The Mayor’s Outer London Fund has awarded £300,000 from Round One and £1.6m from Round Two, matched by £1m from Lambeth, to help improve streets and public spaces in Streatham, an increasingly popular area for families. Streatham’s high street is home to over 400 businesses, an eclectic and vibrant town centre offer, despite the busy A23 main road which runs through it. Works are being done to remodel Streatham High Road, including removing many hundreds of metres of railings along the central reservation to allow for easier pedestrian movement. Shops fronts are being spruced up, and new lighting will make the town a more inviting place. Events and a programme of business support are also underway.
Animating places
Although Streatham has a history of being the entertainment area of South London, with its grand Art Deco dance halls and theatres, there are currently very few cultural and public uses, a need highlighted by community consultation. The Outer London Fund has enabled the Tudor Hall building behind Streatham library to reopen, providing a new performance space in the area for the first time in decades. The project, by architects Bissett Adams, is also refurbishing the Tate Library to provide a much needed community facility on the high street. Likewise, Ivanovversteeg Architecture is renovating rooms at Streatham Stables Community Centre, run by the local charity Music4Children.
Hosting events
The Mayor’s funding has provided support over three years for Streatham Festival, an annual event that celebrates the cultural offer of Streatham and encourages new and participatory uses for public spaces. In 2013, the festival theme was ‘The Glamour Days’. It featured dance and acrobatics from the Ragroof Players and the Wired Aerial Theatre, as well as a carnival parade. The funding supported volunteer organisers to develop a long-term business plan, and ensure the programme features local talent and multicultural entertainment that reflects the community. Investment has also helped the Streatham Stables Community Centre to hold more events, from yoga and Zumba classes, to singing, theatre and music lessons.
Redesigning public space
The success of Streatham High Road is held back by the central reservation barrier which prevents pedestrians from moving easily across the road. The Mayor’s funding has enabled many hundreds of metres of railings and large brick planters are being removed. Trees are also being added, providing a more attractive environment along this main route to Gatwick Airport. Another major scheme, Streatham Skyline, is installing new lighting across the town centre. A range of accent lighting for important buildings and feature lighting for public spaces has been developed, with the aim of improving the safety and attractiveness of Streatham.
Smartening shop fronts
Dozens of shop fronts in Streatham are receiving light-touch improvements such as repainting and cleaning. At Gleneagle Road, the cluster of Somali-owned businesses have received a makeover to help make this area neater, and to celebrate its identity. Other units are benefiting from changes to shutters and signage, all improving the look and feel of the area. Investment is also helping to reveal facilities behind the high street. The Streatham Stables Community Centre, for example, is getting a major overhaul of its street entrance and courtyard to become a more visible, accessible community destination on the high street.
Boosting business
Alongside physical changes to Streatham, local businesses are also being supported to boost long-term economic performance. A range of free services (collectively known as 'The Next Level') are being offered to both new and existing businesses, including networking events, the 'Shop in Streatham' online business directory of over 300 businesses, and face-to-face business advice sessions. The project also includes the Streatham Business Awards, a popular scheme that has attracted 200 small and large local businesses to an awards ceremony two years running. In addition, the newly refurbished library will provide valuable workspace, computer and Internet facilities for use by both business and community users.
Creating networks
Nurtured by a Town Centre Manager funded by the borough, local businesses have been successful in forming a Business Improvement District (BID). The area runs from Streatham Hill to Streatham Common and is being led by a new network of businesses called ‘inStreatham’. Funding is being spread across four themes focusing on the look and feel of Streatham, customer experience, nighttime economy and promoting Streatham as a destination. Investment from the Outer London Fund was useful to demonstrate how change was improving the area, and also helped the group to develop a list of priorities for the BID submission.
Improving transport
The removal of railings and brick planters along the central reservation running along Streatham High Road is making pedestrian movement easier, while maintaining the area’s excellent network of bus routes. The works are also improving the provision for cyclists, providing a more generous bus and cycle lane in sections of the high road.
Borough: Lambeth
Partners/client: LB Lambeth, Streatham Business Improvement District, Streatham Stables Community Centre
Consultants: Beep Studio, Designed by Good People, Ivanovversteeg Architecture, Bisset Adams
Funding: Mayor of London £1.9m, LB Lambeth £1m