Edgware Road Placemaking Strategy
Edgware Road is one of London’s most historic streets that has a rich history, a diverse culture, and a vibrant resident and business community. It has a local and global reputation for its Middle Eastern offering and a retail mix of independent brands and well-loved national brands.
We have enjoyed hearing from residents and community groups, businesses and individuals about what they like about Edgware Road over the past 12 months, what they want to see improved and how they would like Edgware Road to look in 10 years’ time. We have explored the area in detail, drawing on information from past strategies and studies, to build a consensus-based vision with strategies to guide future investment into the area and its immediate surroundings.
We must ensure Edgware Road is a resilient, safe and attractive high street where people can be confident to do business, shop, stay, work, eat out, attend school and live. The area needs to adapt and evolve without compromising the existing fabric that makes Edgware Road so unique to London.
Looking ahead, we must focus our delivery efforts to enhance Edgware Road’s existing culture and create a welcoming street, develop sustainable and healthy places and support businesses to build a thriving local economy. Transport for London (TfL) have already invested significantly in Edgware Road, adding pedestrian crossings, trees and sustainable urban drainage systems. A partnership approach between TfL, Westminster Council, landowners, and the Business Improvement District lies at the heart of our activities. We must continue the dialogue to ensure we deliver meaningful change that benefits residents and visitors to our city alike.
Commissioned by Marble Arch Business Improvement District, The Portman Estate, and The Church Commissioners for England, The Edgware Road Placemaking Strategy offers a scheme of priorities and directives to channel investments in the area. Produced by DSDHA, the strategy supports the Neighbourhood Plan development and provides a framework for physical improvements as well as a template for frontage design enhancements.
A Strategy Group including representatives from Westminster City Council, TfL, and the project partners has guided the development of the Placemaking Strategy to ensure the work aligns with objectives of the local authority and the Mayor of London. Contribution to the strategy have also been made by various local community representatives such as the Hyde Park Neighbourhood Forum, Marylebone Forum and the Edgware Road Strategy Group to ensure ground-level involvement in shaping Edgware Road.
The final scheme is organised around three key items that can produce a successful high street; connected communities, vibrant and resilient economy, and inclusive, sustainable, and safe places.