Following two years of consultation with local community groups and other stakeholders, detailed planning permission was received for the next phase of our development at Regent’s Place, London NW1. The 2.5 acre mixed use development at Osnaburgh Street will include residential units with over 50% affordable housing, high quality offices, a community theatre and shops around a new public space.
We are now working with the local community to manage the project with minimal disruption to the people who live and work locally. Factors that are being considered include noise, dust and traffic issues.
Levels of traffic on Euston Road are comparable to those on the Champs Elysées in Paris and the Diagonale in Barcelona, yet the area is perceived by many to be an urban ‘motorway’. Pedestrian movement and safety are an important part of our plans for the area. In 2006 we invested £100,000 in a joint project with Transport for London and Camden Council to improve pedestrian access at the Euston Road underpass. Concepts considered ranged from removing the underpass to turning the area into an ‘urban forest’. It is likely that the final option will:
- Reduce the number of lanes pedestrians need to cross
- Improve signage
- Reduce visual clutter and provide a more attractive urban landscape
- Reduce noise levels
- Improve pedestrian safety.
We are also progressing proposals for more offices and residential units in the north-east quadrant of the estate. This is a mixed use scheme with over 170 residential units, a large proportion of which are social housing. There will be over 45,000 square metres of high quality offices as well as retail space, community facilities, new landscaped routes and significant improvements to the existing public realm at Triton Square. Community facilities will include a replacement One Stop Shop for the West Euston Partnership and a new Community Arts Facility.
We have been consulting with the local community and other stakeholders about this scheme. In July 2006 we displayed plans at the West Euston Community Festival and in October 2006 we presented the development to the West Euston Partnership Planning Sub-Group. We are currently extending our outreach consultation programme to include more local schools and youth groups.
There is general support for the north-east quadrant proposals. Following feedback from local stakeholders, there will be a larger performance space with increased seating in the extended Triton Square.
In 2006 we worked with Squint Opera, Edco, Farrells and a group of 14 year olds from South Camden Community School to review how Euston Road could be improved. As part of Enterprise Week and the London Architectural Biennale the 12 pupils interviewed people on their opinions of Euston Road. Based on people’s feedback and their own creativity they developed a number of ideas. These ideas included pedestrianising the area and installing a large elevated globe with a restaurant inside and a performance space underneath. The pupils created a video called ‘Hustle and Flow’. This was exhibited at the British Library and can be viewed below
Hustle and Flow
