Housing: Estatewatch.london w/Michael Edwards UCL & London Tenants Federation
A joint project of JustSpace and London Tenants Federation updating the Estatewatch.London website, borough by borough with estates at risk of demolition mapping the landscape and chronicles of regeneration across London. Weekly meetings for guidance on Friday mornings with Michael Edwards (m.edwards@ucl.ac.uk)
Transport: Greening streets in Lambeth w/Jon Bromwich Living Streets Lambeth
Two projects are proposed this year around greening streets in Lambeth. Rattray Road redesign with a new road layout and a green centre at its heart. And a new design for Railton Road, Brixton building on the Lambeth Living Streets report From Frontline to Greenline, to show options for design and addressing issues such as managing bus routes, retaining some parking for residents, access for deliveries. The spaces should become beacon developments incorporating all the best features of modern European design while maintaining connections with its local community, both historic and new. With Jon Bromwich Lambeth Living Streets.
Justice/Inclusion/Participation: Save Brick Lane as case study w/SBL during inquiry and after
Save Brick Lane is currently fighting the proposed Truman Brewery redevelopment, in east London, which has been ongoing for some years. This would be a valuable case study of different modes of consultation, looking at the differences in developer’s role, council’s proposed masterplan and community campaign consultations. It is a chance to follow from up close a planning inquiry, as current inquiry starting in mid-October (Tuesday 14th October) and there will be support needed in post-inquiry period developing this as a case study around justice, inclusion and participation in planning. With Save Brick Lane and come along to opening of inquiry on Tuesday 14th October (arrive for 9.30) – Schedule is here.
Economy: Social value calculator of markets w/Latin Elephant
For the theme of economy we are keen to develop a Social value calculator (or method of measuring SROI) of food markets. Tools exists in the housing sector and others, but would be useful to adapt specifically for markets and affordable retail spaces in London. These are economic spaces which are facing increasing pressures of developer-led displacement. This would build on work by Markets4People, and would be a collaboration with Latin Elephant. Site visit to follow as first meeting.
Food Justice: Closure of wholesale fish market – impacts, ownership and future
The potential closing of Billingsgate fish market (the largest wholesale fish market for London) will have severe impact on small scale traders and consumers. Currently a bill is going through Parliament designed to allow the Corporation of the City of London (who has responsibility for the wholesale markets of London) to relinquish its responsibility and take these markets out of public ownership. This project will work to build evidence to challenge the potential closure and build the case for some form of public ownership of wholesale markets. The most successful large-scale markets in Europe are municipally owned or heavily regulated public–private hybrids. And their success is tied to long-term reinvestment, protection from speculative land pressures, and integration into urban food security planning. This would be a collaboration with Bags of Taste – local food charity and food justice researchers.
Environment/Climate: Retrofit of Central Hill w/ Sabine Mairey, Refurbish Don’t Demolish
In light of demolition and regeneration threats to Central Hill residents want to develop an alternative plan for retrofit. This project will look at Central Hill Estate in the context of past plans for demolition, present situation of repair only / leave, as regeneration plans have stalled, and a possible future of retrofitting, looking at areas of aesthetics, resident well-being, thermo-efficiencies and other environmental impacts, as well as cost and sources of finance / financial modelling. The project would take one of the four-storey blocks and run a case study on it, drawing on local recent examples of retrofit as well as other cases. With Sabine Mairey from Central Hill and Refurbish Don’t Demolish
Energy: Data centres in Hayes w/Robin Brown and Mega-heat network in OPDC w/John Cox
Five new data centres are being proposed in Hayes and Southall in west London. This is being replicated at scale across the country, but the demands for energy are immense and the local economic impact uncertain. This project will undertake a desk based study on proposed data centres, an emergent topic in planning and look at potential energy, environment, and local economic impacts to help shape local community response to applications, but also form emerging policy from Just Space perspective of spatial and energetic justice. With Robin Brown from the Hayes Community Development Forum.
Also, an emergent plan for a mega heat network in the Opportunity Area of Old Oak and Park Royal. Local activists are keen to understand better the implications of such a heat network especially if driven by private investors, and how potential energy and economic impacts will affect local community. Also, GLA should be publishing London-wide guidance in the autumn on this topic and will be useful as case study to challenge some of the assumptions made. This is in the context also of OPDC regeneration – Jennifer Robinson and Kattya Attuyer’s paper on the OPDC Capturing Value London Style. With John Cox from the Grand Union Alliance.
Community spaces: Brixton projects w/Stour Space and Brixton Project
Following on from last year’s work on Brixton supporting the emergent Neighbourhood Forum, we will continue to support local Brixton campaigns including the potential demolition of International House – using listing information and heritage value, its listing as Asset of Community Value, and potentially developing the beginning of a community-led audit. With Stour Space and Brixton Project.
Community spaces: Somers Town people’s history w/People’s Museum
In partnership with the Somers Town People’s Museum, this project aims to contribute to an evidence base for designating Somers Town as a working-class conservation area.
This offers a rare interface where oral history directly informs planning documentation. Recorded testimonies will constitute evidence for a legal planning instrument, demonstrating that lived experience and community use value are as material to conservation as architectural fabric. Somers Town, bounded by King’s Cross St. Pancras and Euston stations, has a century of social housing history beginning with the St Pancras Housing Association in 1924. We are at the limits of living memory—several residents in their mid-90s whose parents were first-generation tenants represent an irreplaceable archive. The area faces renewed pressure from stalled HS2 works to the west and King’s Cross Central development to the east.
The task: With Jason Katz, record oral histories and recover archival materials through home visits, providing evidence for both the radical history trail and conservation area designation. Practically, this means conversations over tea, recording testimonies, and scanning documents. Capacity permitting, students may map property ownership and provide technical support for the working group.
UCL working with Just Space 