W19P296

Re-animating Poplar: Creating vitality and life in the streets of Poplar Design framework: Using urban design to create social, economic and environmental activity nodes in Poplar

Group A2: Edona Korenica Yuk Lo Maria-Elena Camarascu Hui-shan Lo Yuk long Derek Chan

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TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................3 POPLAR: BACKGROUND OVERVIEW.....................................................................................4 POPLAR: THE PAST AND THE FUTURE .................................................................................5 SWOT ANALYSIS....................................................................................................................6 OUR VISION............................................................................................................................7 STRATEGIES...........................................................................................................................9 MASTERPLAN........................................................................................................................10

HOUSING AND MIXED USE............................................................................................12

COMMUNITY AND THE PUBLIC REALM ........................................................................16

CONNECTIVITY..............................................................................................................22

GREEN AND BLUE INFRASTRUCTURE...........................................................................27

RE-BRANDING POPLAR: HISTORY AND HERITAGE ......................................................30

PHASING AND FUNDING .......................................................................................................32 CONCLUSION.........................................................................................................................33 CONTRIBUTION......................................................................................................................34

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INTRODUCTION POPLAR: BACKGROUND Situated in the Tower Hamlets Borough of East London in the north of Canary Wharf, Poplar used to be a residential area for those working in the docklands in the Isle of Dogs and their families. The loss of the dock’s economic significance due to the closing of the London Docklands brought about unemployment. and affected Poplar in particular. The area’s deterioration was further exacerbated by bombings during both WWI and WWII where 25% of its housing was destroyed.

The area began to be dominated by council housing under post-war rebuilding such as the Lansbury Estate. Although the London Docklands Development Corporation was set up in 1981 to oversee the regeneration of the docks as seen in Canary Warf, little attention was paid to reinvigorating the surrounding areas such as Poplar.

Despite sharing a similar history with Canary Wharf, Poplar was relatively forgotten in the responses undertaken towards the decline of the East’s docklands. In particular, the emphasis on connectivity between Canary Wharf and Central London by Canada Square’s developers resulted in the construction of infrastructure which severed the opportunities and access to Poplar. The construction of the Docklands Light Railway and major strategic roads such as the Blackwall Tunnel North Approach and Aspen Way created a physical barrier between Canary Wharf and Poplar, limiting north-south pedestrian movement. With the arrival of Crossrail in the near future, opportunities for Poplar remains unpromising due to persisting physical barriers.

This urban design framework seeks to create social, economic and environmental activity nodes in Poplar. Re-animating Poplar is focused around Poplar High Street, East India Dock Road and the surrounding area of Poplar. This site will be the catalyst to reconnect Poplar to its surrounding areas, particularly to Canary Wharf, and rediscovering Poplar’s identity and role as a social hub for both local communities and visitors. ‘Re-animate Poplar’ seeks to reinvent itself through creating vitality in the streets of Poplar to make it an attractive place to live and visit.

Poplar’s connections to surrounding locations

Location of Poplar in the Borough of Tower Hamlets Location of Borough of Tower Hamlets

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POPLAR: BACKGROUND OVERVIEW Green and grey space

• There is little provision of public green infrastructure within the study area. The majority of green space in this area is gated and private. For example, the Poplar Recreation Ground is closed in the evenings.

• There is evidence of underuse and lack of management of green and open space • There is a lack of green corridors within Poplar, thereby the area lacks diverse wildlife and biodiversity.

• SLOAP littered around Poplar.

Land use

Movement

• Retail areas are mostly concentrated in the north in Chrisp Street Market, while Poplar High Street does not serve the purpose of a successful high street .

• There is generally a lack of shops and restaurants in Poplar, therefore the area is largely for residential use.

• There are few community facilities within Poplar resulting in few activity nodes within the area .

• Poplar is well connected via public transpor routes: connections via the DLR, Elizabeth Line and the Jubilee Line (Canary Wharf station), 6 bus routes • There are largely good East/West connections due to the domination of primary streets which are connected to the national grid but there are poor North/South local connections due to the impermeability of secondary roads .This is mainly caused by the existance of dead-end streets and cul-de-sacs in tertiary roads, resulting in poor walkability.

• Limited walking and cycling links from Canary Wharf due to physical barriers (Aspen Way and the DLR tracks).

• Good connectivity towards Central London via the cycle superhighway and walking via the Thames Path.

Typology The area does not have a diverse range of building typologies and largely consist of: • Slab/Row blocks • Perimeter block • Tower The area is largely residential with the few community buildings scattered around. Buildings along Poplar High Street and East India Dock Road are mixed use, with shops and restaurants on the ground level.

The main residential type is slab/ row blocks that are mostly used for council housing. However, this predominant typology provides low dwelling densities, which is a weakness that our proposal will address.

To some extent, there is some coherence of building types within somes areas of the site. However, the overall urban typology lacks coherence due to the unorganised slabs and row blocks, resulting in an illegible urban structure with numerous cul-de-sacs and dead-end roads.

The typology of the urban space is much different when comparing Poplar to Canary Wharf. The buildings at Canary Wharf are defined by office tower typologies which are not in human scale. This generates an intimidating atmosphere in Poplar.

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POPLAR: THE PAST AND THE FUTURE HISTORY

Early 20th Century: Poplar widely damaged during WW2. Reconstruction transformed urban structure and led to development social housing.

17th- 18th century: Pre-Industrial period.

1806: Completion of East India Docks

1950s (till 1980s): Start of postwar reconstruction of Poplar with social housing .e.g. Lansbury Estate

1900: Borough of Poplar founded

Late 20th century-21st century: Development of DLR and Canary Wharf. Limited regeneration in Poplar.

1981: London Docklands development corporation was founded

FUTURE

Employment

1990s-2000s: Canary Wharf Regeneration

Expected employment growth rate of 1.7% per year • In 2014, Poplar had an unemployment rate of 15.7% which was 3.7% above Tower Hamlets Implications for framework • Ensure attraction and development of new businesses • Increase the diversity of business within the area

1600: Establishment of East India Trading company

1930s-1940s: Affected by WW1 and WW2

1812: Construction of East India Dock Road

1987: Poplar DLR station opened

Transport

HISTORY 19th Century: Industrial revolution.

Recognising Poplar’s strategic importance for trade and shipping.

FUTURE

Housing

1969: East India Dock closes

Late 20th century: De-industrialisation, unemployment and deprivation following closure of docks.

New connections to the City of London, the West End ,Heathrow and Reading via the Elizabeth Line • 68,000 passengers predicted per day on the Elizabeth line

Population Tower Hamlets housing target aims for over 39,000 new homes by 2025.

2025

However,this would not include new construction of social housing.

40 0 pe 0 ry ea

r

2015

Implications for framework • Utilising demand for housing to create mixed-use developments • Increase housing density to meet the housing budget

Poplar

Expected increase by 53,500 within the next 10 years Demographics • Residents aged 65+ to increase by 39% • 17% increase in working age residents • 7% increase in school age children Implications for framework • Aim to create an urban framework which caters for future demographics • Accessibility for elderly • Play spaces for children

ULEZ Central London ULEZ extension to inner London from October LEZ London-wide from October 2020

Implications for framework • Enhancing Poplar’s connections to London • Encourage businesses and visitors to Poplar Poplar will be included into the ULEZ in 2021, congestion and pollution associated with vehicular traffic are expected to decrease Implications for framework • Reduced car use and diversification of transport • Increased cycling and walking • Shift to more sustainable modes of transport

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SWOT ANALYSIS

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Strengths:

Weaknesses:

1. Rich historical assets and heritage

1. Sense of insecurity in access roads to DLR stations due to the design of the build environment

2. Excellent transport connections (including the Elizabeth Line and 3 other underground and DLR stations) 3. Proximity to Canary Warf and its economic opportunities 4. Existing cycle superhighway means that cycling is an active option for reaching Poplar 5. Proximity to the Thames Path National Trail

2. Poor connectivity particularly in the north-south, dominated by large streets that emphasises on national grid connections than local connections 3. Vacant land and industrial warehouses 4. Limited public green space, much of Poplar’s open space is private or partially enclosed within residential blocks and lacking purpose 5. Exposed DLR train tracks and Major A roads limits movement in the area with no ground-level access between Poplar and Canary Wharf. This creates a physical manifestation of existing social divide, creating a disjointed area.

6. Poor legibility: self-contained housing areas, cul-desacs and edges. Lack of cohesion in the urban fabric leading to under-utilised dead spaces

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Opportunities: 1. Removal of physical barriers, addressing both connectivity at urban edges and the sense of security and accessibility in public transport environment 2. Enhance and create new activity nodes in North Poplar with an emphasis on historic assets 3. Improve north-south permeability by creating more integrated street networks including expanding existing cycle links, increasing walkability through green spaces and creating connections to the Thames Path 4. Increase the provision of green space and create an urban green network as part of new development 5. Reclaiming of the waterfront through mixed use development to deliver a wide range of benefits such as housing, retail and employment to reanimate the area 6. Reinvigorate the high street to make it purposeful through mixed-used development, active frontages and public space. Increase the diversity of employment opportunities through regenerating Poplar Business Park.

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Threats: 1. Risk of erasing the history, urban fabric and significance of place 2. Developments do not deliver the effects intended and instead contribute to gentrification and push out existing residents and businesses 3. Flooding as the south of Poplar is low lying and is close to the River Thames 4. Under-use may undermine public support for green spaces and blue infrastructure improvements 5. Exacerbation of social inequalities leading to Aspen way to remain as a physical manifestation of social inequality

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VISION Re-animate Poplar: Using urban design to create social, economic and environmental activity nodes in Poplar

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OUR VISION Re-animating Poplar ‘Re-animating Poplar’ is an urban design framework aimed at recreating vitality and life in the streets of Poplar in the Borough of Tower Hamlets, London.

The overarching vision of this framework is re-animating Poplar and creating new activity nodes to revitalize the social life, the history and the economic activity of the area.

The main interventions are: • Optimizing land use and creating mixed use communities, as well as new housing units and employment opportunities • Enhancing the public realm to create new social and economic activity nodes • Increasing the overall connectivity of the area by reorganizing street structure and design • Optimizing and enhancing the functions of blue and green spaces to improve well-being • Rediscovering Poplar’s identity through its history and heritage The proposals presented in this framework are designed to increase the overall well-being of the local community, to better integrate Poplar into its surrounding areas and to create a thriving neighbourhood for future generations.

Strategy 4

Strategy 3

Green and blue infrastructure

Community and the public realm

Strategy 1 Land use: Mixed use communities

Strategy 2 Connectivity: Movement

Strategy 5 Branding Poplar: history and heritage

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STRATEGIES Housing and mixed use

Connectivity

Community and the public realm

Opportunity areas • Mixed use development along Poplar high street with active retail or commercial frontages in order to re-functionalise the high street • Utilising brownfield sites in the south of Poplar to create new mixed-use developments aimed to provide new housing • Transforming Poplar Business Park into a ‘creative hub’ with a focus on new office developments to attract businesses and creating housing in the surronding area • New housing development on East India Dock Road in order to reconstruct pathways and improve connecting from this area to the rest of Poplar.

Green and blue infrastructure

Opportunity areas Opportunity areas • Regenerating Poplar Station to create ground-level access with public square • Creating a shared space on Poplar High Street with pedestrian priority • Building a new Trinity Community Centre • Enhancing Chrisp Street Market as an activity node in North Poplar • New waterfront public and open spaces

Opportunity areas • Poplar’s edge will be transformed from an artificial barrier (Aspen way) to a natural barrier (waterfront)

• Overcoming physical and social barrier by creating Aspen Way Bouvelard with less car lanes and increased cyclist and pedestrian access • Shaped space and pedestrianisation on Poplar High Street which will increase access and walkability on Poplar High Street • New bridge connecting south Poplar to All Saints which will include an extended cyclist route • Creating new pathways through green spaces in Poplar • Walkable access from Poplar to waterfront

Opportunity areas

History and Heritage

• Museum of docklands (inside the West India Dock Conservation area)- enhance community connections with Poplar

• Creating a green network across Poplar including a ‘green’ brdige connecting South Poplar to All Saints

• Billingsgate market can be a point of history and heritage • Conservation area/s including St Matthias Church and All Saints Church

• New green space on the waterfront

• Chrisp Street Market and East India Dock Road

• Providing purpose to green spaces including new walkable pathways

• These key sites of interest will be enhanced using signage and will be included in a historical tour (by foot or cycling) which will connect from South to North Poplar.

• Greening of East India Dock Road and Aspen Way Boulevard to reduce indsutrial feel of Poplar

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MASTERPLAN

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MASTERPLAN PRESENT

MASTERPLAN

VISION The masterplan incorporates the proposed waterside developments, the proposed developments at Chrisp Street Market and the proposed housing redevelopments at Robin Hood Gardens.

Key developments to remain include: residential developments around Poplar Recreation Ground , existing developments at Canary Wharf, existing schools Key sites to be transformed include: the DLR deport, Poplar High Street, East India Dock Road, residential developments on the west of Poplar, Aspen Way, the DLR track, Poplar and All Saints DLR station, Billingsgate Market and the derelict land along the waterfront.

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HOUSING AND MIXED USE Housing is in extremely high demand in London and expected to grow especially due to the predicted popluation growth of 26% by 2026 in Tower Hamlets. Tower Hamlets aims to accomodate an additional over 39,000 homes by 2025. This strategy will aim to support this goal by improving the coherence of Poplar’s urban structure and low density to improve quantity and quality of housing.

Intervention 1.2: Mixed used development

Through creating new building structures, this will also enable opportunities to increase employment in Poplar by increased active frontages (retail and commercial) and accomodating office and business space.

HOUSING SUPPLY

Intervention 1.1: Urban Typology

Intervention 1.3: Poplar Business Park

The primary aim of this strategy is to increase the number of new affordable homes. This will require building new housing units and densifying Poplar’s urban structure. Most new buildings will fall under the typology of courtyard, slab and tower block with 4-6 storeys.

Mixing privately-owned and council housing in new building units will ensure inclusivity and affordability while improving social integration.

MIXED USE

Majority of new buildings will be mixed use.

This will be characterised by ground floor with a functional use other than accomodation. This will increase the available street front spaces to rent - encouraging both businesses and employment into the area.

New urban grain- Areas of intervention Existing urban grain

BUSINESS & EMPLOYMENT This will include the construction of new buildings to accomodate businesses, start-ups and office space. This will be targeted by the re-construction of Poplar Business Park which be will become an important hub for skills and employment training.

CONNECTIVITY The reconstructed urban grain will benefit existing and new communities as it will improve walkability and access to public transport.

ACCESS TO FACILITIES New and existing housing developments will benefit from increased proximity and access to facilities including schools, public spaces and community centres.

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HOUSING AND MIXED USE INTERVENTION 1.1: URBAN TYPOLOGY COURTYARD

This intervention will redevelop this part of Poplar to transform the fragmented urban structure. By building courtyard (or ‘perimeter’ blocks) this will allow for higher density buildings while adhereing to the urban structure and ‘human scale’ of the area.The redevelopment has allowed for the re-structuring of of the street network which has a specific aim of creating direct paths to East India Dock Road.

This will improve north-south connectivity. The focus area will re-create the street edge and allow for development of active frontages on East India Dock Road.

A courtyard is a perimeter of building blocks centred around a open (often green) space.

This creates an enclosed public or private space which can be used freely by residents within their own privacy- enabling children to play safely. Spaces between buildings allow for walkability and access in and out of the block.

Proposed courtyard building structure

3D diagram of Courtyard Block

Existing building structure

Courtyards will serve as an additional intervention to improve connectivity within Poplar. This specific area of intervention will play a major role in improving north-south connectivity in Poplar and ensure that accomodation is near and closely connected to activity nodes and community facilities. This will encourage the use of more sustainable routes as part of a wider aim to improve experience of walking in Poplar.

SLAB

TOWER BLOCKS

Slab ensures that the front area is facing the street which is important in formation of urban space. This building structure allows the development of active frontages which supports vitality on streets. It also improves safety due to casual surveillance and ‘eyes on the street.’

Tower blocks are between 4-6 storeys. This building type will allow for densification of housing and encourage mixed use.

3D diagram of Slab block

3D diagram of Tower Block

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HOUSING AND MIXED USE INTERVENTION 1.2: MIXED USE

KEY FEATURES OF HOUSING

SLAB

By including mixed-use developments, this will ensure that new buildings support Poplar’s local economy by increasing availability of retail or commercial space. This will encourage more businesses into the area and will create active frontages on important nodes of activity including Poplar High Street and East India Dock Road.

2100 new housing units

Within the next 25 years, it is proposed that there will be 2100 new housing units in Poplar. This will range from 1 bed (52m2), 2 bed (72m2) and 3-4 bed (98m2). 80% of housing will be aimed to be at least 2 bedroom due to the high demand from large and intergenerational families in Poplar.

50% of housing will be affordable to adhere to London’s affordable housing aim which will include 1050 new affordable flats and units.

AFFORDABILITY 50% of housing will be affordable to adhere to London’s affordable housing aim which will include 1050 new affordable flats and units.

INCLUSIVITY Housing will be adapted and include ramps, reduced steps and easier accessibility for groups such as the elderly and disabled.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY Function plan of Trinity Community

Function plan of residential with active frontage

New buildings should adopt sustainable construction methods and energy efficient features, such as insulation, double or triple glazed windows, heat recovery systems, energy efficient appliances and renewable energy technologies such as solar panels on roofs. Important consideration should be given to improving existing housing in terms of energy efficiency and retrofitting programmes in order to improve insulation, ventilation and reduce energy losses P.14 of individual buildings.

HOUSING AND MIXED USE INTERVENTION 1.3: POPLAR BUSINESS PARK

This intervention will rebuild the existing Poplar Business Park. It will change from block buildings to a perimeter block with multi-functional buildings centred around a open, public space.

Location of existing Poplar Business Park

New structure of Poplar Business Park

EMPLOYMENT

Enclosed community feel

Poplar Business Park will have mixed use functions with offices, retail spaces, resturants and a training centre. The retail spaces on the ground floor would ensure that the business park offers leisure activites to those who work there and is appealing to visitors; reinforcing the main goals of reanimating Poplar through lively and inclusive places.

It will offer an estimate of 20,000m2 of brand new office space. The offices will include co-working spaces for freelancers, small businesses, independent contractors and others who do not have a fixed workplace and can share this space to exchange ideas, expertise and experience.

Greenery and open space

The training centre will be specifically aimed at targeting Poplar’s unemployment rate and will focus on supporting local entrepreneurs and start-ups. It will also be a centre in which vocational courses and other training is made available to locals. This will ensure that the benefits of the new business park are targeted to Poplar specifically.

Functional plan of Poplar Business Park

Open space furniture

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COMMUNITY AND THE PUBLIC REALM Creating SOCIAL activity nodes Poplars lack of public, open space has limited social and economic activity nodes in the area which has reduced Poplar’s sense of place and community interaction. By improving existing nodes and creating new public spaces, this will contribute to re-animating Poplar. This includes creating an identifiable ‘centre’ of Poplar by creating a new public square to improve coherence, legibility and sense of place. The aim is also to enhance existing activity nodes to increase socio-economic activity from residents and visitors. The overall strategy will be underpinned by smallscale place making interventions to improve the public realm including street design, street furniture, lighting and greenery.

Existing public realm activity nodes

Accessibility

Intervention 2.4: Chrisp Street Market

Intervention 2.2: Poplar High Street

Intervention 2.3: Trinity Community Centre

Intervention 2.1: Poplar Station Square

Proposed public realm activity nodes

Public Space

Network of public realm nodes

Safety

• Aim to create a welcoming environment when first entering Poplar including public sqaures, active frontages and amenities, and open pathways leading onto Poplar High Street

• Limited accessibility for certain groups in both Poplar Station and All Saints Station due to elevated access • Reduce enclosed roads which can increase sense of security • Increase walkable access which is open and well-lit.

By including this it can make the station feel safer and more accessible for residents while also making it more appealing for visitors

• Poplar has an industrial feel which can be improved by increased greenery and street furniture in pathways and open spaces

Intervention 2.5: Billingsgate Market

Inclusivity These strategies should make Poplar’s public realm more inclusive. However, there will spaces which also cater to specific groups and needs including: • Play spaces for children

• Poplar station can feel insecure and unsafe especially during night time due to a lack of lighting. Currently, there is an alleyway/pathway which is the only direct path from the station to Poplar’s tertiary streets

• Open spaces for the elderly to socialise

• The aim is to increase pathway accessibility with open, public square access • Statutory and amenity lighting will be used in the station and surrounding area

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COMMUNITY AND THE PUBLIC REALM INTERVENTION 2.1: POPLAR STATION SQUARE

The proposed renovation will include a ground level station which is connected to Aspen Way Boulevard (refer to intervention 2.1) and the new connecting square. This will continue onto Poplar High Street shared space (refer to intervention 3.2).Poplar 3.2). station is currently difficult to access due to mainly elevated stair access. This makes it difficult for specific groups to access the station including disabled, elderly, parents with prams, young children and other groups.

Single surface and ground level access in York stone which is durable and aesthetic

Design of station which adheres to Poplar’s architectural style

Creative benches, seating and street furniture

Waterfountain in which children can play

Trees and greenery

Statutory and amenity lighting

These features will contribute significantly to improving accessibility and safety safety.

Lighting is a very important aspect ensuring that both residents and visitors feel secure and safe to use the station at night.

WIDER ACCESS PATH Existing access path from Poplar Station to Poplar High Street is an narrow alleyway. It lacks lighting and feels insecure. This makes the entrance to Poplar illegible, diffiuclt to navigate and unwelcoming for residents and visitors.

Wider access path will improve sense of security, safety and will be more legible. Active frontages will include cafes and food stores which will be ideal for commuters. This will transform first impressions of Poplar and will encourage more visitors. This leads directly into Poplar High Street (refer to 3.2) which will encourage more functional use of the high street and expenditure into the local economy.

Ground level access to Poplar Station will be directly connected to the public square followed by a widened path into Poplar with active frontages.

Existing Poplar Station

Existing access path

Wider access path with active frontages

Euston Station

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COMMUNITY AND THE PUBLIC REALM INTERVENTION 2.2: POPLAR HIGH STREET Poplar high street is a key intervention as it will play a major part in community and the public realm, realm mixed use communities and history and heritage. heritage Poplar High Street currently lacks a functional aspect with limited public and commercial use. The intervention includes creating a partly pedestrianised area of Poplar High Street with shared spaces for: People Cyclists Emergency vechicles It will have very limited car access as the aim is to transform a car-priority street into a people-priority street with active frontages including retail and resturants. Active frontages will be implemented via part of renovations of existing street front buildings along Poplar high street.

The aim is to restore the function of the traditional ‘british high street’ as an important activity node for Poplar. This will develop new social and economic activity nodes by attracting new businesses and increasing local employment. It will encourage residents to use Poplar High Street which will have positive effects on Poplar’s local economy and can encourage new community activities e.g. Sunday markets.

SHARED SPACE STREET Poplar High Street is currently car-priority with parking alongisde the entire road and it is connected to the cycle superhighway. However, our proposed expansion of cycling routes will reduce reliance on Poplar High Street and expected reduction in car-use allows scope to remove parking on the high street.

This shared space will be people-priority but will allow access by emergency vehicles and public transport.

As a result, it will reduce the speed of vehicles, improve safety and increase freedom of movement. Shared space will allow people to use the street with ease which will improve the experience of shopping or commercial activities and increase active usage of Poplar High Street. Following the intervention in Venn Street, Clapham there has been increased public usage and the monthly market increased in popularity and became a weekly event.

Proposed area of intervention

STREETSCAPE DESIGN EDGES

FACADE

CONTENT Example of shared space

Venn Street, Clapham

Existing railings along Poplar High Street prevent free movement and makes the urban environment hostile

Existing facade is mainly residential

Poplar High Street has very limited greenery, street furniture and has a dull, grey urban aesthetic

Railings will be removed and there will be no barriers as it is a flat, shared surface

New facade will be active frontages including retail, cafes and resturants

Intervention will include urban greening and outside seating for cafes and retsurants P.18

COMMUNITY AND THE PUBLIC REALM INTERVENTION 2.2: POPLAR HIGH STREET Active frontages are the facade of the building facing the street with key characteristics including windows, doors, architectural details and views of lively internal uses. The main aim is to increase active frontages on Poplar High Street on existing and proposed buildings.

This is usually the ground floor which will accomodate varied commercial activities. As a result, this provides opportunities for interaction between pedestrians and the street edge. A lively edge stimulates inerests, life and vitality on the street which is essential to our aim of re-animating Poplar.

Combined with intervention 3.1, this will create a distinguishable and connected public realm.

This section of Poplar High Street is expected to be the busiest as it has the highest density of active frontages. This will provide a centre of activity for Poplar and will support the social, economic and cultural development of Poplar.

Proposed active frontage on Poplar High Street

Example of active frontages on existing (refrofitted) buildings. Kendal Street, Edgware

Increasing casual surveillance and safety

Women feel safer on streets with active frontages. This improves the inclusivity of the street (Boyle et al, 2011)

Vision of Poplar High Street Increased interaction between people and the street edge- encouraging socio-economic activity

Quality of active frontage is directly related to perception of public space. It creates public space that is safe, active, interesting, lively (Heffernan, 2014)

Poplar High Street with Sunday market

COLOUR

LIGHTING

Encourage street art and ‘objects’ of interest on street edge

Bright and ambient lighting to encourage night-time economy

Boyle, J.I., Findlay, C. and Forsyth, L., 2003. An Investigation into Women’s Perceptions of Fear and the Design of the Urban Environment (Doctoral dissertation, Heriot-Watt University).

Heffernan, E., Heffernan, T. and Pan, W., 2014. The relationship between the quality of active frontages and public perceptions of public spaces. Urban Design International, 19(1), pp.92102.

Poplar High Street is also an important part of Poplar’s history and will be a key site visit connected via new routes and history trail.

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COMMUNITY AND THE PUBLIC REALM INTERVENTION 2.3: TRINITY COMMUNITY CENTRE Trinity Community Centre will be a multi-functional building with rooms for community meetings, classrooms for educational and vocational training and event space.

The community centre will accomodate a variety of different groups including children, working age adults and the elderly. This will be an opportunity to directly target unemployment rates in Poplar by providing the space for vocational training spaces and classes.

Existing location of Trinity Gardens on East India Dock Road

Vision of Poplar Trinity Community Centre

The event space can be used for elderly by organising bingo classes and other interesting activites for the retired.

Community garden will be an opportunity for all groups to interact with nature and learn new gardening skills, especially as a parent-child activity. This could also include different classes which teaches groups about basic gardening skills.

Function plan of Trinity Community Centre

Poplar would benefit from enhanced community facilities as it: • Enables engagement in a wide range of educational, social and physical activities • Promotes community and individual well-being • Reduces sense of social exclusion (particularly for marginalised groups)

Location of new community centre in Trinity Gardens

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COMMUNITY AND THE PUBLIC REALM INTERVENTION 2.4: CHRISP STREET MARKET Chrisp Street Market will be re-constructed with new buildings replacing the existing brutalist residential tower blocks. This will also change the orientation of the market to face the street.

The aim with Chrisp Street market is to renovate the market by adding street furniture, lighting and outside seating.

It will be maintained as an important activity node for Poplar but will be enhanced by this intervention.

Proposed re-construction of Chrisp Street Market

Existing Chrisp Street Market

Vision of Chrisp Street market improvements

COMMMUNITY AND PUBLIC REALM NETWORK

This will be emphasised as a key heritage site also (refer to....)

INTERVENTION 2.5: BILLINGSGATE MARKET Billingsgate market will be transformed from an indsutrial warehouse into a food and artisan market. It will be a key site connecting between Poplar and Canary Wharf. It will attract those who work in Canary Wharf to visit and spend in Poplar which will have positive effects on the local economy as it will stimulate the creation of new businesses and employment.

Complete network of public realm improvements

Vision of Billingsgate Market on waterfront

Following the interventions 3.1 to 3.5 there will be transformative effects on Poplar’s community spaces and public realm. This is particularly important as an enjoyable public realm attracts both businesses and people into the area. The area would become widely more popular with visitors (especially important for history and heritage, refer to intervention ...) and improve the everyday experience of living in Poplar.

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CONNECTIVITY This strategy envisions that Poplar will become a coherent and connected place. The strategy outlines multiple interventions to redress its illegible network through reclassifying existing streets and changing the way in which streets function within Poplar to generate new walking and cycling routes.

Streets in Poplar will be divided in 7 categories: Highways: • The existing highway will be removed and replaced with a multi-use boulevard to address issues caused by the erection of physical barriers in Poplar.

Primary streets: • Primary streets will function as roads with dominant car use with on-road cycle lanes to facilitate sustainable mobility. Private gardens are reclaimed and transformed to widen existing pedestrian pavements.

• Re-animating streets through the use of street furniture and greening.

Secondary streets: • The width of pavements will be greatly increased through the removal of existing underused private front gardens.

• There will be shared roads between cyclists and cars, with bike racks placed along the road to accomodate the needs of cyclists.

• The use of greenery to improve user experience.

Dedicated cycling street: • Poplar High Street will form as a dedicsted cycling street as part of the London Supercycle Highway 3. Cars will not be allowed on the high street. Bikeshare stations and bike racks will be present for usage.

• Active street frontage will be restored through the use of street furniture, parklets and widened footpaths to re-animate streets and allow placemaking activities to occur.

• The use of greenery will improve user experience.

Urban green corridor: • The existing DLR track will be built over with a cycle and pedestrian footbridge which functions as addtional green infrastructure.

• The bridge seeks to increases connectivity between the north and south in the attempt to reconnect the fragmented urban typology.

Tertiary Streets: • Tertiary streetds will be pedestrianised with shared path usage with cyclists • Street lighting will be added to increase the level of safety on streets, with bike rack provisions The waterfront • The waterfront will be transformed into a promenade with wide pedestrian pathways which provides a green public space for people to visit for leisure and exercise.

• Dedicated cycle lanes will be placed as part of the cycle route network for visitors (see Re-branding Poplar) P.22

CONNECTIVITY 3.1 Highways: Aspen Way As Poplar will be included into the ULEZ by 2021, traffic will be expected to decrease overtime. Aspen Way will be transformed into a multi-use boulevard with lanes for vehicles reduced to one in each direction on the Aspen Way Boulevard.

Dedicated cycle lanes and pedestrian paths are shared in the same lane, separated from vehicle traffic via the use of greenery and trees. The aim of transforming Aspen Way into a multi-use boulevard is to rebalance the place and movement functions of streets from one that is designed for traffic movement to one that seeks to create places. The increased north-south connectivity encourages people to walk and cycle into and from Poplar. Through widening sidewalks to ensure that there is enough space for social encounter, the Aspen Way Boulevard seeks to reimagine streets as shared spaces to improve safety and to reimagine streets as desirable public spaces that enable social and cultural interactions to take place. Additionally, inclusive design is used on pavements to accommodate all needs and the safety and wellbeing of pedestrians are ensured through street lighting.

Shared road space at crossings

To ensure safety, shared space at the junctions with the Poplar DLR station and All Saints Bridge is introduce to allow pedestrian and cycle crossing and in effect slow down traffic through rebalancing the road hierachy.

Rich diversity

Design concept for crossings Bike lanes and pedestrian pathways separated from traffic through the use of trees

Creation of the public realm on streets

Through changing Aspen Way into a multi-use boulevard, this could unlock redevelopment opportunities as it removes the he removal of physical barriers between Canary Wharf and Poplar will encourage regeneration in Poplar that grasps the benefits provided by its proximity to the Elizabeth Line, the DLR and the Jubilee Line. This unlocks mix-use regeneration of derelict sites in the south of Aspen Way, reclaims the waterfront and revtalizes the potential of Poplar High Street and beyond.

New spatial experiences along Aspen Way Boulevard

Cross-section of the present Aspen Way 29m

Open area in front of Billingsgate Market

23m

6m

Aspen Way

Greenery and Trees

DLR Tracks

Cross-section of the proposed Aspen Way Boulevard

50m

New development at Billingsgate Market

Open market next to Billingsgate Market

8m

5m

8m

5m

Cycle lane and pedestrian routes

Greenery and trees

Aspen Way Boulevard

Greenery and trees

8m

Cycle lane and pedestrian routes

23m

DLR Tracks

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CONNECTIVITY 3.3 Secondary Streets: e.g. Saracen Street

3.2 Primary Streets: e.g. East India Dock Road

Secondary Streets will mostly be located around residential housing. There will be a reduced level of parking available and road space will be shared. In order to encourage increased levels of cycling, bikeshare stands or bike racks will be located along the routes at 50-100m intervals to accomodate usage.

The space for private gardens are reclaimed for public use of which pavements will be widened and street greening provided. In general, housing around Poplar will be densified with residential buildings of 5-6 storeys.

East India Dock Road will remain as a primary vehicle road equipped with a designated bus lane with on-road cycle lanes. The characteristic of the road will remain, with additional greening and private gardens removed to improve the walking enviornment of the street. In general, housing will be densified along East India Dock Road.

Cross-section of Saracen Street at present Cross-section of East India Dock Road at present

Examples of design concept

Examples of design concept

Cross-section of the proposed East India Dock Road Cross-section of the proposed Saracen Street

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CONNECTIVITY 3.5 Urban green corridor: All Saints Bridge

3.4 Tertiary Street: e.g. Poplar High Street

A pedestrian and bridge is constructed over the DLR to serve not only to restore north/south movement but also act as an urban green corridor to promote sustainable living.

The existing highstreet will become a dedicated cycling route as part of the cycle superhighway 3. Active street frontage and placemaking interventions through the use of urban greenery, street furniture and parklets enable placemaking to occur and reanimate streets to places of gathering. Sufficient lighting is provided to ensure safety of both pedestrian and cyclists at all times. Traffic signs, safety barriers are removed.

Dedicated cycle lanes are placed separate from pedestrian areas to ensure safety and smooth north/ south commute to connect to the Cycle Superhighway in the High Street.

The bridge also provides further green space for leisure and recreation (see Green and Blue Infrastructure) and a functional public realm.

Location of All Saints Bridge

Cross-section of Poplar High Street at present

Examples of design concept Cross-section of the proposed Poplar High Street

Examples of design concept Cross-section of All Saints bridge

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CONNECTIVITY 3.7 The waterfront

3.6 Tertiary streets Tertiary streets will be exclude cars in the future and turn into shared routes between pedestrians and cyclists. In order to address current concens with safety, street lighting will be added along the streets to ensure safety especially at night. While the preexisting character of streets will be retained, interventions to improve user experience for users are done through the use of street greening and new street paving.

The waterfront will be developed into a new hub for mixed use development. New pedestrian paths and dedicated cycle lanes will be placed along the waterfront for both commute and leisure purposes, with wayfinding signage, street furniture and cycling facilities (bike rack, bikeshare stations) located along the waterfront.

The planting of vegetation along dedicated cycle lanes separates moving cyclists from pedestrians to ensure an element of safety. Good street lighting will also be provided as a form of safety control and to enable to waterfront to be attractive during the evening, generating both a day-time and night-time economy.

7m

The wide pavement along the waterfront will become an attractive site for tourists to visit as it provides excellent views of Canary Wharf in the opposite. It will serve as an connection between Canary Wharf and Poplar, and in effective bring in visitors into Poplar.

Examples of design concept

33m

1m Pavement

2.5m Parking

2.5m Road

2m

1m Pavement

Cross-section of tertiary streets at present 7m

Billingsgate market

Waterfront Unused pavement

Car Park

Cross-section of the waterfront at present

7m Shared pavement between pedestrians and cyclists

14.3m

6m

Pavement with bike rack

Cycle lane

2m

11m

3m

Examples of design concept Billingsgate market

Waterfront

Cross-section of proposed tertiary streets

Bikeshare station

Pavement with bike rack

Food truck

Cross-section of the proposed waterfront

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GREEN AND BLUE INFRASTRUCTURE Creating an urban green and blue network in Poplar

Concept of the need for an urban green network in Poplar

There are a lot of unused open spaces and small or medium-sized patches of green space with a lot of untapped ecological and aesthetic value. Furthermore, the lack of street trees and greenery, the weak connectivity between the street network and green areas as well as the undeveloped waterfront greatly undermine the area’s potential for developing a green and blue network which residents and visitors alike can benefit from.

We envision that these challenges can be overcome through a series of interventions ranging from the smaller scale to the wider scale through the creation of an urban green network in which people can benefit from.

Public green space Private green space Semi-private green space

Distribution of current green and blue infrastructure in Poplar

Why cities should conserve and enhance their green and blue assets?

The benefits of green and blue infrastructure include: • Reducing urban air pollution and improving air quality • Cooling effects which prevent the urban heat island effect • Significantly improving the physical and mental health of people who have access to green and blue spaces • Creating a sense of community around well-maintained and inclusive green spaces • Enhancing biodiversity in urban areas • Potential economic growth • Reducing stormwater runoff and the risk of flooding.

Allotment Courtyard Rooftop gardens Public green space Private green space Semi-private green space

Distribution of proposed green and blue infrastructure in Poplar

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GREEN AND BLUE INFRASTRUCTURE 4.1 Poplar Recreation Ground “The more successfully a city mingles everyday diversity of uses and users in its everyday streets, the more successfully, casually (and economically) its people thereby enliven and support welllocated parks that can thus give back grace and delight to their neighborhoods instead of vacuity. ” Jane Jacobs, The Death and Life of Great American Cities

Existing uses of Poplar Recreation Ground

Fountain

Outdoor Gym

Public green space Private green space Semi-private green space

Map on the distribution of green spaces in Poplar

Creating new paths along Poplar Recreation Ground intends to open up the space to the streets surrounding it and into the wider area. The new alleys and entrances ensure that the space can be accessed more easily from all the adjoining streets and endow the recreation ground with new functions, such as: • allowing people to move from one place to another while enjoying the green and pleasant scenery • similarly, people who work in the area can enjoy a break in the green areas • becoming a centre of the green network Animating the space with new activities would make the recreation ground more appealing and inclusive for all ages: • the use of street furniture can turn it into a meeting spot where people can interact and enjoy the benefits of green space • the outdoor gym is a good asset which would encourage users of all ages to engage in physical activity • outdoor group exercise • the successful implementation of these objectives would ensure that the Poplar Recreation Ground is a valuable space for the community and its benefits would be preserved for the use of future generations.

Outdoor Yoga area

Open space with picnic area

Proposed uses for Poplar Recreation Ground

Sensory garden for the disabled and children

Landscaped element for addtional recreation purposes

Proposed new features • Replacing the fences which delineate Poplar Recreation Ground from the street with rows of trees creates a feeling of openness and interconnection with the street, which creates in turn a more safe and inviting.

• Introduction of new exercising and picnic facilities to encourage people to visit and use the public green space, with features that accomodates the disabled and children.

• Increasing the aesthetics of the green space through increase the diversity of plants and fountain.

Rotterdam Parkstad Development Proposal

Duthie Park, Aberdeen

St Stephen’s Green Park, Dublin

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GREEN AND BLUE INFRASTRUCTURE 4.2 Small scale interventions:

4.3 Revitalising the waterfront This strategy seeks to make the most of the waterfront’s potential and transform the unused space facing Aspen Way. The waterfront should represent a link between Canary Wharf and Poplar and create a new sense of place in this area.

Tackling limited spaces by mixing street furniture and greenery

Energy-efficient and renewable energy-powered street lighting

Proposed vision of East India Dock Road

Permeable paving for storm water absorption and increased water quality

Pedestrian maps for legible, walkable streets both during day and night time

Proposed vision on residential streets e.g. Hale

Reclaiming streets for people

Design features should encourage a smooth transition between the recreational and social functions of the waterfront and the professional or the daily activities to which people go or return to.

Moreover, the new waterfront should be an inclusive space and enrich urban life for all its users Walking and cycling routes will also link the waterfront to the rest of the area and mark it as a new landmark of this route, but also as one of the centres of the green and blue network.

Greening of All Saints Bridge

Redevelopment of courtyards and roofs in order to create green, semi-public spaces: Encouraging urban farming by installing gardens on unused spaces or on rooftops. Urban farms can also make people feel connected to their surroundings and has great potential to build strong communities.

Vision of the proposed waterfront development

Key features on the waterfront:

Installing green roofs on new developments and existing buildings alike. Apart from their ecological function, green roofs have social and economic benefits as well.

Planting rain gardens has a positive impact on water quality and management, biodiversity and public health as well on the quality of amenity space. This type of sustainable drainage system is flexible and adapable to design and integrate into public realm projects.

The proposed distribution of allotments, courtyard gardens and rooftop gardens in Poplar

Street furniture for recreation

Natural textures (e.g. Aker Brygge Waterfront, Oslo)

Diverse uses (e.g. Chicago riverwalk)

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HISTORY AND HERITAGE Rediscovering Poplar’s heritage This strategy will implement wayfinding signage in different and interactive forms to enable the historical trail to be easily navigated. This will also improve overall legibility of Poplar’s walking routes.

Particular emphasis is put on signage which tells the history of Poplar, most notable at the key sites identified in the proposed heritage trail.

Interventions for wayfinding:

3D wayfinding models can help tourists orientate themselves. These models can also be used to demonstrate how urban typology looked like in the past.

Wayfinding signage with a particular emphasis on historica sites. These signs includes directions and infromation about this history of sites nearby.

Permanent signs installed in public place to commemorate its history could not only act as a form of wayfindings as well as an interactive way to explore Poplar.

Commissioning local artists to paint murals depicting historic scenes not only remainds residents of Poplar’s heritage, but also act as a landmark for wayfinding.

Designated conservation areas

Interpretative signage will be displayed in the conservation areas providing an overview of the historical importance of that area and particular listed buildings.This will play a key role in the historical walking and cycling trail as it will be displayed at each key site and will provide knowledge and information on each site. This will enable visitors to follow a free historical tour of Poplar which will attract visitors and support the local economy.

Wayfinding 3D models are an interactive method of visualising the city and improving the legibility of the area. Visitors can use these models to navigate themselves through Poplar. It can also be used creatively, for example, there will be a historical wayfinding 3D model on the waterfront to illustrate how the Docks looked like in the past- emphasising Poplar’s importance.

Interpretative signage

Proposed wayfinding and signage interventions around Poplar

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HISTORY AND HERITAGE Poplar Heritage Trail The historical trial can be taken by both walking and cycling. It will focus on the major existing conservation areas in Poplar including West India Dock, Dock All Saints and St Matthias Church. These areas will be connected via a recommended walking and cycling route which will stop at several key sites of historical significance in Poplar. The route can be altered depending on the visitor’s preference and it plays an important role in connecting Poplar to existing walking routes which are currently disconnected to Poplar.

Poplar Heritage Trail: 1. West India Dock Conservation Area- Museum of Docklands: By enhancing Poplar’s historical assets, this will encourage more collaboration between the Museum of Docklands and Poplar. It is important that Poplar is emphasised as having had an important role for the Docklands and included in it’s history, for example, the Museum will advertise the walking and cycling route to visitors which is where most will start their tour.

2. Waterfront walk-This will also be available to cyclists. It will have a series of images or wayfinding models which will display how the waterfront has transformed overtime.

3. Billingsgate market- Billingsgate market will no longer exist as it does now. It will be a food market and commercial market with various open public spaces facing the waterfront. This can be a site of historical interest by highlighting how the market existed before and it’s signifiance for the past and current local economy.

4. All Saints Conservation area - This area has many listed buildings which can be observed and visited and this will be explained via interpretative signage.

5. Chrisp Street Market- This will be enhanced and improved for visitors which will encourage expenditure into the local economy and revitalise the market. It will also have interpretative signage explaining its significance for Poplar.

6. East India Dock Road- Following our public realm improvements, this will improve the experience of walking along East India Dock Road and will include wayfinding and interpretative signage explaining the significance of the road.

7. St Matthias Church- This will again focus on listed buildings and the historical significance of the conservation area.

8. Poplar High Street- This will include signage about the history of the street but most importantly it will attract visitors to the newly renovated high street which can catalyse new social and economic acivity.

9. White Horse pub- This has an interesting history and can directly increase and attract visitors to the local business.

Proposed route for the Poplar Heritage Trail

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FUNDING & PHASING Following our funding and investment, it would be expected that all design interventions would be done within the next 25 years. Phasing has been divided into three major stages,however, strategy interventions range across the different phases. The long-term aim is to develop the 5 key strategies simultaneously which would provide a complete and comprehensive transformation of Poplar.

First Phase Interventions: 1-5 YEARS

Second Phase Interventions: 5-15YEARS

Third Phase Interventions: 15-25 YEARS

This phase will be focused on smaller scale place-making interventions that can be completed within the next 5 years. Most interventions for this phase are focused on improving the existing urban environment.

This phase will be focused on larger scale construction projects. This includes the development of mixed- use developments and new transport infrastructure.

This phase will be focused on major transport infrastructure and large scale interventions that require significant funding and time to implement, most notably Aspen Way boulevard and All Saints Bridge.

FUNDING

Phasing: Number of years to complete place-making interventions 0 Road and cycle structure Aspen Way boulevard All Saints Bridge Poplar Business Park Mixed-use developments Housing Chrisp Street market Trinity Community Centre Billingsgate market Poplar High Street Poplar Station Square Poplar Recreation ground Urban green network Waterfront Place-making and signage History trail

5

10

15

20

25

Canary Wharf Group can play a major part in funding on water front development including Billingsgate Market, Mixed-use residential developments and Northern Quarter development. This can be through public-private partnerships and will increase collaboration between Canary Wharf and Poplar.

London Green Fund(LGF) is a £120 million fund that is focused on cutting London’s carbon emission. This can be used for the greening strategy across Poplar and also retrofitting social housing. Section 108 and Community Infrastructure levvys from developers can also be used for new residential developments and Trinity community centre.

Transport for London will be a major source of funding. This will be used for new walking pathways and extending the cycling routes. As well as, renovation of Poplar Station/square and the new shared space on Poplar High Street.

Tower Hamlets High Streets & Town Centre Strategy (2017-2022) will be utilised. There are already existing plans for the improvement of Chrisp Street market which will be combined with our existing plans. This can be source of funding and will enable us to highlight Poplar High Street as a target area.

Historic England and Museum of London Docklands can be a key funding source for improving Poplar’s historical significance through small place-making interventions and the new historical walking trail. It would be a main aim to work closely with the Museum of Docklands in our interventions for history & heritage strategy.

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CONCLUSION Re-animate Poplar seeks to bring forward Poplar from its present dwelling in its past to embracing unlimited opportunities in the future. The aim is to create a place for vibrant, inclusive communities thriving from social, cultural, economic and environmental activity nodes. Re-animate Poplar layouts a framework to create vitality and life in the streets of Poplar through reconnecting the fragmented physical and soical urban fabric with a strong sense of community and generate new opportunities for housing and employment. In addition, Poplar will be transformed into a place of high aesthetic value through revitalising existing green spaces, creating new green infrastructure and reclaiming the waterfront for the public.

Urban greening

Green infrastructure

Through a holistic approach, Poplar will be able to redefine its identity and reemerge from the shadows of Canary Wharf. In twenty five years, Poplar would be a place for people to:

Urban form

• Live in high quality and densified housing connected to community facilites through improved pathways • Enjoy and utilise active public spaces which encourage social and economic activity nodes across Poplar • Take advantage of a more walkable and cycle-friendly environment through the redesigning of streets and creation of new dedicated walking and cycling routes • Improve well-being by making effective use of existing and new green and blue space provided through the creation of a blue and green network • Benefit from a ‘branded’ Poplar with a clear sense of place and identity through enhancing Poplar’s historical and hertiage assets

Cycling and walking routes

The framework provides Poplar with placemaking that addresses the weakness of Poplar and combines its strengths and potential to open up exciting opportunties for Poplar for the next twenty five years.

Road network

Masterplan

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CONTRIBUTIONS Edona Korenica: - Community and public realm - Housing and mixed use - Branding Poplar: History and heritage Joyce (Yuk) Lo: - Connectivity - Green and blue network - Context - Concept map - Conclusion Hui Shan Lo: - Masterplan - 3D building analysis - Housing - Context maps - Connectivity Yuk Long Derek Chan: - Masterplan - Green and blue infrastructure maps and diagrams - Heritage Ela Maria-Camarasecu: - Housing - Introduction - Green and blue infrastructure - Poplar business park

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