Revitalising the Custom House neighbourhood through community-oriented spatial interventions

CUSTOM HOUSE PROPOSAL Revitalising the neighborhood through community-oriented spatial interventions

THANK YOU GROUP 2: AUTHORS Madhulikaa A.S. Milagros Balparda CĂŠcile Bouchet J. Omar Corona B. Laia Garcia Fernandez Ollie Joseph Min Ren 28th April 2020

Karen Waneska at Newham Council

Christine Ogunkanmi and Faraz Kayani at the Custom House Regeneration Hub for answering our numerous questions

Naomi Pomfret and Sarah Atkinson for attending our individual work at the Crystal Building and for providing useful feedback

This design response proposes a community-oriented Custom House whose social infrastructure will be revitalised in accordance with the neighbourhood’s physical regeneration. Given the area’s struggles with crime induced socio-spatial stigmatisation, our plan aims to remap Custom House: embedding new positive features within its design through which it can be identified—changing the associations and connotations of place.

Utilising a combination of the perspectives and expertise gained through Newham Council’s participatory planning process and our own neighbourhood analysis, our approach aims to constructively engage with the issues affecting Custom House residents. Building from this, our proposal expands on the current regeneration plans— placing greater emphasis on community empowerment. To articulate this community-oriented vision, we have divided our proposal into three principles which address: the socio-economic integration of Custom House within its broader locality; the neighbourhood’s identity and reputation; as well as its safety and accessibility. Whilst these principles are then broken down further into guidelines with corresponding interventions, each element of the overall strategy is interconnected and mutually constitutive.

The strategy articulated in this proposal addresses the need for cohesive multi-temporal, multi-scalar interventions that go beyond just protecting the interests of the Custom House community when the regeneration process is complete. Instead our design response will help provide the necessary opportunities and social cohesion required to re-conceptualise Custom House both within the neighbourhood and outside.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1

contents List of figures Context SWOT: Analysis of the site Vision: Principle, Guideline, Intervention Timeline Actor Mapping 1: Open-up the boundaries of Custom House for better integration within the broader context of the city.

Guidelines: 1.A, 1.B, 1.C

03 06 14 18 21 22 24

Interventions: 1.A.1, 1.B, 1.C 2: Nurture a positive and constructive identity of Custom House - both within the community and outside

36

Guidelines 2.A, 2.B Interventions 2.A.1, 2.A.2, 2.B.1, 2.B.2 3: Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability and increase local accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport.

48

Guidelines 3.A, 3.B, 3.C Interventions 3.A.1, 3.B.1, 3.C.1, 3.C.2 Conclusion References

63 65

I. Area of study—

6-7

a. London context b. Newham context

6 7

II. SWOT analysis

14

III. The process of reversing fear-induced behaviours

18

IV. Timeline of the interventions

21 22-23

V. Actor mapping VI. Timeline of interventions under principle 1

27

VII. Timeline of interventions under principle 2

39

VIII. Timeline of interventions under principle 3

51

a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j. k. l. m. n. o. p. a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j. k. l. m. n. o. p. a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j. k. l.

Timeline of intervention 1.A.1 Custom House and ExCeL mutual interests Custom House and its boundaries Potential resident actors to be involved in Excel employment program ExCel offering more employment opportunities for Custom House residents Timeline of intervention 1.B.1 Freemasons Road reactivation: Mixed uses Shops in Freemasons Road. Some of them are closed and the urban spaces are deteriorated Mixed-use redistribution in Freemasons Road Timeline of intervention 1.B.2 Examples of hostile and inclusive furniture Analysis of the urban furnitures found around Custom House Timeline of intervention 1.C.1 Establishment of a local market in Ronan Square Space occupied by the market once a week Local market promotes employment to local communities Timeline of intervention 2.A.1 Getting adults and young to work together Shipman Youth Centre Workshops rotation network of Custom House’s available spaces Timeline of intervention 2.A.2 Visibility and Diffusion of Youth creative production Creating spaces of youth expression Potential places to host youth events Areas of intervention 2.B.1 Map of drug crime activities Youth activities reactivation Areas of intervention 1.B.1 Cundy Park with temporary events of music and sports, transforming its use and inviting new users Timeline of intervention 2.B.2 Redesign the built environment to prevent crime Overview map of areas of interventions of principle 2 Timeline of intervention 3.A.1 A new cycle path for Custom House Map of the proposed cycling and pedestrian paths View of how the street would be shared between cars, cyclists and pedestrians—before and after Timeline of intervention 3.B.1 Learn. Engage. Discover.

Discovering Custom House’s surroundings Timeline of intervention 3.C.1 Increase the number of pedestrian crossings Map of existent and proposed crossings Timeline of intervention 3.C.2 View of an area with improved street furniture and cycling facilities

28 28 28 29 29 30 30 31 31 32 32 33 34 34 34 35 40 40 41 41 42 42 42 43 44 44 44 45 45 46 46 47 52 52 52 53 54 54 54 55 55 55 56 56

IX. Overall map of all the interventions

58-59

X. Axonometric view of the projected urban transformations in Custom House

60-61

LIST OF FIGURES 3

View from the Custom House DLR station footbridge, Authors' own (2020)

CONTEXT

INTRODUCTION

Greater London

London Borough of Newham

London Borough of Newham

Custom House

I.a Area of study—London context

Custom House, is situated in the London Borough of Newham in East London. Although Newham as a borough performs poorly (relative to London and the UK), when looking at socio-economic indicators, it is heterogeneous in terms of infrastructure and prosperity at the neighbourhood level (Trust for London, 2019). Indeed, some areas have been through transformative urban regeneration—including major commercial and infrastructure projects. However, many highly residential areas, such as Custom House, are in need of upgrading and attention.

6

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

London Borough of Newham

DLR Stations

Gallions Reach Shopping Mall

Custom House Excel Exhibition Centre

London City Airport

I.b Area of study—Newham context

Custom House suffers from simultaneous stigmatisation within media discourse and issues of antisocial and violent behaviours within the community.

The stark contrast between the depreciating urban environment of Custom House juxtaposed with the regenerated neighbouring areas of Canning Town and the Royal Docks, contribute to this stigma and increases the sense of exclusion from city-level dynamics. As a result, Custom House remains one of the poorest neighbourhoods within one of London’s least affluent boroughs. This is in part due to the

effects of the problematic reduction in government and local authority spending, aggravated by a depletion in council housing stock due to buy-back programmes.

The dated built environment, lack of community-orientated public space and a sense of insecurity shared amongst locals and outsiders has resulted in the internalisation of fear-based behaviours.

Furthermore, the lack of provision for non-motorised forms of transport and poor integration of Custom House with local amenities such as the ExCeL hinders residents’ quality of life.

However, the Custom House regeneration project aims to unlock this neighbourhood’s potential—building on existing community networks in order to upgrade the built environment and restore livelihoods. The active effort from local authorities and residents to make this process inclusive presents opportunities to reverse the current trends and address some of the issues afflicting the area. The participatory nature of the project also helps shed light on the rich diverse community life and helps put local needs at the forefront of the vision for Custom House.

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LOCAL PLAN 2018

Newham’s masterplan is articulated around a broad vision to revitalise the area by 2033 (Newham Local Plan 2018). This vision focuses on “growth” with plans for 43,000 new homes, 60,000 new jobs and 49,000 new residents. Additionally, the council have outlined four principle objectives which cover development opportunities, socio-spatial improvement, growth and the role of Newham at local and city level.

Our study area is referred to in the plan as strategic site S28, Custom House/Freemasons (p. 262). Here, the emphasis has been placed on the intensification of the area; in terms of housing, community and commercial space 8

CUSTOM HOUSE REGENERATION PROCESS

Having started in July 2016, the Custom House regeneration plan aims to deliver: 800-900 new housing units, (50% being council owned), improve the connectivity, safety and accessibility of Freemasons Road and the surrounding area as well as enable a favourable job-creating environment through utilising its proximity to the station. To mitigate against the upheaval this building work is set to cause, a phased approach is being adopted—which is in part to ensure that no local residents are displaced against their will (Newham 2019).

Unlike many other London regeneration projects, Newham’s Mayor Rokhsana Diaz has made efforts to involve Custom House residents in the decision and designing process. The participation of the community, through the engagement of elected community representatives in the steering group, provides space for the residents to express their opinions and to the council to address their concerns. In an effort to maintain transparency and communication, the council has established the Regeneration Hub which allows residents to stay informed on the decisions taken and the progress made. If run adequately, Custom House’s participatory process provides a real opportunity for the council to roll out a human-scale project which empowers all local residents, both new and old. Furthermore, this form of engagement is important in rebuilding trust within the community through enhancing accountability.

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View from the corner of Freemasons road and Coolfin road, Authors' own (2020) 10

RONAN POINT REMEMBERED

“The collapse of Ronan Point was an unexpected and awful tragedy, but it is a part of the history of Custom House and Newham, and should not be forgotten”

- Patricia Jolly addressing the audience at St Mark’s Church Community Centre in Beckton in May 2018 during the memorial event commemorating the Ronan Point tragedy.

We propose that the area of public space located at the intersection of Freemasons and Coolfin Roads should be renamed Ronan Square after the 1968 Ronan Point Disaster. This tragic event in which a 22-story block was partially destroyed in a gas explosion just 200m from Freemasons Road, resulted in four people losing their lives (Newland 2008). The acts of placemaking and memorialisation help to build a sense of attachment for local residents — ensuring that lessons are learned from this disaster (Mowler 2004).

As the subsequent enquiries revealed that this event was due to insufficient building regulations and failures by the local government to build a safe and secure environment for local residents,

it is poignant that this square is named in its honour, so that this story can be placed at the heart of the Custom House community.

Furthermore, in 2018 the Mayor of Newham expressed her desire to honour this event with a permanent reminder (Long 2018).

Using the naming of this nucleic community space instead of opting for more traditional monumental forms common in public commemoration provides a more fitting way in which to ensure that the events of Ronan Point are not forgotten.

Source: Your Custom House Newsletter, Winter (2018) 11

Street art on Victora Docks Road, Authors' own (2020)

ANALYSIS OF THE SITE: SWOT

Sense of safety (perceived by community) Criminality and high rate in crime Problem of image/ branding of Custom House

The increasing crime rates in the area have caused a sense of fear among the public and restricted the area’s walkability especially at certain times of the day, in particular, after sunset. This has created a certain ‘branding’ or ‘image’ for the area which could be alleviated with the right kind of socio-spatial interventions aimed at addressing this territorial stigmatisation and its causes. This highlights the importance of the participatory process as new redevelopment projects carried out without proper information and consultation with the locals could further lead to mistrust and increase the sense of unease.

Misinterpretation could lead to mistrust and sense of unease among residents

Spatial quality Homogenous environment Lack of integration to city-level infrastructure Poor use of public space Lack of sense of identity and belonging Great potential for place-making Better use of public space Permissable to broader totalistic interventions Improper use of green spaces Gentrification

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Custom House’s urban environment is homogeneous in nature, dominated by residential buildings and lacking the vibrancy of the mixed-use typologies—with even public spaces not being properly utilised. As there are no listed buildings in Custom House, the absence of heritage-related legal restrictions can make the area more permissible to broader totalistic interventions. Despite its relatively non-distinctive aesthetic and its apparent lack of local landmarks, Custom House has nonetheless a great potential for place-making. However, the existing and upcoming developments in the surrounding area provide a stark reminder of how regeneration can result in the privatisation of public spaces and loss of local character.

How a place of opportunities has been hampered by stigmatisation and inadequate infrastructure

Custom House benefits from being well connected by public transport, with its high-street well integrated with the train station and major bus stops. The combination of local busses and the DLR link it to central London as well as to surrounding employment and retail centres such as Stratford and Beckton. However, in terms of pedestrian walkability and cycling facilities, Custom House has fairly poor infrastructure. The upcoming Elizabeth Line is promising for local mobility but could further intensify the sense that Custom House is an area that one passes through rather than a place which people identify with and spend a prolonged amount of time in.

Transport – Mobility, connections Good transport connectivity Good connectivity with the city Poor walkability Poor cycling infrastructure More connectivity with upcoming Elizabeth Line Threat of Custom House transformed into a transient place

Strength Weakness Opportunity

Custom House sits amidst the Royal Docks and Canning Town which are undergoing rapid redevelopment. Given its proximity to these expanding neighbourhoods, it has become a strategic site for the development of new infrastructure, notably the ExCeL Centre. Yet, if the Centre certainly brings footfall and economic activity into the area, the failure to integrate it properly within Custom House has minimised its positive impact for local residents. Similarly, the growing prosperity seen throughout the wider Docklands area has not resulted in an improvement in the economic or social realities for Custom House’s residents who have remained marginalised despite these changes to the broader urban fabric.

Dynamic of the surrounding and existing urban fabric High inflow of people Poor integration into Excel dynamic Poor integration of Custom House with its surroundings Possibility of economic opportunities Attracting new people, social dynamics

Threat II: SWOT analysis

15

16

VISION 17

III: The process of reversing fear-induced behaviours

Reversing induced behaviors: Reversing fear fear induced behaviors: Economic growth and local business Economic growth and business Economic growth and locallocal business YouthYouth promotion and events promotion events Youth promotion and and events Transport and accessibility Transports accessibility Transports and and accessibility

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Potentiate a community-based approach to reverse the effects of fear-induced behaviours and reduce socio-spatial stigma.

Our vision for Custom House is a community-oriented neighbourhood, whose active and secure streets are busy with locals and visitors alike.

Our proposal expands on the current regeneration plans for Custom House, recognising the value and importance of the insights gained from the participatory planning procedure (Bailey 2010). We are primarily focusing on the social landscape of Custom House, addressing its problematic stigmatisation and the underlying socio-economic causes (Gourlay 2007). Socio-spatial stigma occurs when external actors characterise and understand a locality through negative associations (Rolnik 2013)—this often results in the internalisation of a sense of inferiority (Koutrolikou 2015). Due to its enduring nature, it is crucial to overtly engage with this notion of stigma which can persist even after alterations have been made to the physical environment (Dean and Hastings 2000).

We aim to build upon existing community infrastructure, empowering local residents by providing them with a diverse range of opportunities. This is required in order to tackle the

socio-economic issues facing Custom House today. Improved living standards and social mobility are essential for restoring neighbourhood attachment and thus combating the internalisation of stigma (Gourlay 2007).

Reversing the effects of fear-induced behaviours in Custom House is a necessary step in order to ensure the long-term socio-economic prosperity of this community.

We envision a secure and thriving Custom House, with the opportunities this brings enabling a greater sense of pride within the community as well as aiding the neighbourhood’s integration within the wider area (Jacobs 1961).

As not to undermine the participatory process, our proposal seeks to operate in accordance with a majority of the council’s strategy. However, our approach broadens the scope of the regeneration, focusing less on the physical environment and housing provision and more on social and community infrastructure. Furthermore, we plan to enlarge the regeneration area to ensure that its benefits are felt throughout Custom House.

“ You can’t make

people use streets they have no reason to use… [or] make people watch streets they do not want to watch” - Jane Jacobs (1961:35

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OVERVIEW

PRINCIPLES

1

OPEN-UP the boundaries of Custom House for a better INTEGRATION within the broader context of the city

2

NURTURE a positive and constructive IDENTITY of Custom House—both within the community and outside

3

FOSTER a safer neighbourhood environment: ENRICH sociability and INCREASE accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport

20

GUIDELINES Include Custom House into the economic dynamics of the surrounding area to generate benefits and job opportunities Build upon the regeneration project on Freemasons Road and its proximity to the ExCeL Centre Capitalise on public space to use for public events to benefit the community

Increase youth activities in Custom House to get teenagers off the streets and make them the main actors for change and progress

Target high drug crimes areas to make them more accessible and attractive for residents and visitors

INTERVENTIONS Custom House "Job Bank" network Mixed-use Freemasons Road Improved public furniture Ronan Square weekly market

Co-production, mentoring and neighborhood watch Youth creative initiatives and activities

Route of green safe space Built environment interventions

Improve publically accessible spaces

Walking/cycling links between green spaces

Create community-led activities to promote cycling as a mode of transport

Cycling skills training session & local collective ride

Improve walking and cycling facilities along Freemasons Rd for a more welcoming and friendly experience

x2 pedestrian crossings Appropriate bycicle parking facilities

TIMELINE

Open-up the boundaries of Custom House for better integration within the broader context of the city.

Nurture a positive and constructive identity of Custom House — both within the community and outside

IV. Timeline of the interventions

Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability and increase local accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport.

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Custom House Regeneration team

Local private sector

Direct Econ

Newha

Business owners & employers

Local social actors

B

PEACH

Custom House job centre

Church

Library

Residents

Other residents

Self-employed Students & part-time

LOCAL LEVEL

Main actor groups Actors for each principle

Other actors common to the 3 principles Other shaping forces

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OPEN-UP the boundaries of Custom House for a better INTEGRATION within the broader context of the city

Direc

Renewal Program

Schools

Unemployed

Business sponsors

Mentors Youth

Cycle & repair shops

Community & youth centres Scouts

Parents Local artists

NURTURE a positive and constructive IDENTITY of Custom House both within the community and outside

Di En S

Newham Cyclist Local residents Commuters

PROMOTE a safer neighbourhood environment: ENRICH sociability and INCREASE accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport

CUSTOM COMM

m

ACTOR MAPPING Newham Council

Newhan Local Plan

torate of Inclusive nomy & Housing

Other sectors and organisations

an Employment Strategy

Private investors & contractors International investors

Commission Brighter Futures

Excel Centre Art scene

ctorate of Children & Young People

Directorate of nvironment & Sustainable transport

A vision supported by a rich and diverse community and a wide array of external actors

Business sponsors Aston-MansďŹ eld Media

London public institutions

Cyclist ConďŹ dent

Cyclist England

London Plan Healthy Street for London

Police TfL

M HOUSE MUNITY A rich and diverse community with great potential (Newham aggregate data) 50+% of residents born outside the UK*

35+% of residents under the age of 25*

for 40+% of residents English is not the main language*

75% of residents are economically active (16 to 64 yrs)**

90% of residents agree people from different backgroungs get on well in their local area***

70% of new residents are in paid employment***

Data from * Newham: key statistics 2017, Aston-Mansfield (2017); ** Office for National Statistics website (Oct 2018 - Sep 2019); *** Understanding Newham 2017: Findings from Wave 9 of the Newham Household Panel Survey, Ipsos MORI (2018)

CITY LEVEL

V. Actor mapping

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Economic business Economicgrowth growth and and local business Economic growth and local business

PRINCIPLE 1 Open-up the boundaries of Custom House for better integration within the broader context of the city.

1

Open-up the boundaries of Custom House for better integration within the broader context of the city.

It is crucial for the success of Custom House’s redevelopment, that the neighbourhood becomes better integrated within its broader context. The ExCeL Centre is a large capacity convention and exhibition centre bringing economic activity into the area. However, the benefits of Custom House’s proximity to this space have not been felt. As the locality’s socio-economic nucleus, Freemasons Road provides an excellent opportunity to capitalise on the footfall provided by local amenities such as ExCeL. It is hoped that this redevelopment project helps break down the metaphysical barriers constraining Custom House and its residents, enabling productive integration with the broader area.

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GUIDELINES

MID TERM

SHORT TERM

LONG TERM

a.1 b.1 b.2 c.1

5y

2y Timeline of interventions guideline A

VI. Timeline of Interventions under Principle 1

1.A Creating a plan that can make Custom House more included into the economic dynamics of the surrounding area in order to generate benefits for the local community; such as increased incomes and youth job opportunities.

1.B

Focus the regeneration project on Freemasons Road, which occupies a central position in the neighbourhood, due to the high density of local businesses. The plan should aim to capitalise on the area’s proximity to the ExCeL Centre.

1.C Capitalise on publicly accessible space in order to facilitate its use for a broad range of public events and community benefits.

economic

Local products

Job creation

Welcoming urbanLocal products Strong social fabric Local products Local products Job creation Local products Urban furnitures furnitures

10 y

Weekly market Job creation Local products Job creation Weekly market Weekly market

Sustainable economic

• 1.A.1 Custom House ‘Job Bank’ Network

• 1.B.1 Mixed-use Fremasons Road • 1.B.2 Improved public furniture

• 1.C.1 Ronan Square weekly market

Welcoming urban

Strong social fabric Strong social fabric Welcoming urban urban S Sustainable economic Weekly market Job creation Job Oppurtunities Sustainable economic Welcoming Welcoming urban Sustainable economic Sustainable economic Weekly market Weekly market Sustainable furnitures growth Strong social fabric furnitures growth Economic growth growth furnitures furnitures growth growth

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1

Open-up the boundaries of Custom House for better integration within the broader context of the city SHORT TERM

a.1

MID TERM

1

A.1

INTERVENTION

B.1

INTERVENTION

LONG TERM

Open-up the boundaries of Custom House for better integration within the broader context of the city

VI.a Timeline of intervention 1.A.1

1 Through MID TERM SHORT TERM the construction LONG TERM integration within the broader context of the city of a network designed to facilitate and b.1 streamline existing job-centre infrastructure—local unemthe boundaries of Custom House for better 1 residents could advertise Open-up ployed integration within the broader context of the city their skills and availability in a MID TERM SHORT TERM ‘Job Bank.’

LONG TERM Custom House This would help local employers such a positive and constructive identity of Custom as those based 2 in ExCeL recruit Nurture House - both within the community and outside b.2 directly from the local workforce, thus harnessing the employment Custom and economic potential for the House $$ Custom House Nurture a positive and constructive identity of Custom MID TERM SHORT LONG TERM 2 TERMcommunity.

Open-up the boundaries of Custom House for better

House - both within the community and outside

For this plan to be successful, the following actors would Excel c.1 to work together: need Nurture a positive and constructive identity of Custom 2 House - both within the community and outside • Excel Centre recruitment office • Custom House Employment Hub Nurture a positive and constructive identity of Custom • Newham2 employment strate- House - both within the community and outside gic plan • Custom House residents

B.2

INTERVENTION

C.1

INTERVENTION

A.1

INTERVENTION

$$$

$$

A.2

INTERVENTION

B.1

INTERVENTION

B.2

INTERVENTION

VI.b Custom House and ExCeL mutual interests

3

Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability and increase local accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport.

A.1

INTERVENTION

3

Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability and increase local accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport.

B.1

INTERVENTION

3

Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability and increase local accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport.

C.1

INTERVENTION

3

Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability and increase local accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport.

C.2

INTERVENTION

VI.c Custom House and and its boundaries 28

Custom House residents

YOUTH

DISABLED

WOMEN

YOUTH Employing young residents is of core importance Employing young in order to reduce the residents crime rates isin the neigbourhood by giving thein young generations of core importance order to new opportunities of job and education.

DISABLED With the help of the employment hub in Custom With the help of the employHouse will be possible to track residents with disabilities and ingive them job opportunities ment hub Custom House will according to their skills in the Excel.

WOMEN Women empowerment and independence is Women empowerment and among crucial to promote relations of equality neighbours, and to ensure their kids independence isthat crucial towill have access to education.

reduce the crime rates in the neigbourhood by giving the young generations new opporFigure: Potential resident actors to be involved in Excel employment program tunities of job and education.

be possible to track residents with disabilities and give them job opportunities according to their skills in the Excel.

FAMILIES

promote relations of equality among neighbours, and to ensure that their kids will have access to education.

FAMILIES Providing job opportunities to family members Providing job opportunities that are among the most vulnerable in theto area is crucial to protect the families andare theiramong siblings. family members that

the most vulnerable in the area is crucial to protect the families and their siblings.

VI.d Potential resident actors to be involved in Excel employment program

Whilst the Job Bank will help all residents benefit from local employment opportunities, those who are more vulnerable and/or disadvantaged within the job market will be given greater priority such as the youth, residents with disabilities, women and the heads of households.

Neighbours employed currently at Excel Neighbours employed after the implementation

VI.e ExCel offering more employment opportunities for Custom House residents

When does this intervention take place?

The proximity of the ExCeL to Custom House means that it will be the immediate focus of the Job Bank in the short term. This connection needs to be activated as soon as the program starts, with the aim that this relationship will grow in the long-term.

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1

Open-up the boundaries of Custom House for better integration within the broader context of the city SHORT TERM

MID TERM

A.1

INTERVENTION

B.1

INTERVENTION

B.2

INTERVENTION

LONG TERM

a.1

1

1

Open-up the boundaries of Custom House for better integration within the broader context of the city

MID TERM

SHORT TERM

b.1

VI.f Timeline of intervention 1.B.1

1

Open-up the boundaries of Custom House for better integration within the broader context of the city

C.1

INTERVENTION

Nurture a positive and constructive identity of Custom House - both within the community and outside

A.1

INTERVENTION

Nurture a positive and constructive identity of Custom House - both within the community and outside

A.2

INTERVENTION

Nurture a positive and constructive identity of Custom House - both within the community and outside

B.1

INTERVENTION

Nurture a positive and constructive identity of Custom House - both within the community and outside

B.2

INTERVENTION

3

Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability and increase local accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport.

A.1

INTERVENTION

3

Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability and increase local accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport.

B.1

INTERVENTION

3

Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability and increase local accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport.

C.1

INTERVENTION

3

Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability and increase local accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport.

C.2

INTERVENTION

MID TERM

SHORT TERM

b.2

LONG TERM

Open-up the boundaries of Custom House for better integration within the broader context of the city

2 MID TERM

SHORT TERM

Recalibrating and reac2 tivating Freemasons Road to function as a mixed use highc.1 street: addressing the needs of local residents whilst providing 2 employment for prosperity and the area. The central position of Freemasons Road within Custom House and its proximity to ExCeL and 2the station makes it an obvious focal point for the regeneration’s business strategy

Secondary products

LONG TERM

LONG TERM

Public infrastructures

Restaurants/ Food delivery

Primary products

Local market

VI.g Freemasons Road reactivation:Mixed uses

Freemasons Road reactivation: Mixed uses 30

VI.h Shops in Freemasons Road. Some of them are closed and the urban spaces are deteriorated

Shops in Freemasons Road. Some of them are close and the urban spaces are deteriorated

Custom House

Excel Mixed uses redistribution in Freemasons Road

When does this intervention take place?

VI.i Mixed-use redistribution in Freemasons Road

The alterations to Freemasons Road outlined in the original regeneration programme should be completed within the first two years.

The implementation of a mixed-use model for the high-street would be an ongoing process lasting approximately 5 years.

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1

Open-up the boundaries of Custom House for better integration within the broader context of the city SHORT TERM

MID TERM

B.1

INTERVENTION

B.2

INTERVENTION

C.1

INTERVENTION

LONG TERM

b.1

1

Open-up the boundaries of Custom House for better integration within the broader context of the city

SHORT TERM

MID TERM

1

LONG TERM

Open-up the boundaries of Custom House for better integration within the broader context of the city

b.2

VI.j Timeline of intervention 1.B.2

2

SHORT TERM

Nurture a positive and constructive identity of Custom House - both within the community and outside LONG TERM

A.1

MID TERM

INTERVENTION

VI.k Examples of hostile and inclusive furniture

Improving public furniture a positive and constructive identity of Custom 2 Freemasons Road Nurture in andc.1around A.2 INTERVENTION House - both within the community and outside through the removal of hostile architectural design elements. This helps to make streets more wela positive and constructive identity of Custom coming and 2 inclusive, whilst en- Nurture B.1 INTERVENTION House - both within the community and outside suring that vulnerable members of society such as rough-sleepers are not designed-out or marginExample hostileurban urban of Custom Example Exampleof ofwelcoming inclusive urban alised. This2intervention seeks to Nurture a positive and constructive identity Example ofofhostile urban INTERVENTION B.2 furniture in Ronan Ronan Square furniture in Cundy Park the community and outside furnitures in Square furnitures in Cundy Park make public space more repre- House - both within sentative and avoid prescribing usage onto public furniture.

x

3

Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability and increase local accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport.

A.1

INTERVENTION

3

Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability and increase local accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport.

B.1

INTERVENTION

3

Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability and increase local accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport.

C.1

INTERVENTION

3

Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability and increase local accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport.

Hostile urban furniture

Hostile architecture Hostile architecture is ais social conditioning design strategy socially conditioning design strategy which restricts the in which restricts the ways ways inpieces which pieces of urban which of urban furniture can be used. This furniture can be used. This results in the designing out results in theofdesigning out and exclusion certain indiand exclusion of certain viduals and usages (Chellew, 2019). individuals and usages (Chellew 2019).

When does this intervention take place?

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Inclusive urban furniture C.2 INTERVENTION

Theremoval removal hostile design The of of hostile design elements from urban furnielements from urban furniture ture helps make publicspace space more helps make public more inclusive. This prevents inclusive.

This prevents their their use being prescribed use being prescribed which is which is especially significant especially for vulnerablesignificant members offor society such as rough sleepers vulnerable members of (Petty, 2016). society such as rough sleepers (Petty 2016).

Adjustments to the public furniture on Freemasons Road should be enacted in concordance with other interventions aimed at improving this high-street.

VI.l Analysis of the urban furnitures found around Custom House. The analysis focused mainly on benches that are placed in Freemasons road surroundings.

33

1

Open-up the boundaries of Custom House for better integration within the broader context of the city MID TERM

SHORT TERM

b.2

1

MID TERM

2

INTERVENTION

C.1

INTERVENTION

A.1

INTERVENTION

LONG TERM

Open-up the boundaries of Custom House for better integration within the broader context of the city

SHORT TERM

B.2

LONG TERM

Nurture a positive and constructive identity of Custom House - both within the community and outside

VI.m Timeline of intervention 1.C.1 c.1

2

Nurture a positive and constructive identity of Custom House - both within the community and outside

A.2

INTERVENTION

Nurture a positive and constructive identity of Custom House - both within the community and outside

B.1

INTERVENTION

Nurture a positive and constructive identity of Custom House - both within the community and outside

B.2

INTERVENTION

3

Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability and increase local accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport.

A.1

INTERVENTION

3

Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability Establishment a local market in Establishment a localVI.n market in Ronan Square of INTERVENTION and increase local accessibility by promoting theof adoption of Ronan Square alternative modes of transport.

3

Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability and increase local accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport.

C.1

INTERVENTION

3

Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability and increase local accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport.

C.2

INTERVENTION

Establish a weekly local 2 market in the newly named Ronan Square (refer pg 10-11) so that local goods can be sold in a way that encourages footfall to the 2 area whilst increasing community interaction. The date and timings of this market would be determined by the local community.

B.1

Intersection between coolfin Road and Freemasons Road: Ronan square before the intervention

34

VI.o Space occupied by the market once a week

LOCAL MARKETS PROMOTE EMPLOYMENT TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES

Establishment of a local market in Ronan Square

When does this intervention take place?

Link to Participatory Planning/Original Regeneration Plan

VI.p Local market promotes employment to local communities

Of all the interventions aimed at economic activation—this one will be enacted last. The success of the Ronan Square market is dependent on the high footfall generated through a revitalised Freemasons Road. Therefore, work on establishing this market will begin once these previous interventions have been implemented.

The participatory planning process indicated that residents were concerned with the economic prosperity of Custom House and the provision of opportunities especially for younger residents. The Job Bank aims to tackle this issue whilst helping the neighbourhood sufficiently benefit from local economic opportunities. Further concerns raised by residents about the lack of open community space on Freemasons Road would be addressed by the establishment of the Ronan Square Market. Whilst, the original regeneration plan designates the Station Forecourt as a potential location for this—we believe that Ronan Square instead would help bring footfall (from locals and visitors alike) to Freemasons Road whilst still fulfilling the wishes of local residents to have improved social space.

35

Youth events Youth promotion promotion and events Youth promotion and events

PRINCIPLE 2 Nurture a positive and constructive identity of Custom House—both within the community and outside

2

Nurture a positive and constructive identity of Custom House—both within the community and outside

Promote Custom House identity through Youth creative production: Art and Music. Create Youth hubs: safe spaces for learning and training, encouraging events, expositions, festivals, as a way of making visible the youth´s assets and potentialities. Recognizing the younger generations as the main actor for change and action, not only among Custom House residents but also promoting a media diffusion at a wider city level. The main objective is to reverse the direct relationship of youth with crime, gangs and drugs.

38

GUIDELINES

MID TERM

SHORT TERM

LONG TERM

a.1 a.2 b.1 b.2

5y

2y

10 y

Timeline of interventions guideline B

VII. Timeline of interventions under Principle 2

2.A Increase youth activities in the area as a mechanism for taking teenagers out of the street, reconverting the perception of younger generations, recognizing their own potentialities and strengths.

Creating a prevention system of networks by offering safe spaces, mentorships, neighbourhood watch, encouraging the youth as the main actors for change and action.

2.B

Regenerate the areas with the highest rate of drug crimes, making them accessible and attractive for residents and potential visitors

s

Job creation

mic

Welcoming urban furnitures

Job creation

fabric ents

Weekly market Strong social fabric

Sustainable economic WeeklyLocal market products Youth Job creation Community workshops Community Welcoming urban Crime prevention Youthactivities activities growth furnitures workshops

Sustainable economic growth Local products

Welcoming urban Cultural events Weekly market Cultural events furnitures

Strong social fabric

• 2.A.1 Co-production, mentoring and neighbourhodd watch • 2.A.2 Youth creative initiatives and activities

• 2.B.1 Route of green safe spaces • 2.B.2 Buit environment interventions

Welcoming urban Local products Job creation Strong social fabric

Jobfurnitures creation

Crime prevention

Weekly market

Week

Welcoming furnitures

Sustainable economic growth

Youth activities

Welcoming urban Sustainable Strong socialeconomic fabric Strong social fabric Urban furnitures Strong social fabric Strong social fabric Crime prevention Crime prevention furnitures Welcoming urban growth Community workshops

Cultural events

furnitures

39

Commu

Yo

1

a.1

Open-up the boundaries of Custom House for better integration within the broader context of the city

C.1

INTERVENTION

2

Nurture a positive and constructive identity of Custom House - both within the community and outside

A.1

INTERVENTION

2

Nurture a positive and constructive identity of Custom House - both within the community and outside

A.2

INTERVENTION

VII.a Timeline of intervention 1.A.1

a.2

2

Nurture a positive and constructive identity of Custom House - both within the community and outside

B.1

INTERVENTION

2

Nurture a positive and constructive identity of Custom House - both within the community and outside

B.2

INTERVENTION

A.1

INTERVENTION

B.1

INTERVENTION

a safer The aim is toenvironment: enable spac The co-production pro- Foster neighbourhood enrich sociability increase localyouth accessibility promoting the adoption of where canbydiscuss their cess encourages 3 Custom House andes modes of transport. residents to participate in the mo- alternative priorities and preferences. The tivation of younger generations. adults would also be part of this b.1 idea is to work together on activity through a process of reThe Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability cruiting local mentors the dea variety of activities and hobbies and increase local accessibility by and promoting the adoption of 3 modes ofof transport. velopment a neighbourhood (art, music, sports, digital media, alternative job skills), running mappings and watch system. workshops.

3

Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability and increase local accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport.

C.1

INTERVENTION

3

Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability and increase local accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport.

C.2

INTERVENTION

b.2 Mentorships

Youth Hubs

Youth Creative Production

Co-production / Workshops

40

VII.b Getting adults and young to work together

The workshops should be done in a rotatory system—making use of Custom House’s existing infrastructure to promote already available spaces, encouraging the positive community-oriented appropriation of these sites. Principle sites can be seen in figure VII.d

VII.c Shipman Youth Center Source: (Shipman Youth Center, 2020)

John F.Kennedy Primary school

Job Centre Keir Hardie Primary school

Custom House

Rosetta Library Primary school

Grace Ministry

Edith Kerrison Nursery and Children centre

Universal Church of Christ Mission South Canning Town Detavhed Youth Project

Hallsville Primary school

School

Custom House Baptist Church Scott Wilkie Primary school

Cundy community centre

Shipman Youth centre

Saint Joaquims Primary school Saint Anne´s Catholic church

Regeneration Hub Asesion Play

The Garden community coffee Asesion Church centre The Royal Docks Academy

Calverton Primary school

Church Community centre Library Job centre

Excel

Parks Square

VII.d Workshops rotation network of Custom House’s available spaces

When does this intervention take place?

The starting point is the co-production process. Through mappings and workshops, local residents are able to identify the priorities, challenges, expectations and set a plan together. The process should continue until the mid term, working parallel with future interventions.

Its implementation in the long term would depend on the success of these activities, but an improved community identity would make their frequency less important.

41

2

Nurture a positive and constructive identity of Custom House - both within the community and outside

A.1

INTERVENTION

2

Nurture a positive and constructive identity of Custom House - both within the community and outside

A.2

INTERVENTION

2

Nurture a positive and constructive identity of Custom House - both within the community and outside

B.1

INTERVENTION

a.1

a.2

VII.e Timeline of intervention 1.A.2

2

The Youth Hubs will pro3 vide space for creative producb.1 tion, enabling activities such as: • Music festivals and Art exhibitions • Sports competitions in the 3 green spaces • Communication strategies through digital media initiatives, sharing 3 with the comb.2 munity everything that’s happening in the area

3

Nurture a positive and constructive identity of Custom House - both within the community and outside

B.2

INTERVENTION

Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability and increase local accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport.

A.1

INTERVENTION

Visibility

Diffusion

Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability and increase local accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport.

B.1

INTERVENTION

Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability and increase local accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport.

C.1

INTERVENTION

Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability and increase local accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport.

C.2

INTERVENTION

Exhibitions

Digital Media

VII.f Visibility and diffusion of youth creative production

Youth activities

Festivals / Exhibitions

g Town Custom House Library

Shipman Youth centre

The Garden community coffee

Cundy Park

VII.g Creating spaces of youth expression 42

Canning Town Park

Job Centre

Custom House Library Russell Park

Cundy Community Centre Job Centre

Russell Park

Canning Town Park

Ronan Square

Cundy Community Centre

Events

Ronan Square

Community centre Library Events JobCommunity centrecentre

Regeneration Hub

Shipman Youth Centre

Asession Play

The Garden Community coffee Cundy Park

The Garden Community coffee Cundy Park

Western Terrace

Library Job centre Parks

Custom House Library

Regeneration Hub Asession Play

Shipman Youth Centre

Western Terrace

Parks

Square Square VII.h Potential places to host youth events

These events will be located in the available public places throughout Custom House. The Western Terrace provides an opportunity to make visible a positive youth identity on a broader scale, as the ExCeL attracts visitors from across London.

When does this intervention take place?

In the short term, running the events would help remodel the identity of the area. Focusing on the activities highlighted in the workshops, these events should continue until the end of the mid-term period as they can act as trials for potentially permanent interventions.

43

2

Nurture a positive and constructive identity of Custom House - both within the community and outside

A.2

INTERVENTION

2

Nurture a positive and constructive identity of Custom House - both within the community and outside

B.1

INTERVENTION

2

Nurture a positive and constructive identity of Custom House - both within the community and outside

B.2

INTERVENTION

a.2

b.1

VII.i Timeline of intervention 1.B.1

3

Certain places are per3as unsafe beceived by residents b.2 cause of the presence of gangs, drug-related activities and anti-social behaviours. The idea is 3 to reverse the negative perception of these sites whilst challenging the stigmatisation of younger generations: making them active 3 and empowered members of the community.

Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability and increase local accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport.

A.1

INTERVENTION

Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability and increase local accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport.

B.1

INTERVENTION

Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability and increase local accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport.

C.1

INTERVENTION

Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability and increase local accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport.

C.2

INTERVENTION

Drug crimes

UK Police (Jan 2018 – Dic 2019)

VII.j Map of drug crimes in Custom House Source: (UK police, 2020)

Gangs

Youth activities Reactivation

Festivals

Exhibitions

44

Drug crimes

VII.k Youth activities reactivation

This intervention will not only focus on spaces related to drug crime but will also extend into public spaces throughout the neighbourhood. The youth events will help generate outdoor activities that will not only encourage social interaction and community participation, but also will reactivate these sities and disencourage anti-social behaviour.

Canning Town Park

Russell Park

Ronan Square Cundy Park Events Community centre Library Job centre

Western Terrace

Parks Square

VII.l Areas of intervention 2.B.1

VII.m Cundy Park with temporary events of music and sports, transforming its use and inviting new users

When does this intervention take place?

The process of reducing drug crimes in the area is a longer process and requires the involvement and commitment of residents.

Therefore this intervention is considered for the mid term, as the conditions of safety and security should be promoted by the first interventions.

45

n re

Nurture a positive and constructive identity of Custom House - both within the community and outside

B.1

INTERVENTION

2

Nurture a positive and constructive identity of Custom House - both within the community and outside

B.2

INTERVENTION

Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability and increase local accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport.

A.1

INTERVENTION

b.1

3

VII.n Timeline of intervention 1.B.2

b.2

3

Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability and increase local accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport.

B.1

INTERVENTION

3

Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability and increase local accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport.

C.1

INTERVENTION

C.2

INTERVENTION

Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability

b Centre

l

2

Redesign 3of the built and increase local accessibility by promoting Built theenvironment adoption of environment for preventing the alternative modes of transport. crime and taking into account Canning Town the activities Park identified togethCustom House er with the community Library

To make public spaces Cundy more accessible and attractive community Shipman Youth centre to residents and visitors, alteracentre tions to the physical environment are needed. These transformaThe Garden tions include introducing betcommunity coffee ter lighting and improving local facilities (such as playgrounds, Regeneration Hub sports fields, fitness equipment, Cundy Asesion Play skateparks).

These mixed-use elePark ments will help make these places more secure.

xcell quare

Uses and Users

VII.o Redesign the built environment to prevent crime

When does this intervention take place?

46

The built environment should be modified after a mature co-production process that uses temporary events to assess which transformations are required. Therefore, this intervention should come last in the encouragement of a more positive identity for Custom House. Once community cooperation has been promoted, these alterations will be more effective.

Canning Town Park Custom House Library

Job Centre

Russell Park

Cundy community centre

Shipman Youth centre

The Garden community coffee

Ronan Square Regeneration Hub Asesion Play

School

Cundy Park

Church Community centre Library Job centre

Western Terrace

Parks Square VII.p Overview map of areas of interventions of Principle 2

The spaces highlighted on the map also have high drug crime density. The urban transformations together with the Youth Hubs and community centre safe spaces will reduce these crime rates.

Link to Participatory Planning/Original Regeneration Plan

Safety was a major concern within the participatory planning process. Whilst the original regeneration proposal provides useful interventions for altering the built environment to promote a more secure setting (such as reducing the canyon effect on Ethel Road), these measures do not go far enough in terms of social provision.

Through our interventions, we hope to address Custom House residents’ concerns over safety. Providing opportunities for younger generations and promoting community encounters will make Custom House, both feel and be, a safer place to live. Furthermore, we hope to address concerns raised by residents over the use and safety of Cundy Park and the need for an events space in Custom House, promoting the neighbourhood’s green areas as safe activity-oriented spaces.

Transports accessibility Transport and accessibility Transports and accessibility

PRINCIPLE 3 Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability and increase local accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport.

3

Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability and increase local accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport.

Improving cycling infrastructure and the walkability of the neighbourhood will help create a safe, welcoming environment for cyclists and pedestrians alike. It would also provide Custom House with the needed stimulus to encourage the adoption of alternative transport. Better cycling infrastructure, such as adequate bicycle parking facilities and well defined bike paths, can positively influence people’s perception of safety, both in the street and on the road. Moreover, promoting cycling and walking can help make everyday activities such as: food shopping, entertainment, education or employment more accessible and affordable for local residents, whilst stimulating active and healthy lifestyles.

50

GUIDELINES

MID TERM

SHORT TERM

LONG TERM

a.1 b.1 c.1 c.2

5y

2y Timeline of interventions guideline C

VIII. Timeline of Interventions under Principle 3

3.A Enhance the current aspect of publicly accessible space in order

to generate a more welcoming, safer environment for the benefit of local residents and visitors alike.

3.B

Incentivise the adoption of alternative modes of transport, specifically cycling and walking, in order to promote greater sociability amongst residents their accessibility Welcomingand urbanincrease Sustainable economiclocal Local products Job creation Sustainable economic Weekly market

es

eation

furnitures

growth

Strong social fabric growth

3.C Improve walking and cycling facilities along Freemasons Road

with a view to make the neighbourhood safer for pedestrians and cyclists as well as more attractive for visitors.

Youth activities Community workshops Cultural events WelcomingStrong urban social fabric Strong social fabricCrime prevention furnitures

Weekly market

Sustainable economic growth

10 y

Welcoming urban furnitures

Youth activities Community workshops Welcoming urban e prevention economic Community Local productsAccessibility Job creation Strong social social fabric Sustainable economic Weekly market Strong Pedestrian lines Accessibility Strong socialfabric fabric shops Cycling paths Community workshops growth Strong socialfurnitures fabric

• 3.A.1 Create a walking/cycling links between existing green spaces.

• 3.B.1 Organise cycling skills training session & local collective rides Local Welcoming productsurban furnitures

• 3.C.1 Increase the number of pedestrian crossings from two to at least four.

Crime prevention Community Cultural events workshops

You

Welcoming urban • 3.C.2 Provision of appropriate furnitures bicycle parking facilities

Strong social fabric

Welcoming urban Welcoming urban Urban furnitures Pedestrian lines Strong social fabric Pedestrian lines furnitures furnitures Strong social fabric workshops Welcoming urban Accessibility

furnitures

JobStrong creation social fabric Weekl

Cycling paths Cycling paths

Welcoming urban Comm furnitures

51

2

a.1

Nurture a positive and constructive identity of Custom House - both within the community and outside

B.2

INTERVENTION

3

Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability and increase local accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport.

A.1

INTERVENTION

3

Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability and increase local accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport.

B.1

INTERVENTION

b.1

VIII.a Timeline of intervention 1.A.1

3 b.1

Create a walking and cy3 cling path linking existing green spaces (Cundy Park - Community Garden - Canning Town Recreation Ground - Russell Park) with a view to make the neighbourhood easier to navigate and more acc.1 cessible for all. Furthemore, better knowledge of the area could inspire a deeper sense of attachment and belonging.

Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability and increase local accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport.

C.1

INTERVENTION

Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability and increase local accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport.

C.2

INTERVENTION

c.2

VIII.b A new cycle path for Custom House A new Cycle path for Custom House

Canning Town Park

Freemasons Rd

Russell Park

Ronan Square

Community Garden

Cundy Park

Parks Square Cycling Pedestrian

52

VIII.c Map of the proposed cycling and pedestrian paths

VIII.d View of how the street would be shared between cars, cyclists and pedestrians—before and after

When does this intervention take place?

There is a short-term need for the improvement of the area, which is currently suffering from a lack of vitality. However, remaining residents of Custom House can benefit from enhanced public spaces and green areas in the short term. This intervention could be implemented at different phases across a period of three years.

53

3

Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability and increase local accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport.

A.1

INTERVENTION

3

Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability and increase local accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport.

B.1

INTERVENTION

3

Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability and increase local accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport.

C.1

INTERVENTION

3

Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability and increase local accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport.

a.1 b.1

b.1

VIII.e Timeline of intervention 1.B.1

Organise cycling skills c.1 training sessions, bike maintenance workshops as well as local rides around the area to promote cycling as a mode of transport.

Training people to become more proficient with bicycles would result c.2 in riders being more confident on the road. This decreases the risk of accidents and makes journeys more enjoyable and satisfying.

C.2

INTERVENTION

Engage

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

London Borough of Newham Jubilee Greenway Cycle and Walking Path

Gallions Reach Shopping Mall

Discover

University of East London

Custom House

Excel Exhibition Centre

London City Airport

Learn

VIII.f Learn. Engage. Discover.

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

London Borough of Newham Jubilee Greenway Cycle and Walking Path

Gallions Reach Shopping Mall University of East London

Custom House

Jubilee Greenway Feeder Cycling Lanes

Excel Exhibition Centre

London City Airport

VIII.g Discovering Custom House’s surroundings

When does this intervention take place?

54

Promotion of cycling is currently one of TfL’s ongoing initiatives.

In accordance with this, promoting alternative modes of transport could commence in the short term with the intention to extend this to the end of the mid term. The future of this scheme in the long term will depend on the kind of incentives and planning projects in Newham and the surrounding area.

3

b.1

and increase local accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport.

B.1

INTERVENTION

3

Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability and increase local accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport.

C.1

INTERVENTION

3

Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability and increase local accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport.

C.2

INTERVENTION

c.1

VIII.h Timeline of intervention 1.C.1

Increase the number of pedestrian crossings along Freemasons Road, to increase safety, especially during school times. A c.2 greater sense of safety would encourage people to walk and explore the neighborhood, gaining better access to the amenities offered locally, such as greenery and leisure.

VIII.i Increase the number of pedestrian Increase the number of pedestrian crossing crossings

Canning Town Park

Freemasons Rd

Russell Park

Ronan Square

Community Garden

Cundy Park

Parks Square Crossing New Existent

VIII.j Map of existent and proposed crossings

When does this intervention take place?

Increasing the number of pedestrian crossings can be implemented in the short term in order to benefit current residents. Similarly, provision of better bicycle parking facilities should commence immediately with the aim to foster a more cycle-friendly culture for the benefit of local residents.

55

c.1

3

Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability and increase local accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport.

C.1

INTERVENTION

3

Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability and increase local accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport.

C.2

INTERVENTION

VIII.k Timeline of intervention 1.C.2 c.2

Providing appropriate bicycle parking facilities and encouraging street furniture along more visited areas, specifically Freemasons Road. A greater sense of security would build confidence amongst cyclists and inspire other riders to visit and explore the area, helping to support local businesses and the neighbourhood’s economy.

VIII.l View of an area with improved street furniture and cycling facilities

When does this intervention take place?

56

Similar to the previous intervention, provision of more and better bicycle parking facilities should commence immediately with the aim to foster a more cycle-friendly culture.

View of the Custom House DLR station and future station for Elizabeth Line, Authors' own (2020)

Link to Participatory Planning/Original Regeneration Plan

Custom House residents expressed their desire for improved street-level accessibility and safety. Promoting alternative transport methods such as cycling, walking and running will help improve mobility within the neighbourhood whilst encouraging residents to feel more secure travelling around the area. There was insufficient attention to the promotion of healthy and environmentally friendly modes of transport in the original regeneration plan. However, our proposed interventions will provide benefits in terms of community interconnectivity. This in turn, will help reverse the effects of fear-induced behaviours in Custom House.

57

Open-up the boundaries of Custom House for better integration within the broader context of the city Nurture a positive and constructive identity of Custom House - both within the community and outside

Russell Park

Freemasons Rd

Foster a safer neighbourhood environment: enrich sociability and increase local accessibility by promoting the adoption of alternative modes of transport

Job Centre

Cund com cent

Regeneration Hub

Community centre

Ronan Square

Library Job centre

Asesion P

Victoria Dock Rd

Parks Square Market Festival Cycling Pedestrian Crossing

58

Co G

Western Terrace

OVERALL MAP

Canning Town Park

Prince Regent

Custom House Library

dy mmunity tre

Shipman Youth centre

ommunity Garden

The Garden community coffee

Cundy Park

Play

ExCel

IX. Overall map of all the interventions

Overview of all the interventions linking the surrounding of Custom House (ExCeL, DLR) to its socio-economic centre on Freemasons Road and Ronan Square 59

The improvement of the public spaces and the strengthening of the social fabric, especially among the youth, can help new events to happen around the neighbourhood. As such Ronan square could become an important junction where many social activities take place as concerts, festival and other youth events.

60

WHERE IS E ! TODAY I'V HI EVERYONE E WALLY? STOM HOUS BEEN IN CU ET! LOCAL MARK ING NY INTEREST MA EN I'VE SE AT MMUNITY TH CO A !

GS THIN AND TO: G TOGETHER IN RK WO IS BRIC S, TO E SOCIAL FA THE CURIOU TH NG KI MA LIKE THOSE WHO STRONGER! UCTS GS HAVE LOCAL PROD IN TH NY MA E I SEE THAT LY AND PROMOT IN THIS LOVE VITIES IMPROVED LOCAL ACTI D! OO RH NEIGHBOU

Once a week the newly named Ronan Square becomes a local market where residents from Custom House, Newham and surroundings can sell and buy local products. The temporary activation of this intersection can turn this place into a permanent vibrant space and become together with Freemasons Road the new economic centre of Custom House.

The introduction of many new activities such as local guided rides and cycling training sessions in Custom House as well as the route of the new cycle path are powerful tools to promote the use of bicycles and clean modes of transport and improve accessibility and mobility for residents.

X. Axonometric view of the projected urban transformations in Custom House

61

View of the 'Making Space' mural from Jessie Brennan at the entrance of Custom House, Authors' own (2020) 62

Firstly, we hope this report does justice to the tremendous work already achieved by Custom House’s residents in designing and determining the future of their neighbourhood. Our vision for Custom House and its constitutive principles have been informed not only by our own field analysis but also by the input of many actors within and outside Custom House, including the work presented at the Regeneration Hub.

As a result, our guidelines and interventions are built upon the potential Custom House has to address the issues faced by residents. Our human-scale and community-oriented approach emphasises residents as the main drivers of socio-economic development, recognising youth as an asset for the area and working with them to produce an environment where they can thrive and enact positive change.

The small-scale spatial interventions across the area will have far greater socio-spatial ramifications, allowing for new types of positive social interaction to happen. The bigger-scale interventions intend

to re-connect different parts of Custom House and revitalise social networks hampered by mounting anti-social behaviour. Finally, by looking beyond the perimeters of Custom House, our interventions hope to ensure the sustainability of our vision and the integration of Custom House within its surroundings

CONCLUSION 63

Aston-Mansfield (2017) Newham: key statistics 2017. A detailed profile of key statistics about Newham by Aston-Mansfield’s Community Involvement Unit [Online] Available from: https://www.aston-mansfield.org.uk/wp-content/themes/aston_mansfield/uploads/Newham_ Statistics_2017.pdf [Accessed: 16 April 2020] Bailey, N. (2010). Understanding Community Empowerment in Urban Regeneration and Planning in England: Putting Policy and Practice in Context. Planning Practice and Research. 25 (3), 317-332.

Chellew, C. (2019). Defending Suburbia: Exploring the Use of Defensive Urban Design Outside of the City Centre. Canadian Journal of Urban Research. 28 (1), 19-33.

Dean, J. and Hastings, A. (2000). Challenging Images: Housing Estates, Stigma and Regeneration. Bristol: The Policy Press.

Gourlay, G. (2007). ‘It’s got a bad name and it sticks …’ Approaching stigma as a distinct focus of neighbourhood regeneration initiatives.

Paper presented to the EURA Conference, Glasgow, 12/09/07.

Jacobs, J. (1961). The Death and Life of Great American Cities. New York: Random House.

Koutrolikou, P. (2015). Socio-spatial stigmatization and its ‘incorporation’ in the centre of Athens, Greece. City: Analysis of Urban Trends, Policy, Action. 19 (4), 510-521.

Long, R. (2018). Ronan Point: Permanent memorial to Ronan Point victims to be commissioned. Available: https://www.newhamrecorder. co.uk/news/ronan-point-permanent-memorial-to-ronan-point-victims-to-be-commissioned-1-5521767. Last accessed 15th April 2020 Mowla, Q.A. (2004). Memory Association in Place Making: Understanding an Urban Space. Protibesh. 9 (1), 1-10.

Newham Council. (2019). Custom House Liveable Neighbourhood.

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