Security, Mobility, Pleasure

Se c u r i t y M o b i l i t y P l easure U r b a n D e s i g n F r a m e work Study P l a i s t o w a n d We s t H a m New Deal for Communities muf/ Arup :March 2002

muf • architecture/art 49-51 Central Street London EC1V 8AB studio@muf.co.uk tel 020 7251 4004

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Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse :The Challenge

The Challenge

‘Meant to be a community school, we have, inside here, there’s a community

berry and I lived over here, or over there, the last thing I’m going to do is walk all

land inside there which was built by Barratts who built the estate, and that com-

the way round that park and get out to the shop that’s in like Star Lane. I want to

munity land was built so people from Cranberry could have access to it, but we

be able to walk out my door and walk across to the nearest point and get to the

could never get access to it. Number one the gate is locked every night anyway,

shop. So by driving, I might have to drive into, say, the woodlands area. Now if I

so after 6:00 you can’t get through the school anyway, so we could never have

drive into woodlands again, it’s landlocked. Landlocked by the greenway and the

access to it, the whole thing is just crazy. ‘

sewer and landlocked by the no entries and the fences that divide the estate...’

(Paul Schafer)

‘we’ve got the park, that’s no good because one minute you can be allowed in there and all of a sudden you’ll get a group saying you can’t come in here.’

‘Adults can’t walk through the park when there’s 15-16 year olds in there. Not unless you have got absolutely nothing on you whatsoever. Not all the time, but

‘they’ve got these cameras on the flats but nine times out of ten they’re doing

it’s a possibility. It’s ‘them and us’ all the time.’

nothing with them, do you know what I mean. They can only see kids playing

(Gerry Diver)

on the roof, like mucking about on the roof, but when kids are whizzing past on mopeds and lighting fires, they don’t see that

‘The park next to the cemetery is a scary thing for kids...’

(Paul Schafer)

‘you see these kids are really, really hot and frustrated and nothing to do, and they’ve set all these fire hydrants off, and they’re underneath them showering.

‘They like burning around here. The kids love burning. Their excitement for the

Then you get other parents... then finally you see parents coming out of flats with

day.’

their children, throwing their children in the water and having a great time. But

(Eric Samuel)

what happens is the adjacent streets end up with no water system, so people come home from work and they’ve got no washing up water, they’ve got nothing

‘There’s actually quite prolific wildlife here. We have a kestrel that came back

to have a cup of tea with. And so it becomes from a bit of fun it becomes a very

time and again, and the foxes actually live over in the cemetery. So they roam.

serious problems

But then there’s also a pack on Cranberry Estate. But there is quite a lot of wildlife. And the morning starts with seagulls and house martins and all sorts that

‘The problem is...well, the simple solution to the whole area would be: knock

come in.’

down that wall, take down every no entry sign, no more one ways, because they

(Nadia Milligan)

don’t work, they don’t speed restrict anything, they still tear around the streets... it would stop that feeling of being locked in. Iive got to go to the shop to talk to somebody or see somebody, say, I want to drive my car because if I live in Cran-

Just a few of the comments taken from our documents of consultation with residents in the NDC area. They express overall disillusion and absence of hope that any thing can change.They tell us that an endemic problem is the lack of sustained investment in maintenance.They highlight these key problems in the NDC: segregation between different groups of people; lack of mobility, impossiblity of access to facilities that do exist, and the absence networks.

The challenge of this framework study is to respond to:

• • • • • • • •

DISILLUSION CAPITAL EXPENDITURE AND NO MAINTENANCE EXPENDITURE SHARED GROUND MOBILITY AND SECURITY MAKING NETWORKS OF CONNECTIONS ACCESS SECURITY COMPLEXITY

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Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse

Contents

1-5

:Challenge

6-9

:The Response

:Analysis

10-15

:The Response

:Findings

16-19

:The Response

:Philosophy

20-29

:The Response

: P r i n c i p l e s & Te c h n i q u e s

30-31

:The Response

:Art Strategy

32-67

:The Response

:Projects

68-72

:The Response

:Cost / Benefit Appraisal

73-83

:Appendices

: Tr a n s p o r t R e p o r t

:The Challenge :The Response

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Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse :The Challenge

Wi d e r c o n t e x t a n d f u ture developments around the NDC area

The NDC area is well placed to benefit from the future developments of Canning Town and the Newham Arc of Opportunity.

At present Stratford and Green Street are the preferred destinations for shopping.

Green Street

NDC Area

The development of the Newham Arc of

Sainsbury & new mixed development

Opportunity is a long term project beyond

has been confirmed.

Barrier Park

Beckton

*Plan of Arc of Opportunities by:

the first ten years of the NDC programme.

Arup Transport analysis (For full report please see separate appendix) The key points explored by the analysis are: •

the understanding of the NDC area as being split into isolated 'bubbles' rather than a network of interconnected neighbourhoods; existing links tend to be long corridors outside the NDC area itself;

•

the only long link that traverses the NDC area is east/west: Gainsborough Road/Grange Road, which has very poor connections north/south;

•

streets within 'bubbles' themselves are short, and fragmented;

•

the net effect of this discourages through-movement, and neighbourhoods are perceived as dead ends and are not destinations: other than the LUL/rail stations and schools, there are few 'destinations of significance' i.e. that would generate a large number of journeys in the whole NDC area;

•

given the quality of public transport connections compared with other parts of London, the main movement problem within the NDC area is the absence of clear, inviting and safe pedestrian routes;

•

there are few cycle facilities: the lack of connected links within the street pattern does not encourage cycle use.

(These observations have directly influenced the development of project proposals, which are explained in detail in the following sections of the report.)

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Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse :The Challenge

Issues and Objectives

Topography

Maintenance and management.

The effects contributing to the separation and severance of NDC neigh-

There are cared for beautiful spaces which the public can enjoy in the

bourhoods are the distinguishing features of this area. For instance: the

NDC area. As a rule these are not managed by the local authority but

c19th infrastructure of the rail and Greenway; the bulk of the school sites;

they can be enjoyed by local residents -e.g. the front gardens that you

the cemetery; and large open spaces, whose boundaries and threatening

can walk alongside and enjoy or the East London cemetery which locks

atmosphere prove hard to move accross; the street pattern itself, which

the gates by night, mows the grass between plots and is liberal in what

further fragments the neighbourhood into smaller pockets, with real or per-

it allows on each plot, from marble tomb stone to pansies to contained

ceived dead ends that heighten a sense of insecurity. This severence is a

neglect.

significant issue as the emerging facilities funded by the NDC will only be

There are marked contrasts between some of the parks in the NDC area,

sustainable if their catchment area is greater. Also the thrust of the other

e.g. between Lister Gardens and Hermit Park compared to namely Valetta

NDC projects, to expand access to resources both within and beyond the

Grove and Memorial Recreation Ground, where the combination of no

NDC area, will be undermined if that is not physically possible.

supervision, no locking of the gates, contracts let and allowed to lapse,

‘How can you be ambitious if your outlook ends in a brick wall’

mean that assets have been destroyed, and the reduction of assets means

Silvia Amos Harvey

the park descends in priority for the London Borough of Newham.

Fabric The majority of existing building stock is made up of housing, much of it poorly maintained and managed. There are few landmarks within the NDC area-Canary Wharf and the Dome appear closer than they are because of the height of the buildings from West Ham South. The existing listed buildings are confined to one cottage and the railings that border Gainsborough school and the Hamilton Road centre.

The paradox of the area is that the barriers to movement have created neighbourhoods that are very strongly defined, yet the degraded perimeters, walls and open spaces and underused open spaces, do not suggest that the streetscape and parks are for occupation.Opportunistic vandalism combine with long term neglect. The combination of the scale of the new private developments and the resource centres mean that the overall grain of the area will change dramatically.

The Urban Design Framework concentrates on the distinguishing features

East London Cemetery: degrees of management

referred to above, in order that they do not become the distinguishing features of decay, but instead, landmarks and amenities.

The ambition for the projects proposed within the Urban Design Framework is to achieve visual coherence for the public routes . This is to be made possible with a single palette of surface treatment, combined with highly specific unique treatments to the external areas of public facilities and parks; ’feature’ lighting and mobilisation of underused empty pockets of open space; in order to improve each neighbourhood across the NDC area.

Transport and movement.

Front garden photographed on

The proposals in the Urban design framework cannot bring more buses

youth walk:

into the area but it can make waiting for that bus safer and more comfort-

a special entry, planting and a

able. More importantly, the proposals can make it easier, safer and more

place to sit in the sun

pleasurable for residents to move around the area by foot, cycle or wheelchair and so access the greatest choice from the transport available and emerging amenities.

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Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse :Analysis

Background

1. This report was commissioned by the Westham and Plaistow New Deal for Communities and is facilitated by the London Borough of Newham.

2. The NDC covers an area that is sandwiched between Stratford and Canning Town in East London. The NDC is also well placed to benefit from the development of Canning Town to the South and the proposed developments of Arc of Opportunity to the West.

3. Plaistow and West Ham NDC has eight years until the completion of its programme. They are aiming to set up a Trust in order that the partnership can continue. It is intended that capital investment will be concentrated in the first next four years.

4. The team is led by muf architecture/art with Arup Transport and Arup Economics and Planning and Plat-Form landscape design. muf architecture/art is a multidisciplinary practise encompassing architecture, urban design, multimedia and art practise. Arup Transport Planning specialise in transport in its widest sense from traffic engineering to pedestrian movement. Arup Economics and Planning have examined the socio-economic baseline and devised and evaluation framework for project scoring. They worked closely with NDC particularly Stephen Oliver, Project Officer.

5. Research for the Framework used observation, technical analysis and public consultation. The transport research and analysis encompassed road, public transport and pedestrian and cycle movement. We attended theme groups and a monthly working group. We interviewed 60 stakeholders and discussed the scheme with residents throughout the NDC area at formal meetings.

6. The objective of this framework is to bring security, mobility and pleasure to the NDC area and its residents. The technical analysis, observation and consultation exercises were used to identify need and opportunity in order to develop robust and relevant projects. In all, fifty projects were devised and grouped into nine “packages� that were presented as an interim report (see appendix). From the delivery of the Urban Design Framework pacakages and projects (1.) the NDC area can develop a vibrant and sustainable identity in a high quality environment that is enjoyed by residents and stakeholders as well as the Local Authority.

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Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse :Analysis

Documents Reviewed

Environment Matters: a Strategy for Newham, Newham Agenda 21 (LB Newham, 2000) Newlook: Pride in our Borough (LB Newham, 2001) Unitary Development Plan: Council’s response to objections to proposed post-inquiry modifications to the plan.

(LB Newham, 2001) Access for all: Supplementary Planning Guidance Note (LB Newham, 2001) Crime and Disorder Audit (LB Newham, 1998/9) Economic Development Plan 2000/1 (LB Newham, 2000) A New Deal for Open Spaces: a guide to open space development within the new deal for communities West Ham and Plaistow area.

(LB Newham, 2001) Draft Supplementary Planning Guidance – Plaistow Centre (LB Newham, 2001) West Ham, 1886-1986 (LB Newham, 1986) Parks at the Heart: AaParks and Open Spaces Strategy for the London Borough of Newham (Stadium Leisure Ltd., 1995) Eastlea Community Resource Centre (Eger Architects, 2001) Canning Town Area Action Plan (LB Newham, 2000) Forest Gate & Plaistow: Urban Design & Town Centre Strategies (LB Newham, 2001) Delivery Plan 2000/2010: New Deal for Communities, West Ham & Plaistow (NDC, 2000) MacCreanor Lavington Architects, Fluid and Portway Primary School Workshop document.

Draft Planning Framework.

Lower Lea Valley: Stratford to Thameside (LB Newham, 2000)

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Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse :Analysis

P e o p le a n d o r g a n i s a t ions consulted:

Plaistow & West Ham NDC

Other Organisations

Enviroment, Crime and I.T. Theme groups

Ironworks - Gerry Diver

Phil Morris

PRP

Herbie

Baxters

Cora

Eger Architects

Andy

Architecture Foundation

Mekor Newman

Maccreaonor Lavington Architects

Ted Martin

East London Cemetery

Ben Phillips

Youth Forum

Richard Sharp

Rugby Club

Tracey Boscot

East Thames Housing Association

Keith Smith

Surestart Thames Water

London Borough of Newham

English Heritage Canning Town Partnership

Roberto Bruni

Community Forum

Charlie Kinch

Woodlands Youth Group

Ray Baglee

Cranberry ResidentsĂ­ Association

Carol West

Crime Theme Group

Tot Brill

Muslim Group

Dave Whittaker

I.T. Theme Group

Dave Green

Food Co-ops at the Beta Club and Star Lane School

Peter Gay

Fluid Design

Martin Morris

Stock Wolenscroft Architects

Ruth Seager

Heath Workers

Matthew Gunn

North Brooks Funday

Gideon Taylor Silia Amos Harvey John Cochrane

Conducting these interviews helped to put the area into context: according

David Lister

to wider agendas, (for example Planning, Leisure Services and Housing)

APP Architects

and also according to highly specific initiatives, like the Ironworks Football

Linda Powell

Club, and the need for targeted facilities.

Wendy Arnott +other heads David Oleman and Ian Jack

Inevitably, because of this dialogue, we became conduits of information and partnerships began to emerge. For example, the Newham Transporta-

Residents

tion Team, represented by Ruth Seager, identified bids for external funding and the first bid for a home zone for Cranberry was successful.

Nadia Milligan Jennifer Vorbes Larry Howell Plaistow North 20 interviews Eric Samuel Paul Shafer Lita Webb Nick Moon Nick Edwards Veronica The 60 eight year-olds at Gainsborough School and their teachers Shopkeeper Plaistow High Street Community Forum on 2 occasions

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Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse :Findings

Tr a n s p o r t A s s e s s m e nt

The NDC area is dominated by an incoherent network of short streets and links which tend to be very fragmented.

Such fragmentation reduces the levels of premeability through the area, makes it less intelligible overall and discourages general throughmovement. Many spaces are (or are perceived as) dead ends with very little use for other than those who live in them.

walktimes from the NDC area

ì...they climb here. They use the bin. Thatís their ladder. Yes, itís really incredible how they do it. You see some of the ladies, they come with a pushchair like that, and they will lift the babies in the pushchair. They

Plaistow St

will lift it up, put it on top there, then they will jump on the bins themselves and lift it over. How they do it, I donít know. But they do it all the time.î (Eric Samuel)

West Ham St

OBJECTIVES: TRANPORT AND MOVEMENT •

INCREASE NUMBER OF PEDESTRIAN JOURNEYS;

•

IMPROVE ACCESSIBILTY TO MANY SOCIAL/RETAIL/LEISURE/TRANSPORT FACILITIESTHROUGH NEW ROUTES, LIGHTING

AND IMPROVED SIGNAGE AND INFORMATION; •

MAKE THE STREETS SAFER, MORE ATTRACTIVE PLACES TO BE;

•

REDUCE THE NUMBER AND SEVERITY OF ACCIDENTS (PARTICULARLY PEDESTRIAN CASUALTIES);

•

REDUCE TRAFFIC VOLUMES AND ASSOCIATED NOISE AND AIR POLLUTION LEVELS;

•

IMPROVE PROVISION FOR CYCLISTS;

•

MINIMISE RAT-RUNNING ACROSS SENSITIVE RESIDENTIAL/SCHOOL AREAS; AND IMPROVE LINKS IN AND OUT OF THE ESTATES AND PROVIDE SAFE CIRCULATION ACROSS THEM.

Canning Town St Figure ZZ Walk times from the NDC area to Plaistow, West Ham and Canning Town stations (in minutes - assuming a walk speed of 3mph or 80 metres per minute)

The diagram Showing the time it takes to reach Plaistow, West Ham and Canning Town stations, highlighting the way in which the street pattern exacerbates inaccessibility.

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Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse :Findings

Tr a n s p o r t A s s e s s m e nt F r a g m e n t e d p e r m e a b ility throughout the NDC area

Figure YY: Analysis and lines of sight.The Diagram shows a multiplicity of short streets or links which tend to be very fragmented. The fragmented permeability discourages general through-movement. Potential destinations has been proposed to increase pedestrian movement throughout the NDC area.

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Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse :Findings

Tr a n s p o r t A s s e s s m e n t H e r m e t i c ‘ b u b b l e s ’ o f the individual neighbourhoods with ‘ their ’ resource centres

FIGURE XX: The analysis helped to identify a series of distinct “hermetic bubbles”: pockets of residential areas that are almost self-contained with little opportunity for movement out of or between them. They frequently have a resource centre of some description as a focus.

North Plaistow

Rudolph Road

Woodlands East Londonj Cemetery

Memorail recreation Ground

Cranberry

Eastlea

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Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse :Findings

Tr a n s p o r t A s s e s s m e n t L i n k s w i t h i n , b e t w e e n and beyond bubbles

An analysis of NDC resident’s travel behaviour, and proximity to local resources and destinations revealed a series of distinct ‘Hermetic Bubbles’ : areas of enclosed activity with little or no movement outside of the bubbles parameters.

The Framework seeks to penetrate those ‘bubbles’ from the very micro and local to the macro that is not so local.

•

Links within ‘bubbles’ refer to the need to offer more opportunities to open up the ‘bubble’ and not effectively trap its residents into exclusion or isolation.

•

Links between ‘bubbles’ represent barriers that people need to overcome in order to gain access to local resources.

•

Links connecting ‘bubbles’ to outside the NDC area are few and sometimes expensive, thus having the same trap effect as above.

The two principles of security and mobility collide with the paradox that enclaves (the bubbles) both foster exclusive ownership and danger of sectarianism and limited horizons and yet those same enclaves can also give a sense of security in their isolation.

Ripple Sites:

Links within and between Bubbles

The ripple sites exploit the supervi-

It is essential to make links with-

sion provided by schools, resource

in the bubbles so that they con-

centres and other staffed and pub-

nect with eachother and the rest

lic facilitiest to initiate public realm

of the NDC area. Pockets of iso-

improvements. The idea is that the

lated housing with no external

boundaries are made pleasurable

links are a priority.

through planting and lighting so that

The proposals should create

they benefit the streets.

safer short cuts and make the immediate territory outside your front door a social space especially for children and older people.

Green Links

Development sites

Green Links projects include

Proposed or speculative. The

all parks and the links to them.

major developments are The

The idea is to extend the parks

Canning Town and Newham

outwards, as green-fingers. In

‘Arc of Opportunities’. It is

this sense the parks play a role

essential that the NDC is con-

in connecting up the different

nected to this area so that it

neighbourhoods. Parks act as

can enjoy the benefits that this

effective meeting places and

brings. There are also a number

enhance a sense of neighbour-

of smaller scale but still signifi-

hood.

cant developments.

Links to Facilities

Links to Public Transport

Community facilities: i.e. shops,

Severance of the NDC area by

resource

rail lines and roads add to a

health

centres,

centres

schools,

and

parks,

sense of the NDC being cut-off.

serve as destinations for the

By improving access to pub-

residents of the NDC area. It is

lic transport nodes and also

vital to provide safe, uncompli-

improving the services and

cated, and cheap means for all

routes they follow, will con-

residents to access them. All

tribute to greater mobility and

current routes are considered

access.

as well as possible new ones.

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Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse :Findings

mapping

Our consultation has been the significant element feeding into the development of our proposals.

It has sought to augment and update previous consultations, to get an overall picture of concerns; to get detailed accounts of the area; and to give our proposals precision. Rather than organising consultation events within the Framework alone, we 'piggy-backed' onto other initiatives. These have included the Brooks Estate Funday in September, the Food Co-ops at the Beta Club and Star School; presentations to the Muslim Residents Group; the Cranberry Residents Association; the Community Forum; a a walk with members of the Youth Forum; the I.T. Theme group; the Crime group; and the neighbourhood management 'thank-you' session. At these events we made both formal presentations, but we also talked one-to-one, in many cases recording the ensuing conversations.

One specifically initiated event combined presentation of “Security, Mobility, Pleasure” and the Urban Design Framework to 60 children who then, along with the Woodland Youth Group, planted snowdrops in Memorial Park along the North-South route . This example of understanding a proposal by being part of delivering it, offers lessons for involving the community, as the projects in the Framework are implemented.

Community safety dominated residents’ comments but the consultation also elicited detailed information of subjects such as park usage, street life on the Cranberry estate and the success and failures of previous transport and public realm ‘improvements’ .

The interviews with stakeholders put the area in context: according to wider agendas, for example Planning, Leisure Services, Housing but also according to highly specific initiatives, like Ironworks and adult learning in the NDC area.

“East London Cemetery has experienced vandalism of various kinds in the past. Therefore we feel that any direct access to, and involvement with, the cemetery would be better at a later stage; say when the resource centre and other activities have already been applied to Memorial Recreation Ground. The cemetery is particularly worried about its reputation in respect of deceased families. It should therefore not be advertised on the basis of sensation value (ie. German fighter pilots). Also the cemetery is trying to protect public awareness of times and dates of funerals (in the past homes have been burgled during ceremonies).”

(Paul, manager of East London Cemetery)

By mapping activity in the NDC area it is possible to identify gaps and therefore avoid duplication in targeting spending for greatest effect.

Muf began by mapping developments, initiatives, knowledge and proposals initiated by the NDC, Newham Council, the private and voluntary sectors, residents interviews, site analysis and previous consultation.

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Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse :Analysis

C o n c lu s i o n o f A n a l y s is

1. The emerging amenities funded by the NDC need bigger catchments than their immediate neighbourhoods to be sustainable.

2. Neighbourhood maintenance and management can and

‘community involvement improves care and pleasure in the public

must be designed into all urban Design Framework projects.

realm.’

The combination of residents’ concerns (the readiness of local institutions,

(Paul Schafer)

such as schools, to open their doors to the community and the NDC’s ambitions that residents should be delivering local services) viewed together demonstrate that there is a will and the opportunity to invent new ways of maintainaining and managing urban realm.

3. It is in the built enviroment that the resident can begin

‘...there’s five NDC areas, as you know, and we here on Cranberry, we are disen-

to experience and access the other themes. Our first meetings

franchised...we are restricted from fully participating in the NDC activities because

with NDC officers demonstated overlaps between the themes. These

we do not have a building where we can all meet: a community building.’

were further reinforced by consultation, e.g. making bridges to adult learning-education/economy, encouraging walking. We made it a prerequisite

‘People were talking about closing it at one point, and theyíve got a nice facility

that all projects should contribute to all of the other themes.

there. What they used to do is just let people come in and use it how they wanted to. It would be totally vandalised within days. Now, because it’s a one o’clock type

4. New

potential

partnerships

arising

from

extended

club everybody knows it’s a one o’clock club. Everybody knows that the parents

consultation. Inevitably, because of the dialogue that was developed

bring their children there and if any kids go near that they say, leave that, no,

with various stakeholders, we became conduits of information, and

that’s the one o’clock club.’

partnerships began to emerge. For example, the Newham Transportation Team, represented by Ruth Seager, identified bids for external funding

“There are some parents that come out there, we’re just recently doing a Brazilian

and the first bid for a home zone for Cranberry was successful. Separate

skills football, so we have music: South American music going on in the back-

meetings with Eastlea school, the Cranberry Estate and the the Environment

ground whilst they’re doing their skills. And we intend to have a lot more adults

department of the Local Authority exposed the need and support expressed

drifting over now and watching that and dancing to the music because even peo-

for a secure and direct route to Hilda Road.

ple that are walking by are jigging along as they go by.

Our kids are out on the green and there’s always an adult watching over them, no matter whose kids they are, they’re watched, like they’re looked after.”

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Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse :Philosophy

S e c u r i t y M o b i l i t y P l e asure L o c a t i o n o f k e y p r o j e tcs

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Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse :Philosophy

S e c u r i t y M o b i l i t y P l e asure

“The only thing that would work out there would be an area that was used regularly under supervision. It doesnít have to be supervised 24 hours, just designated times each week.”

(Gerry Diver)

a) Ripple sites, proposal for the Hamilton Road Centre

b) Proposal for East London Cemetery perimetre ‘Ever since there’s been hardly any park attendants with specific parks to look after. The parks have been getting worse and worse, more and more vandalised, more and more misused, more and more unsafe.’

“...we had a park warden that used to just lock himself into a room. Not because he was scared, just that he didnít want to do anything. He used to go down the road, twice a day, to get his lunch and something for his afternoon tea, and that was it. If they see that thereís no real interest there the kids will challenge that person...”

(Nadia Milligan)

c) Mobilty/ Pleasure, proposal for crossing the Greenway

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Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse :Philosophy

S e c u r i t y M o b i l i t y P l e asure - How to

The challenge arising from our consultation is to try to reconcile the many

Mobility/Pleasure

complexities and contradictions that have emerged. To combat disillusion,

Bridging the bubbles involves connection between the separate neigh-

the prevailing emotion, the framework needs a strategy that will work and

borhoods and reducing the barriers to movement. The sustainability of

be seen to work.The proposals in the framework are underscored by the

the three proposed resource centres relies on extending their immediate

principles of maximising community safety, to encourage the streets to be

catchment area to include the whole of the NDC. Therefore each resource

more peopled to increase mobility and enhance the quality of the natural

centre offers something different to the others, health/ nursery and sports/

and built environment. Security / Community Safety is underwritten into

training and education. This marks a shift for an area that is characterised

all proposals.

by the strong individual identities of its constituent parts. Those separate

:Security/Pleasure

identities also carry myth, fear and no incentive to move around. The framework focuses investment on moves to connect the separate areas

The Ripple sites;

and ensure that the emerging amenities can be sustainable. These meas-

concentrate investment within cared for sites.

ures include step free access across the changes in level caused by the

Early on in this study it became clear that it would be counter productive to

railway.

invest money in unpeopled, largely unpoliced streets and open spaces.

For this reason we propose that investment is concentrated in the external

Macro-Micro

spaces, perimeters and facades of public buildings and amenities which

The projects range in scale from dramatic transformations to landscape

have management and maintenance in place. Once the resource centres

(the proposal to construct a hillock for stepfree access over the Greenway)

and other projects such as SureStart (with the informal surveillence that

to providing free plants and gardening advice to properties.

they will provide in the parks) can assume this status. We call these “ripple sites� in the belief that the momentum of initiatives, such as: community

Information sharing

policing; youth projects; walking projects and the residents’ service organi-

The definition of the public realm in this Framework does not apply only to

sation, will allow further investment in all the sreetscape to be feasible.

land owned and managed by the LBNs highways and Leisure department.

Whereas we are recommending a cool palette for the paths and street-

The majority is in public owner ship but is managed by Education and Hous-

scape, the ripple sites should be seen as opportunities for site specific

ing. For this reason, inscribed within the Framework, is the continuation of

special treatment. Artists,architects and landscape designers could work

the partnerships being evolved by the LBN, the NDC and residents.

with the particular site and its occupants to devise schemes and maintenance plans which contribute to both the physical appearance and culture

:Physical/social infrastrucure

of a particular site.

Capital investment can support social networks in

For example, a) The Hamilton Road Centre proposals combine resto-

two ways. These are

ration of railings, (possibly the restoration of the facade-still waiting for feedback from English Heritage and HLF), the design of a garden and

1. THE EXTENSION OF PUBLIC SPACE; AND

external areas for seating, tables for working outside in the summer, new

2. INVOLVING RESIDENTS IN THE MAKING AND MAINTAINING OF

large scale signage to the building itself and lighting to emphasise the drama and quality of the building. The artists in the Hamilton Road Centre could produce ceramic floor tiles for the garden at the front of the building.

:The capital projects

Each element could also have workshops in tandem so that the students

Access see Principles & Techniques

and youth projects could be taught new skills.

Play/Youth see Principles & Techniques

see Art Strategy A lighting designer could be commissioned to design a lighting scheme for the Eastern edge of Memorial Recreation Ground b). The lights would be placed on the Cemetery side of the fence providing increased security for the Park and Cemetery, publicising the presence of the cemetery and back -lighting the existing mature trees and the new trees that would be planted along the perimeter. The new trees could be memorial trees dedicated to residents within the NDC. The scheme will also reinforce the overall scheme for Memorial recreation ground which seeks to exacerbate the drama of the open space by reinforcing the perimeter and limiting lighting to the entrances or edges and at foot level along the pathways.

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Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse : P r i n c i ples & Techniques

General Principles

The following set of design principles have emerged from the framework study and constitute a “philosophy” which can be applied to developing the proposal for urban design projects.

1. No security without responsibility 2. No expenditure without accountability 3. Safe access = greater inhabitation = greater sense of security - You want to stay in and when you do come out you don’t know what trouble you’re going to get.

- That’s the main reason why the car parks are not used at the back. On the road, as well as in general, the lighting is not very good at all. We have raised that issue.

- I’d come down the stairwell. I mean the lights were poor there and I didn’t see this young guy standing, but he came up to me and he grabbed my trouser legs and went to pull them and he went, ‘they’re nice’. And I just grabbed and screamed but he moved away. I don’t know if I frightened him or what, or he panicked. I then went to another tower block and asked for assistance and I got, ‘I don’t have a phone, I can’t help you.’ I told her there was a man who’d assaulted me, attacked me. She didn’t care anyway, she just slammed the door.

- It ain’t really safe to come out ‘cos the lights sometimes don’t work and the other night I was walking though the car park and then like this ... he come out of nowhere and he’s like quite scary.

- The pavement outside, if you walk along there’s all loose footings, you’ve got old Jim who’s got Parkinson’s. He walks along, all the stones move up and down. He’s tripped over. An old man that was half blind fell down a manhole cover overe there and do you know what the council did? Just put a piece of wood over it that kids could move.

4. Increased mobility = greater inhabitation = greater sense of security - Like now I could walk through and it literally saves me 15 minutes on going round, which is really good, but come 6:00 the gate is locked, this one is open still but the other one is locked.

5. Decreased segregation of communities = greater numbers in public space = greater sense of security 6. Vice versa - greater numbers in public space = decreased segregation of communities = greater sense of security 7. Increased use by a variety of groups = increased security = increased inhabitation - We’ve got the park, that’s no good because one minute you can be allowed in there and all of a sudden you’ll get a group saying, ‘you can’t come in here’.

8. Increased security = increased inhabitation = greater sense of security - Our kids are out on the green and there’s always an adult watching over them, no matter whose kids they are, they’re watched, like they’re looked after.

- It’s going to cause a lot of trouble because one, you’re going to have a road going through so you’re not going to be able to watch your kids, right? It’s bad enough with mopeds whizzing up and down, You know now you’re going to have cars, people that have a drink, do you know what I mean? People that don’t live here.

- They’ve got these cameras on the flats but nine times out of ten they’re not doing nothing with them, do you know what I mean? They can only see kids playing on the roof, like mucking about on the roof. But when kids are whizzing past on mopeds and lighting fires, they don’t see that.

- Do you find it threatening having people hanging around outside?

- Yes, because you don’t know what their intentions are.

9. Clear sense of orientation = pedestrian confidence = increased mobility = increased inhabitation - Since we’ve had a pitch marked out there and we use it on a regular basis, it’s made a big differenece in the area. Talking to the local community they’ve said it’s made a massive difference. We had one car...I’ve seen one car in there in 18 months that’s been dumped that’s been dumped on there. There may well have been more, but I’ve only actually seen one myself on there. And the drug use I’ve been told is confined to an area a little bit around the corner.

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Urban Design Framework

The Response :Principles & Techniques

Te c h n i q u e s a n d E x a mples 7 principles

A. Transform Barriers to Movement - Barriers to movement are a distinguishing feature of the NDC area. Railway lines and the Greenway equal dramatic changes in level and threatening spaces. Transform these by making seamless, safer step-free and attractive North-South route across the NDC area, via a range of projects for parks and other public spaces (see Ripple Sites).

B. Ripple Sites - Public facilities can protect public space.

Concentrate investment around and within the boundaries of public facilities - such as schools, parks and public housing - so they can be maintained and protected, and the streetscape benefits as well. Techniques include lighting, planting, signage and localised ground and pavement treatment.

C. Celebrate, promote and highlight the beautiful.

D. Create safer and welcoming short cuts - with enhanced lighting, signage, and consistent floor surfaces.

E. Give greater definition, use and ownership to under-used, ‘left-over’, and empty spaces around housing with places to sit, play and plant.

F. Reinforce edges using planting, lighting and renewal of walls and boundaries to give a clearer sense of where ownership begins and ends.

G. Ensure each park is particular in character and use and does not duplicate another. Ensure investment in parks coincides with completion of community facilities.

view from greenway Project 3.1

Greenway crossing. We propose a secure, welcoming and fully accessible bridging of the Greenway.

This could be one of the single most dramatic projects in the Framework proposals.

The ramped landscape will be embedded with seating on the park side (for watching matches and events in the park extended as a multi sports surface around the Rugby Club. It will incorporate a cycle route, planting, lighting and CCTV along its length.

view from south

rugby club to Plaistow Station

to West Ham Station

resource centre

Project 4

Memorial Recreation Ground: Informal surveillance for Memorial Recreation Ground from the Rugby Club and Woodlands Resource Centre will make investment sustainable. Proposals include: landscaped stepfree access to Greenway, planted perimetre with ‘wallpaper of trees’ - renewed perimeter walls, a play orchard south of the resource centre - a pontoon of activities, position dependent on number of sports pitches.

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Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse : P r i n c i ples & Techniques

Te c h n i q u e s a n d E x a mples

Before

Project 7.2 - RIPPLE SITE. There is a vast area of underused degraded ‘left over’ space around the entrance to Eastlea School and the housing

After

Give a single treatment as a shared public space.

Before

Project 7.2 - RIPPLE SITE/ Eastlea School & Cranberry Estate

After

Public facilities can guard public space.

Lighting & planting within the boundary of the school- but passer by benefits.

Before

Project 5.1 - Grange Road Housing route to Pretoria Road.

(Underused open spaces, degraded perimeter walls)

After

Small scale improvements. Play -place to sit - planting - gardening support (with residents involvement)

Project 5.3:

Project 3.4:

Project 6.1:

a place to sit - in places where there is a reason

bouncy mirrors reflect sunlight into dark insecure

HOMEZONE - A residential area where pedestrians take

to do so.

short cuts.

priorities over cars

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Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse : P r i n c i ples & Techniques

D e s i gn G u i d e f o r P e rimeter treatments, hard and soft landscape, lighting, play, y o u t h , a c c e s s , s t r e e t furniture

The NDC environmental theme group cited Kensington and Chelsea as a

Step-free and safer access over barriers to movement

baseline for the quality of streetscape desired for the NDC area.

These link up with LBN’s proposed cycle routes.

Chelsea is characterised by well-maintained streets and buildings. Many streets have York stone paving slabs, concrete modular paving to match

Some of the most dramatic projects in the framework are the bridges

and granite kerbs.

over significant changes in level.

The leasehold properties in many of the streets and squares are obliged

Building seamless, safer, step-free connections between neighbourhoods

to carry out regular external redecoration within strict colour palettes.

will help create the strong North-South and East-West routes across the

Commercial premises take care of the immediate streetscape. Council

NDC area. They connect the separate neighbourhood ‘bubbles’.

maintenance standards are similar to the London Borough of Newham for

These should be viewed as an extension of the street, as the seamless

frequency of inspection but they accrue greater revenue through parking

extension of a pavement or as a landscaped extension of the park. They

fees which is visible in the quality of the streetscape.

are not bolted on ramps nor ziggurat-like structures.

Planted balconies, window boxes and private communal gardens contribute to the amount of maintained planting in the public realm. There is a

Across the footbridge to Grasmere Road

diversity to the grain of the major shopping streets and squares as well

The approach to and from the footbridge, the footbridge itself, the kicka-

as in the smaller residential streets and mews.

bout area and Grasmere Road.

This sequence should be designed as a single project with the same treatment to the paving and shared surface as the paving on the new route from Plaistow Road to London Road.See bid by LBN muf/Arup

From Plaistow Road to London Road A pedestrian and cycle route.

This strip of paving will form a new inclined frontage to the development site. Light coloured paving. For further details see information accompanying the bid to TFL by the LBN with muf/Arup.

From Whitelegg Road to Greenway A pedestrian and cycle route.

This should be seen as an extension of the park. Whether designed as a strip of small starter units or as a landscaped ‘hump’ it should be designed as a homogeneous piece that is then planted over with ground The NDC Framework acknowledges that the local authority cannot main-

cover. Flank wall to railway cutting will have to be raised and extended.

tain 100% of the public realm and so, like Chelsea, some of the pleasure

This should be designed to allow vertical planting and (lighting from the

of the streetscape must come from those ‘borrowed pleasures’ that the

rail side of the wall) For further details see information accompanying the

pedestrian gains from beyond the public boundary of the street.

bid to TFL by the LBN with muf/Arup.

We do not believe that the NDC needs a single house style for all of the public realm. Generally, improvements should be site-specific in order to

From Memorial Recreation Grounds to the Greenway

maximise the pleasure and sense of discovery in moving between neigh-

A pedestrian and cycle route

bourhoods. In this way, the separate identities of the neighbourhoods

This should be designed as an extension of the park, a sculpted hillock.

can be accentuated in a positive way once the links between them are

The path should appear as an ‘incision’, chalk white paths inset to achieve

in place.

a 1: 20 gradient whilst avoiding balustrades. This should be landscaped as a ‘micro landscape’.

Security/ mobility designed into all projects.

For further details see information accompanying the bid to TFL by the

•

LBN with muf/Arup.

Access should be a gorgeous norm not a bolted-on concession. Some examples of this follow:

•

Step-free access over the substantial changes of level caused by the railway and the Greenway.

•

The recomendation to have a contrast in materials for the highway and its perimeter.

•

Keeping obstacles off the pavement, renewing gates to make buggy and wheelchair movement easier.

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Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse : P r i n c i ples & Techniques

D e s i g n G u i d e f o r P e rimeter treatments, hard and soft landscape, lighting, play, y o u t h, a c c e s s , s t r e e t furniture

Community Involvement

Landscaping generally hard and soft

The Urban Design Framework comes under the Environment and Social

Trees should be kept off streets to maximise the width of pavements and

networks of the NDC delivery plan.

to avoid opportunistic vandalism.

The built projects of the framework are, together with the resource cen-

Instead, trees with overhanging branches should be used. The main body

tres, the most immediately visible evidence of NDC investment. The

of the trees should be protected by fences. Gardening in schools as well

projects have been deliberately designed in order to support existing

as private gardens that front streets should be supported with a combina-

community initiatives (acknowledging that school sites have community

tion of plant and gardening help.

uses such as the Food co-ops). They have also been designed with a view to identifying locations for initiatives such as Ironworks, SureStart,

Hard surfaces/pavements/parks

Paul Schafer’s Wombles and Eric Samuel’s ideas for ‘edible’ playgrounds

(see also stepfree access)

and community gardens.

Because the predominant material of the housing stock is brick we would

This capital investment supports community networks in two ways:

recommend that brick pavoirs are avoided at all costs in order that there

firstly, by expanding public space through improvements to the urban

is sufficient contrast between the pavements and surrounding buildings.

realm, and secondly, by creating opportunities that would involve resi-

Instead, all paths and pavements should be chosen from a strictly lim-

dents in the making, maintaining and managing of capital projects.

ited vocabulary of easily replacable pale stone or concrete, rectangular

In this next phase of the NDC, community involvement can emcompass

modular paving with laid stretcher bond with wide granite kerbs. These

1. information sharing ( keeping residents informed in the new initiatives

more light reflective materials will help heighten a sense of security and

brief development and their detailed refinement ) 2. enabling residents to participate in the refinement,making and maintainance of the projectss.

The following are examples of possible community involvement:

should create clear contrast for the visually impaired.

This pale, even and low key palette for pavement surfaces, embedded with signage, can be the backdrop for more dramatic and idiosyncratic projects within the parks and ‘ripple’ sites.

Example a The planting of trees to the perimeter fence between Memorial Recreation Ground and East London Cemetery.

Streets with commercial activity

Residents could be invited to dedicate a tree in memory of a loved one.

All measures from paving to improving bus stops lighting and to

The present scheme numbers 209 trees.

shop front will contribute. The access audit carried out for Plaistow

Selected residents could help finish planting the trees at a small ceremo-

Road demonstrated that stretches of pavement were unacceptable nar-

ny. This would create a link between the Memorial Recreation Ground and

row and the radius of kerbs unnecessarily large.

the cemetery and the personal histories and memories of residents

Generally new paving and shared surfaces between pedestrians and

Example b Every child of school age could be involved in a planting or

cars is recommended to enable and reinforce a North/ South route.

in another project such as testing signage locations such as creating temporary signage. They could be involved through art workshops that would

Residential streets

both shadow consultants and that would also be projects in themselves.

Raised tables rather than road humps are recommended at junctions in

Small scale projects could be designed in a sufficiently flexible way so that

many residential areas. in residential streets with ‘Home Zone’ potential

individuals could be involved during the design process and on site.

asymmetrical treatment of junctions is recommended as it increases

Example c Residents can be paid to implement manage and maintain

usable social space on the street.

the proposed projects. This can be done both through the proposed

(see Home Zone Scheme bid for Cranberry )

Residents Service Organisation but in advance of that in an ad hoc way. muf/Arups are working on a Home Zone scheme for the Cranberry Estate

Exploit distinguishing features of area

and are looking at Plaistow Road and High Street as part of a bid by LBN

For example the drama of trains moving through the landscape and the

Transportation for external funding. These two projects will describe in

views from the Greenway.

some detail the material resolution for both commercial and residential

E.g. Build up the edge of the ground alongside the railway at the back of

streets.

the Rugby Club to form a ‘ha-ha’ to give the appearance that the train is gliding over the surface of the planting.

Shared multi-use surfaces

E.g. Place a clock on the Greenway that is visible from the train to mirror

Where appropriate, multi-use sports surface can be used to revitalise

the platform clock that is visible from the Greenway.

underused open space.

This section should be read in conjuction with the pilot studies undertaken

E.g. a multi-use sports surface around the Rugby Club with a more sub-

by muf/Plat-form on Memorial Recreation Ground, Gainsborough School

stantial sub-base than usually specified can be marked up for various

and Eastlea School.

different sports but can, on occasion, be used for car parking for large scale events.

Parks and open spaces

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Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse : P r i n c i ples & Techniques

D e s i g n G u i d e f o r P e rimeter treatments, hard and soft landscape, lighting, play, y o u t h, a c c e s s , s t r e e t furniture

These should have distinct identities and facilities.

The intention here is to use those species of trees (particularly fruit trees)

(see project list that follows)

that have overhanging branches, and to use those climbers that will fall

Park entrances should be designed as ‘vestibules’ to the park.

luxuriantly over the top of a boundary wall or that will flower across its

A transitional hard landscaped space with trees, seating and informa-

length and which will be visible through a boundary fence from the street

tion

and from the school. Wherever there may be plans for future development,

which extend as thresholds into the street and maximise views into the

trees should be planted in moveable containers along the perimeter, for

park.

maximum flexibility.

Perimeter treatment The sense of moving from one space to another should be given greater definition so that a journey North-South-East-West can be a journey of contrasts.The treatment of perimeter edges, front gardens/street; park/ cemetery; park/street; derelict back garden walls and fences/park; railway lands/street; Greenway/park; and school sites/street: is vital both to improve a sense of security across the area and create incentives to walk around the area. Perimeter treatments should be double-sided (ie. without an obvious back or front) and reciprocal (visually permeable).

Residential garden walls and fences There are a number of examples of very degraded patched fences and

Vertical planting

walls on the main pedestrian routes. These should be replaced by a pal-

Plant climbers on flank walls, e.g.. jasminum nudiflorum, clemetis alpina

ette of treatments from which a resident can choose.

Hydranga petiolaris and parthenocissus henryana.

e.g. Terrazzo signage panels on brick or blockwork. These could provide

This can ‘green’ a route, the planting is less vulnerable and site lines are

directional signage walls and fences replacing degraded walls and fences

not interrupted. They can disguise unsightly walls and deter grafiti.

in appropriate locations on the main routes.

Close weave fencing could act as a trellis for vertical planting.

Other materials could include textured ‘vertical rockery’, openwork concrete bricks created with local craftspeople, openwork brick walls and other techniques which, by avoiding a blank ‘canvas’, could help deter graffiti.

The Greenway The aim here is to densely plant the flanks of the Greenway with selfseeding perennial flowers and ground cover, to create solid blocks of colour.

This will act as a backdrop to the Memorial Recreation Ground, and provide views from the train and cemetery.

Edible gardens Create edible playgrounds with fruit trees, blackberry bushes and vegeta-

Plant cemetery fence with a range of closely planted trees

bles. This would link up with the Health Theme projects, such as Free

The design intention is to create a ‘filter’ which, by partly masking the

Fruit in Schools, Food Coops and Healthy Eating.

cemetery perimeter fence, visually blends the trees either side of the perimeter. This planted fence of trees can then be lit from the cemetery

see ‘Perimeter treatment’ for landscaping of perimeter conditions.

side. Only those species of trees should be chosen that can be planted close together and that will grow tall.

Planting within frames

Suggested trees are: betula pendula, Fagus Sylvatica Dawycks purple,

Create a kind of inverse topiary.

Populus nigra var italica Quercus ruber fastigiata and Prunus accolade.

Flowering shrubs can be grown within a protective armature and so be

Sandblast brickwalls to reveal detail

easily cut back.

e.g. Plaistow Station wall to Plaistow Road and station wall to London Road.

School Boundaries / Ripple sites

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Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse : P r i n c i ples & Techniques

D e s i gn G u i d e f o r P e rimeter treatments, hard and soft landscape, lighting, play, y o u t h , a c c e s s , s t r e e t furniture

Water

one site, or an all-weather kickabout area with seating deck alongside on

The River Lea, ‘once bright and sparkling home of otter and trout’ and to the right,

another.

‘the great dismal swamp’.

This map should include all ‘youth’ provision and extend to show new facili-

(Miss Amy Leyard, 1886)

ties across the locality.

Seating and lighting should be included each time

“The fire hydrants all get set off, so you have these massive big fountains com-

Play

ing out, and ...sitting back in your office looking out of the window, it’s quite fun

The condition of some of the existing play facilities demonstrates that

because you see these kids are really, really hot and frustrated and with nothing

supervision is essential for play facilities to be sustainable.External play

to do, and they’ve set all these fire hydrants off, and they’re underneath them

spaces are scattered throughout the Framework. They range from the

showering.”

more sustantial playground, such as that proposed for Hermit Park, to play

(Gerry Diver, 2001)

orchards for Chad Green and Memorial Park, to small toddlers play landscapes and play within a Home Zone.

Water is everywhere in the NDC area (street names describe the hidden

Alternatives to conventional play equipment should be explored,

river beneath) but nowhere is it visible, usable or pleasurable.

for example:

Some pitches at the Memorial Recreation Grounds are at times too water-

Using water in the context of an aquatic playground.

logged to be used. LBN sports grounds consultants have recommended

Using earthworks to create dynamic micro-landscapes for exploration and

that drainage systems must be put in place.

imaginative play. Most 4-year olds are less than a metre tall so drama

Water should be reintroduced as a source of pleasure. Hard-to-vandalise

can be created for a child without limiting the possibility of surveillance by

jets of water/sprinklers/fountains could be introduced in the pontoon of

adult carers.

Memorial Recreation Ground. The woodlands centre could set up a mist

Use natural materials and rocks.

garden.

Setting a fenced playground within an orchard so as to avoid the familiar windswept and bleak associations of a playground.

Play and Youth facilities ‘Play without space is misbehaviour’.

Work with residents overlooking an unused patch of grass to design a small community garden with playful qualities.

Very‘...the small firepatches hydrants of all ground get set off, can so be youlandscaped have these massive to provide big fountains opportunities coming out, and ...sitting bac

Youth

for these play. kids Small-scale are really, really concrete hot and tables frustrated and and chairs, with nothing a counter to do, height and they’ve blockset all these fire hydra

Consultation and observation demonstrates that young people are both

just(Gerry in front Diver) of a wall to suggest a kitchen or a shop, a trail of blocks that

seen as a huge problem but they are also a huge resource. They are

can be used as a train or as stepping stones. These ‘dumb’ objects can be

responsible for most opportunistic vandalism but they are also the ones

inset into a park setting, by a school or within a Home Zone setting. They

using public space the most. At present, there is limited provision for

do not ‘During have thetodaytime be called it’s very a playground nice, a lovely asplace, such.a They naturecan reserve be designed in some respects. with It’s got some creatu

them and yet it is this segment of the population that is most interested in

safety criteria mind by including a bouncy surface.

(Paul Schaferinre. cemetery)

being part of change in the NDC area, as evidenced by the number who

All designated play areas must exclude dogs.

attended the Youth Forum meeting.

The young people for the NDC area tend not to move from their immediate area. This means that a facility such as arc on the park is not perceived as an NDC-wide facility. Improvements to facilities and the means of moving between neighbourhoods should address this in part but such improvements need to be combined with temporary events in order to draw people from one area to another.

The framework generally enhances social spaces in the public realm which, in itself, is one form of youth provision, providing more places for informal but surveyed hanging around, providing water jets on the pontoon, and providing the multi-sports surface around the rugby club.

The framework also suggests that there should be a trail of youth facilities running from Plaistow North to Star Park. These facilities would stand alone but it should be conceived of as a diverse trail of youth activities .

So, rather than building a BMX/skateboard track in one location, a range of half-pipes and ramps can be placed as a trail of fragments wihtout having to duplicate these activities across the NDC area.

The entire trail could be indicated by a map which could augment with the addition of new facilities like a particularly amazing climbing frame on

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Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse : P r i n c i ples & Techniques

D e s i gn G u i d e f o r P e rimeter treatments, hard and soft landscape, lighting, play, y o u t h , a c c e s s , s t r e e t furniture

Lighting

Shop fronts Upgrade fascias.

Due to absorbent surfaces, flank walls and a lack of commercial facilities

Partner shop keepers with typographers for new signage.

the NDC area is thought of as dark even though, generally, Newham has

Encourage use of open grilles with lighting.

a higher than average light level compared to other London Boroughs.

Seating and street furniture ‘Utilitarian’ and ‘feature’ lighting

Given the loose definition of the public realm from a playground visible from the street,a cemetery,a high street, outside a barber’s shop, the flank

Street lighting

of an overground sewer we do not consider it appropriate for the NDC to

LBN uses a wide range of fittings for its lighting columns, most of the

have a single type of seating. Seating defines and enables social spaces

lighting columns were replaced in the NDC area in the last 15 years. It is

within the street and open spaces. In marked contrast to the era of cap-

not necessary to replace these but there should be consistant ‘white’ ‘soc’

ping every wall with a sloping top edge we propose that opportunities for

light for all pedestrian routes especially ‘as they cross and penetrate hous-

seating should be designed into all new projects e.g. the edge of a new

ing estates with their characteristic ‘yellow’ sun light.

surface could be designed to form a seat height ledge.

Light levels

The rules for seating

Lighting must not be too powerful. Rather than relying on a small number

Seating should be placed in suntraps, out of the wind, and overlooked,

of lighting columns with high level lamps which cast deep shadows it

with a tree planted to give a choice of shade for high summer. Seating

is preferable to have a greater number of lower level lamps in order to

must be placed in areas where there is a reason to sit, like at bus stops

achieve consistent light levels.

or outside a fish and chip shop. Seating must conform to the standard for

In addition to this the ‘Feature Lighting’ measure listed below is intended

seating drawn up LBN

to increase the sense of security and activity by night.

Seating for different situations Feature lighting

Within ‘ripple’ sites seating can be combined with tables for outdoor social-

To make alleyways and short cuts feel safer. Install ‘wall washers’ lighting

ising and study.

to light flank walls stuccoed and painted pale grey blue above 2.7m to

It should be site-specific, it can be a combination of fixed and moveable

avoid graffiti.

seating and tables.

Where site-specific seating is not designed in, traditional timber benches

Highlight the beautiful

can be used.

Use lighting to emphasise ‘landmarks’.

Buildings such as the resource centres could have outdoor moveable

e.g. lighting the Eaves of Hamilton Road Centre

chairs that can be put out each day.

Where appropriate, ‘Ripple’ sites could provide refreshments as with the

Highlight buildings with evening activities

cemetery’s proposed tea house.

Light signage describing activities within Hamilton Road.

Combine seating in the street with other facilities such as bus stops, public

Highlight mouths of roads into NDC area

telephones, local information, the fish and chip shop or the post office.

e.g. all roads east off Manor Road Position seating so that it is overlooked and combines with existing ameni-

Highlight perimeters

ties. For example, a bench outside the barber’s shop in Grange Road is

(see perimeter treatment of parks and open spaces giving onto streets)

overlooked and can be used by waiting customers, it is also South facing and has a pleasant aspect.

Use lighting techniques from theatre and cinema To give sense of activities beyond a wall a building.

Position seating for the adult carer alongside micro play spaces and within external areas shared by housing.

Light streets indirectly from ‘ripple’ sites E.g. inset floor lights to light trees of Star School, lighting integrated into

Seating can be site-specific. For example seating, rubbish bins and cir-

new boundary to Portway school.

cuit training ‘furniture’ could be designed as ‘white furniture’ to match the language of the rugby and football goalposts.

Use convex mirrored sun bouncers to bounce sunlight into north facing alleyways

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Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse : P r i n c i ples & Techniques

D e s i g n G u i d e f o r P e r imeter treatments, hard and soft landscape, lighting, play, y o u t h, a c c e s s , s t r e e t furniture

Signage We propose a general signage strategy

Development to describe routes, existing

There is a great deal of unused slack space within the NDC area.

activities and signal points of entry into the NDC area.

Due to the size and number of open spaces some of this slack space

The signage strategy combines text and pictogram signage (information)

could be landscaped and some could be usefully developed to increase

and lighting to signal routes into and within the NDC area.

the built density of the area.

We propose that all signage should be seen as integral to the enhance-

Consultation demonstrated that there is a shortage of housing and a

ment of the streetscape. This means signage should avoid the idiom of

desire for more amenities and more shops.

‘add on, bolt on’ fingerposts and signage columns. The NDC area does

Analysis shows that there is an increase in the population which would

not need street clutter. Rather terrazzo panels set into the pavement

make new amenities and shops more sustainable.

could replace a pot hole, and wall panels could replace a broken down

Sites in the area have been developed within the last 12 months. There is

fence. Signage should identify the main destinations (including bus stops,

clearly an interest among private developers quite separate to the devel-

underground and parks).

opments in the Arc of Opportunity and Canning Town.

See main report for illustrations of this.

There are many potential development sites. Some are quite substantial, such as those on Plaistow High street.

We also propose that signage should be devised to signal activities rather

In order to increase the community safety and vitality of Plaistow Road it

than just the location of activity in order to give transparency to existing

would be desirable for these to be mixed use schemes with active shop

and new amenities in the area, and counter the assumption that there

fronts.

is at the moment no provision at all. An example might be ‘dance, art,

There are also a number of much smaller potential sites such as the

photo,

gable ends of the local authority housing on Grange Road. These gable

theatre, keep fit’ rather than just Hamilton Road Centre.

end sites are suitable for key worker flats with family flats on the ground floor. They would succeed in making the street edges more defined and

Lighting can be used to highlight destinations e.g. routes east along

the garden areas more protected.

Manor Road. By lighting the entry points into the NDC, the pedestrian walking from West Ham Tube can have a sense of the next exit point.

This is an example of publicising the NDC area, whilst increasing a sense of security.

The signage strategy should be coordinated with the new digital map being developed by the NDC so that the virtual and physical graphic language coincides.

The signage strategy would be best initiated with a pilot project to allow modification of the design through feedback during use.

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Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse : P u b l i c Art Strategy

A r t i s o f v a l u e b e c a u se it provides a space that enables us to think differently A s p a c e w h e r e y o u c an think differently opens up the possibility of making a d i f f e r e n c e i n h o w a n d who you are.

Art can make a difference to both the social and built environment if the parameters of the artists engagement are researched and prepared in advance in order that the project is integrated into existing strategies. This is not to say that art projects cannot be tangential to the orthodoxy but that the artist must be fully and honestly briefed of all the expectations that are brought to bear on a situation. We envisage that the artist will then probably unearth a whole lot more expectations and maybe act on those.

The art strategy for Newham integrates two approaches to art and design.

These are 1

INTERVENTIONS WITH PEOPLE RESULTING IN TEMPORARY STRUCTURES OR EVENTS

2

INTERVENTIONS WITH PEOPLE RESULTING IN PERMANENT ALTERATIONS TO THE EXISTING BUILT ENVIRONMENT.

Interventions with people resulting in temporary structures or events are projects where the artist will identify specific groups or individuals with which they will work in order to create the art work. This can happen in a number of ways.

The artist may organise workshops with the participants where jointly they will create an art works The artist may document a creative workshop to create an art work The artist may create a space(real or Virtual) where the participants are able exhibit their creativity.

These projects will •

UNEARTH HIDDEN EXPERTISE

•

VALUE HIDDEN CREATIVITY

•

EXTEND OWNERSHIP OF THE PUBLIC REALM THROUGH OCCUPATION OF A PLACE THROUGH A

•

CREATE A MOMENT WHEN PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO THINK ABOUT A PLACE DIFFERENTLY

•

MAKE SPACE FOR THE IMAGINARY, A SPACE TO DREAM DIFFERENCE

•

ENGENDER CONNECTEDNESS ACROSS SOCIAL GROUPS

•

ENGENDER CONNECTIVITY ACROSS AN AREA

•

CREATE AND DISPEL MYTHS

CREATIVE ACT

The temporary outcomes from these projects could include •

EVENTS

•

LIGHTING

•

EXHIBITED IMAGES ON A RANGE OF SCALES AND DURATION

•

PLANTING

Interventions with people resulting in permanent alterations to the existing built environment are projects where through initial consultation sites are identified and proposals made for them.

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Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse : P u b l i c Art Strategy

A r t i s o f v a l u e b e c a u se it provides a space that enables us to think differently A s p a c e w h e r e y o u c an think differently opens up the possibility of making a d i f f e r e n c e i n h o w a n d who you are.

The site, on Plaistow High Street, is flanked by the entrance to Plaistow underground station and a Ford car showroom. It faces two bus shelters which host illuminated advertisements for a range of shiney products, services and lifestyle options.

The proposal contributes to environmental improvements and creates participative opportunities. It incorporates 3 elements: •

temporary lightboxes

•

cleansing of brickwork

•

mirrored panel

which will unfold over time.

Phase 1 Temporary lightboxes Through enquiries to relevant council departments and creative sessions with local residents muf will investigate and document cleansing and waste management activies at both the urban and domestic scale. Using video and photography participants will produce images of details of cleaning processes e.g. a hand holding a duster polishing brass. These images will be developed as prints for two lightboxes which will be temporarily installed at the site anticipating the cleansing of the brickwork.

At commencement of sandblasting, the lightboxes will be removed and rehung at site to be established with participants, for example a building housing the street cleansing department or a community resourse centre.

Phase 2 sandblast brickwork

Phase 3 clad upper section of wall with mirrored stainless steel, angled to introduce sky improve lighting by lowering the horizon introducing more sky Budget

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Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse :Projects

P r o j e c t s f o r t h e N D C area

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32

Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse :Projects

Project areas

The following is a list of the priority projects and additional projects, which

:Project Areas

will form the delivery of the urban design framework throughout the NDC area. Each has a brief description of the issues and objectives it seeks to

The proposals fall into the following project areas:

achieve.

The priority projects are those which have the ambition to deliver the main objectives of the framework. These objectives include security, mobility

1. NORTH PLAISTOW AREA INCLUDING THE BROOKS ESTATE.

and pleasure and are concentrated along a North-South route.

2. PLAISTOW ROAD AND ITS ACCESS FROM THE NORTH AND

The North-South route was identified as being a strategic corridor that

THE SOUTH

connected the various neighbourhoods and spaces together. This NorthSouth route would connect the neighbourhoods of: NORTH PLAISTOW

3. A STRONG PEDESTRIAN LINK TO MEMORIAL PARK .

4. MEMORIAL RECREATION GROUND AND ITS APPROACHES.

RUDOLPH ROAD MEMORIAL PARK

5. GAINSBOROUGH AND GRANGE ROAD.

WOODLANDS EASTLEA

6. CRANBERRY

AND SOUTH TO CANNING TOWN 7. EASTLEA SCHOOL , EXERING ROAD AND PRETORIA ROAD

The route can also facilitate better connections between the NDC area and the emerging developments outside it.

8. STAR PARK AND STAR LANE, HERMIT ROAD

We consider that the projects marked priority are the minimum required

9. SIGNAGE STRATEGY

to begin to achieve this.

Additional funding streams will enable the additional projects to be set in motion.

Rather than separate art commissions, we envisage that public art proposals can be integrated with the strategy for the whole area. (see full report of public art strategy).

The NDC Urban design Strategy was commissioned in august 2001 muf, Arup and the NDC have been collaborating with a working group to ensure that the following projects work with borough wide strategies and are eligible for external funding.

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33

Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse : Projects

1 . N o r t h P l a i s t o w a r e a including the Brooks Estate

1

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Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse :Projects

1 . N o r t h P l a i s t o w a r e a including the Brooks Estate

Issues: The new plans for Brooks Estate and North Plaistow Resource Centre,

PRINCIPLES

in part because of new allocations of private gardens, mean that there is an overall loss of open space, and insufficient investment in character of

INCREASED MOBILITY = GREATER INHABITATION

streetscape and social spaces for this area.

= GREATER SENSE OF SECURITY

The nearest green space for the area north of Stratford road is West Ham Park. This park is viewed by some residents of the Brooks Estates as

DECREASED SEGREGATION OF COMMUNITIES = GREATER

being off limits.

NUMBERS IN PUBLIC SPACE = GREATER SENSE OF SECURITY

Our proposals encourage inhabitation and access through the introduction of a new cycle route, and via improved links along the North-South

AND VICE VERSA - GREATER NUMBERS IN PUBLIC SPACE

route. Improvements to the perimeter edge of the Portway School build-

= DECREASED SEGREGATION OF COMMUNITIES

ing will both reveal the public face of the numerous public facilities hidden

= GREATER SENSE OF SECURITY

within, and give the public pavement the benefit of lighting and planting protected from vandalism.

Means:

We propose to pave the new areas adjacent to refurbished housing in

New sign-posted cycle route linking Lettsom walk with West Ham Park

Stratford Road and other alleyways with lighting and floor surfaces con-

via the Brooks Estate. This integrates with traffic calming measures in the

sistent with the existing. In particular light quality should be consistent

Brooks Estate.

i.e. standard street lighting throughout the area, and throughout the refur-

Toddlers play area with seating fencing and planting on Chad Green with

bished housing. This avoids us-and-them signs of demarcation between

sight lines across to the proposed play area in the Brooks Estate.

social groups, which may result if improvements are restricted to the

Extend the existing street lighting, pavement treatment, planting strate-

Brooks Estate only.

gies and home zone strategies, including places for seating, and places

The range of facilities for different ages proposed for the Brooks Estate,

for play for all ages. Provide safe legible pedestrian routes with adequate

rather than the single playground in the PRP scheme will avoid the ten-

crossing facilities and signage, and a cycle route through the Estate.

dency for a playground to be dominated by a single group.

:Priority Projects

PROJECT 1.3: IMPROVEMENTS TO PERIMETER OF PORTWAY SCHOOL (RIPPLE SITE)

PROJECT 1.1: A SECURE AND LEGIBLE ROUTE TO CONNECT THE BROOKS ESTATE TO WEST HAM PARK

Rationale:

Rationale:

not declare itself as a community resource, which is the school's ambition.

The new plans for Brooks Estate and North Plaistow Resource Cen-

The school’s development plan includes pulling back the building line, and

tre mean that there is an overall loss of open space for this area. (see

so widening the pavement.

above).

We aim to create a ripple site here, that is, to initiate public realm improve-

The school is not integrated effectively with its surrounding space and neighbourhood. Its public face is very underplayed and the school does

ments through making the school feel more defined and protected, more PRINCIPLE

of a focus for community use. The street is made more attractive through planting and lighting 'borrowed' from the school. It is protected against

SAFE ACCESS = GREATER INHABITATION

vandalism by its containment within the school boundary.

= GREATER SENSE OF SECURITY

The route to school is made safer and more pleasant.

Means:

PRINCIPLES

Zebra crossing to make a direct link to West Ham Park across Portway.s Large scale signage to park and to Plaistow Road

PUBLIC FACILITIES NEED PUBLIC FACES

PROJECT 1.2: REINFORCE NORTH/SOUTH ROUTE THROUGH BROOKS ESTATE AND LETTSOM WALK TO VALETTA PARK

PUBLIC FACILITIES CAN GUARD PUBLIC SPACE: COMBAT VANDALISM AND NEGLECT BY CONCENTRATING INVESTMENT WHERE IT CAN BE CHERISHED AND PROTECTED

Rationale: The Brooks Estate needs to be integrated into the rest of the immediate

Means:

and wider area through the creation of safe and active streetscapes with

Lighting, planting, a place to sit, information, signage.

improved lines of sight. The project connects to proposals on Lettsom

Perimeter improvements to Portway School and its community

Walk (Project 2.1 and the Brooks Estate development).

facilities - form a social space with seating and planting.

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Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse :Projects

1 . N o r t h P l a i s t o w a r e a including the Brooks Estate

PROJECT 1.4: STRATFORD ROAD

projects

Rationale:

Project 1.4 proposes new lighting and pavement treatments consistent

PROJECT 1.5: UNDERLINE EAST/WEST MOVEMENT BETWEEN EAST ROAD AND THE BROOKS ESTATE

with the Brooks Estate, encouraging access to shops and bus services

Rationale:

by treating the road in its entirety.

Connections from East Road across to Portway School and the new

Stratford Road is a key entry point into the NDC area north of the District Line railway and it is also a link to shops.

Brooks Estate playground are weak and need reinforcement.

PRINCIPLE PRINCIPLE INCREASED SENSE OF SECURITY AND POSSESSION = INCREASED INHABITATION = INCREASED SECURITY

SAFE ACCESS = GREATER INHABITATION = GREATER SENSE OF SECURITY

Means: New pavement and lighting to Stratford Road should match existing. Give

Means:

free plants and gardening support to residents on Stratford Road for an

A combination of lighting, signage, new surfaces.

agreed period.

Project 1.1:

Toddlers play area with seating fencing and planting on Chad Green. Sight lines across to the proposed playground in the Brooks Estate.

Project 1.3: Portway school

Its public face is very underplayed and the school does not declare itself as a community resource, which is the

: A d d i t i o n a l school's ambition.

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36

Urban Design Framework

The Response : Projects

2. Plaistow Road and its access from the North and the South

2

Plaistow Road is marred by expanses of unoccupied street

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Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse :Projects

2 . P l ai s t o w R o a d a n d its access from the North and the South

Plaistow Road is marred by expanses of unoccupied street front, narrow

Means:

pavements and few dropped kerbs. These all discourage pedestrian

The pedestrian bridge which connects Lettsom Walk with Plaistow Road

movement.

is very threatening, but none the less a well used route. The bridge can

An access audit was carried out which demonstrated that for considerable

be refurbished to make it more transparent with new cladding and more

stretches of pavement on this road, kerbs and pavement widths do not

secure with additional lighting and the extension of CCTV. Demolish

conform to minimum standards. The safety audit identified the junction of

garages and replace with a small play area. Improve safety and encour-

Upper Road and Plaistow Road as particularly prone to accidents.

age activity in the area south of the footbridge. Implement a single shared

Plaistow High Street is well placed to become an important local centre

surface from the pedestrian bridge consistent with the new paving in

serving the day-to day needs of neighbourhoods and the locality. At

Plaistow Road.

present Stratford, as a secondary town centre, has the sufficient retail mixture of targeted community facilities and services, viable commercial

PROJECT 2.2: VALETTA PARK SEMI-PUBLIC RIPPLE SITE

activity, attractive housing, lifestyle and leisure services and retail attrac-

Rationale:

tions, Plaistow could build enough capacity as a vibrant neighbourhood

The amount of public park space will be reduced in this area if plans

node, to be able to stem outward flows of people from Plaistow to Strat-

for housing and the resource centre proceed. However, with suitable

ford. Its strengths lie in that it has good transport links and is strategically

management in place, the resource centre could give the park informal

placed along a main route through the neighbourhood. These could help

and formal supervision. In this context, the intention is to increase the

develop Plaistow as a significant growth pole for the surrounding area

activities and leisure value of the park, including play space for a range of

and to be a focal point for community life.

ages. Project 2.2 also ensures that the park remains and important route

Our proposals include widening the pavement in a number of places;

even with the reduction in overall space.

and commercial amenities to attract people away from Plaistow. With a

introducing more bus stops to make the street more accessible; improved bus stop waiting areas, a creative lighting scheme to animate the bleak

PRINCIPLES

stretch of flank wall alongside the station; and the development of existing disused sites into active street frontages to contribute to a sense of secu-

PUBLIC FACILITIES NEED PUBLIC FACES

rity at night. These combine with enhanced links north and south, and respond to the scale of the proposed North Plaistow resource centre.

PUBLIC FACILITIES CAN GUARD PUBLIC SPACE: COMBAT VANDALISM AND NEGLECT BY CONCENTRATING INVEST-

:Priority Projects

MENT WHERE IT CAN BE CHERISHED AND PROTECTED

INCREASED USE BY A VARIETY OF GROUPS = INCREASED

PROJECT 2.1: LETTSOM WALK AND FOOTBRIDGE ACROSS THE RAILWAY TO GRASMERE ROAD *

SECURITY = INCREASED INHABITATION

Rationale:

Means:

Though well-used as routes to Valetta Park and Plaistow Road, Lettsom

The existing design for the resource centre includes a secure play area.

Walk and the footbridge are threatening and unsafe. Project 2.1 aims to

We propose that additional provision for older children should be includ-

create a safe link between Lettsom Walk and Plaistow Road, and connect

ed. Provision of lighting and other services, including a serviced external

North Plaistow with the rest of the NDC area.

space that could be let along with community rooms.

In advance of supervision by the completed resource centre, sight lines

PRINCIPLES

across the park from Plaistow Road and park boundaries, should be increased by creating openings in the boundary wall.

INCREASED MOBILITY = GREATER INHABITATION = GREATER SENSE OF SECURITY

PROJECT 2.3: PLAISTOW ROAD Rationale:

DECREASED SEGREGATION OF COMMUNITIES = GREATER

Plaistow Road is economically active, but there are long stretches which

NUMBERS IN PUBLIC SPACE

feel insecure both after dark, and to some extent during the day, because

= GREATER SENSE OF SECURITY

of lack of activity.

Project 2.3 goes some way to encourage congregation through widening

AND VICE VERSA - GREATER NUMBERS IN PUBLIC SPACE =

inadequate pavement, better lighting, improved sight lines, planting and

DECREASED SEGREGATION OF COMMUNITIES = GREATER

seating. Focal points for measures could be around bus stops. There

SENSE OF SECURITY

may be opportunities for additional Town Centre/ LU/ public art funding here.

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Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse :Projects

2 . P l ai s t o w R o a d a n d its access from the North and the South

PRINCIPLES

Means: Develop the new step-free route to Memorial Recreation Ground by cre-

INCREASED MOBILITY = GREATER INHABITATION = GREATER

ating a landscaped, smooth transition between platform level and street

SENSE OF SECURITY

with improved views. This will entail a ramped pavement to fall 5 meters at 1:20, with retaining wall and upstand acting as a balustrade. This step-

PUBLIC FACILITIES (UNDERGROUND; BUS-STOPS) NEED

free route will continue the new pavement treatment to the road. Note that

PUBLIC FACES

the most direct route would entail demolition of a house, although even without demolition, new ground surfaces can create a legible route. New

INCREASED USE BY A VARIETY OF GROUPS = INCREASED

floodlighting to the station. Car park site should be developed as garages

SECURITY = INHABITATION

with street level shops and flats. Extend CCTV.

Means: Feature lighting to highlight the architectural qualities of the station.

:Additional Projects

In anticipation of new building projects, temporary art projects could convey a sense of present activity and future change in the street.

ADDITIONAL PROJECT 2.5: REDRIFFE ROAD

Perhaps consider the viability of kiosks and other measures to develop

Rationale:

the area of blank wall around the London Underground station leading

Small scale investment could enhance the improvements that are already

onto the street.

happening as part of the Brooks Estate development, in particular it could

Introduce limited CCTV to extend the semi-public territory of the station.

improve the lack of legibility along routes, which currently offer no clear

Open both entrances to station and upgrade station access points.

idea of a destination. Clear signage will improve access to the shops and

Improve the bus stop waiting areas along the Road, widen pavements,

bus stops.

treatment of junctions and upgrade street furniture with reference to the access audit.

PRINCIPLE

Create windows in walls to allow for views along the railway line and to park.

CLEAR SENSE OF ORIENTATION = PEDESTRIAN CONFIDENCE

Reposition recycling bins.

= INCREASED MOBILITY =INCREASED INHABITATION

For more detail see bid document for external funding work on which has commenced.

Means: Introduce new signage .

PROJECT 2.4: STEP-FREE SECURE ACCESS FROM PLAISTOW ROAD TO RUDOLPH ROAD AND THE MEMORIAL RECREATION GROUND

Clearer sight-lines.

Rationale:

ADDITIONAL PROJECT 2.6: MAUD ROAD

The stairs down to Rudolph Road triangle are both steep and threatening

Rationale:

after dark.

As Redriffe Road: Small scale investment could enhance the improve-

They form the route to Memorial Recreation Ground from Plaistow Road.

ments that are already happening as part of the Brooks Estate develop-

London Road is a crime hot spot. Project 2.4 helps to make Memorial

ment, in particular it could improve the lack of legibility along routes, which

Recreation Ground into an easily accessed amenity for all North Plaistow

currently offer no clear idea of a destination. Clear signage will improve

and aims to increase safety in the area behind the station.

access to the shops and bus stops.

Pedestrian environment improvements.

PRINCIPLES

PRINCIPLE

SAFE ACCESS = GREATER INHABITATION

CLEAR SENSE OF ORIENTATION = PEDESTRIAN CONFIDENCE

= GREATER SENSE OF SECURITY

= INCREASED MOBILITY =INCREASED INHABITATIO

DECREASED SEGREGATION OF COMMUNITIES = GREATER NUMBERS IN PUBLIC SPACE = GREATER SENSE OF SECURITY

Means: Introduce new signage.

Clearer sight-lines.

INCREASED USE BY A VARIETY OF GROUPS = INCREASED

Pedestrian environment improvements.

SECURITY = INCREASED INHABITATION

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Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse :Projects

2 . P l ai s t o w R o a d a n d its access from the North and the South

PROJECT 2.7: CREATE ACCESS TO GREENWAY FROM CORPORATION STREET

PROJECT 2.8: FORD SITE

Rationale:

This large site is the biggest potential development site in the NDC area.

The area north of the railway exceeds the recommended maximum dis-

It also a major barrier to movement, and also is deserted at night. We

tance for access to a park.

propose to increase a sense of pedestrian security by increasing activity

Rationale:

and surveillance.

PRINCIPLE PRINCIPLES UNDERLINE AND MAKE ACCESSIBLE THE MULTIPLICITIES OF ROUTES TO HELP ELIMINATE NEIGHBOURHOOD 'BUBBLES'.

INCREASED SECURITY = INCREASED INHABITATION =

ENCOURAGE WALKING AND CYCLING.

INCREASED SECURITY

Means:

UNDERLINE AND MAKE ACCESSIBLE THE MULTIPLICITIES OF

Explore possibilities of making a connecting route to the park when Ford

ROUTES TO HELP ELIMINATE NEIGHBOURHOOD 'BUBBLES'.

site is redeveloped.

ENCOURAGE WALKING AND CYCLING.

INCREASED MOBILITY = GREATER INHABITATION = GREATER SENSE OF SECURITY

Means: Allay legitimate concerns among exisiting retailers about the increase in retail activity from the development of work spaces with active frontages.

Explore the possibility of a right of way and access onto the Greenway from Corporation Street.

See digital maps for comments from shop-keepers.

Project 2.1:

The pedestrian bridge which connects Lettsom Walk with Plaistow Road is very threatening, but none the less a well used route. The bridge can be refurbished to make it more transparent with new cladding and more secure with additional lighting and the extension of CCTV. Implement a single shared surface.

Before:

Project 2.4: from Plaistow Road to London Road: Dark/ threatening, lack of surveillance, disabled inaccessible, high crime rate

after:

Stepfree

to Memorial Recreation Ground

and visible access

to London Road from Plaistow Road - Ramp and extend pavement down from Plaistow

possible site for development.

Mixed use - shops/ cafe at ground level - housing above - parking below

Road, light &CCTV

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41

Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse :Projects

subtitle

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42

Urban Design Framework

The Response : Projects

3. A Strong pedestrian link to Memorial Recreation Ground

3

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Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse :Projects

3 . A s t r o n g p e d e s t r i a n link to Memorial Recreation Ground

Our proposals for a step-free access alongside the station down to Lon-

:Additional Projects

don Road and the floodlighting and refurbishment of the side of the station in partnership with London Underground (Project 2.5), will combine

PROJECT 3.2: UPPER ROAD

to form a safer route from Plaistow Road.

Rationale:

This route can continue along Whitelegg Road to the Greenway by

There are poor connections across this busy road and a number of acci-

extending the new surface; replacing parking with the a pedestrian route

dents have occurred. We propose creating a safer street for pedestrians

to give better sight lines for the pedestrian; and the creation of a single

with points of crossing and social spaces.

surface treatment and lighting to give clear orientation and greater sense of safety.

PRINCIPLES

As the route approaches the Greenway, it should be ramped and landscaped to help deter fly-tipping and abandoned vehicles.

SAFE ACCESS = GREATER INHABITATION = GREATER SENSE OF SECURITY

:Priority Projects

INCREASED MOBILITY = GREATER INHABITATION = GREATER SENSE OF SECURITY

PROJECT 3.1: WHITELEGG ROAD Rationale:

Means:

The blank wall alongside the railway makes an obvious physical and

Additional and better lighting.

visual barrier. Random grass patches and parking areas exist alongside

Possible pedestrian crossing.

well cared-for private front gardens, implying an absence of communal

Form new treatment around bus stops.

care and responsibility - as do the underused garages. We intend to cre-

New planting along banks of level changes.

ate a safe, well-maintained route which exploits the surveillance afforded

Form easy crossing for cyclists.

by the front gardens. This will reinforce the route to the park, with the introduction of the official cycle route.

PROJECT 3.3: UPPER ROAD EMBANKMENT Rationale:

PRINCIPLES

The current state of Upper Road Embankment attracts both rubbish and vandalism.

DECREASED SEGREGATION OF COMMUNITIES = GREATER

Our proposals aim to create a visual link between Upper Road and the

NUMBERS IN PUBLIC SPACE

cemetery.

= GREATER SENSE OF SECURITY

SAFE ACCESS = GREATER INHABITATION = GREATER SENSE OF SECURITY

Means: Institute feature lighting at higher levels of illumination Re-form image of site by using it for a Public Art site.

Encourage biodiversity through sensitive planting.

INCREASED MOBILITY = GREATER INHABITATION = GREATER SENSE OF SECURITY

PROJECT 3.4: RUDOLPH ROAD AREA Rationale:

Means:

A triangle of housing with limited access and egress and which is bor-

Ramped access - Option 1: Earthworks.

dered by the Greenway and busy roads, (Upper Road and Plaistow

Ramped access - Option 2: Structure with new garages/workspaces

Road.) Housing has under-used, poor quality communal external spaces.

below.

We propose making the immediate territory outside housing a social

The fully accessible ramp falls 5.5 meters at 1:20 and includes a pedestri-

space especially for children and older people.

an route with a cycle route alongside it. A sweep of new paving extending from Plaistow Station with step-free access to Greenway, vertical planting

PRINCIPLE

or closely positioned shrubs, lighting and signage. The area should be treated as ‘stretched park’, with improved lines of sight and lighting, verti-

INCREASED SECURITY = INCREASED INHABITATION

cal planting on rail side or as a ripple site.

= INCREASED SECURITY

Encourage inhabitation and over-looking by forming front gardens and balconies with french window access for Moxton Close housing, and

Means:

increasing lighting to shared entrances. Install CCTV along length of

Implementation of the Home Zone Scheme outlined by muf and Arup

route. Demolish garages along route. Involve residents with planting and

(raised tables/planting/seating and play equipment).

gardening support.

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44

Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse :Projects

3 . A st r o n g p e d e s t r i a n link to Memorial Recreation Ground

PROJECT 3.5: LISTER GARDENS Rationale: Although this is a lower priority than Memorial Recration Ground in terms of increasing facilities, increased illumination to the edge of the park along Upper Road will greatly enhance the sense of security.

PRINCIPLE PUBLIC FACILITIES CAN TAKE CUSTODY OF PUBLIC SPACE TO COMBAT VANDALISM AND NEGLECT.

Means: Improved lighting to the perimeter.

PROJECT 3.4:

BOUNCY MIRROR REFLECT SUNLIGHT INTO DARK INSECURE SHORT CUTS.

Chelsea

Before: Project 3.1: Whitelegg Road

The blank wall alongside the railway makes an obvious physical and visual barrier. Random grass patches and parking areas exist alongside well cared-for private front gardens, implying an absence of communal care and responsibility - as do the underused garages.

Whitelegg Road

After:

Step-free access to Greenway, vertical planting or closely positioned shrubs, lighting and signage. The area should be treated as ‘stretched park’, with improved lines of sight and lighting, vertical planting on rail side or as a ripple site.

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45

Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse :Projects

3 . A s t r o n g p e d e s t r i a n link to Memorial Recreation Ground

Project 3.4:

Rudolph Road Homezone

muf / Arup

46

Urban Design Framework

The Response : Projects

4. Memorial Recreation Ground and its approaches

mosque

4

muf / Arup

Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse :Projects

4 . M e m o r i a l R e c r e a t i on Ground and its approaches

Naufil Shah 9 years: ‘In the park I would like to see more rides and activities...’ ‘tower to climb...path to tower...grassy fields...stone path... climbing frame...’

‘this would be suitable for an agegroup 6-12 below, must be supervised...’ (from Fluids consultation documents)

Project 4.3: Memorial Recreation Ground.

above: A pontoon of activities - position dependents on numbers and layout of pitches. below: Whole park with resource centre and proposed lighting, planting, play and paths.

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49

Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse :Projects

4 . M e m o r i a l R e c r e a t i on Ground and its approaches

Memorial Recreation Ground, with its vast expanses of rugby and football

Means:

pitches should not be viewed as a traditional park. It is at present used

-Create a new step-free access from the south of the Greenway to Memo-

sporadically on weekdays it can be completely empty. The entrances are

rial Recreation Ground, to form a sculptural, planted extension of the park

obscure - the perimeters are degraded and intimidating-exits. Its distin-

created with earthworks, with 7 metre fall to grade re-using bricks from

guishing characteristics are absence - the ornamental fountain the boat-

the demolished pavilion.

ing lake-the patches of removed benches - the chains which once held

-Embed ramped landscape with seating on the park side (for watching

swings. It is at the bottom of the LBN hierarchy for parks. Stolen bikes are

matches), and extend as a hard surface, wrapping around the Rugby

ridden, and excluded and truanting children meet there.

Club and connecting Holland Road and Memorial Avenue.

However, the range and quantity of people using it can increase - given

-Incorporate the cycle-route, planting, lighting and CCTV along its

a potentially enhanced role to the Rugby Club, the proposed Woodlands

length.

Resource Centre, addition of safer routes across it, more activities such

-We propose investigating options for 4 new gates across or along

as play and socialising, and the exploitation of the new resource centre

the Greenway, and the extension of the opening hours of Woodlands

and Rugby Club for informal surveillance.

Resource Centre.

The Framework awaits Newham's consultant’s findings on use of open spaces for sports. There is a series of outcomes dependent on these find-

(This has been discussed with Thames Water, who encourages propos-

ings: namely how many pitches are available for football games, and the

als that will increase accessibility and safety along the Greenway (day-

number of changing rooms that have to be provided.

time). Access for maintenance of services must be incorporated in the

muf’s proposals concentrate on making the recreation ground a place for

design.)

a variety of activities; making it higher on Newham’s hierarchy of care through increased investment, ensuring that there are clear entrances

PROJECT 4.2: RUGBY CLUB

and a planting and lighting strategy that has sufficient drama for a park of

Rationale:

this scale, whilst acknowledging its unique mix of activities.

The Rugby club has stated that they are willing to make more of a connection with the park. Because of this, we propose inclusion of facilities

:Priority Projects

within the club in overall strategies for Memorial Recreation Ground, including use of changing rooms for football teams, extension of potential club uses through extra parking provision, and improvements to the

PROJECT 4.1: RAMPING DOWN FROM THE GREENWAY

physical appearance of the club as part of the perimeter treatment of Memorial Recreation Ground.

Rationale: Narrow flights of stairs up to the Greenway from the park are insecure

PRINCIPLES

and uninviting.

We propose a secure, welcoming and fully accessible bridging of the

PUBLIC FACILITIES NEED PUBLIC FACES

Greenway. This could be one of the single most dramatic projects in the Framework proposals.

PUBLIC FACILITIES CAN GUARD PUBLIC SPACE: COMBAT VANDALISM AND NEGLECT BY CONCENTRATING INVEST-

PRINCIPLES

MENT WHERE IT CAN BE CHERISHED AND PROTECTED.

SAFE ACCESS = GREATER INHABITATION = GREATER SENSE

Means:

OF SECURITY

Extend hard landscaping extending from the Greenway ramp to include extra parking along railway.

INCREASED MOBILITY = GREATER INHABITATION = GREATER

New lighting to enhance and reveal club presence.

SENSE OF SECURITY

Explore possibilities for extending the Rugby Club to include further indoor sports facilities.

DECREASED SEGREGATION OF COMMUNITIES = GREATER NUMBERS IN PUBLIC SPACE = GREATER SENSE OF SECU-

PROJECT 4.3: MEMORIAL RECREATION GROUND

RITY

Rationale: Memorial Recreation Ground should be distinct in its own right, both as

VICE VERSA - GREATER NUMBERS IN PUBLIC SPACE =

a destination and a route. The success of any improvements is heavily

DECREASED SEGREGATION OF COMMUNITIES = GREATER

dependent on the realisation of the new resource centre, and a more

SENSE OF SECURITY

publicly active rugby club, good lighting, signage, paths and precisely

INCREASED USE BY A VARIETY OF GROUPS = INCREASED

positioned CCTV. Given that the majority of the Park cannot be disrupted

SECURITY = INCREASED INHABITATION

with planting, the view of the trains, and from the trains into the park is special to the site, and should be enhanced. Currently the fence around

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50

Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse :Projects

4 . M e m o r i a l R e c r e a t i on Ground and its approaches

We propose wrapping the perimeter of the park with ‘wallpaper’ planting,

in ‘memory’ will heighten the memorial in Memorial Recreation Ground.

as keeping close to the boundary both lessens the risk of muggings and

Other works will be the demolition of pavilion, a formal/ inviting gate, treat-

vandalism, and acknowledges that this is a recreation ground rather than

ment of pavement and parking rearrangement.

a formal park.

The proximity of the park is unclear when approaching from West Ham. The area around West Ham station is bleak and lines of sight to the park

:Additional Projects

are interrupted by the pavilion. We propose making the park a feature from the platform’s edge by reinforcing the route using lighting planting Opportunity and West Ham to Plaistow across the Park.

PROJECT 4.4: WEST HAM STATION STEP-FREE ACCESS AND LINK TO ARC OF OPPORTUNITY

There is, currently, a very understated entry into the park from Valerian

Rationale:

Way, which among other things will affect future access to the Resource

While the time-scale of the Arc of Opportunity might be outside the time

Centre. We propose viewing this entry as an extension to the Resource

frame of the NDC programme, the development of a new town square on

Centre, stretching from the street into the park, with play opportunities for

the west side of the track (part of the Arc of Opportunity), means there is

the children of Valerian Way. (fii).

a need for a ticket-free and step-free connection, either outside the under-

and signage, and so reinforce the route between the Newham Arc of

ground station or within a reorganised station.

PRINCIPLES PRINCIPLES INCREASED MOBILITY = GREATER INHABITATION = GREATER SENSE OF SECURITY

SAFE ACCESS = GREATER INHABITATION = GREATER SENSE

DECREASED SEGREGATION OF COMMUNITIES

OF SECURITY

= GREATER NUMBERS IN PUBLIC SPACE = GREATER SENSE OF SECURITY

INCREASED MOBILITY = GREATER INHABITATION = GREATER

VICE VERSA - GREATER NUMBERS IN PUBLIC SPACE

SENSE OF SECURITY

= DECREASED SEGREGATION OF COMMUNITIES = GREATER SENSE OF SECURITY

Means:

INCREASED USE BY A VARIETY OF GROUPS = INCREASED

Explore possiblities of a new lift/ramp/tunnel

SECURITY = INCREASED INHABITATION

-General: Plant Memorial Park perimeter with flowering, scented and

PROJECT 4.5: PAVEMENT WIDENING ON MANOR ROAD

highly coloured plants and reduce the density of existing overgrown plant-

The presence of the Mosque within the Arc of Opportunity site means

ing along edges.

that there are at present a great many people arrive once a week whose

-Install new gates.

sheer number results in them walking along the centre of the road which

-Install new CCTV.

is highly dangerous the footpath is narrow and given that this is likely to

-a. Form interconnecting networks of paths.

continue accommodation must be made for them.

Means:

-b. Make a 'pontoon' running across the park between games pitches, comprising play equipment, seating, large-scale ornamental and play sprinklers and planting (exact position depends on feedback from consultants report).

-c. Install feature lighting to perimeter edge.

-d. Plant new play-orchard south of the resource centre to include fenced toddler's play area.

-e. Fenced area for dogs toilets.

-fi. Entry from Memorial Avenue into Park.

-fii. Valerian Way/ link through Resource Centre into the park. -Hard surfacing, new gate, surface signage information, play equipment, seating,

‘It’s not that people may not be interested, but that there’s no effort to invite them

planting.

in.’

-g. New perimeter walls where necessary, and heavily planted banks of

(Nadia Milligan, re. parks)

the Greenway with new tree planting to reinforce the park's identity by defining its edge.

-Enhance views to the park form the platform at West Ham Station, using planting, large-scale signage and localised lighting. Planting trees

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51

Urban Design Framework muf/arup 5. Gainsborough and Grange Road

5

The Response: 7 - Projects

Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse :Projects

5 . G a i n s b o r o u g h a n d Grange Road.

This road has the potential to become a better cared-for and safer link

CENTRATE INVESTMENT WHERE IT CAN BE CHERISHED AND

between communities that are at the moment isolated. It is a dominant

PROTECTED.

east/west connection within the NDC area, and works as a through-road

GREATER NUMBERS IN PUBLIC SPACE = DECREASED SEG-

between Manor Road and Upper Road. As well as housing, there are

REGATION OF COMMUNITIES

various community amenities along this road: Gainsborough School, the

= GREATER SENSE OF SECURITY.

Hamilton Road Centre, the entrance to Memorial Recreation Ground,

CLEAR SENSE OF ORIENTATION = PEDESTRIAN CONFI-

shops, the entrance to East London Cemetery, and Hermit Park and new

DENCE = INCREASED MOBILITY =INCREASED INHABITATION.

residential development. Together they mean that this has the potential

PUBLIC FACILITIES NEED PUBLIC FACE

to be an important street in the NDC area.

The public housing opposite the Park entrance has open ‘court-yar’ spac-

Means:

es opening onto the street. A sense of who owns them and is responsible

-Introduction of traffic calming, including: speed tables and pinch-points

for them is unclear.

and a pedestrian crossing (note: some measures are being proposed as

Measures include making this a safer and more attractive route for

a result of the LBN safety audit)

pedestrians, road calming, forming pedestrian crossings, improving local-

-Design fees and small grants to upgrade 3 no. shop facades with open-

ised areas of pavement, planting and lighting along the perimeter edge of

work grilles, roller shutters and night lighting, treatment of external sur-

Gainsborough School/Hamilton Road Centre (including signage). Togeth-

faces, street furniture, planting and pavement treatment.

er, these proposals can give a public face to these public facilities.

-Give free plants and gardening support to residents for an agreed

The short cut to Pretoria Road is unmarked and considered a crime

period.

hotspot.

-Landscape the perimeter of housing to delineate boundary, and create

Generally degraded pavements, the exposed school, scars of old acts

semi-public territory to benefit the general public realm as well as the

of destruction, piles of bricks beside broken front garden walls, and the

housing. These may be possible sites for small scale development.

warped fences around the substation all mean that at present the road

-Restore listed railings.

does not convey the image of a street lined with amenities.

-Form 2 new areas of seating with feature lighting.

The school, Hamilton Road Centre and the cemetery manager have been

-Extend pavement with raised table as shared surface at entrance to

consulted: all are enthusiastic about being involved.

Memorial Recration Ground.

-Replace park gates to improve pedestrian, bicycle, wheel-chair and buggy access.

:Priority Projects:5.1, 5.2, 5.3

-Make large scale signage re-affirming the park's presence in the area.

-Benches, planting and lighting to park entrance area.

-Explore upgrading of substation and surroundings. Seek match funding from electricity supplier.

PROJECT 5.1: IMPROVEMENTS TO GAINSBOROUGH/GRANGE ROAD/ ENTRY INTO MEMORIAL PARK / SHORT CUT THROUGH HOUSING TO PRETORIA ROAD

PROJECT 5.2: GAINSBOROUGH SCHOOL AND HAMILTON ROAD CENTRE (RIPPLE SITE)

Rationale:

announcement of the Hamilton Road Centre and School's presence or

There is nothing to indicate or celebrate that you are entering a park from

celebration of its role serving the community. A potentially attractive build-

Grange Road. The semi-derelict substation underlines the forbidding

ing, it’s qualities are either overlooked or underplayed. It is worth noting

feeling of this way into the park. We aim to create a sense of welcome

that Liz Forgan of the Heritage Lottery Fund, has publicly stated that they

and arrival at the park.

are keen to find projects in Newham. The school and Centre are oppor-

The short cut through to Pretoria Road can feel safer by ensuring consist-

tunities to emphasise a landmark, giving a sense of orientation to routes

ent lighting and by upgrading of its pavement surface to match and small

around them. It is also a site where public realm improvements can be

scale improvements to the housing (e.g. play areas, a place to sit, plants

initiated under the guardianship of a public establishment.

and horticultural advice if supported by residents).

Our intention is that our proposals will make the school feel more defined

Rationale: The school grounds are currently very exposed to the street; there is no

and protected, and publicise the activities of the Hamilton Road Centre PRINCIPLES

as a focus for community use.

INCREASED MOBILITY = GREATER INHABITATION = GREATER SENSE OF SECURITY. PUBLIC FACILITIES, E.G. SHOPS AND HOUSING, CAN GUARD PUBLIC SPACE: COMBAT VANDALISM AND NEGLECT BY CON-

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53

Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse :Projects

5 . G a i n s b o r o u g h a n d Grange Road.

PRINCIPLES

to entry points with a minimum of 3 new gates.

Pavements are to be widened and given new surfacing.

CLEAR SENSE OF ORIENTATION = PEDESTRIAN CONFI-

New planting and lighting to perimeter of park.

DENCE = INCREASED MOBILITY = INCREASED INHABITATION PUBLIC FACILITIES NEED PUBLIC FACES

PROJECT 5.6: GRANGE SCHOOL (RIPPLE SITE)

PUBLIC FACILITIES CAN GUARD PUBLIC SPACE: COMBAT

Invest in its external boundary - see Portway School Project 1.3.

VANDALISM AND NEGLECT BY CONCENTRATING INVESTMENT WHERE IT CAN BE CHERISHED AND PROTECTED.

Means:

:Additional Projects

-Restoration of the listed railings. Explore possible English Heritage funds ration of Hamilton Road Centre. -New feature lighting and planting within

PROJECT 5.4: FOOTBRIDGE ACROSS MANOR ROAD

the purlieu of the school, to be placed along perimeter edge so that the

Rationale:

pavement can get the benefit as well.

The footbridge is a key link in the route to the Arc of Opportunity. We aim

-New seating and play equipment for school and seating for the centre:

to make this safer and less inviting for vandalism.

towards restoration of railings and/or Heritage Lottery Fund for the resto-

there is the potential for elements such as floor tiles could be made by the artists who use the studios.

PRINCIPLES

-New signage and information system for the school and Centre, in particular to publicise the presence of the activities taking place inside.

SAFE ACCESS = GREATER INHABITATION = GREATER SENSE OF SECURITY

PROJECT 5.3: HERMIT PARK Rationale:

INCREASED MOBILITY = GREATER INHABITATION = GREATER

The adjacent site is to be developed as luxury apartments which, along

SENSE OF SECURITY

with the Arc in the Park, would give the park 24 hour informal surveillance.

This means that Hermit Park could be viewed as one of the semi-public

CLEAR SENSE OF ORIENTATION = PEDESTRIAN CONFI-

ripple projects. It has the prospect of becoming a richly packed park for

DENCE = INCREASED MOBILITY =INCREASED INHABITATION

play. Existing initiatives include Arc in the Park - a new supervised play area by Planet Earth, SureStart funded playgrounds and drop-in centre,

Means:

and a Section 106-funded all-weather pitch.

New lighting.

We propose organising the different initiatives so that they sit together,

New signage.

and also design places for carers and older people to sit. Relations to

Lightweight transparent enclosure to stop the throwing of rocks onto cars

projects on Grange road North of the park and the green links South to

below.

Barking Road. New routes into and through the park should be considered.

PRINCIPLES

PROJECT 5.5: ALL EAST/WEST STREETS OFF MANOR ROAD (See Signage Strategy)

Rationale: PUBLIC FACILITIES NEED PUBLIC FACES

PUBLIC FACILITIES CAN GUARD PUBLIC SPACE: COMBAT

Manor Road is uninviting to pedestrian movement to the east or west.

PRINCIPLES

VANDALISM AND NEGLECT BY CONCENTRATING INVESTMENT WHERE IT CAN BE CHERISHED AND PROTECTED

INCREASED MOBILITY = GREATER INHABITATION = GREATER SENSE OF SECURITY

ROUTES: UNDERLINE AND MAKE ACCESSIBILE MULTIPLICITIES OF ROUTES TO ELIMINATE NEIGHBOURHOOD 'BUB-

CLEAR SENSE OF ORIENTATION

BLES', AND GET MOVEMENT GOING

= PEDESTRIAN CONFI TION

CLEAR SENSE OF ORIENTATION = PEDESTRIAN CONFIDENCE = INCREASED MOBILITY = INCREASED INHABITATION

Means: Raise lighting levels.

Means:

Additional new feature lighting.

A number of new routes will be made into and through the park leading

Position new signage to encourage movement east into NDC area.

muf / Arup

54

Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse :Projects

5 . G a i n s b o r o u g h a n d Grange Road.

PROJECT 5.7: GRANGE SCHOOL (RIPPLE SITE) Invest in external boundary - see Portway scool Project 1.3

PROJECT 5.7: GRANGE ROAD/ WHITWELL ROAD Rationale: There is a lack of legibility along routes, offering no clear idea of a destination. Clear signage will improve access to the Balaam Road Leisure Centre just outside the NDC area.

PRINCIPLE CLEAR SENSE OF ORIENTATION = PEDESTRIAN CONFIDENCE = INCREASED MOBILITY =INCREASED INHABITATION

Means: New signage.

- You press the button and the showers come on and you can stand underneath, they’re along the street. There’s no problem with us having that here, it’s not a massive expense, and I don’t think that people would readily vandalise that, because that’s the sort of thing that’s quite [unclear] as you can see by the sprinklers.

Before

Project 5.1 - Grange Road Housing route to Pretoria Road. (Underused open spaces, degraded perimeter walls) After

Small scale improvements.

Play -place to sit - planting - gardening support (with residents involvement)

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55

Urban Design Framework muf/arup 6. Cranberry

6

The Response: 7 - Projects

Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse :Projects

6. Cranberry

At the moment, Cranberry is isolated from the rest of the NDC. Recently,

PRINCIPLES

a successful bid has allocated Cranberry funds to create a Home Zone (a residential area where pedestrians take priority over cars). The external

DECREASED SEGREGATION OF COMMUNITIES = GREATER

spaces will be designed to accommodate the large numbers of young

NUMBERS IN PUBLIC SPACE

children and cars and make the street a social space. The proposals

= GREATER SENSE OF SECURITY

include a securely lit footpath to Hilda Road and a possible children's play area.

AND VICE VERSA - GREATER NUMBERS IN PUBLIC SPACE =

The projects listed below form elements of a scheme currently being

DECREASED SEGREGATION OF COMMUNITIES = GREATER

developed by muf/Arup and LBN environment team.

SENSE OF SECURITY

:Priority Projects

SAFE ACCESS = GREATER INHABITATION = GREATER SENSE OF SECURITY

PROJECT 6.1: CRANBERRY AREA

Means:

Rationale:

Demolish wall.

The Cranberry area is bordered by the Eastlea School, and is the most

Encourage short-cut route by extending new paving, lighting, vertgical

landlocked of all the estates in the area. The communal external spaces

planting in harmony with adjacent proposals.

of the housing are both poor quality and underused. However, the comable to become a home zone, including allocated parking, which would

PROJECT 6.3: A NEW PEDESTRIAN LINK NORTH/ SOUTH

allow the immediate territory outside your front door to be a social space,

Rationale:

especially for children and older people. We hope that this will increase

Cranberry's single vehicular entry point further contributes to its segrega-

pedestrian movement through the area to make streets safer and more

tion. There is a belief amongst residents in Cranberry that a link to the

social places.

north would create social problems because of difference in cultures, life-

bination of very small flats and a large number of children make it suit-

style and beliefs between the two communities. Our consultation appears PRINCIPLES

to confirm this - see for example remarks by Eric Samuel. Our proposals intend to create new pedestrian links to community facilities and other

SAFE ACCESS = GREATER INHABITATION = GREATER SENSE OF SECURITY

INCREASED MOBILITY = GREATER INHABITATION

amenities north of the area, while maintaining a sense of secure community within the Cranberry area.

PRINCIPLES

= GREATER SENSE OF SECURITY INCREASED MOBILITY = GREATER INHABITATION = GREATER DECREASED SEGREGATION OF COMMUNITIES = GREATER

SENSE OF SECURITY

NUMBERS IN PUBLIC SPACE = GREATER SENSE OF SECURITY

SAFE ACCESS = GREATER INHABITATION = GREATER SENSE OF SECURITY

VICE VERSA - GREATER NUMBERS IN PUBLIC SPACE = DECREASED SEGREGATION OF COMMUNITIES

Means:

= GREATER SENSE OF SECURITY

This would necessitate the demolition of a house it should be viewed as a project for the more distant future.

Means: Implement the Home Zone Scheme designed by muf and Arup with Newham Enviroment team

PROJECT 6.4: PATHWAY ACROSS EASTLEA PLAYING FIELDS Rationale:

PROJECT 6.2: DEMOLITION OF WALL CONNECTING CRANBERRY LANE TO VERBENA CLOSE Rationale:

refer to Eastlea School Project Area 7.

PRINCIPLES

The closed off character of Cranberry is aggravated by the fact that a natural connecting route is currently blocked by a 6 feet tall wall, making

DECREASED SEGREGATION OF COMMUNITIES = GREATER

for immobility, insecurity and the opposite of pleasure. Brave residents

NUMBERS IN PUBLIC SPACE

currently scale this. This proposal creates improved and safer access to

= GREATER SENSE OF SECURITY

facilities, as well as between neighbouring streets.

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57

Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse :Projects

6. Cranberry

ROUTES: UNDERLINE AND MAKE ACCESSIBILE MULTIPLICI-

there’s a hard court just here, this part of the school, and I’m really surprised

TIES OF ROUTES TO ELIMINATE NEIGHBOURHOOD 'BUB-

that the NDC, they have not developed… they have done this at the other school

BLES', AND GET MOVEMENT GOING - PARTICULARLY OF

at Gainsborough, this should be developed as a multi-purpose sports/playing area

PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLES

for the estate and the school, so the school can use it in the day and estate can use it in the night. if we have like a hard court or a basketball court, multi-purpose

Means:

where the kids could still… because all of them are into their basketball. The kids

Form new lockable pathway between Cranberry Lane and Hilda Road.

could play their basketball, there could be football as well, because you have the

Use lighting, planting and CCTV to make the path both safe and pleasur-

floodlights, it’s used for football now anyway. So you have the floodlights, and

able.

then perhaps we could put some little swings there, a little area… just block off

This project should be implemented in partnership with Eastlea develop-

an area in the corner for the toddlers, so the toddlers could have their own place

ment plans.

where they could run…Eric Samuel

PROJECT 6.5: PLAYGROUND Due to the number of children living in Cranberry and the size and overcrowding in the accommodation, a playground is proposed for Cranberry.

This would be integrated into the Home zone treatment.

:Additional Projects

- people don’t use the car parks because they don’t feel safe, the lack of lighting etc., so people are parking on the pavement as you can see. Eric Samuel

“This estate here, you see, this is the stronghold of the British National Party in Newham, and thereís a high concentration of ethnic people [around]. And here I am speaking for one of them. They want nothing to do with that estate. If you make a pathway through there, what we fear as an ethnic person, we fear youíre

ADDITIONAL PROJECT 6.6: ARCHES

then going to give these people, the British National Party, easy access to put

Rationale:

literature through”

There are a number of empty arches alongside the Cranberry Lane

(Eric Samuel, re. link to Gobold Road)

Some members of Cranberry wish to use them as possible locations for a food coop and a laundrette equipped with public telephone.

Project 6.2:

Demolition of wall creates new pedestrian link to Verbena Close. The back gardens can be appreciated as quit enclosures.

Project 6.1:

Cranberry Homezone. Traffic calming, planting, seating and play facilites create social spaces on the streets.

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Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse :Projects

6. Cranberry

Project 6.1:

Cranberry Homezone.

Projetc 7.2: Ripple Site, Eastlea School and Cranberry Estate Public facilities can guard public space. Lighting and planting within the boundary of the school - but passer by benefits.

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Urban Design Framework muf/arup 7. Eastlea School, Exering Road and Pretoria Road

7

The Response: 7 - Projects

Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse :Projects

7 . E a s t l e a S c h o o l , E x ering Road and Pretoria Road

Exering and Pretoria Road have the potential to form an important north-

a barrier to movement, and sits boundaries do not contribute to the streets

south link from Grange Road via the short cut through the flats south.

they border.

At present, the streetscape is extremely degraded and bleak, and has

It is important that Eastlea School enhances its external facilities, in

no planting. However, it links Memorial and Star Parks; and it is our pro-

order to improve learning and discourage pupils from leaving the school

posal that Exering and Pretoria Roads form a new 'green' link, which will

grounds at break-times, given the real fear of vandalism from a minority

connect the two parks and make a link south to Canning Town and the

of pupils within the neighbouring area.

emerging facilities including Sainsbury.

A new footpath connecting Cranberry to Hilda Road, described above, will

This involves the localized widening and renewal of pavements and plant-

lessen the effect of the school as a barrier to movement (this has been

ing, the landscaping of the entire area around the entrance to Eastlea

incorporated into the schools development plan).

School and the selection of sites for vertical planting.

The area around the school and particularly along the Eastern perimeter

This route passes along side the school fences and the large open and

is bleak, and pedestrian access is combined with vehicular. The road is

underused spaces around the entrance to Eastlea School.

unnecessarily wide.

We propose the entire area should be landscaped as a public shared

:Priority Projects

ground between the school to one side, and the housing to the other. The treatment could be in part be carried through to the external areas of the school itself.

PROJECT 7.1: GREEN LINK SOUTH TO CANNING TOWN

The perimeter boundaries will be planted from the school side; the exter-

Rationale:

for seating, allowing both summertime study and socialising. Our propos-

The Borough Audit shows the lack of tree planting to the southern end

als exploit the supervision afforded by the school, create potential bridges

of the NDC area. The route through the public sector housing is a well-

to education for adult learners and increase the possibilities of community

used route south to Barking Road: we propose that this route should pass

use of the playing fields.

nal areas to the adult education spaces should be considered as a place

through a new landscaped treatment to the area around Eastlea School.

Our intention is to make safe, legible North/South routes, to extend some

PRINCIPLES

tree planting and verticle planting and to replace, renew and augment existing planting, while maintaining and enchancing a sense of security.

PUBLIC FACILITIES NEED PUBLIC FACES PUBLIC FACILITIES CAN GUARD PUBLIC SPACE: COMBAT

PRINCIPLES

VANDALISM AND NEGLECT BY CONCENTRATING INVESTMENT WHERE IT CAN BE CHERISHED AND PROTECTED.

CLEAR SENSE OF ORIENTATION = PEDESTRIAN CONFI-

INCREASED USE BY A VARIETY OF GROUPS = INCREASED

DENCE = INCREASED MOBILITY = INCREASED INHABITATION

SECURITY = INCREASED INHABITATION UNDERLINE AND MAKE ACCESSIBILE MULTIPLICITIES OF

SAFE ACCESS = GREATER INHABITATION = GREATER SENSE

ROUTES TO ELIMINATE NEIGHBOURHOOD 'BUBBLES', AND

OF SECURITY

GET MOVEMENT GOING - PARTICULARLY OF PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLES

Means: New paving to one side of Pretoria and Exning Road.

Means:

New planting and additional feature lighting and surface treatment.

Treat entire area between school and housing as an important

New signs in the form of large-scale terrazzo panels to make routes leg-

potential social space: expand pavement frontage, including new hard

ible.

landscaping and vertical planting.

New planting and additional feature lighting and surface treatment.

New lighting, planting and seating to the perimeter edges of Eastlea

Give free plants and gardening support to residents for an agreed peri-

School.

od.

New lighting to the perimeter edges of playing fields.

PROJECT 7.2: EASTLEA COMMUNITY SCHOOL AND EASTLEA EDUCATION/TRAINING CENTRE (RIPPLE SITE) (*NOTE: SEE DEVELOPMENT PLAN BY APT) Rationale: Like Portway, and Gainsborough, Eastlea School is one of the main 'ripple' sites proposed.

Eastlea school is a community school with ambitious development plans to expand its role in the area. At the moment, though, the school acts as

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7 . E a s t l e a S c h o o l , E x ering Road and Pretoria Road

:Additional Projects PROJECT 7.3 : STEPHENSON ROAD/ OFF MANOR ROAD Rationale: Access for large vehicle deliveries is not well defined: we propose the introduction of clear signage.

PRINCIPLE INCREASED MOBILITY = GREATER INHABITATION = GREATER

Before: Project 7.1: Exing Road.

SENSE OF SECURITY

There a r e

Means: New lighting.

New large scale signage.

PROJECT 7.4 : LADY SMITH ROAD Rationale: Lack of legibility, and no clear idea of a destination along route to Hermit Road and Hermit Park. Our proposal intends to improve access to the park and bus stops.

PRINCIPLES

After: Green Link South to Canning Town.

CLEAR SENSE OF ORIENTATION = PEDESTRIAN CONFIDENCE

Vertical planting against flank wallsand overhanging ‘residents plants’ links the

= INCREASED MOBILITY=INCREASED INHABITATION

school to Star Park. Redused radius in junctions and pale paving stones.

SAFE ACCESS = GREATER INHABITATION = GREATER SENSE OF SECURITY INCREASED MOBILITY = GREATER INHABITATION = GREATER SENSE OF SECURITY

Means: New signage.

New planting.

Localised pavement improvements.

PROJECT 7.5 : KIMBERLY ROAD Rationale:

Before

Lack of legibility and no clear idea of a destination along route to Hermit

Project 7.2 - RIPPLE SITE. There is a vast area of underused degraded ‘left over’

Road and Hermit Park. Our proposal intends to improve access to the

space around the entrance to Eastlea School and the housing

park and bus stops.

PRINCIPLES CLEAR SENSE OF ORIENTATION = PEDESTRIAN CONFIDENCE = INCREASED MOBILITY = INCREASED INHABITATION SAFE ACCESS = GREATER INHABITATION = GREATER SENSE OF SECURITY INCREASED MOBILITY = GREATER INHABITATION = GREATER SENSE OF SECURITY

Means: New signage.

New planting.

After

Localised new pavement treatment

Give a single treatment as a shared public space.

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Urban Design Framework

The Response : Projects

8. Star Park and Star Lane

8

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T h e R e sponse :Projects

8 . S t ar P a r k a n d S t a r Lane - (Priority Project although outside the NDC area)

Star Park is not strictly within the NDC area but it is potentially an impor-

sion/ maintenance to the surroundings.

tant resource.

Our suggestions for the park include youth provision, flood lighting, a

PRINCIPLES

new community garden with play area for younger children, and new path structure.

PUBLIC FACILITIES NEED PUBLIC FACES

:Priority Projects

PUBLIC FACILITIES CAN GUARD PUBLIC SPACE: COMBAT VANDALISM AND NEGLECT BY CONCENTRATING INVESTMENT

PROJECT 8.1: STAR PARK

WHERE IT CAN BE CHERISHED AND PROTECTED

Rationale: This park is just outside the NDC area, but is an important resource for

MULTIPLICITIES OF USE = INCREASED USE BY A VARIETY OF

Eastlea residents. New fencing has secured the site, but now the park

GROUPS = INCREASED SECURITY = INCREASED INHABITA-

needs activities and planting to protect it. It is an important component in

TION

increasing the choice of routes south to Canning Town. There is an empty pub which borders the site. If the pub is developed (which is probable),

Means:

it will add to the sense of security for this park - as will the inclusion of a

Introduce additional planting to the Medical Centre boundary to continue

community garden to its most western edge. A study of the sports ground

the vertical planting of the Eastlea Resource Centre.

provision has been commissioned by LBN, which is due for completion

Explore with the Medical Centre the possibility of the garden itself to

in April 2002. A community garden has been mooted along with upgrad-

develop into an external waiting room, summer play space and mini com-

ing thefootball pitch and changing rooms, to form part of general leisure

munity health garden.

facilities in the borough and for local residents. There was considerable

Explore opportunities for Rawalpindi House residents involvement in gar-

consultation completed concerning the park by Canning Town SRB which

dening.

highlighted concerns and desires. Our proposals seek to find a clear and diversity of uses including further youth provision, to be a star in Star

PROJECT 8.3: EASTLEA RESOURCE CENTRE TRAINING/EDUCATION RESOURCES

Park.

(*Note: see development plans by EGER architects)

identity for this park, and to increase a sense of security, level of activity

Rationale: PRINCIPLES

We should ensure that pavement treatment ties in with other examples of widening of pavements in front of community buildings within the

PUBLIC FACILITIES NEED PUBLIC FACES

NDC. Vertical planting of the Eastlea Resource Centre should assist the boundary treatment of Star Lane Medical Centre to give the sense that

MULTIPLICITIES OF USE = INCREASED USE BY A VARIETY OF

concerted change is underway in the area.

GROUPS = INCREASED SECURITY = INCREASED INHABITATION

Means:

PRINCIPLES PUBLIC FACILITIES NEED PUBLIC FACES

-Community garden - could link to horticultural training.

-Youth provision: small skate/BMX facility, to form one of a trail of youth

PUBLIC FACILITIES CAN GUARD PUBLIC SPACE: COMBAT

provision throughout the NDC area down to Canning Town (see report

VANDALISM AND NEGLECT BY CONCENTRATING INVESTMENT

Youth Provision).

WHERE IT CAN BE CHERISHED AND PROTECTED

-Themed planting and lighting.

-Toddlers playground

Means:

-Improved lighting

New localised pavement surfaces New planting

PROJECT 8.2: STAR LANE MEDICAL CENTRE/ RAWALPINDI HOUSE (RIPPLE SITE) Rationale:

PROJECT 8.4: STAR PRIMARY SCHOOL (RIPPLE SITE)

Star Lane Medical Centre is a new building which includes a grass lawn

Rationale:

behind a high fence: planting and play surface is now in place. In the

Star School has an extensive frontage which is an important East/West

light of current thinking about primary care, these areas may actively

route for pedestrians and cars. Together with the Park it can be seen as

complement the health centre, for example in helping with the treatment

a ‘green link’. Investment in the school boundary will give benefits to the

of depression with exercise and gardening.

pedestrian and the school.

The elderly people at Rawalpindi House could offer a sense of supervi-

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8 . S t ar P a r k a n d S t a r Lane - (Priority Project although outside the NDC area)

PRINCIPLES PUBLIC FACILITIES NEED PUBLIC FACES ’- Since we’ve had a pitch marked out there and we use it on a regular basis, it’s

PUBLIC FACILITIES CAN GUARD PUBLIC SPACE: COMBAT

made a big difference in the area. Talking to the local community they’ve said it’s

VANDALISM AND NEGLECT BY CONCENTRATING INVEST-

made a massive difference. We had one car… I’ve seen one car on there in 18

MENT WHERE IT CAN BE CHERISHED AND PROTECTED

months that’s been dumped on there. There may well have been more, but I’ve only actually seen one myself on there. ’

Means:

Gerry Diver, Ironworks

The school has mature trees along its boundary at present, but it would benefit from measures such as feature lighting and other initiatives of Ripple Site Projects such as ‘edible playgrounds’ - see landscape techniques and illustrations in main report.

PROJECT 8.5: STAR LANE/ HERMIT ROAD Rationale: This road connects Hermit Park to Canning Town, and across the NDC border. It has the potential to become a more active streetscape focused around shops and bus-stops.

We propose considering Star Lane/Hermit Road as ‘green links’ between parks, and to form planting, social spaces alongside existing facilities,

‘To be picked up on a CCTV camera, your lux reading would have to be 18. The

and to increase the sense of security through additional feature lighting.

lux reading out there at eleven o’clock at night is 0.4 and 0.1. So it wouldn’t mat-

The priority is to improve the localised area directly outside shops with

ter how much CCTV you had up, there’s not enough lighting to see anybody. So

the measures listed below.

people don’t use it.’

(Paul Schafer)

Means: -Support shops in the upgrading of facades and the introduction of late night lighting.

-Introduce new pavement treatments.

-Introduce new high-quality street furniture.

-Introduce new localized treatment of external surfaces.

-Form new signs to replaced degraded floorscape or perimeter walls.

-Improve bus-stop waiting areas -Landscape the perimeter of housing to underline public territory and boundary.

-Give free plants and gardening support to residents for an agreed period.

Star Park

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9 . S i g n a g e S t r a t e g y P riority Project

We propose a general signage strategy

to describe routes, existing

activities and signal points of entry into the NDC area.

The signage strategy combines text and pictogram signage (information) and lighting to signal routes into and within the NDC area.

We propose that all signage should be seen as integral to the enhancement of the streetscape. This means signage should avoid the idiom of ‘add on, bolt on’ fingerposts and signage columns. The NDC area does not need street clutter. Rather terrazzo panels set into the pavement could replace a pot hole, and wall panels could replace a broken down fence. Signage should identify the main destinations (including bus stops, underground and parks).

above: terazzo sign in bench

See main report for illustrations of this.

below:Terazzo signs in pavement

We also propose that signage should be devised to signal activities rather than just the location of activity in order to give transparency to existing and new amenities in the area, and counter the assumption that there is at the moment no provision at all. An example might be ‘dance, art, photo, theatre, keep fit’ rather than just Hamilton Road Centre.

Lighting can be used to highlight destinations e.g. routes east along Manor Road. By lighting the entry points into the NDC, the pedestrian walking from West Ham Tube can have a sense of the next exit point.

This is an example of publicising the NDC area, whilst increasing a sense of security.

The signage strategy should be coordinated with the new digital map being developed by the NDC so that the virtual and physical graphic language coincides.

The signage strategy would be best initiated with a pilot project to allow modification of the design through feedback during use.

Light sign signal activities and illuminates facade/ entry

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Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

T h e R e sponse : C o s t / B enefit Appraisal

Contents

Newham NDC Urban Design Framework Cost/Benefit Appraisal

March 2002

:CONTENTS Page 1.

PROJECT APPRAISAL 1.1 Methodology 1.2 Benefits 1.3 Capital Costs 1.4 Results N e w h a m N e w D e a l f o r Communities

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69 70 71 72

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T h e R e sponse : C o s t / B enefit Appraisal

1.1 Methodology

2 – CONTRIBUTES SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE CRITERION

The method used to evaluate the Urban Design Strategy allows projects

1 – PROVIDES SOME CONTRIBUTION TO THE CRITERION

to be prioritised according to the aspirations of local residents and the

0 – FAILS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE CRITERION

objectives of the New Deal for Communities (NDC) Delivery Plan. It takes account of the capital costs of projects to allow a benefit/cost assessment

Each criterion score was then multiplied by its weighting to provide a

to be made.

weighted criterion score. The sum of a package’s weighted criteria scores

1.1.1 The Packages In addressing the needs and wants of the NDC and the local community

gives its overall benefit score. Dividing the score by the projected capital cost provides a benefit/cost ratio, which is then ranked to finally provide a

a combination of proposed projects was developed representing the de

list of packages in order of greatest benefit delivered for least cost.

minimis package that would need to be undertaken. In other words the

The final step in the process was to establish how much of the list of

de minimis package comprises those projects that should be undertaken

packages could be undertaken within the constraint of the limited funding

before any other projects should even be considered; they act as the

available.

foundation upon which all other proposed projects will depend for their success. The de minimis package comprises the following projects:

1.1.3 Criteria Criteria used to assess packages were developed by adding an additional

-

1.3 Improvements to perimeter of Portway School

two criteria addressing the benefits of encouraging inter-area movement

-

2.1 Lettsom Walk and footbridge across railway to Grasmere Road

(generally on the north/south axis) and intra-area movement (providing

-

2.4 Step-free secure access from Plaistow Rd to Rudolph Rd and

linkages outside the NDC area).to the Delivery Plan’s five core criteria

Memorial Park

were The assessment criteria therefore comprised the following:

-

3.1 Whitelegg Road

-

4.1 Ramping down from the Greenway

-

5.1 Improvements to Gainsborough/Grange Road

-

5.2 Gainsborough School & Hamilton Road Centre

-

5.5 Grange School

-

7.1 Green link south to Canning Town

-

7.2 Eastlea School & Community Centre

-

8.2 Star Lane Medical Centre

-

8.4 Star Primary School

-

9.1 Road Signage

CRIME ENVIRONMENT & SOCIAL ECONOMY EDUCATION HEALTH INTER-AREA EFFECTS INTRA-AREA EFFECTS

Any funding remaining after allocation to implementation of the de minimis package would then be used to implement other identified packages of projects.

It is assumed that each individual package will comprise a complementary set of projects providing an integrated range of benefits and that all projects within the package would need to be completed if the package is to be successful. The objective of the project appraisal process is therefore to establish which of these additional packages should be given priority of implementation due to their higher perceived benefits and given the constraint of limited capital funding.

1.1.2 Process The criteria used to appraise each package in terms of its perceived benefits were derived from the NDC Delivery Plan and an analysis of the community consultation work. The community consultation process provided a basis for establishing the relative importance of the assessment criteria.

Crime was identified as the most important criterion. All other criteria were then evaluated as to their importance relative to the crime criterion to provide relative weightings.

Each package was then assessed as to the extent of its ability to meet each of the criteria and a criterion score allocated as follows:

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Project Appraisal

1.2 Benefits

1.2.6 Package 6 – Cranberry

Table 1 below shows the results of the scoring process. The Relative

The Cranberry package has been awarded funding as a Home Zone and

Scores column shows how each criterion has been scored relative to the

is therefore not included in the comparative analysis.

Crime criterion. This is as a result of an analysis of the community consultation process. For the purposes of the analysis the de minimis package

1.2.7 Package 7 – Eastlea School, Exning & Pretoria Roads

is assumed to achieve maximum score in each of the criteria.

(de minimis package) Environment and social are addressed through planting and creation of

1.2.1 Package 1 – North Plaistow Area

public spaces focused around Eastlea School. Good inter- and intra-area

Crime is addressed through enhanced feeling of security through improved

links through opening up access north/south and into the Canning Town

lines of sight. Environment & social interplay encouraged through play

area.

areas, seating and added plantings. Education particularly targeted by focusing on Portway School as a ripple site. Work to roads and pavements

1.2.8 Package 8 – Star Park and Star Lane

encourage movement within the area.

Strong educational and health benefits together with some crime benefit through increased access. Encourages inter- and intra-area links. Envi-

1.2.2 Package 2 – Plaistow Road

ronment and social are addressed through planting and creation of public

Focused on Plaistow Road, package 2 addresses crime through the

spaces focused around Star Primary School.

introduction of limited CCTV, environment & social by improving the quality of public spaces and limited health through improving links to North Plaistow Community Resource Centre. Both Inter- and Intra-area access is improved.

1.2.3 Package 3 – Memorial Park Pedestrian Link Crime is a focus with installation of CCTV along whole route. Limited environmental & social through improvement in plantings and “extended park” concept. Inter- and Intra-area links much improved.

1.2.4 Package 4 – Memorial Park Recreation Ground Good crime prevention through extensive use of CCTV to address wellknown crime hot spot. Strong environmental and social benefits from integrating the Rugby Club facilities into the Park and improving the attractiveness of the Park. Much improved access between north and south areas of NDC areas. Some inter-area benefits due to enhanced attractiveness of the Park.

1.2.5 Package 5 – Gainsborough & Grange Roads.

Improved lighting improves sense of security. Good intra-area benefits with improved access to Hermit Park and upgrading Gainsborough and Grange roads. Integrating Gainsborough School provides some educational benefits together with access to Arc-in-the-Park.

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Project Appraisal

1.3 Capital Costs The capital costs shown in Table 2 below are an estimated order of construction cost for the work defined in the Architects outline specification and drawing. Where possible costs have been established by taking off approximate quantities and applying rates from similar projects elsewhere. In many cases, however, the costs are based on an assessment rather than on any detailed calculation. Since the design is only at a concept stage few details exist and much investigation and design is required to establish a realistic actual cost for each element of the proposed works. However since all the elements have been priced on the same basis the costs serve the purpose of establishing priorities against the budget.

The costs are current (1Q/2002) capital construction costs i.e. the monies payable to the construction contractor. They exclude VAT, fees, land costs, compensation costs, client costs. Where work in streets is envisaged the costs include an element of work to services. They do not include for major service diversions or new services except where required for lighting and security installations. Operating and maintenance costs are also excluded.

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Project Appraisal

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Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

A p p e n d ices :Transport Report

R e v i e w o f Av a i l a b l e Data

This report provides an analysis of transport and movement in the West

particular note are the following:

Ham and North Plaistow New Deal for Communities (NDC) Area. The aim of the report is to outline the current situation and identify the main issues

The Council is keen to progress with the introduction of Controlled Park-

in the area. This analysis provides the basis for the formulation of overall

ing Zones, one of which is proposed for the area around Plaistow station.

design principles and aspirations for the Urban Design Framework and

Proposed funding in 2002/3 would enable the authority to carry out a

will guide the development of the Framework’s strategy and proposals in

review, initial design and consultation to assess support for the new zone

stage 2 of the study.

which would aim to eliminate commuter parking. This study is expected

: R e v i e w o f Av a i l a b l e D a t a

to cost £10,000.

The Council has received £58,000 to carry out a ‘Safer Routes to School’ project in the NDC area. This will concentrate on road safety, education,

Introduction

training and publicity, and pre-driver education and training. The project will cover six schools comprising a total of 2,800 pupils.

In order to establish what the current situation is in terms of movement

Among the small-scale bus infrastructure improvements proposed from

and transport in the NDC area a review of available data was undertaken.

2002 onwards is the proposal to relocate the bus stop outside West Ham

The Interim Local Implementation Plan (ILIP) 2002/3, produced by Lon-

Station in Manor Road to stop it from interfering with the junction of memo-

don Borough of Newham, was the primary source of information. This

rial Avenue. This is expected to cost £5,000.

provided information on: current transport policy in the Borough; exist-

As part of the London Bus Initiative, it is proposed that bus route 115 along

ing transport networks; and, proposals for future transport investment

Barking Road will be improved in the period 2001/2.

in the Borough and, specifically, for the NDC area. This information was

The ILIP proposes improvements to the Greenway to take place in

supported by more detailed information supplied by Borough officers. A

2004/5.

review of NDC proposals to alter parts of the NDC area was also under-

Expansion of the Newham Cycle Network is also proposed between 2002

taken by PRP Architects.

and 2007.

LB Newham Transport Strategy

PRP Architects Scheme for Brooks Estate Area

The ILIP document describes LB Newham’s transport policies and strat-

An initial review of the Brooks Estate proposals, developed by PRP Archi-

egy for Newham including the NDC area. The over-arching objective

tects on behalf of LB Newham's Housing Department, has been made as

of the Borough’s transport policy is, “to support the Council’s vision by

part of the Stage 1 study of the Newham NDC Design Framework.

facilitating access and by improving the movement of people and goods around the borough in a convenient, efficient, safe and environmentally-

The Brooks Estate, primarily residential in character, is located at the

friendly manner” (LB Newham ILIP 2002/3, p.5).

northern end of the NDC area. In transport terms, the estate is characterised by the lack of clear, legible pedestrian connections with the nearby

Of particular relevance to the NDC area and to the Urban Design Frame-

Plaistow Station. In its current state, the area also lacks clarity in its streets

work are the following specific objectives to:

and road pattern.

•

encourage modal transfer away from the private motor car;

PRP's proposals include treatment that redefines the roads within the

•

improve reliability and journey times;

estate in terms of streets, shared surfaces/communal spaces and home

•

fair and appropriate allocation of road space;

zones. Two home zones are proposed. However, these are considered

•

promote and assist integration of transport modes;

too small in extent to provide effective remedial measures to the lack of

•

create a street environment that is welcoming and

clarity in the road pattern. In contrast, the Council's current bid to create

inviting to pedestrians;

two home zones in the Rudolph Road area and the Cranberry estate,

•

reduce danger;

involve much larger communities, both in terms of number of households

•

ensure adequate parking for shops, residents and visitors.

and extent of geographical areas.

The NDC Design Framework embraces these objectives as outlined

An important element of the Brooks Estate proposals is the introduction

above.

of a shared pedestrian/cycle and vehicular route running east-west on the south side of the estate and parallel to the existing rail line. The purpose

LB Newham Implementation Transport Proposals

of the proposed treatment is to encourage pedestrian movement between

and Programme

the estate and Plaistow Station and thus provide a much needed remedy to the lack of legibility identified above. Access for mobility impaired

The implementation and work programme contained within the ILIP

pedestrian users is unattractive and will need to be addressed as part of

includes several proposals for work that would be undertaken within the

the NDC Design Framework and LUL's proposals for step-free access in

plan period and which would impact upon transport in the NDC area. Of

the area.

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Tr a n s p o r t a n d M o v e m ent Analysis

: Tr a n s p o r t a n d M o v e m e n t A n a l y s i s Introduction This section describes and assesses the current transport provision in the NDC area. It aims to identify the issues regarding transport and provides a starting point for the formulation of objectives and strategy elements that address these issues. Where necessary, it highlights the London Borough of Newham’s approach to tackling the identified issues.

General Characteristics of the Area The West Ham and North Plaistow New Deal for Communities covers a long and stretched area which is split into pockets of housing by sections of transport infrastructure. Consequently, the area is characterised by the problem of severance. Several railway lines and a greenway cut through the area and reduce connectivity and permeability between parts of the

road hierarchy map to be added

NDC area and between the NDC and adjacent areas. The North London Line and Jubilee Line present a barrier to movement to the west of the area and into the Arc of Opportunity redevelopment area. The District/ Hammersmith and City Lines and C2C national rail line limits North-South movement within the NDC area, as does the Greenway. There are also large areas of open space in the area, including Memorial Park, Cemetery, and Eastlea School Playing Fields which break the area up and reduce permeability.

The majority of the public transport links are located at the periphery of the area and, therefore, much of the movement is outwards to these links or nodes. The movement away from the area is exaggerated by the lack of local facilities. There are no major shopping centres/streets and few

:Highway Network

local leisure facilities or major employers within the area. The area does

Road Hierarchy

have numerous schools and many small clusters of local convenience or specialist shops in residential areas. These areas have the highest levels

The road hierarchy is illustrated in figure above.

of activity within the area. Barking Road, to the south of the NDC area has many shops and services and is likely to be one of the most common local

The A112 Plaistow Road is the only main road to traverse the NDC area.

destinations for shopping and leisure for the residents of the NDC area.

It is classified in the London Borough of Newham road hierarchy as a dis-

Three new community centres are proposed which will generate the need

trict distributor road. The A1011 Manor Road, also classified as a district

for better lines of movement within the area.

distributor runs along the western edge of the NDC area. The A114 also runs along the edge of the NDC boundary to the northeast. Together these

Car ownership in the NDC area is low compared to the average for Lon-

provide the main routes for through-traffic through or immediately around

don, with on average 59.7% of households without access to a car in the

the NDC area. The traffic flows for the district distributor roads are illus-

four wards that include part of the NDC area. The figures from the 1991

trated in figure below. Two major arterial routes are located to the south of

Census also indicate that 33.6% of households have access to one car,

the NDC area Ăą the A124 Barking Road and A13 Newham Way.

whilst 6.7% have access to two or more cars. These figures compare to the average for London of 38% of households without access to a car,

There are a number of local distributor roads within the NDC area which

42% with access to one car and 20% with access to two or more cars

provide the main routes through the area for local traffic. Upper Road and

(Source: Transport Statistics for London 2000, Transport for London).

Hermit Road run North-South providing a link between Plaistow and Barking Road, whilst Grange Road leading into Gainsborough Road provides a connection East-West in the southern section of the area.

All the other roads within the area are classified in the road hierarchy as access roads and these are characterised primarily as residential roads.

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: Tr a f f i c C a l m i n g

Bethell Avenue meets with Hermit Road. This junction is included within a local safety scheme, and proposals to address the issue of accidents

Several types of traffic calming measure have been employed in the NDC

include upgrading the existing calming measures and the possibility of

area to combat the problem of speeding traffic and inappropriate use of

installing a new zebra crossing.

access roads by through-traffic, commonly termed ‘rat-running’. A map

The area around the junction of Hermit Road and Grange Road had

supplied by LB Newham illustrating traffic calming in the Borough in 1999

seven recorded accidents in the study time period. Several local shops

displayed no areas of traffic calming in the NDC area. Therefore all the

are located in this area which attract people from the surrounding area.

measures listed below have been introduced since this time.

Therefore, a raised zebra crossing is proposed to make it safer for pedestrians to cross the road near the shops. There are also proposals for the

In the northern area of the NDC, one- way systems with speed humps

existing traffic calming to be upgraded and new traffic calming measures

have been used in East Road, West Road and in the Rudolph Road area,

to be put in place.

primarily to discourage rat-running traffic at high speeds.

The stretch of Upper Road between Chesterton Terrace and London Road had eight accidents recorded in the five years. It is noticeable that there

Speed humps have been used to calm traffic in various locations across

are few pedestrian crossing facilities along this straight length of road and

the NDC area. They are used in conjunction with the one-way systems

therefore crossing pedestrians are likely to come into conflict with speed-

along East and West Road, across the Rudolph Road quadrant, in Strat-

ing vehicles. There were no specific proposals to address the accidents

ford Road, Pelly Road and Suffolk Road. Those in Suffolk Road and Strat-

in this location, though the nearby zebra crossing to the north of London

ford Road aim to reduce traffic speeds in the vicinity of local schools.

Road is highlighted for improvement.

Thirteen accidents were recorded at the junction of Plaistow Road with

Due to the residential nature of the area adjacent to Pelly Road and the

Upper Road. This major junction could be improved by a signal upgrade

straight alignment of the road, a traffic-calming scheme was introduced

according to the LB Newham study.

by the local authority. This involved the construction of raised tables as

Eighteen accidents were recorded along Plaistow Road in the vicinity of

gateway treatments at each end of Pelly Road (in conjunction with the

Plaistow Station. The high number of accidents is probably a result of the

introduction of speed humps along its length). The junction of Pelly Road

high level of pedestrian activity in this location associated with movement

with Terrace Road was also reconfigured as part of this scheme in order

to the station, the buses and with people crossing the road on top of this

to reduce the straightness of the road.

bridge. Despite the problem, there are no specific proposals suggested in the study to address this situation. It has been suggested that this pattern

Traffic calming measures have not only been introduced on access roads

of accidents is repeated along the length of the Plaistow Road and that

but also on local distributor roads. The measures introduced along Hermit

it is not appropriate for LB Newham to just target one location along the

Road had to take into consideration the operation of bus services along

road and not others.

the road and therefore speed cushions were implemented.

Twelve accidents were also recorded along Plaistow Road between Maud Road and Bull Road but no measures are proposed. There are shops and

Accidents

bus stops within this area and therefore many accidents could involve pedestrians crossing the road and therefore possible remedial action

The NDC recently commissioned the London Borough of Newham to

could involve the installation of more or better crossing points.

undertake an accident analysis of the NDC area and to draft traffic-calm-

Over the period 1996 to 2000 five accidents were recorded at the junc-

ing proposals to address the issues identified. The analysis and draft pro-

tion of Pelly Road and Terrace Road. As stated in the previous section of

posals were issued in July 2001. For the complete analysis please refer

this report this junction has already been treated with a raised table at the

to the LB Newham report (soon to be published). A summary of the infor-

entrance of the northern section of Pelly Road. This scheme has been

mation received to date from the analysis of personal injuries from traffic

implemented in the last three years.

accidents between 1996 and 2000 in the NDC area as outlined below:

Parking In the five year period between 1996 and 2000 there were 10 accidents at the junction of Manor Road with Star Lane. The junction is covered by

At present there is one Controlled Parking Zone in operation within the

a LB Newham safety scheme.

NDC area around West Ham station to prevent commuter parking. There

In the same period 11 accidents were recorded in the vicinity of the junc-

are plans to introduce a similar scheme in a larger area around Plaistow

tion of Godbold Road and Gainsborough Road. This junction is also to be

Station. By introducing resident permit parking only, the scheme will aim

treated as part of the Borough’s safety scheme programme.

to prevent commuter parking which is an increasing problem within the

Six accidents were recorded at the junction of Star Lane and Hermit Road.

area.

This four-way junction located near a bend in the road is to be targeted by a local safety scheme, the existing traffic calming is to be upgraded and improvements to the bend are proposed.

Seven accidents were reported at another four-way junction: where

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Summary or Key Issues The NDC area has few main roads within its boundaries, with the principle traffic routes located at the periphery. The local distributor roads and residential roads with higher traffic flows and the potential for being used as rat-runs are already traffic calmed or are considered in calming proposals.

A variety of traffic calming measures have been implemented, some of which may be compatible with the preferred measures in the Urban Design Framework such as raised tables and vertical deflection but others may need to be reviewed e.g road humps. Whilst many sites of accident clusters are to be targeted for remedial action there need to be measures introduced to address the accident problems in the Plaistow Road. Measures to improve the pedestrian environment, crossings and the relocation of road space to these vulnerable users will be considered.

Rail Services The NDC area is served by several rail routes including two national rail services and three London Underground lines providing access in both radial and orbital directions. These rail lines provide the people of the NDC area with a wide range of potential destinations both locally in East London and in the rest of Central and Greater London, and Essex. The rail services in the area provide good links to areas of regeneration and employment in the Docklands areas of Canary Wharf, the Millennium Quarter and the Royal Docks. Of the two stations located in the NDC area Plaistow Station occupies a central location whilst West Ham has a peripheral location. However, the latter’s position on the edge of the redevelopment area, known as the Arc of Opportunity, means that it has the potential to become a major future interchange.

National Rail Services West Ham station is served by two national rail lines. C2C operates from the high level platforms providing an East-West connection radiating from Central London, whilst Silverlink’s North London Line provides orbital services.

C2C operates services between Fenchurch Street in the City and several destinations in Essex including Grays, Basildon, Chafford Hundred (for the Lakeside Shopping Centre), Tilbury, Shoeburyness and Southend. Trains operate frequently but irregularly with a train every five to fifteen minutes to Fenchurch Street during the day Monday-Friday. The journey time to Fenchurch Street is between eight and twelve minutes. There are four trains an hour to Shoeburyness from West Ham, two services are express trains and two are stopping trains. This means that on average there is a train every 11-19 minutes during the day Monday-Friday to Shoeburyness. There are also trains every half an hour to Grays and Southend Central.

Table 1: Average Journey Times to selected stations on the North London Line (in minutes) West Ham

Highbury & Islington Gospel Oak West Hampstead 20 30 36

Willesden Junction 44

Acton Central 49

Richmond 62

Source: London Transport, March 2000 Silverlink operates services along the North London Line between North Woolwich and Richmond. This service provides connections with many areas of North London and interchange with several radial routes to the north of London. Services are currently not very frequent: at a train every 30 minutes.

London Underground Services The District and Hammersmith and City Lines provide the area with an East-West connection, serving both West Ham and Plaistow stations. These two lines provide a frequent service for commuters into Central London and for local journeys in East London. In addition, the new extension of the Jubilee Line to Stratford now provides a London Underground service in a North-South direction through the area.

The District Line offers direct services to destinations including East Ham, Barking, Dagenham and Upminster in the east; and Bow, Mile End, Whitechapel, Tower Hill, Blackfriars, Westminster, Victoria, Kensington, Ealing Broadway and Richmond in the west. Service frequency along this route is approximately every 2-5 minutes during the peak hours Monday-Friday and every 2-7 minutes during the daytime Monday-Saturday. The daytime Sunday service remains good with a train every 4-6 minutes. Frequencies in the evenings are, however, much reduced at weekends. Approximate frequencies at all times during the week are given in Table 2 below.

Table 2: District Line – Approximate train frequencies (in minutes)

Period Peak Daytime Evening

Monday- Friday

Saturday

Sunday

2-5 2-7 3-7

2-7 2-10

4-6 5-20

Source: London Transport, March 2000

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The Hammersmith and City Line offers direct services to destinations including East Ham and Barking in the east; and Bow, Mile End, Whitechapel, Liverpool Street, Barbican, Kings Cross St. Pancras, Euston Square, Baker Street, Paddington, Shepherds Bush and Hammersmith in the west. Service frequency along this route is approximately every 8 minutes during the peak hours Monday-Friday and every 16 minutes during the daytime MondaySaturday. There is no evening or Sunday service.

The Jubilee Line offers direct services to destinations including Canning Town, Canary Wharf, London Bridge, Waterloo, Bond Street, Baker Street, and stations to Stanmore to the west; and Stratford to the north. Service frequency along this route is approximately every 3 minutes during the peak hours Monday-Friday, and every 3-6 minutes during the daytime Monday-Friday. At all other times frequencies are very good with a train every 3-4 minutes.

Table 3: Average Journey Times to selected stations on the District/Hammersmith and City Lines (in minutes) Tower Hill Plaistow West Ham

15 14

Victoria Liverpool Street Kings Cross 27 26

15 14

Barking Dagenham Heathway

23 22

7 9

14 16

Upminster 25 27

Source: London Transport, March 2000 Table 4: Average Journey Times to selected stations on the Jubilee Line (in minutes)

West Ham

Stratford

London Bridge

3

16

Waterloo

Westminster

Bond Street

22

27

20

Baker Street 30

Source: London Transport, March 2000

Figures from London Underground entry and exit count data for 2000 (see table 5 below) for the two stations shows that West Ham has less than half the number of people using the station than Plaistow, despite West Ham’s higher number of services. This highlights the smaller catchment area that West Ham has because of the large industrial area to the west of the station and the small catchment in the NDC area to the south. The flows for 1998 in table 6 highlight the level of use at weekends. This data is not available for 2000. It should also be noted that the Jubilee Line Extension was not operational in 1998.

Table 5: London Underground Weekday Entry Flows at West Ham and Plaistow Stations in 2000

Station

Date

07:00-10:00

16:00-19:00

Day Total

Plaistow

Nov. 2000

935

2825

6801

West Ham

Nov. 2000

481

1028

3039

Source: LUL 2000 Entry and Exit counts Table 6: London Underground Entry Flows at West Ham and Plaistow Stations in 1998 Station

Weekday

Date

07:00-10:00 Plaistow

16:00-19:00

Saturday

Sunday

Day Total

Nov. 1998

3871

1392

8051

4471

2756

West Ham Nov. 1998

1927

934

3513

2325

1432

Source: LUL 1998 Entry and Exit counts

Station Facilities and Interchange West Ham Station is located along Manor Road in the west of the NDC area. The station has recently been modernised in conjunction with the construction of the Jubilee Line Extension. A small ‘piazza’ is located at the entrance to the station where seating, planting and cycle racks are provided. It is a short walk from the station to the nearest bus stops on the route 276, the only bus route to serve the station. The station has two levels, with the North London Line and the Jubilee Line served from low level platforms to the west of Manor Road and the District/Hammersmith and City Line and C2C services oper-

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ating from the high level East-West platforms. A bridge within the station complex links the two parts of the station. However, the walking distance for interchanging passengers is quite long.

Plaistow Station has direct frontage on the Plaistow Road and benefits from convenient bus stops located near to the station entrance. The station is served by bus routes 69, 241, 262, and 473. The waiting environment for passengers interchanging between rail and buses is fairly poor.

There are no facilities for mobility impaired persons and therefore one of the priorities for action in the NDC Urban Design Framework will be to provide some form of step-free connection to the neighbouring areas.

Transport for London are currently undertaking a feasibility study into upgrading the station.

Future Services There are proposals for the North London Line between Canning Town and Stratford to be served by the Dockland Light Railway. The line would link with Stratford Regional Station as it currently does but could be extended to the new International Station and possibly the Rail Lands development. Alternatively the DLR service could terminate at the Regional Station with the Jubilee Line extended through to the International Station and the Rail lands.

West Ham station could be improved further in the future when the Arc of Opportunity redevelopment takes place as West Ham will be a key interchange and access point for the site. Within the Arc of Opportunity development proposals, it is envisaged that land adjacent to the station

to the northwest and Beckton and North Woolwich to the southeast. Two

would be developed within the first five years, as a priority. It is therefore

bus routes operate in a North-South direction through the NDC area, the

necessary to ensure that future development within the Arc of Opportunity

69 along Upper Road and Hermit Road, and the 276 along Manor Road

fully takes account of the needs of the NDC area, particularly in terms of

and Star Lane. Whilst these bus routes provide valuable connections their

greater permeability between these two areas, better access East-West

frequencies are much lower than those on Plaistow Road at six and five

and social inclusion. Relevant requirements will be identified in Stage 2

buses per hour in each direction during the daytime (Monday-Saturday)

of this study.

respectively. Such a frequency offers headways of 5-6 minutes are still very good, though in practice because these routes are long strategic

Summary of Key Issues

routes they are prone to delays and, therefore, buses may not arrive at regular frequencies. The reliability could be improved by reducing the

The NDC area is well served by rail services with a wide range of des-

length of the bus routes. The route 276 provides service to as far away as

tinations served. There is perhaps some scope for improvements to the

Hackney and Stoke Newington, whilst the 69 travels northwards to Leyton

stations themselves in terms of access and interchange. Also, as will be

and Walthamstow.

discussed later, there is a need to improve the accessibility from the surrounding catchment areas to the stations, so that local people can take

Other bus routes operate at the periphery of the NDC area. The bus

advantage of the services that they have.

corridor to the south of the NDC area, along the Barking Road, is very important with 30 buses per hour during the daytime (Monday-Saturday)

Bus Services

and providing links to destinations including Becontree Heath, East Ham and Wanstead Park in the east and Canning Town, Poplar, Limehouse

The people of the NDC are reasonably well served by bus routes. Whilst

and Aldgate in the west.

most of the bus routes run along the edge of the area, all households are within 400 metres of a bus stop, as is the aim of London Buses. The Plaistow Road provides the main East-West connection through the area

The bus routes that serve the NDC area are described in the tables 7, 8

with routes 69, 241, 262, and 473 having a combined frequency of 22

and 9 below with regards to route, frequency and journey times.

buses per hour in one direction during the daytime (Monday-Saturday)

Table 7: Bus Routes serving the NDC area

and offering destinations including Stratford, Leyton, and Walthamstow

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Pedestrians and Permeability Service

Route

Operator

69

London City Airport - Stratford - Walthamstow

Stagecoach East London

An important part of the movement framework is the pedestrian environ-

241

Stratford - Plaistow - Canning Town

Stagecoach East London

ment. For this study we have looked the characteristics of the network of

262

Stratford - Plaistow - Beckton

Stagecoach East London

links and spaces available to pedestrians and have assessed the implica-

276

Newham General Hospital - Stratford - Stoke Newington Stagecoach East London

tions of the existing configuration in terms of the accessibility, permeability

473

Stratford - London City Airport - North Woolwich

and connectivity enjoyed by the various sub-areas that make up the NDC

Stagecoach East London

Source: London Transport, March 2000

study area.

Table 8: Bus Route Frequencies (in minutes) in the NDC area

An overview of the main issues for the whole area is offered below. Fig-

Route

ures XX (Bubble diagram) and YY (line diagram) provide a graphic inter-

Monday-Friday

Saturday

Early Peak Daytime Evening Early

69 241

20

Sunday

Daytime

Evening

Early

Daytime Evening

pretation of the issues discussed.

10

10

15

15-20

10

15

15-20

15

15

12-20 10

12

20

15-20

10

20

20

20

20

The NDC area is characterised by a series of significant barriers and

10

10

20

20

10

20

20

20

20

blocks of land, that are demarcated and separated from the public

262

20

276

20

12

12

20

30

12

20

30

20

20

domain, that split the study area into a series of smaller units, or pockets,

473

20

12

12

20

20

12

20

20

20

20

with different accessibility characteristics. These distinct areas have been identified diagrammatically as a bubble diagram in figure XX.

Source: London Transport, March 2000

These sub-areas are linked by some longer corridors (as highlighted in the diagram), but since they tend to be external to the study area, the consequence is that there are no direct links threading through and uniting

Table 9: Typical Bus Journey Times

the sub-areas identified. The only long link that traverses the NDC area, From

Route

Plaistow

69

Destination and journey time (minutes) Leyton

31

Walthamstow

38

London City Airport 20

Gainsborough Road/Grange Road, does so in an East-West direction, but with very poor connections north and south.

Plaistow Station

241

Canning Town 23

Another characteristic that can be noted for the various sub-areas (see

Plaistow Station

262

Stratford

line diagram in Figure YY) is that they are all dominated by a multiplicity

Plaistow

276

Newham Hosp 4

Plaistow Station

473

North Woolwich 21 Stratford

10 Stoke Newington 58 9

Source: London Transport, March 2000

of short streets or links, which tend to be very fragmented. Such fragmentation reduces the levels of permeability through the area, makes it less intelligible overall and discourages general through-movement. As a consequence, many spaces are (or are perceived as) dead ends, with very

There are few bus priority measures or real-time information facilities in

little use for other than those who live in them. This not only generates

the NDC area. The Council is committed to supporting the principle of

empty spaces, with security problems, but also reduces overall levels of

real-time information displayed at bus stops as part of the Countdown

accessibility for the sub-areas identified above.

initiative. Progress in Newham has been slow despite the Council pushing

Finally, there are relatively few facilities within the NDC area, other than

for its introduction on London Bus Initiative routes in Newham. The Coun-

the two LUL/rail stations and the schools, that could be considered desti-

cil would also like to see Countdown introduced on low frequency and

nations of significance (in terms of generating large numbers of journeys).

night bus routes. Subject to securing funding the Council will examine the

This means that, most of the time, NDC residents will go outside of the

feasibility of introducing ‘Countdown compatible technology’ in selected

area to fulfil their day to day activities.

areas in consultation with Transport for London, bus operators and others.

Plaistow Road is part of the London Bus Priority Network and the nearby

Looking at the sub-areas, we have considered access from each one

Barking Road is part of a London Bus Initiative.

of them to local facilities and public transport provision. In practice, a significant percentage of journeys will either be wholly on foot or at least

Summary

partly (as access stages for journeys by public transport). These potential destinations have been mapped in Figure YY, whilst figure ZZ (walk

The NDC area is well served by bus services with a wide range of destina-

time to NDC stations) maps walk times to the two main rail/LUL stations

tions being served. There is perhaps some scope for improvements to the

in the area. The comments below highlight some of the main issues for

waiting environments and the introduction of some bus priority measures

individual areas.

and real-time information. Also, as will be discussed later, there is a need to improve the accessibility from the surrounding catchment areas to the

The northernmost area is perhaps the more permeable and better linked

bus stops, so that local people can take advantage of the services that

of the whole NDC. This is mainly due to the fact that the old Victorian

they have.

street network is still largely in place (not only within the NDC site, but

:Pedestrians and Cycles

particularly around it). This provides good links to Plaistow Road (and station) on the south and Portway Road (and park). Having said that, the

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and the two only ways, in or out, are via Manor Road, which lacks any type of facilities and offers a desolate environment. Again, this area has no facilities within it, and much of the open space between houses is used for parking. To all intents and purposes, this estate has been designed as a car-based area, with no regard for pedestrians.

East of the Cranberry Lane area, is another pocket (between Verbena Close and Hermit Road), that other than two (uninviting) links north and south of Pretoria Road works practically as a series of cul-de-sacs off Hermit Road. Other than that, this area benefits from the gardens just across the road, the buses along Hermit Road and the relative proximity to Barking road with all the facilities on it. However, any local movement in and out of the area is likely to use Hermit Road only and no other part of the NDC. Finally, the area at the south end of the NDC has a bit more street structure to it, but much of it is also a dead-end due to the school grounds and the poor connectivity towards the north. The main advantage of this area is how close they are to Barking Road. But again, using these facilities does not bring people living here in contact with any other part of the NDC area.

For map showing distinct areas or ‘bubbles’/ severance/ pedestrian links see: The Response: Findings (referred to as Figure XX above) For map showing area analysis and lines of sight see The Response: Findings (referred to as Figure YY above) For map showing walk times to the stations see: The Response: Findings (referred to as Figure ZZ above) areas that have been most heavily modified (housing estates towards the east and south) are the ones offering the most fragmented pedestrian net-

Cycles

works and the least inviting public spaces. These areas compromise, to a certain degree, the links to both Plaistow station (in the south) and Terrace

At present there are few cycle facilities in the NDC area apart from the

Road/Stopford road in the east (with local shops and bus stops).

Greenway running through the heart of the area. There are, however, pro-

The next area south (the triangle defined by the railway, the Greenway and

posals for new cycle routes to be developed as part of the London Cycle

Upper Road) is practically land-locked, offering virtually no route through it.

Network and Newham’s own cycle network (see map). The Borough

The only links to the rest of the world are via Upper Road and, mainly, by

would introduce the following measures where applicable as part of these

Plaistow station and the link to Plaistow Road at the north end. Pedestrian

dedicated cycle routes: directional signs; coloured cycle lanes; advanced

activity within this area follows primarily a pattern that radiates from these

stop lines; toucan crossings; and contra-flow cycle lanes.

two locations. The link to the east to the Greenway, and the park beyond, offers an outlet primarily for leisure activities, but given its location and

Summary

characteristics iy is poorly used.

The area defined by the railway lines, the park and Gainsborough Road

The NDC area is very fragmented, with several pockets that relate very

has the benefit of LUL and mainline trains within a short distance, but has

little to each other and that offer limited life within themselves. In practice,

very little else other than the park. The few shops near the station provide

most people get in and out of their areas to access local facilities which,

the very minimum of convenience, but the area is almost as land-locked

by and large, are external to the NDC.

as the triangle described above. Theoretically, people could walk south,

Probably the feature most common to at least several areas is the park,

but it is a significant distance to anything that could attract much interest

but several zones within the NDC are still far from it.

and the routes North-South are not particularly direct, requiring people to

Additional links through some areas may improve permeability, but for

cut across short walkways lined with fences or blank walls. Gainsborough

permeability to be of any use, what is needed is to address the lack of

Road itself is the only significant East-West link within the NDC, but there

local facilities. However, for the current density of housing this is probably

is nothing to go to in the west and it is poorly linked north and south.

insufficient and so may need to be reviewed.

South of Gainsborough Road is the Cranberry Lane area. This is very

Pedestrian and cycle facilities could be improved where a need is identi-

small in terms of urban scale, completely cut off from the rest of the NDC,

fied.

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Work has been undertaken separately on Home Zones in two locations in

Objectives: Transport and Movement

the NDC area. The principles used in their design will be incorporated into the Urban Design Framework for the whole area.

Increase number of pedestrian journeys.

Improve accessibility to many social/retail/leisure/transport facilities

:Issues and Objectives

through new routes, lighting and improved signage and information.

Make the streets safer and more attractive places to be.

Reduce the number and severity of accidents (particularly pedestrian

Issues: Transport and Movement

casualties).

Reduce traffic volumes and associated noise and air pollution levels.

The NDC area is primarily a residential area broken up by large areas of

Improve the performance and reliability of bus services.

open space and severed by transport infrastructure. Therefore, there is

Improve conditions for cyclists.

a need to open up pedestrian and cycle routes to improve permeability

Minimise rat-running across sensitive residential/school areas.

between different parts of the area.

Improve links in and out of the estates and provide safe circulation across

The main road and public transport routes/corridors are located at the

them.

periphery of the area with only the Plaistow Road (as a route for buses) traversing the area.

Public Transport accessibility is fairly good with all households within 400 metres of a bus stop and most people within 12 minutes walk of the two stations in the area.

Bus frequencies are good with headways of 5-6 minutes during weekdays. All bus routes operate services on Sunday, but at lower frequency.

Limited scope for new bus routes through the NDC area, because of lack of suitable routes need to discuss with operators.

The area suffers from a problem of severance caused by transport infrastructure and open space.

There are safety concerns linked to lack of suitable crossing points and traffic.

There is inadequate cycling provision throughout the area.

There is some parking pressure in residential streets which could be targeted by a CPZ around Plaistow Station.

There is a need to create links with the Arc of Opportunity and other key facilities/services, most of which are located outside of NDC area.

There is a need to improve links to local centres of activity e.g. community centres, parks, shops etc.

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Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

A p p e n d ices :Transport Report

E x p l a n a t i o n o f p o s s i ble links in the Newham NDC are a for inclusion in Option Appraisal

This note provides an explanation of the plans showing the links that

Issues:

could be created or improved in order to meet the design principle of

Better access to Hermit Road Park.

achieving better permeability throughout the area in relation to the hier-

Objective:

archy of links identified.

To improve access to the park and provide safer routes.

(for plans see The Response: Findings)

Treatment: ‘Green fingers’, signage, improved crossing points along pedestrian

The plans referenced are those containing Green Links, Links to Public

desire lines.

Transport, Links between and within Bubbles, Links to Facilities, and Potential future links to developments outside the area.

Issues: Poor links to Memorial Park from isolated communities to the south. Need

All possibilities for measures/links, not just preferred ones, are present-

for safer, more legible routes between the schools and the parks.

ed.

Objective: To improve access to the park and provide safer routes.

In addition to the links presented in the plans and those described in the

Treatment:

text, there are area-based transport measures which will be considered

Two possible routes between Memorial Park and Star Lane Park via

in the option appraisal: home zones; safe routes to school initiatives;

Eastlea school: one or both could be implemented. Measures would

improved mode integration at stations; local safety schemes. However,

include transport measures, including: improved pavements and pedestri-

there is often an overlap between the two types of measure. Sections of

an environment; cycle routes; improved crossing points along pedestrian

the links described below will contribute to the area-focused treatments,

desire lines; wider pedestrian links with good visibility; and, fewer blank

for example, a link identified as joining to bubbles may also need to be

walls, signage etc. Environmental improvements along route, also.

enhanced as part of a safe route to school, or a certain junction where pedestrian accidents are seen as a problem may actually lie along a link

Links to Public Transport

to be improved for permeability reasons.

Issues: For the links in each plan a brief description of the issues, objectives and

Location of facilities and opportunities outside the NDC area and poor

treatment are given.

access and legibility of routes to rail services.

Objective:

Green Links

Improve access to stations and therefore services outside of the NDC. Treatment:

Issues:

Link measures, including: improved pavements and pedestrian environ-

Loss of green space in area.

ment; cycle routes and parking facilities; improved crossing points along

Objective:

pedestrian desire lines; wider pedestrian links with good visibility; and,

Improve connections between Brooks Estate and West Ham Park.

fewer blank walls, signage etc. Also, treatment of station areas with

Treatment:

improvements to transport information such as real time information.

New entrances to park opposite routes from south, provide safe routes with adequate crossing facilities, provide a cycle route, provide improved

Issues:

pedestrian environment, legible route (signage etc.)

Location of facilities and opportunities outside the NDC area and poor access and legibility of routes to bus services located at the periphery of

Issues:

the NDC area.

Poor access to and visibility of Memorial Park from surrounding area.

Objective:

Objective:

Improve access to bus stops and therefore services outside of the NDC.

To improve access to the park and make the park/community centre a

Treatment:

focal point for activity. Also, through type of treatment, improve safety and

Link measures, including: improved pavements and pedestrian environ-

security of routes.

ment; improved crossing points along pedestrian desire lines; wider

Treatment:

pedestrian links with good visibility; and fewer blank walls, signage etc.

Provide ‘green fingers’ along railway in Rudolph Road area, from West

Also, treatment of bus stop waiting areas, with improvements to transport

Ham station and Manor Road along Memorial Avenue and other routes.

information such as real-time information. Priority areas for treatment:

Transport measures including: improved pavements and pedestrian

routes to bus stops from schools and other facilities.

environment; cycle routes; wider pedestrian links with good visibility; and, fewer blank walls, signage etc.

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Urba n D e s i g n F r a m e w o r k

A p p e n d ices :Transport Report

E x p l a n a t i o n o f p o s s i ble links in the Newham NDC area for inclusion in Option Appraisal

Links between and within bubbles

Treatment: New and improved links. Link measures, including: improved pavements

Issues:

and pedestrian environment; cycle routes; improved crossing points along

Poor permeability within and between Brook Estate and surrounding

pedestrian desire lines; wider pedestrian links with good visibility; and

area

fewer blank walls, signage etc.

Objective: To improve permeability and reduce isolation of people in the estate.

Issues:

Treatment:

Need for better links to shops and other facilities, whether located within

New and improved links. Link measures, including: improved pavements

the area or outside.

and pedestrian environment; improved crossing points along pedestrian

Objectives:

desire lines; wider pedestrian links with good visibility; and fewer blank

To improve access to shops and facilities

walls, signage etc.

Treatment: New and improved links. Link measures, including: improved pavements

Issues:

and pedestrian environment; cycle routes; improved crossing points along

Poor permeability across Greenway.

pedestrian desire lines; wider pedestrian links with good visibility; and,

Objective:

fewer blank walls, signage etc.

Remove the Greenway as a barrier to movement by making a legible and safe link.

Potential Future Links to Developments Outside the Area

Treatment: New link across Greenway.

Issues: Lack of facilities/opportunities within the NDC area but an area of great

Issues:

potential adjacent in the Arc of Opportunity.

Isolation of several areas, particularly the Cranberry Estate, from the rest

Objectives:

of the southern NDC area.

To link the NDC area with the Arc of Opportunity in order to provide more

Objective:

facilities and opportunities for the inhabitants of the NDC area.

Break down barriers to movement and integration, reduce isolation, pro-

Treatment:

vide safe routes, improve permeability and legibility of links.

Future road, pedestrian and cycle links across Jubilee Line and North

Treatment:

London Line into the Arc of Opportunity, ideally from West Ham Station,

New and improved links. Link measures, including: improved pavements

Gainsborough Road and/ or Star Lane. Potential for Greenway to be used

and pedestrian environment; improved crossing points along pedestrian

as a link to new developments, cycle and pedestrian routes or in the

desire lines; wider pedestrian links with good visibility; and, fewer blank

future possibly even a rapid transit system.

walls, signage etc.

Several links are optional and there is no need for all the links: the alternatives need to be assessed during the option appraisal with many involving the demolition of walls and properties.

Links to Facilities Issues: Poor links to schools.

Objectives: Make routes to schools safer.

Treatment: New and improved links. Link measures, including: improved pavements and pedestrian environment; cycle routes; improved crossing points along ,pedestrian desire lines; wider pedestrian links with good visibility; and fewer blank walls, signage etc.

Issues: Need for links to new community centres.

Objectives: Improve access to community centres for all NDC residents.

muf / Arup

83