A few examples of key work by the TCM team since
2001:
Forest Gate Public Realm Works Phases 1-3
The
team secured funding and initiated and coordinated three phases of
comprehensive public realm improvements in Forest Gate Town Centre,
including works to Woodgrange Road (and notably the junctions with
Sebert Road and Forest Lane), Upton Lane, north Green Street, and
Romford Road.
Circa £4m was secured to radically transform the public realm,
which included the installation of new paving, highway and
pedestrian lighting, CCTV, street furniture, plants and trees, car
parking bays and pedestrian crossings. The most recent phase of the
works included refurbishment of the historic trough and clock on
Forest Lane.
Stratford City
The team coordinated the
pre-outline planning application consultation process around plans
for Stratford City, with town centre stakeholders. This included
the commissioning of Planning Aid for London to produce a formal
written response to the Outline Planning Application in 2003. An
ongoing priority is that businesses and other town centre
stakeholders are consulted and updated on Stratford City and other
development proposals.
Marketing and Promotion
The team have helped to
organise and deliver a number of successful annual promotional
events in both Stratford and Forest Gate. These have included
Stratford by the Sea, Sparkle in Stratford and the Forest Gate
Festival. Marketing materials have also been produced by the team,
such as a guide to shops and services in Forest Gate Town
Centre.
Forest Gate Retail Success Project
The
team helped develop a project to provide practical support to
existing independent retailers in Forest Gate, working with
Skillsmart Retail, Vision On and Urban Inclusion.
It included profiling of consumers in the local catchment area,
shopper survey, mystery shopper exercise and action planning for
over 30 local retailers, and the provision of an intensive in store
visual merchandising course with 15 retailers. The project has
helped businesses to make significant improvements, leading the
attraction of new customers and sales increases in many
cases.
Chatsworth Active Games Enclosure (CAGE)
The
team secured circa £180,000 of capital funding and coordinated a
project to build a new multi use games facility and children's
playground on the Chatsworth estate, working closely with the
Chatsworth Action Group. Revenue funding has been secured to run
sports programmes for young people at the CAGE. The facility was
officially launched at a successful opening event in May
2006.
Stratford Business Improvement District (BID)
Feasibility
The team led and undertook a major study into
the feasibility of creating a BID in Stratford to fund improvements
to the local trading environment. The report concluded that a BID
could help to address issues highlighted by businesses and assist
the process of integration between the existing town centre and the
Stratford City retail development.
However, it was found that potential income from a BID levy would
be relatively low and that there are complicating factors including
potential redevelopment of parts of the existing town centre. The
report was well received and commended by the Stratford Tomorrow's
City Partnership Board, Stratford City developers and the London
Development Agency.
Housing Renewal Work
The team has a productive
partnership with London Borough of Newham's Environmental Health
Intervention Team. Joint work has been undertaken to help bring
flats above shops and vacant commercial properties back into use in
the town centre and resolve site specific issues. This work has
significantly reduced the number of vacant commercial properties
and those being used inappropriately.
Stratford Broadway Lighting Scheme
The team
initiated and coordinated a scheme to improve pedestrian lighting
on well used routes in Stratford Town Centre. Circa £100,000 was
secured to install new lighting columns on The Broadway following
analysis of lighting levels and local crime data as well as
consultation with local stakeholders on location and
design. |