valley. These include a bridge and pocket park to cross the River Roding; a pedestrian and cycling route that connects the area; a detailed design for the Ilford Western Gyratory and Island Garden Junction; the creation of an Urban Room as a space to engage young local people in city making processes; and rewilding the Ilford Golf Course. 

• Connecting Hoxton - £3,000,000

Connecting Hoxton will use the funding to improve local services and facilities, green spaces and public realm drawing on an extensive co-design process with local residents, community and cultural organisations and businesses. The project aims to significantly improve East-West connections across Hoxton as well as improving wellbeing, sense of belonging and reducing social isolation for local people.

• Room for Rivers, A Place for People - £2,486,000

The funding will support the transformation of the existing Riverdale Sculpture Park by creating a riverside public space that is safe and enjoyable and connected to active travel routes; engaging with groups historically under-represented in shaping the Town Centre; and including tree and shrub planting and drainage solutions that provide an alternative to the direct channelling of surface water through networks of pipes and sewers to nearby watercourses.

• North End Quarter Fringes: Amplifying Surrey Street - £814,000

The funding will be used to focus on the regeneration in Croydon Town Centre by working with community partners to bring vacant shops back into use, plant more trees and improve lighting on the high street, create a green wall space and a new food growing garden. The project will prioritise connectivity, safety, heritage preservation and urban greening.

Deputy Mayor for Planning, Regeneration and the Fire Service, Jules Pipe, said: “These projects aim to give Londoners of all backgrounds a greater role in shaping how their city grows and deliver better public spaces to live, work and play. 

“I’m so impressed by the quality of proposals we received – this is testament to the collaborative efforts of London boroughs who have shaped the strategies, as well as the creativity and ingenuity in London’s diverse communities. 

“Sadiq and I are committed to growing partnerships like these as a way of empowering local communities and creating a city where all Londoners have access to the best opportunities. I look forward to seeing all the positive impacts these projects will have in the future as we build a fairer, greener, more prosperous London for everyone.” 

Mayor of Lewisham, Brenda Dacres, said: “We are absolutely thrilled that we will receive £2.5m in funding as part of the GLA’s Civic Partnership programme to drastically improve a public space that is underused and needs some love. With match funding from Lewisham Council of around £1m, the project will include co-designed public art with the local community, new play equipment and park facilities alongside restoring the river Ravensbourne within the park to increase biodiversity. We know how well loved our parks are across the borough, so are delighted to be able to deliver a space our residents deserve as well as have a positive environmental impact on the local area.”

Councillor Shama Tatler, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Growth at Brent Council said: “I’m really pleased that Neasden Town Centre here in Brent has been selected as one of the locations to receive funding.

“We are developing a Placemaking & Sustainability Action Plan for Neasden Town Centre, working alongside local people and businesses to support positive change in the area. This funding over the next few years will help us to create a thriving, vibrant and greener town centre.”

Executive Mayor of Croydon, Jason Perry, said: “This funding is a welcome boost to our project to regenerate Surrey Street, home to one of the oldest street markets in the UK. We look forward to working with the GLA, Surrey Street market traders and other community partners to deliver this project as part of the wider regeneration of the town centre, creating a vibrant and welcoming place to live, work and visit.”