Five areas of London will be benefitting from investment from the Mayor’s Civic Partnership Programme, which aims to transform areas in need of regeneration.
With £12.85 million of funding in the overall pot, the programme is focused around the wider London priorities that are shared by the Mayor and local authorities. These range from promoting dignity in the public realm, recovery, and offering new opportunities for young people.
More than £3 million of investment will be focused on transforming Neasden Town Centre, with aims of making the town a better place to live, work and play. This project will see Brent Council investing in green spaces, as well as improving crossings at a road junction to make the highway safer and more accessible for those on foot.
Commenting on the improvements in Neasden, Brent Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Growth Cllr Shama Tatler 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.”
Also benefiting from £3 million of backing from the Civic Partnership Programme is an initiative to transform green spaces in Ilford.
With investment being allocated to Redbridge Council, access to Ilford will be improved, whilst rewilding will be introduced to create a new riverside path that will connect to existing footpaths into Roding Valley. Active travel will be further supported by developing plans for the cycle route running between Ilford and Newham.
Redbridge Council’s Leader, Cllr Kam Rai, said:
“There’s so much to see and do across Redbridge and by improving pedestrian routes we’re connecting Wanstead, Woodford and Ilford making sure people from all parts of the borough can access all we have to offer.
“Redbridge is a growing and changing borough and we’re working with partners including the GLA to make sure our growth works for everyone – creating more public spaces, parks and pathways, in addition to welcoming external investment, new businesses and delivering leisure facilities.”
In Hoxton, the connections across the area will be improved, alongside work to improve community members’ sense of belonging and reduce their social isolation. With this being done following an extensive design process that involves the local community, Hackney Council will be supported with £3 million of backing from the mayor’s investment pot.
Around £1 million will be committed to Lewisham Council to drive improvements at the Riverdale Sculpture Park, as part of a wider drive to encourage the local community to play a greater role in shaping the growth of the area.
Transforming the sculpture park, a riverside public space will be created before being connected to active travel routes. As well as this, groups that have been historically under-represented in the process of shaping the town centre will be consulted as the council undergoes work to transform the area itself. This particular project will be done through £24 million of funding from the council itself.
The fifth programme that has been allocated funding from the Civic Partnership Fund will support Croydon Executive Mayor Jason Perry’s plans to regenerate the town centre, as well as making the borough safer and healthier. Vacant shops will be brought back into use and taken over by culture, arts and community groups to encourage safer spaces, whilst a market – one of the oldest in the UK – will be protected through the regeneration of its unique heritage.
Croydon Council’s work will be done thanks to £814,000 of funding, with this being matched by the council’s Growth Zone.
Image credit: iStock
