Anchoring Poplar

ANCHORING POPLAR Remembering the past and looking to the future Harry Bailey Amy Chan Pui Kwan Fung Charlie Heavens Ignas Valentinavicius

Group A2, Urban Design Placemaking (20/21)

CONTENTS Introduction Context Forecasts

4 5

Strategies for Placemaking Movement and Connectivity Housing and Mixed Use Anchoring Local Prosperity History, Identity and Placemaking Open / Green Spaces

37 38 44 54 63 77

Delivery Phasing Funding

93 94 95

Analysis Movement Housing Local Prosperity History Public/Green Spaces

7 8 10 13 15 18

Evaluation SWOT Key Challenges and Issues

25 26 27

Conclusion

96

Contributions

99

Vision Strategic Vision Vision Concept Strategies Concept Map Masterplan Deconstructed Masterplan

29 30 31 32 33 34 35

References

100

Image: Jamison Square, Portland, Oregon - Stephanie Braconnier

CONTEXT

Poplar is located in the East End of London, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.

Ideally situated in a unique location to optimize the economic benefits of some of London’s largest business centers, notably the City of London, Canary Wharf and Stratford.

Immediate adjoining neighbourhoods include Canary Wharf, Bow and Canning Town.

Site of interest. Flat terrain and entire area < 10m above sea level.

FORECASTS Borough wide population increase:

317, 200 (2018)

370,700 (2028) Doubling of the population in Isle of Dogs and Poplar areas (dark blue)

Borough wide delivery of 34,730 homes by 2029 (3,473 homes/annum) Representing a 56% increase in the number of households throughout the borough

Number of those in employment in Tower Hamlets predicted to rise by 78% by 2036.

Image: Community Garden - David Ulijn

ANALYSIS T N E EM

MOV

OPEN / GREEN SPACES

LOCAL PROSPERITY

HOUSING HISTORY

MOVEMENT

Overall, Poplar hosts a wide range of transport links serving the majority of the neighbourhood.

However, existing movement form (roads, train tracks) act as a transitional barrier between Poplar and its neighbours.

Existing Transport Links:

Trains (DLR) - good, neighbourhood connections effectively linking Poplar to the City and wider London.However, lack of capacity during rush hours.

Private owned vehicles (cars, taxis, vans, etc.) - extensive and well-balanced provision of primary, secondary and tertiary road network. However, primary roads domainted by through traffic, rather than locally generated (60% of Poplar residents do not have access to a car).

Bus - strong and wide connections throughout locality at affordable rates. Although easily disrupted by through traffic.

Cycling (privated owned and hired) - flat terrain and strong west to easty provision (cycle superhighway). However, poor air quality and environmental conditions deter use, and alongside absence of north to south cycle network.

Walking - majority of walking occurrs on pavements of roads, given foundation road network provides access to most areas. However, wayfinding can be difficult, existing quality and design leads to poor safety (lighting, surfaces, crossings), and absence of any key walking routes.

Image: Areas in relation to public transport connections. TFL.

Zone 2 TFL transport designation for the area implies strong connectivity to London. The above PTAL map shows strong transport connection to east, west and Canary Wharf (6a), however central Poplar, and north to south links are lower (2), highlighting a distinct disparity of access to public transport (blue circle).

Image: Connectivity analysis (Group I2).

East to west running primary roads predominantly carrying through traffic act as a transitional barrier between Poplar and its neighbours. This reduces permeability, making some forms of transport (walking, cycling) less attractive, and contributes towards unsafe places.

MOVEMENT

Poplar hosts foundations for positive movement routes, however certain design aspects and physical dilapidation may deter users from using existing routes.

Right: Poplar High Street serves as a key secondary road for the neighbourhood.

The east to west running two lane street hosts both commercial and residential uses. However, most notably from a movement perspective is the hosting of the cycle superhighway running throughout. A crucial aspect of the east to west active movement in the neighbourhood. Although, the integration of both private vehicles and cycling on this tight, busy road reduces the safety of cyclists and both inexperienced and Image: Google Maps. experienced cyclists.

Below left: Woodstock Terrace, a north-south orientated secondary road in the heart of Poplar provides a prime example of an unlit street. Despite serving as a link between Poplar High Street and East India Dock Road (two major service roads for the area), the absence of street light would most likely deter users during the evening and night-time due to fears of safety. Whilst this would not deter all walkers, it still represents a point of negative influence in local movement patterns.

Image: Google Maps.

Above: Wade’s Place, also located in the heart of Poplar, hosts positive aspects in its relatively open character (considering existing density) and a double-sided paved road. However, the existing footpath on the left hand side endorses differing, dull and bleak shades of grey, in conjunction with physical dilapidation.

Furthermore, the existing crossroads may prove a safety hazard for pedestrians as no clear crossing point is marked out. The relatively high residential density and commercial uses of the area imply imply a fair amount of use.

Right: This image accurately conveys the lack of wayfinding signage on exiting one of the larger stations within the area - Poplar DLR. This absence of wayfinding material is highly likely to influence movement patterns, encouraging those exiting the station (who may not know the area) towards more private vehicle modes of transport e.g. car or taxi.

Image: Google Maps.

Image: Google Maps.

ANALYSIS - HOUSING

Courtyard Terraced MAP SHOWING RESIDENTIAL USE THROUGHOUT THE SITE

Slab Tower

MAP SHOWING HOUSING TYPOLOGY

LAND USE: The area of Poplar is mainly comprised of residential units which are distributed evenly across the site.

BUILDING TYPOLOGY: The residential typology of buildings in the area is made up of a majority of courtyard typologies, followed by terraced housing.

Areas which do not comprise of residential units are Chrisp Street Market, and along the boundary of the site adjacent to Canary Wharf.

The courtyard typologies are mostly council estates and contain a strong sense of community of semi enclosed areas which are safe for children to play. Therefore, it is deemed unneccessary to redevelop these areas in the near future. However, these typologies are typically low density. In the context of increasing populations, should there be a need for intensified residential development in the future, these, along with the terrace housing are prime for redevelopment.

HEIGHT: The large difference in average height between Poplar and Canary Wharf leads to a clear juxtaposition between the two areas. Additionally, the underdeveloped land along the boundary between Poplar and Canary Wharf provides a strong opportunity to smooth this difference in height, while also providing intensified residential units.

1:6500

OPPORTUNITY SITES 4 sites have been identified as opportunity areas for intensification/development of residential uses: 1: West Poplar at the junction between East India Dock Road and Aspen Way 2: Chrisp Street Market 3: Area over Aspen Way and the DLR Railway Lines 4: Undeveloped land in East Poplar

Vacant/ Under-utilised Space

SITE 1: West Poplar at the junction between East India Dock Road and Aspen Way This site serves little purpose, with a mixture of mixed use (residential and retail) units facing south and terraced residential houisng facing north. There is also a ground level car park and other miscilaneous buildings which house a mix of uses, such as office.

The site is underutilised and requires redevelopment.

SITE 2: Chrisp Street Market Chrisp Street Market is the main retail and central point in Poplar. This makes it a prime site for the intensification of mixed uses, including residential units, by building vertically above the market area.

OPPORTUNITY SITES

Vacant/ Under-utilised Space

SITE 3: Area over Aspen Way and the DLR Railway Lines

SITE 4: Undeveloped land in East Poplar

The area bounding Poplar and Canary Wharf is a barrier of road and railway. Taking inspiration from Hong Kong, in which a mix of uses are built above railway lines and roads, this area is another prime area which presents an opportunity for the development of mixed use buildings, including residential.

A vacant and underutilised site in the East of Poplar has been identified as a site for mixed use redevelopment, including residential.

However, East Poplar is situated adjacent to a major road network which carries traffic into and out of central London. Therefore, air and noise pollution should be taken into account when designing this area.

ANALYSIS - LOCAL PROSPERITY INDEX OF MULTIPLE DEPRIVATION (IMD)

LAND-USES • There is no industrial uses in and within close proximity to Poplar.

• Poplar is relatively less deprivated than Lansbury.

• Commercial uses are dispersed throughout Poplar and clustered next to A102, whereas Canary Wharf is predominantly commercial.

• High density of retail uses in some parts of East Indian Dock Road, which are barely found along Poplar High Street.

• Some vacant and lost spaces are identified, which can be used for development.

• Lack of local meeting places adversely affects legibility and placeness.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS

• However, Poplar is bounded by LSOAs with relatively low deprivation level, which include Canary Wharf, Limehouse and Blackwall and Cubitt Town.

• This implies the need to provide facilities to Source: Tower Hamlet Council, 2015 tackle the multiple arrays of deprivation outIMD consists of domains including in- lined in IMD. come and employment deprivation.

QUALIFICATION LEVELS • Poplar’s long-term unemployment percentage is more than double the percentage for Canary Wharf.

• This implies the need to provide more job opportunities in Poplar to narrow the gap between Poplar and Canary Wharf.

• 21.9% of Poplar’s population aged 16 to 64 do not hold a qualification.

• It is significantly higher than Tower Hamlets’ (15.6%) and national average (12.4%).

• Thus, there is a need to offer education and training alongside jobs.

STORE FRONTAGE

STREET HIERARCHY

GROUND FLOOR SPACE

• Unattractive, inactive and dull store • Vacant ground floors along Poplar High Street and East Indian Dock Road. fronts Poplar High Street.

LEGIBILITY • The East Indian Dock Road along A13 has a hierarchy due to its central location within Poplar and connection to Central London.

• Other roads, especially U-roads including Poplar High Street, have less hierarchy as they lead to residential areas and have less traffic.

• Future development should take street hierarchy into consideration when deciding where different kinds of economic provisions should be placed and which major economic activities should be prioritised in certain areas.

ETHNIC DIVERSITY • Ethnic minority populations in Poplar are all more evenly spread than those in London.

• Chrisp Market cannot be accessed from the main entrance in East India Dock Road but Kerbey Street and Chrisp Street, making unattractive to visit.

BUILDING HEIGHTS

• Non-uniform building heights along Poplar High Street resulting to an asymmetric and inconsistent street view.

• The strategies proposed should address the racial and ethnic diversity in Poplar.

Existing streetscape of Poplar High Street (Google Earth,

2021)

ANALYSIS - HISTORY Heritage Assets Poplar has a significant number of heritage sites dotted throughout

its

urban

fabric

and

four

established

conservation areas dedicated to preserving them.

These landmark buildings offer a physical connection to the past both for residents and visitors

and so their

retention is incredibly valuable.

They are however currently underutilised, with little structure guiding interactions with them and many appearing

dislocated

from

their

more

modern

surroundings.

All Saints Church

155 East India Dock Road

133 East India Dock Road

Chrisp Street Clock Tower

ANALYSIS - HISTORY Historic Street Structure In analysing Poplar’s history it is important to also reflect on the legacy of its built form and how that has been maintained, altered or eroded. Historical street patterns often provide places with coherence and legibility and therefore it is useful to track the change in street structures over time. From the 1890s to the present day Poplar’s system of streets and roads has broadly remained the same. The area has however undergone a process of plot mergers which has resulted in both the loss of some of the smaller streets alongside a reconfiguration of buildings by virtue of their increasing density and size.

This process, in practice, has a number of implications for Poplar’s built environment best understood through three specific case studies.

Land Subdivision – 1890s

Land Subdivision – Today

Building Coverage – 1890s

Building Coverage – Today

East Poplar

Poplar High Street (North Side)

Poplar High Street (South Side)

Streets Lost – Wells Street / Manisty Street

Streets Lost – Sophia Street / Rook Street

This area of Poplar High Street, rather than being changed by the

This area has lost much of its coherence due to the absence of any

Without the two streets dissecting it this block has turned its back on

street structure passing through it. It is an underdeveloped space

Poplar with very little interface between it and Poplar’s High Street.

and without Wells Street and Manisty Street framing it, it has lost its purpose and capacity to encourage interaction.

street pattern has been altered by the scale and makeup of the buildings along it. Historically small properties which fronted onto the road lined the street. Where plots have merged this principle

It’s frontage disregards those travelling along the street with the railing in

has been forgotten reinforcing a disconnect between structure and

particular marking a harsh line between the private and public space.

route.

ANALYSIS - HISTORY Water Space Poplar’s urban identity has been bound to the water ever since it first developed and so too have the lives of the local people that call the area home. It was the River Thames and its capacity for movement, transport and exploration that first catapulted Poplar’s urban environment forward with the creation of its docks sustaining a massive transformation.

In recent years this connection to the water, the blue corridor that runs through the heart of London, has been severed and Poplar’s urban character and local

residents have lost the opportunity to properly engage, interact and enjoy all the benefits that it offers. Poplar has become, in a sense landlocked, deprived from experiencing the very thing it owes much of its existence too.

1

Poplar Dock Marina This historic body of water is currently inaccessible to most local people and is therefore exclusionary. It does nothing to engage with those over and above the limited few that moor their boats there.

Poplar

docks

in

its

current

form

represents a missed opportunity.

2

1 2

North Dock This area of North Dock is perhaps the most striking example of the divide between Poplar and Canary Wharf. The juxtaposition is clear between the south bank and its wealth, leisure and opulence and the North and its industry, utility and manufacturing. The waterway rather than blending this transition reinforces it.

Tower Hamlets Water Space Study

ANALYSIS - PUBLIC/GREEN SPACES

Poplar Open Spaces

Briefly, Parks have a good reputation with families and members of the community for relaxation. However, open spaces remain limited. Predominantly residential uses with community uses dispersed throughout the Poplar. Therefore, there is a demand for more open spaces across the Poplar.

The open spaces are not equally accessed by all residents due to impermeable urban fabric.

For example. places with a greenery space like All Saints Church, were described as ‘shady’ by residents and ‘scary, quiet and lonely’ and unappealing.

CONDITION OF TYPOLOGIES OF OPEN SPACES Parks and Gardens Poplar Recreation Ground Memorial Park is the main park of Poplar and the most recognisable space by community. However, the space is fragmented by different adjacent uses (Churchyard) and other land uses.

Of course, there are opportunities for expansion of open spaces in Poplar, occasionally Canary Wharf workers visit Poplar and attract visitor from neighbouring areas.

Moreover, Parks and Open Space Strategy (2017) suggests a 40% population increase by 2031, such projections indicate greater need and improved access for green and open spaces.

Therefore, there is challenge and an opportunity for creating ideas that provides solutions to better utilise existing open space and integrates greenery.

Stoneyard Lane Gardens creates a synergy with Outdoor Sport Facilities of small-scale football fields. I believe the full potential of the open space haven’t been achieved.

Stoneyard Lane Gardens

Pennyfields Park

Pennyfields Park is essential for a community but is poorly designed and maintained. The park is of a poor quality and demonstrates features of informal recreational spaces. The space reminds an Amenity Green Space rather than a city park.

Poplar Recreation Ground Memorial Park

Amenity Green Spaces Storey House Green Space is surrounded by residential blocks and creates an important space for a community by providing an Outdoor Sports Facilities. However, the space demonstrates of poor quality and disintegrated space by providing guard railings which isolates the space from the surrounding.

Trinity Gardens is facing E India Dock Rd. The space is poorly integrated into an urban fabric and isolates from the surrounding. The full potential of the space is not achieved.

Outdoor Sports Facilities There is non-intensive network of publicly available and accessible Outdoor Sports Facilities for residents of the area. The outdoor facilities provided in parks are poor quality and condition.

Trinity Gardens

Storey House Green Space

Other Amenity Green Spaces are informal recreational spaces which are used occasionally and only fills the “lost space” shaped by a loose enclosure during post-war period.

Churchyards The churchyard, adjacent the Poplar Recreation Ground Memorial Park feel, feels isolated and demonstrates features of private space.

Community Gardens The All Saints Church is described as ‘shady’ by residents and ‘scary, quiet and lonely’ and unappealing.

There is non-intensive network of publicly available and accessible Community Gardens for residents of the area.

The churchyard, adjacent the Poplar Recreation

Community Gardens

Ground Memorial Park

The churchyard, adjacent the Poplar Recreation Ground Memorial Park

Civic Spaces The Market Square feels active and surrounded by many businesses. However, the space is poorly integrated into urban fabric. The space lacks a permeability and a connection with other open spaces.

Civic Spaces

East India Square feels unappealing and not for human scale due to a busy street and guard railing in front. Despite there is a connection with the Market Square via a promenade, the connection is poor and the space feels isolated.

Opportunities and Vision for Open Spaces and Greenery in Poplar. Greenery, as part of a green and blue infrastructure, is one of priorities of the future Poplar to promote health & wellbeing, local biodiversity, attractiveness, and reduced traffic levels. A green infrastructure should create a synergy with blue infrastructure and be an integral part of an urban fabric in relation to traditional infrastructure to supplement and replace it. The green infrastructure is an essential component to promote sustainable communities across Poplar by creating initiatives and resources for civic economy to flourish among community members. Eventually, the greenery connects essential separate components of place to create sustainable communities and ensure a sensitive development in future Poplar.

Image: Glass City Metropark Glass City Riverwalk

EVALUATION

m m m m H

?

SWOT

Movement Core east-west running movements routes.

Well-connnected and integrated public transport links North-south running movement routes resulting in weak permeabiltity between Poplar and Canary Wharf Overall relatively poor legibility of movement routes Optimise existing space with high quality routes Poplar’s location in close proximity to key economic centres

Hard, barrier-like movement routes encapsulating the site Poor air quality along major roads

Housing Residential dominates the area

Mainly courtyard and terraced housing typologies which are low density Poor use of vertical space above Chrisp Street Market

Local Prosperity Ethnically diverse neighbourhood High proportion of manual labour

Inactive store fronts along Poplar High Street Lack of industrial sites Low education / skill level Non-uniform building heights

Height difference between Huge unemployed labour force available to work buildings in Poplar and Canary Wharf Lost spaces can be reclaimed Vacant and under-utilised land between Poplar and Close proximity to Canary Canary Wharf which can Wharf making Poplar be used for mixed-use attractive to investors. development

Noise pollution from the DLR railway lines making residential uses between Poplar and Canary Wharf unsuitable

Disparity between Poplar and Canary Wharf in income and skill level making Poplar uncompetitive and economically unattractive

History Poplar has a long and rich history reflecting much of the historical change of the country

Lack of distinct identity and overshadowing from Canary Wharf Transitionary space rather than destination

Open / Green Spaces Existing network of recreational spaces and parks. Parks have a good reputation with families and members of the community for relaxation

Green spaces are mostly under-utilised Poor connection among open and green spaces.

Streets lack urban greenery Close to blue corridor

Under-utilisation of existing historical structures Under-utilisation of Poplar Dock Marina

Potential mismanagement of new development leading to loss of historical connection

Population projections indicate greater need and improved access to green and open space Spaces currently attract visitors Open spaces are not equally accessed by all residents due to impermeable urban fabric Chaotic urban structure and poorly defined spaces

KEY CHALLENGES AND ISSUES 1. MOVEMENT

Weak permeability between Poplar and its neighbouring areas, negatively impacting movement behaviours

2. HOUSING

Under-utilised space which are not activity generating, and prevailence of low density housing

3. LOCAL PROSPERITY

Absence of community services and lost spaces reduce future opportunities and prospects, hindering the local economy

Fractured connection with historical past leading under-utilised heritage assets and weak sense of place

4. HISTORY

5. OPEN / GREEN SPACES

Underutilised open spaces, fragmented open space and sense of enclosure, disintegration of green infrastructure and unexplored potential for enhancing a sense of space.

Image: London Superhighway - Evening Standard

VISION

ANCHORING POPLAR IN...

UNIQUENESS

SUSTAINABILITY

LIVABILITY

Our vision for Poplar is anchored in the symbolic meaning of its name: Prosperous - Transformative - Visionary The new masterplan for Poplar aims to create a sustainable community and place whilst celebrating its history. Strategic methods to integrate Poplar, as a destination, into the London landscape through the implementation of open and green spaces, and economic generating activity will contribute to anchoring Poplar, in addition to improving the streetscape and connectivity throughout the site.

OBJECTIVES

Anchoring a sense of place in Poplar by: 1. Connecting existing movement patterns to Poplar 2. Increasing activity on the street as well as housing supply 3. Improving the local economic prosperity of the area and investing in the community 4. Strengthening Poplar’s link to its history 5. Improving the quality and quantity of the area’s open and green spaces

ANCHORING POPLAR TO...

NATURAL OPEN / ENVIRONMENT GREEN SPACE

HISTORY

LOCAL PROSPERITY

MOVEMENT

HOUSING

STRATEGIES 1. MOVEMENT AND CONNECTIVITY Improve overall permeability within Poplar and between its

neighbours, and promote more active modes of travel

2. HOUSING AND MIXED USE

Increase residential density and effective use of land, and activity on the street.

3. ANCHORING LOCAL PROSPERITY Improve local economic provisions and economic attractiveness 4. HISTORY, IDENTITY AND PLACEMAKING Revive, enhance and preserve Poplar’s connection with its

historic past.

5. OPEN / GREEN SPACES Provide good quality open spaces to integrate and create

sustainable communities and ensure a sensitive development in future Poplar.

CONCEPT MAP

Focus on movement and green routes.

Combination of different strategies at certain areas such as Chrisp Street Market, Aspen Way and land north of Blackwater Station.

STRATEGIC POLICY TOPICS Open Spaces History Housing Boundary Line

Local Prosperity

Street Grid

Movement

MASTERPLAN

MASTERPLANNED STRATEGIES

Creative industry centre with mixed use residential and retail, connection with the business centre

Improved open, green and public spaces and tourist facilities

Image: York Way Estate, London - Archant

Image: Alderwood Mall, Seattle - Brookfield Properties Inc.

Improved community housing, infrastructure and services

Improved accessibility and mixed use residential and retail provision

Image: Lincoln Park, Washington, DC - Getty Images

Image: Anthem Row octagondc.com

Image: Life, Place, and Buildings - Gehl Architects

STRATEGIES FOR PLACEMAKING

MOVEMENT AND CONNECTIVITY

HOUSING AND MIXED USE

ANCHORING LOCAL PROSPERITY

HISTORY, IDENTITY AND PLACEMAKING

OPEN / GREEN SPACES

1. MOVEMENT AND CONNECTIVITY Ensuring a thriving, well-connected and active Poplar for now and future generations

Portrayed by the below movement masterplan, the strategy has two main objectives. Firstly, to improve permeability between Poplar and its neighbours by re-thinking, re-working and re-invigorating key, existing movement routes, such as East India Dock Road and Aspen Way. Secondly, to facilitate uptake of more active modes of travel.

Existing movement routes, weak permeability and lack of wayfinding signs would indicate a low level of active travel and movement. By re-configuring and implementing these routes, this strategy seeks to primarily address the increasing active travel, with further implications for enhanced movement.

Whilst as a secondary objective would begin to combat the high prevalence of UK physical inactivity.

This strategy proposes how to preserve the existing positive movement patterns, and deliver a wide and adaptive connectivity network that increases Poplar’s permeability, to improve enjoyment of the area , and further enhance the locality socially and economically.

As the conceptual map to the right shows, proposed works to movement routes are focused on facilitating travel through the centre of Poplar, an identified weakness in the PTAL map in the analysis section.

Proposals therefore seek to improve enhance exsiting movement routes (EEMR) and implement high quality movement routes in specified areas (denoted A1, A2, A3) to increase north-south routes.

Image: Conceptual diagram of proposed key active travel routes.

Key Site 1 - Boulevard Site 2 - Cycle Superhighway Site 3 - Pathway extension Site 2 - Primary Rod Tunneling Image: Movement masterplan.

EEMR 1 - Improving Wayfinding As identified in the analysis section, the existing legibility of movement routes within and when entering Poplar, exemplified by the absence of wayfinding signage from major transport hubs, is extremely poor.

This aspect of the strategy seeks to implement a range of clear, coherent and effective wayfinding signage that can be easily identifid on exiting major transport hubs, and throughout the neighbourhood to help people find their way.

Predominantly using visual cues, as shown in the surrounding images, this is anticipated to enourage uptake of walking and cycling by easily showing people routes and giving them clear directions.

Image: Example of wayfinding board. Pinterest.

The resultant implementation will form a network of wayfinding boards, signs and maps across the neighbourhood, reinforcing more active modes of travel and helping inform movement routes.

Wayfinding content will be: - Accurate - Reliable - Dynamic (responsive to needs and changes e.g. using screens and QR codes) - Maintained - Visible

Image: Example of wayfinding map. Signbox.

Sensitive approaches to engage with the visually impaired will be introduced, with signs, maps and boards incorporating braille and speaker systems.

Image: Wayfinding employing all five senses - Las Vegas. Restreets.

Wayfinding strategies goes beyond using just maps, signs and boards to convey information. The Las Vegas strip (above) employs all the senses of touch, sight, smell, hearing and taste to generate a distinct, memorable and unique movement route.

Using misters, sprayers, textured pavements, speakers, etc. the movement route stimulates and engages the user.

Image: Examples of signposts. Google Images.

EEMR 2 - Provision of High Quality Active Movement

Images: Various Google Images. NACTO. DWELL.

The recognised extensive netowrk of secondary and tertiary roads provide solid foundations for enhancing the useability and quality of footpaths to facilitate uptake of cycling and walking. This could be done by maintaining and amplifying five key consideration factors: Cycle Storage

New approaches to cycle storage design will be implemented at locations throughout the neighbourhood, with predominant locations around key cycle routes and commercial centres. Such storage hubs should remain sensitive to the character of the locality, endosring a ‘green’ feel as portrayed by the image to the left.

Crossings

Safety

Surface

Lighting

The importance of movement legibility has been previously acknowledged, however the physical legibility of streets and pavements remain a crucial consideration. Defining the interfaces of routes contribute towards safer footways, especially for elderly users.

Legibility

- New crossings should incorporate curb extensions to improve visibility for pedestrians and reducing crossing distance.

- Curb extensions could also be used to define a transition point from a speed zone/residential area to another.

- Local artists could design crosings to make increase visual interest.

- Surfaces should consider colour contrast, pattern and texture to the character of the area, whilst appropriately implementing aesthetic and intriguing routes.

- Crucially, cycling routes should be smooth and, where possible, flat.

- Lighting should be adequately provided along key movement routes to enhance safety and visiblity.

- Effective and creative lighting could potentially define routes (see far left).

- However, lighting should be used sensitively, as to not detrimentally spill.

A1 - East India Dock Road

Aim: reduce through traffic and place pedestrians and cyclists at the core to connect the high density of residential dwellings to the north-west, alongside creating a seemless transition between the commercial hub to the north-east and the area.

Movement routes that are well-used throughout the day and into the night facilitate social interactions and enhance perception peoples perception of safety through passive observation.

Section of East India Dock Road

Utilising a more traditional sidewalk approach, a wide footpath with seating options encourages both walking and social interactions.

Furthermore, the integration of local shops, restaurants and bars onto the street scene add atmosphere and convey a busy perception. Moreover, the implementation of a ‘walk and sit’ street, would likely increase footfall numbers and duration, crucial for sucesssful retail.

Pervious strips and urban greening running parralel with travel lanes improve aesthetic and also provide an inexpensive infiltration and drainage function.

By segregating transport modes into lanes down a re-invented ‘boulevard’ for East India Dock Road, greater emphasis is placed on safety, whilst not hindering or restricting the flow of movement. The central two travel lanes is responsive to existing private vehicular demands and provides a flexible, foundation space for the transition into future modes of transport e.g. automated cars or hover trains.

Images: Sport England.

NACTO.

A2 - Aspen Way

The existing major intersection leading on to Aspen Way from the south is serviceable, however further enhancements are proposed in line with the above image to make it safer for cyclists and peddestrians, more efficiently manage the flow of traffic and contribute additional public space.

Aim: remove the existing transitionary barrier between Poplar and Canary Wharf.

Image: Raised aspect of cycle superhighway bridging over roads/footpaths/train tracks to ensuring a consistent, fluid route.

Proposed works for this area will involve decking over the Aspen Way, resulting in the A1261 tunneling under the new space.

The result of this would remove the existing hard barrier that Aspen Way currently poses, as the space on top is then used for pedestrians and cyclists to move between Poplar and Canary Wharf.

The re-configuration of the existing cycle superhighway from Poplar High Steer to Aspen Way aims to improve the perception of safety, ease of use and enjoyment. This movement route forms a key aspect of east-west cycling trends, for both the local area and London.

The majority of the path will be at ground level, however raised aspects of will be required to bridge over some features (left).

Greenery will form the facade of the highway, generating a more aesthetic visual and mitigating the offset of masing of any of the raised structures.

The area places emphasis on east-west orientation to increase the permeability across the width of Canary Wharf and Poplar, rather than channeling into one specific area.

Images: NACTO. New Civil Engineer.

A3 - North-South Active Movement Route Aim: implementing a defined north-south movement route to advance connection throughout Poplar and into Canary Wharf, furthering permeability.

Existing

The south aspect of the movement route runs through the proposed green space. The development of this green space with integrated foot and cyle paths seeks to encourage activity for both commuting and leisure.

Meanwhile, the north section of the route through urban areas (Hale Street) implements a more pedestrian orientated approach, using inspiration from a European styled ‘accessway’ road (image below).

Proposed

Images: Various - Google Images. Project for Public Spaces. Bjarke Ingels Gourp. Pixels.

2. HOUSING AND MIXED USE Housing Strategy Areas

Housing Masterplan Market Square

C. 1

East India Square Trinity Gardens Churchyard of All Saints Church C. 2

Poplar Recreation Ground Memorial Park P. 2 Trinity Gardens

Pennyfields Park

Stoneyard Lane Gardens

P. 1

GREENERY & OPEN SPACES Outdoor Sports Facilities

Community Gardens

Parks Civic Spaces

Green Bridges

Green Corridor Connection of Civic Spaces via Movement

Cycle Superhighway DLR Station

Housing Vision

Objectives

Housing which provides quality places to live, work and play for the community with adequate amenities for residents of all ages

1. Increase housing supply and density 2. Improve the efficiency of land use 3. Increase activity on the street through a mixed provision of residential amenities and ground floor retail uses 4. Create a place for the community

SITE 1 - GATEWAY POINT & PENNYFIELDS ESTATES PROBLEM: Ineffective use of land, prevailance of no-mans space (car parks, spaces between backs of buidlings), inactive frontages SOLUTION: Reorganise the urban form, street network and provision of residential amenities, provide social housing in this area

CURRENT IMAGE OF SITE

PROPOSED MASTERPLAN OF SITE

PROPOSAL: Gateway Point

B

A triangle shaped development is proposed in the location owing the shape of the urban form, and the junction of the two main roads (East India Dock Road and Aspen Way).

A

It is proposed that a public space is placed at the tip of the triangle development to provide a buffer between the busy road and rest of estate.

It is suggested that 8 storey, mixed use residential buildings, with retail units at ground floor, border the outside of the triangle, creating a public space in the centre which will include space for children’s play, as well as places for rest and relaxation.

Image: St Pancras Square - Kings Cross

A

Image: Campia-Turzii, Romania - Ateilercetrel

B

As low density housing currently occupies the land, an increased density of mixed use residential is proposed by building taller buildings, while also keeping with the height of the surrounding areas and providing a view of the sky.

It is proposed that this development contains 50% social housing.

A B

C D

A

Image: Kings Crescent Estate, Hackney - National Housing Association

PROPOSAL: Pennyfields Estates A series of 8-storey, ‘L’ shaped residential buildings are proposed with multi-games areas in the centre (each different to allow variation of play for residents of the estate). The estates will be car free, allowing children to play safely. The street network has been altered to improve the flow of movement throughout the estate. It is also proposed that the development is 100% social housing.

Opposite Pennyfields Park and public space, 6-storey, mixed use residential buildings with retail on the ground floor are proposed. The retail units facing the park as well as the residential units above intend to provide passive surveillance of the park during the day and at night reducing anti-social behaviour, as well as increasing activity on the street.

Image: Chobham Manor, Stratford, London - Alison Brooks Architects

D

C

Image: Tybalds Estate Regeneration, London Avanti Architects

B

Image: Chiswick High Road - Brentford and Isleworth

SITE 2 - CHRISP MARKET PROBLEM: Ineffective use of land (horizontally and vertically), poor permeability from East India Dock Road SOLUTION: Provide an easy access way into Chrisp Street Market, retail units at ground floor and residential above arranged in a stepped manor to allow for height while maximising the amount of sky visible at street level, provide a mix of private and social housing

CURRENT IMAGE OF SITE

PROPOSED MASTERPLAN OF SITE

Image: The Brunswick Centre, Bloomsbury - Portico

CASE STUDY: Brunswick Centre, Bloomsbury, London The Brunswick Centre is a Grade II Listed mixed use residential shopping centre.

While residential apartments are situated on top of the shopping centre, at ground floor level, the shopping centre serves a wide range of uses, from a health centre to supermarkets, to retail and restaurants, as well as open public space.

The design of the building features stepped balconies with views into and out of the centre which focusses the pedestrian’s view to the sky and reduces the feeling of enclosure despite the height of the development (about 6 storeys).

The stepped design of the development also enables the maximum amount of sunlight into the public space at the centre of the shopping centre.

This case study is an excellent example of how building design can enhance public space, while also providing high density residential units.

Image: The Brunswick Centre, Bloomsbury - LORENZO ZANDRI

PROPOSAL: Chrisp Street Market A 7-storey, double-sided, stepped balcony building design is proposed on either side of a public square, leading towards the market space.

The double sided stepped balconies would provide overlooking on both sides of the buildings, into the public space and out on to the surrounding streets, reducing the risk of anti-social behaviour and creating a sense of enclosure.

The balconies would also provide some private residential amenity space for the residents, which would be supplimented by the public space in the centre.

At ground level, an improved quality of retail space is proposed, to provide residents and members of the community with stores which meet their needs, while at the same time, providing activity at street level.

Image: Model of the Brunswick Centre - RIBA Collections

Rent collected from stores at ground level would also subsidise the cost of maintaining the building and square, while also providing some income for the council to develop social housing.

1

2 Image: Brunswick Centre - UCL Student Union

Section: West to East through Chrisp Street Market

1:400

1

2

SITE 3 - ASPEN PARK PROBLEM: Hard barrier of road causing a clear separation between Poplar and Canary Wharf, reducing the permeability between sites SOLUTION: Deck over Aspen Way and leave the railway visible, capitalise on the connectivity of the site (in close proximity to Poplar and West India Quay DLR Stations) for high end, high rises, which will provide funding for affordable housing provision and smoothing the height difference between Poplar and Canary Wharf

P. 1

CURRENT IMAGE OF SITE

PROPOSED MASTERPLAN OF SITE Image: Olympic Park, London - Building

CASE STUDY: Olympic Park, Stratford, London The Olympic Park provides a good example of a large park with buildings of interest throughout and buildings lining the canalside.

The design of the park introduces interest points throughout, including the canal, children’s play area, and various buildings or structures such as the velometer and the aquatic centre. Additionally, new developments, including the new UCL East campus which is situated in the Olympic Park.

Around the edge of the park, there are high rise, mixed use, residential buildings who benefit from the park as a place for relaxation and exercise.

This case study provides the foundations for how large parks can be great locations for buildings and how complimentary uses can be combined together.

Image: Olympic Park, London - Jason Hawkes

PROPOSAL: Aspen Park In this highly connected area, in order to increase the accessibility of the station it is proposed that Poplar DLR station is extended at ground level to have two entrances/exits.

The extension of the DLR station exits out onto a public square which is framed by mixed use residential buildings with retail at ground floor. The buildings form a linear view into the new park to the east. The new DLR exit also leads towards the Billingsgate Fish Market which is popular with tourists and locals. The public square would provide a pleasant area to for people to relax and eat outside. The existing entrance to the DLR station will exit out onto the Aspen Park to the west.

2 A P. 1

C

The Billingsgate Fish Market will be intensified in use to provide an enhanced tourist facility, increasing the height of the building to 4 storeys and housing an information centre as well as a locally employed, sourced and curated fish restaurant and urban farm facility. This building has the potential to be intensified further in the future.

D

B

1

As this area is adjacent to Canary Wharf, where there are a large number of tall buildings, it is proposed that medium height buildings (20-30-storeys) are built to smooth the height difference between Poplar and Canary Wharf.

The riverside buildings will be also be mixed use residential with retail at ground floor and front a riverside pathway.

Section: South to North through Poplar DLR station

A

1

Image: Rotterdam Centraal Station - Jurriaan Snikkers

Image: Little Venice, London - Evening Standard

B

1:1000

2

D

C

Image: Granary Square Kings Cross - Evening Standard

Image: Plant Chicago - Cities

SITE 4 - BLACKWATER SQUARE Churchyard of All Saints Church

P. 2

PROBLEM: Vacant and underutilised site next to a busy road network which lowers its sense of place SOLUTION: Build taller on the side parallel to the main road to shield the site from air and noise pollution, take advantage of the site’s close proximity to Blackwater DLR Station, increase the density of housing and sense of place by removing miscellaneous uses and introducing high end mixed use residential buildings which can generate further funding for social housing in the west of Poplar

Image: Broadgate Exchange - Hayes Davidson

CURRENT IMAGE OF SITE

PROPOSED MASTERPLAN OF SITE

CASE STUDY: Broadgate Exchange, London Broadgate Exchange is a large office and retail estate in London which has a large public space (Broadgate Circle) which is framed with tall buidlings around the outside.

During the week, the mix of office and retail coexist, with office workers providing a stream of customers to retail units. During the weekends, the high quality public space attracts members of the public to relax and enjoy, therefore providing activity on the street 7 days a week.

Additionally, the development’s close proximity to Moorgate Station has contributed to the success of the development by providing enhanced accessibility.

This case study demonstrates that the combination of office, retail and residential could work well together, generating activity at all times of the week.

Image: Broadgate Exchange - Produce

Churchyard of All Saints Church

PROPOSAL: Blackwater Square

B

Working in conjunction with local prosperity strategies, mixed use residential with retail at ground floor is proposed in this area.

P. 2

As well as working with local prosperity, this area follows a historical street pattern. 8-storey, mixed use residential buildings are proposed at the top of the area, north of the creative industry office buildings.

At the centre of the area, a public green space is proposed with a pond which links to the canal which leads to Poplar Marina. This public area provides residents with amenity space, as well as a nature walk which they can follow and enjoy.

Image: East Village, Stratford, London - Cycle Score

A

Image: Alderwood Mall, Seattle - Brookfield Properties Inc.

B

A

PROPOSAL: Blackwater Station It is proposed that the bus station is rearranged to make the most efficient use of space next to the DLR station.

Additionally, a new public space/DLR station square is proposed with a 15-storey corner building framing the space. The design of this building aims to sheild the space from noise and air pollution from the parallel main road to the east.

Churchyard of All Saints Church

P. 2

The building will be mixed use residential with retail on the ground floor. This would increase the amount and type of activity on the street, with more people stopping in the area rather than passing through, while also providing amenities for residential and neighbouring office occupants (see local prosperity).

Image: Walthamstow Tube and Bus Station - Guardian

Additionally, the canal extension from Poplar Marina passes in front of the public space provides and area of interest and enhanced public space, as well as a direct pathway to amenities and attractions proposed in the south of Poplar.

Image: Shanghai Hongqiao CBD Office Headquarters Building - LYCS Architecture

Image: Shanghai Hongqiao CBD Office Headquarters Building - LYCS Architecture

3. ANCHORING LOCAL PROSPERITY

This strategy seeks to secure a sustained economic development in Poplar through improving local economic provisions and economic attractiveness.

Local people will be given the top priority to secure sustainable development. Poplar will serve as an anchor to support local needs. This approach will ensure the communities benefit from economic security through increased access to wide range of education/training, job opportunities and shared facilities, which will in turn address the north-south divide of income, education and employment deprivations between Poplar and Canary Wharf.

While anchor also symbolises security and stability, better design and quality of public realm will anchor Poplar to economic prosperity. As evidenced by some literature, public spaces play a key role in supporting a pleasurable, shared experience (Whyte, 1980; Cooper Marcus and Francis, 1998).

From redefining lost spaces to creating the new Aspen Creative Park, this strategy aims to re-brand Poplar as a lively, pleasurable place for people to live and work in. Thus, making it visually and economically attractive to local people, visitors, investors and beyond.

LP1. ASPEN CREATIVE HUB Aspen, also known as a Poplar tree, symbolises opportunity and transformation. Drawing from this inspiration, Aspen Creative Hub will become a new landmark in Poplar symbolising transformation. It aims to improve local economic provisions and economic security by offering workspaces for creative SMEs and light industries, education and training facilities and job opportunities to the local people.

CONTEXT As identified in the SWOT analysis, there is no land for industrial uses in Poplar and office spaces, often expensive, are mainly clustered in Canary Wharf. According to Tower Hamlets Council (2018), there are insufficient creative studios across the borough. Moreover, high number of people in Poplar are either unemployed or attained low qualification levels.

Aspen Creative Hub seeks to create an environment where people from Poplar and its neighbours can enjoy learning and working, which will attract investment to fuel and anchor Poplar's growth.

BRANDING SOUTHEAST POPLAR AS THE NEW POPLAR COMMERCIAL DISTRICT Aspen Creative Hub will be connected to Poplar Business Park by the proposed green corridor, which will be further covered in the Public / Green Spaces section. Commercial buildings will be concentrated in southeast Poplar to form a new node.

DENSIFYING THE EXISTING POPLAR BUSINESS PARK Meanwhile, Poplar Business Park will be densified and be replaced by a skyscraper whilst retaining its business function to maximise Poplar's capacity for economic development and growth.

BUILDING-SCAPE. Replacing existing buildings with developments of at least 100 meter tall will reduce the difference in building heights and subsequently smoothening the transition between Poplar and Canary Wharf.

LEGIBILITY. The new Poplar Commercial District, including Poplar Business Park and Aspen Creative Hub, will become a new landmark. Being easily identified in the urban landscape helps create legibility to the area.

LOCATION STRATEGIC LOCATION. The site is in close proximity to Blackwell DLR station and is to the east of Poplar Business Park, which has substantial potential for redeveloping a skyscraper.

Image: Bird-eye view of the existing Poplar Business Park, to be replaced with skyscrapers.

Introducing Aspen Creative Park next to Blackwell station connects Poplar with other parts in London of commercial importance, including Canary Wharf and Central London.

Image: Example of a skyscraper, 100 Bishopsgate in London. (Brookfiled properties, 2021)

Proposed location for Aspen Creative Hub.

Image: Example of perspective view of buildings with retail shops at ground level in St Helen's Place, London. (Archinect, 2021)

The open space situated in the middle of Aspen Creative Hub seeks to provide a pleasurable meeting place for people to eat and interact.

CASE STUDY: Pangyo 2nd Techno Valley Pangyo 2nd Techno Valley serves as a good example of a trapezium-shaped site where public square is placed in the middle of the site and surrounded on three sides by buildings. Water and green features are visually attractive and allow people to interact with spaces.

Similarly, Aspen Creative Hub will include a large open space with green and water features to enhance visual attractiveness of eastern Poplar.

SOCIAL EXCHANGE. Urban furnitures such as tables with shelters will be used to encourage people to interact with urban spaces as well as other people, hence, a better sense of places.

REINFORCING NORTH-SOUTH CONNECTIVITY AND LINKAGE. A water fountain will be placed in the middle of the site, with an extended vertical waterway leading to Poplar Dock Marina to reinforce north-south connectivity of Poplar alongside the proposed green-corridor to be explained later in the report.

Image: Example of water fountain with an extended vertical waterway; Grand Cascade at Peterhof Palace in St Petersburg. (Je-str, 2016)

Image: Example of trapezium-shaped site in Pangyo 2nd Techno Valley, South Korea (Gyeonggi Housing & Urban Development Corporation, 2016)

Image: Example of tables with shelter in Darling Square, Sydney (WLA, 2020)

Image: Example of green open space surrounded by buildings in Pangyo 2nd Techno Valley, South Korea.

(Gyeonggi Housing & Urban Development Corporation, 2016)

KEY FEATURES ()

• Co-working spaces and small offices will address the growing needs for small, low-cost workspaces accelerated by COVID-19 as more companies adapt to flexible work structure. 25% of those will be affordable.

• Provision of studios and factory spaces will facilitate the growth of creative and light industries, hence, being reinvested to benefit the local economy.

Image: Example of studio for creative industries.

(Designcurial, 2015)

• Affordable education and vocational training will equip local people with access to medium-high level knowledge and skills, hence, improving employment prospect and economic resilience.

• Provision of amenities including cafes, ATMs and tables with shelters in outdoor space will support the needs for those who work there.

• Close proximity to school and nursery proposed in our strategies for housing to provide extra support for working parents.

Image: Example of creative offices. (WE Architecture, 2021)

• Multi-functional studios provide spaces for workshops and seminars to be held, where university and college students can learn from industry experts.

Image: Example of multi-functional workshop studio. (Oceanne, 2021)

Image: Example of small factory for light industries. (Dezeen, 2019) Image: Example of ground floor café within the buildings. (Banks, 2016)

Image: Example of co-working spaces with open meeting rooms. (The Architect's Story, 2018)

LP2. POPLAR HIGH STREET IMPROVEMENT Poplar High Street will be revitalised through better quality and design of public realm to bring vitality to Poplar. It will be enhanced through redesigning store fronts and offering more local economic provisions to re-brand Poplar as a pleasurable place to live, work and study in. Thus, anchoring Poplar to become more economically attractive.

KEY FEATURES • More active store fronts such as cafés and florist

CONTEXT AND LOCATION As outlined in the analysis, most of the shops along Poplar High Street have inactive store fronts. Vacant ground floor spaces also cause the street to seem abondoned. This deteriorates the quality of the public realm and makes Poplar High Street unattractive to the Image: Map showing the location of Poplar High Street. people passing by. Hence, demotivating people to visit the high street whilst reducing Poplar's economic competitiveness, particularly when comparing to its neighbour, Canary Wharf.

• Having majority of the buildings at a height of 5-8 storeys and allowing mix of uses • Densify Poplar High Street by filling the gaps between each building • More street lights and open areas to address safety concerns • Cycle hire stations which extend its reach along Poplar High Street, all the way to the west end of where Pennyfields was originally located • Use of vacant ground floor store spaces for pop-up events and exhibitions • Fill in the gaps between buildings

Sketch of Poplar High Street

LP3. POPLAR SPRING COMMUNITY Poplar Spring is named with the aspiration to anchor Poplar to embrace prosperity. Celebrating the cultural and ethnic diversity of Poplar, Poplar Spring Community Hub seeks to create an equitable space where encourages social cohesion, inclusiveness and self-reliant local economy. Wide range of community facilities will be provided and local businesses will be responsible for providing local goods and services. These services will be accessible to people across different demographic, ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

CONTEXT AND LOCATION The current site consists of a y-junction where Pennyfields and Ming Street are connected to Poplar High Street, as well as a cycle superhighway (CS3) running along Ming Street from Barking to Central London. The surrounding green open spaces are left abondoned and, in Trancik's (1986) term, ‘isolated from the flow of walking activities’ and lost its original nature.

Image: Map of the existing site.

Image: Map showing the new mixed-use space with retail and community facilities.

Therefore, Ming Street will be removed and Poplar High Street will be extended to increase legibility and accessibility, whilst the existing CS3 from Poplar High Street to Ming Street will be re-routed.

The triangular-shaped lost space in between will be redefined through introducing a new mixed-use open space surrounded by 7 8-storey multi-use buildings, aiming to anchor Poplar to reclaim its underutilised economic potential.

Image: Example of stairs in parallel of the front of the building at 300 Ashland in Brooklyn. (Wararkra, 2017)

Image: Example of food market stalls, Borough Market.

(Henderson, 2019)

Cross section of Poplar Spring Community Hub.

INCLUSIVENESS. Buildings will be connected to open space through stairs, which facilitate social interaction. This also reliefs the tension between different ethnic groups resulting from the existing geographical and social segregation.

KEY FEATURES • Shops such as local grocery store and farm shops running by local people to sell essential goods at the bottom floor to provide easy accessible goods to serve everyday needs.

• Rooftop farm and greenhouses where local businesses can use to farm food and plants, which can then be sold at local shops within the same building.

• Open space in front of the buildings will hold themed events including local food, art and craft and flea market on a weekly basis. Local people will be given stewardship to manage these stalls to build community resilience and self-reliance.

Image: Example of rooftop farm in London. (FARM: London, 2021) Image: Example of rooftop greenhouse utilising rooftop space to grow crops. (Urban Design Group, 2016)

• Mixed-use rooms and halls where local people and universities nearby will be able to hire to hold local events and gallery exhibitions.

• GP and dental clinics will serve people living in Poplar especially those from neighbouring residential buildings as the existing clinics are concentrated in the east end of East Indian Dock Road and Canary Wharf.

• Student facilities such as gym and computer rooms will serve students in Poplar, which account for around 14% of the population.

Image: Example of student facilities.

(Michal, 2016)

Image: Example of a local farm shop. (TFF, 2015)

Sketch of a mixed use building in Poplar Spring Community Hub

LP4. EAST INDIA DOCK ROAD IMPROVEMENT: CHRISP MARKET Chrisp Market will be re-designed to ensure the site is legible and accessible in order to maximise its economic potential through changing the existing urban form and utilising spaces more efficiently for retail uses, and more importantly, re-branding the market as a key meeting spot and driving local economic growth.

CONTEXT AND LOCATION Currently, there is not a key local meeting point along East India Dock Road, which in turn negatively affects legibility. In particular Chrisp market is identified to be the key opportunity area for redevelopment due to its central location in East India Dock Road.

As identified in the analysis, the current urban form negatively affects legibility and accessibility to the site. Therefore, the existing buildings in front of Market Square will be demolished and replaced by two mixed-use buildings to improve way-finding.

KEY FEATURES

• Introduce ground floor retail spaces along Kerbey Street and Chrisp Street to densify economic development.

• Relocate the existing Post Office and public library into the new buildings to ensure good accessibility of essential services in the heart of Poplar.

• Buildings facing East India Square will have restaurants with open kitchen and conventional retail shops such as fast fashion brands to attract both local people and visitors, which will be served as an alternative to the Poplar Community Hub where mainly targets local needs.

• Re-brand Chrisp Market as the major meeting place in Poplar to improve legibility and economic attractiveness to investors.

• Ground floors of the majority of the residential buildings along East India Dock Road will transformed to serve retail uses.

CASE STUDY: BRUNSWICK CENTRE Brunswick Centre provides a good example of a mixed-use development where residential uses are placed at the top of the retail shops. The centre offers a wide range of goods and services from retail to supermarket, providing a clear distinction of how open spaces along main road can be utilised.

Map showing Chrisp Market.

Map showing Chrisp Market in relation to East India Dock Road.

Image: Example of retail chains at the Brunswick Centre, London. (Levitt Bernstein, 2021)

Image: Example of ground level restaurants with open kitchen at the Brunswick Centre, London.

(Brunswick, 2021)

LP5. STONEYARD LANE FOOD MARKET Stoneyard Lane Food Market will bring a wide range of cuisine to show appreciation to Poplar's ethnic diversity. To brand Poplar as a cultural inclusive arena, Stoneyard Lane Food Market will provide wide variety of cuisine prepared and sold by local people, anchoring Poplar to become a self-reliant local economy.

The market will adapt a family-friendly approach to improve local provisions across people of all background.

KEY FEATURES

CONTEXT AND LOCATION

• A family-friendly design approach by having pavements of at least 2 meters wide so that baby strollers can pass through

As suggested in the analysis, White British only takes up to onefifth of Poplar's popluation and proportion of other ethnic groups such as Bangladeshi are evenly spreaded. This suggests that ethnic diversity is a great asset of Poplar and should be reflected in the future development.

• Outdoor market with large open space, having tables and chairs to offer a welcoming space for people who belong to the lower socio-economic groups and avoid exaberating social inequalities.

The Stoneyard Lane Food Market will be placed next to Stoneyard Lane Gardens and connected to the proposed large green open space linked to Aspen Way. The site is within 3-minute walk from Poplar DLR station, indicating the opportunity for economic development that attracts both local people and visitors.

• Stalls run by local people with different ethnic backgrounds to promote stewardship.

• Include multi-cultural cuisine to attract tourists and visitors.

• Having pavements throughout the site to facilitate and organise flow of people.

CASE STUDY: CAMBRIDGE MARKET Cambridge market is pedestrianised with wide pavements, which allows families and large households to easily navigate around the site. The market consists of wide range of food including fresh fruits, street foods and ethnic foods.

Image: Example of market selling local fresh produce, Cambridge Market. (Spencer, 2019)

Map showing Stoneyard Lane Market.

Image: Example of market selling local fresh produce in Cambridge Market. (Cambridge Carbon Footprint, 2021)

4.

HISTORY, IDENTITY & PLACE MAKING One of Poplar’s most valuable strengths is its distinct local history and heritage. Poplar is a place with a unique and important story, one that deserves to not only be recognised but explored, developed, and

celebrated There is real value in reflecting on the past and it is that which our vision aims to capture.

By focusing on the processes of reviving, enhancing and preserving Poplar’s history and heritage we hope to ensure Poplar will be a distinct, unique and recognisable place in the future firmly anchored in the historical past that has defined it.

HISTORY, IDENTITY & PLACE MAKING

Revive what has been lost Enhance what has survived •

Reinstate some of the traditional pattern of joined up streets that once connected the area better reflecting the historic built form and its evolution.

•

Re-establish Poplar’s historic link between its local residents and the surrounding water / waterways.

•

Add a satellite London Docklands Museum facility along Poplar High Street expanding on the history of the Poplar area.

•

Provide the public with art installation space dedicated to expressing what Poplar both past, present and future means to them.

•

Strengthen the importance of landmark historic buildings to aid in wayfinding and give the area a clearer identity by creating a heritage trail.

•

Re-invigorate Poplar’s High Street as the historic centre of the area by better defining its form, character and function.

REVIVE WHAT HAS BEEN LOST Reinstate some of the traditional pattern of joined up streets that once connected the area better reflecting the historic built form and its evolution.

By returning to the historic street pattern that once defined Poplar, visitor and resident alike are able to better connect with the past and feel more rooted in a distinct and unique place.

The revived century old streets can take their historic names so as to properly acknowledge their origin.

Sophia Street I Rook Street I Wells Street I Manisty Street The grid pattern reintroduces a legibility to the structure of the urban environment that aids in wayfinding and empowers the pedestrian to explore and discover.

The historic grid pattern also enables Poplar to be more responsive to the changes in its future with the grid proving an endlessly flexible configuration which can accommodate any number of varied uses.

REVIVE WHAT HAS BEEN LOST Reinstate some of the traditional pattern of joined up streets that once connected the area better reflecting the historic built form and its evolution.

East Poplar (1900)

Poplar High Street (1900)

East Poplar (2020)

Poplar High Street (2020)

East Poplar (2046)

Poplar High Street (2046)

REVIVE WHAT HAS BEEN LOST Re-establish Poplar’s historic link between its local residents and the surrounding water / waterways.

Our vision aims to revive Poplar’s lost link with its surrounding waterways but in a modern context, drawing water into the area not for industry or labour but instead for leisure and recreation. It is our objective to anchor Poplar not only to the land but to the water that for so many years defined it.

A key element of this strategy is to draw water into the more urban and built up areas.

This will create corridors which open up movement routes,

extending the reach of London’s waterways and the benefits of interacting with them.

Another aspect of this approach will be embedding static water bodies into Poplar’s parks acknowledging their ability to excite and relax. These ponds and lakes will be places residents and visitors will congregate providing the opportunity for social interaction.

REVIVE WHAT HAS BEEN LOST Re-establish Poplar’s historic link between its local residents and the surrounding water / waterways.

Waterways By focusing on facilitating the transitionary space between water and land through linear spatial expansion, distinct boundary lines are blurred creating active and usable zone.

Steps and an incremental gradient provide a chance for passers by to linger, interact and relax opening up sightlines so as to extend the breadth of the visual scenery.

Boundary Blurring

Cheonggyecheon, Seoul

North Shore Riverfront Park

REVIVE WHAT HAS BEEN LOST Re-establish Poplar’s historic link between its local residents and the surrounding water / waterways.

Ponds Water has a dual purpose, alongside being crucial to people’s perceptions of vitality and health it is also a

habitat able to support an ecosystem of living organisms.

We are proposing that the newly created ponds are designed to encourage as much natural life around them as possible. This means the beds of these ponds should be soft and permeable and therefore capable of sustaining a wide variety of vegetation and biodiversity. Both submerged and emerged plants should be cultivated paying attention to the native context that the intervention takes place.

REVIVE WHAT HAS BEEN LOST Re-establish Poplar’s historic link between its local residents and the surrounding water / waterways.

Concept Inspirations

Collect Pond Park

Chulalongkorn Centenary Park

Zagreb Botanical Garden

REVIVE WHAT HAS BEEN LOST Add a satellite London Docklands Museum facility along Poplar High Street expanding on the history of the Poplar area.

Provide the public with art installation space dedicated to expressing what Poplar both past, present and future means to them.

Having opportunities that offer a chance to both learn and discover as well as express and inform are critical in building strong communities that have a real sense of collective identity.

By expanding the London Docklands Museum to an additional location along Poplar High Street and by focussing its collection on pieces that detail the lives of those who once lived there, local residents are able to better engage in their collective history.

Ideally placed across the road from the New City College it will be instrumental in teaching the generations of tomorrow about the historic context of their built environment.

In combination with this, dedicated public art spaces will be positioned at key gateways into Poplar’s historic heart enabling local residents to express what Poplar both past, present and future means to them.

These spaces will display art on rotation allowing for continual reinterpretation and reimagination broadening both visitors’ and residents perceptions of what Poplar means as a place.

London Docklands Museum

REVIVE WHAT HAS BEEN LOST Add a satellite London Docklands Museum facility along Poplar High Street expanding on the history of the Poplar area.

Provide the public with art installation space dedicated to expressing what Poplar both past, present and future means to them.

Poplar Museum The new museum building will seek to combine the architectural principles of the historic Poplar workhouse with innovative sustainable solutions so as to synthesise both the industrial past and green future within its urban

design.

This building will be an essential element of the urban form because of its interface with both Poplar High Street and Poplar Recreation Ground. It will seek to blend the boundary between the two acting as an anchor, centring the area.

Poplar Workhouse

Union Workhouse

Moesgaard Museum

REVIVE WHAT HAS BEEN LOST Add a satellite London Docklands Museum facility along Poplar High Street expanding on the history of the Poplar area.

Provide the public with art installation space dedicated to expressing what Poplar both past, present and future means to them.

Public Art Space Inspired by a case study in Swansea the public art spaces will take the form of cubes installed into the urban environment that are available to local artists.

The cube has been specifically chosen because of its association with stability and permanence and therefore it has many parallels with considerations of the passing of time. Each face will represent a different side of Poplar, a different perspective, a different viewpoint from which to learn about one another. Digital technology will be incorporated so as to increase the dynamism of the display through the day / night cycle.

Laura Sorvala, Swansea

Moscow

Astor Place

ENHANCE WHAT HAS SURVIVED Strengthen the importance of landmark historic buildings to aid in wayfinding and give the area a clearer identity by creating a heritage trail.

Our vision aims to better coordinate the various heritage assets located throughout Poplar by linking them to a defined route and trail.

A heritage trail provides structure and coherence by curating the sequencing of interactions with heritage spaces, adding depth and meaning to what might otherwise be incidental

building encounters.

By increasing the relevance of heritage assets in the popular consciousness they in turn

All Saints Church

Poplar Rectory

Chrisp Street Market Clock Tower

Poplar Baths

become useful wayfinding assets providing context to, and framing of, the built environment.

155 East India Dock Road

Digital and augmented reality technology can be utilised to further enhance the experience offering an insight into the past function and form of these heritage assets.

133 East India Dock Road

The Lodge

Anchoring Poplar Heritage Trail

St Matthias Church

Poplar Town Hall West India Quay

ENHANCE WHAT HAS SURVIVED Strengthen the importance of landmark historic buildings to aid in wayfinding and give the area a clearer identity by creating a heritage trail.

With historic buildings spread throughout the area, the new Poplar Museum will act as the hub for the trail encouraging its visitors to explore and discover.

Where a heritage asset is located both physical and digital reference points will be erected detailing the building’s story and importance. Each exhibit will suggest another to move on to next shifting people through the urban landscape.

ENHANCE WHAT HAS SURVIVED Re-invigorate Poplar’s High Street as the historic centre of the area by better defining its form, character and function.

Poplar’s High Street will be re-activated by reconfiguring the form of the built environment that runs along it. Inspired by its historic makeup, this intervention will reanimate the High Street and significantly increase the amount of frontage that interacts with it. As High Streets of the past had commercial units on their ground floors and housing above so too does this new development promote a mix of uses. Units will be relatively small reflecting the aspiration to draw in independent local businesses and allow them to grow and thrive.

Salisbury

Barking & Dagenham

Poplar High Street

5. OPEN / GREEN SPACES 5.1. Public space is an integral part of an urban structure of Poplar. Public spaces anchors and integrates essential dimensions of an urban area to create sustainable communities and ensure a sensitive development in future Poplar. Eventually, public space should improve health, safety, environment, economy and social inclusion in Poplar.

5.2. Those improvements only can be achieved if good quality open space is promoted. Open spaces in Poplar must follow 5 main principles: accessibility, comfort, safety, active use, walkability. It is important that existing open spaces should also ensure implementation of those 5 principles by applying appropriate maintenance regime.

5.3. Following typologies of open spaces is dominated and proposed in Poplar. Open spaces have to be developed and connection created to create an integral network.

Parks and gardens – including urban parks, country parks and formal gardens.

Green corridors – including river and anal banks, cycleways and rights of way.

Outdoor sports facilities (with natural or artificial surfaces and either publicly or privately owned) – including tennis courts, bowling greens, sports pitches, golf courses, athletics tracks and school and other institutional playing fields.

Allotments, community gardens and city (urban) farms Cemeteries and churchyards.

Civic spaces – including civic and market squares, and other hard-surfaced areas designed for pedestrians.

5.4. The urban greenery is the major component of the future Poplar’s network of open spaces. Therefore, a vertical and horizontal physical integration of greenery and open spaces is promoted.

A natural landscape is promoted to be developed vertically by supplementing horizontal public landscaping. The urban greening must create mutually beneficial relationships between the city, open space, natural and built environment.

Following strategic policy objectives are set on short (2-5 years), medium (10 – 15 years), long terms (20 -30). The term is indicative and only provides a distinction between small or temporary interventions, which accommodate and celebrate the change of Poplar, and major or significant developments, which changes the urban structure and makes economic, social and environmental impacts.

Vertical and Horizontal Integration

SHORT-TERM 5.5 Protect and ensure a maintenance of mature large trees in streets. Mature big trees are essential components of the built environment to promote seasonal interest.

Trees and green spaces foster community cohesion by creating a sense of place, a local identity and a system of landmarks. It can be implemented in a short term and support a medium- and long-term urban interventions.

Tree Size Comparison

The case study: Accordia, Cambridge This award-winning residential scheme developed by Countryside Properties next to the Botanic Gardens in Cambridge created over 370 new homes. The development integrated pre-existing mature vegetation in the Accordia development gives a unique forest feel to the new neighbourhood.

5.6. Promote green façade and living boundary walls. Publicly owned and small private dwellings should become more greener to promote vertical greenery integration.

The case study: Urban forestry integration in new development, Accordia, Cambridge.

The case study: Living Wall, West Hampstead The living wall captures an attention and makes a design statement in the driveway of privately owned home. Modular design solutions were adopted that let to work around the features in the wall. It can be implemented in a short term and support a medium- and long-term urban interventions.

The case study: Living Wall, West Hampstead

5.7. Bridges for transport and pedestrians must become greener to make structures more attractive, appellant, safe and integrative into urban fabric. It must be implemented in a short term and support a medium- and longterm urban interventions. Potential places for intervention is demonstrated in a diagram.

Location of green bridges Example of greener structure

5.8. A space underneath bridge structures must become greener to make structures more attractive, appellant, safe and integrative into urban fabric. It can be implemented in a short term as a temporary urbanism.

Example of greenery intervention

5.9. A design, creation and maintenance of open spaces must actively involve communities. Involve stakeholders for more active participation in public space by creating a sense of ownership of place and providing skills and training in ecology and urban greening. Residents also must be involved designating a place for planting and maintaining greenery stock of the area.

5.10. Enhance sustainable use of local resources to support community gardening.

Local green waste should be collected and re-used for composting to contribute towards local resource production and a circular economy. It can be implemented in a short term and support a medium- and long-term urban interventions

The case study: Croydon tree station The case study: London Borough of Hackney

Croydon tree station: turning waste into revenue for off-setting tree management costs. Green waste collected at household waste recycling centres is mixed with waste from parks maintenance and arboricultural work to produce compost branded and commercialised as “Croypost”.

The borough undertakes a consultation, based on a simple yes/no survey with their neighbours. The goal of the survey is to determine whether there is support for planting along the street, and if people will assist with the watering and monitoring of the newly planted trees. If the consultation results demonstrate a good level of support, the local tree champion is invited to join a small tree group.

The case study: community participation, London Borough of Hackney

The case study: Croydon tree station.

5.11. Create resource cycles and sociotechnical interactions of the terrabioponic smart-garden systems to deliver digital and socio-economic components on community level. It promotes community participation, civic economy and circular economy among community members within the area. It can be implemented in a short term and support a medium- and long-term urban interventions.

5.12. Enhance public community gardens accessible by all residents. There is an opportunity for filling gaps of space among free built typologies apartment buildings.

Community gardens should create a synergy with policy objective of local resource production. It can be implemented in a short term and support a medium- and long-term urban interventions.

Example of public community garden

Terrabioponic smart-garden systems

Location for community gardens

MEDIUM-TERM 5.13. Install green facades on external walls of commercial property to promote vertical integration of urban greenery

5.14. Create green corridors to provide social, economic and environmental benefits to the high streets and establish active pedestrian and non-motor vehicles movement routes which provides cross Poplar movement and connects Canary Wharf.

The case study: Living Wall, Walthamstow This project was funded by TFL (Transport for London) and was a large-scale scheme to improve air quality in one of the most polluted parts of London. Selbourne Road in Walthamstow has suffered from one of the worst ratings of air quality in England. The green façade was installed which supported other solutions such as promoting healthier transport methods, removing a car lane and giving a highest priority to pedestrians.

The case study: Living Wall, Walthamstow

Green Corridors

5.15. Establish a network of Civic Spaces which contribute towards social, economic and environmental enhancement of communities in Poplar. New Civic Spaces (C.1, C.2) should create a synergy among existing opens spaces (Market Square and East India Square) to increase permeability for visitors.

Example of Civic Spaces with Urban Trees

New Civic Spaces

5.16. Urban trees are used for achieving more integrated and higher quality network of a public transport. Urban trees must be an integral part of new and existing bus stops and routes of public transport to reduce traffic congestion and pollution by making bus travel easier and more attractive.

The case study: Greater Bristol Bus Network The result will be a more effective and attractive bus system and a safer, higher quality environment for other street users as demonstrated along Whiteladies Road.

It proved to be effective in high street working better not only for buses but also for pedestrians and local businesses.

5.17. All existing building stock must be integrated with a block SUDS systems which are an integral component of green public landscape.

The case study: Augustenborg area of Malmo, Sweden The neighbourhood of Augustenborg has experienced a socio-economic decline in recent decades, and at the same time suffered from floods caused by overflowing drainage systems. Significant physical changes in infrastructure took place as a result, focusing on the creation of sustainable urban drainage systems, including ditches, retention ponds, green roofs and green spaces.

The case study: landscape water management improvement in exisintg building stock, SUDS Augustenborg area of Malmo, Sweden

The case study: Urban Trees in realtion to Public Transport, Greater Bristol Bus Network

5.18. All development with flat roof must integrate green roofs and create an accessible semi-private open space for occupiers of the building. New major development have to combine and adopt innovative solutions for ensuring vertical and horizontal greenery integration goals and sustainable use of resources for the local eco-system.

LONG-TERM 5.19. All high-rise buildings should contribute towards vertical greenery integration. Green façades of new buildings have to integrate green façade systems or balconies with planted trees or shrubs.

Example of vertical greenery integration

Example of Green Roof

5.20. All new major development must to provide a good quality public landscape to contribute a horizontal greenery integration.

The greenery should be formed in semi-private open spaces within a perimeter block.

The case study: good quality open space, St Andrews Bromley-by-Bow, London

The case study: St Andrews Bromley-by-Bow, London St Andrews is a landmark regeneration scheme being delivered in partnership by Barratt Homes, the London Development Agency, the Homes and Communities Agency and Circle Anglia. The scheme will deliver high-quality new homes, a new NHS health care facility, one hectare of gardens and parks and a new community facility.

Example for semi-private accessible roof as open space

The case study: perimeter block with inner open spaces, St Andrews Bromley-by-Bow, London

5.21. Integrate green landscape of existing and new open spaces for supplementing traditional storm water management infrastructure.

5.23. All car parks must integrate a permeable green pavement, urban trees and electric charging stations.

The case study: Minneapolis’s stormwater system Trees provided saving $2 million of sewer refurbishing. Rather than spending $3.5m on refurbishing its sewer system with larger pipes, the city engineers chose to spend $1.5m on taking an integrated approach to tree planting and stormwater management. Modelling showed a 10% reduction in peak lows to Minneapolis’s stormwater system because of this installation. (trees in townscape)

Example of green car park layout

5.22. The new development must integrate SUDS into a natural landscape and replace traditional rainwater drain systems in all new development where it is possible.

Example of SUDS integration into open space

5.24. The old rail depot and rail transport station have to be integrated into urban structure to create a better connection among Poplar and Canary Wharf. Greenery can integrate a fragmented urban structure by mitigating negative impact of railway infrastructure. Potential locations: Lane Gardens and P.1.

The case study: the Singapore Rail Corridor The Singapore Rail Corridor is more than a park connector or a trail; it is an inspired community space offering an extraordinary experience that will be a lasting legacy for all Singaporeans

The case study: Greenery and Rail Infrastructure, the Singapore Rail Corridor

The case study: Greenery Integration, the Singapore Rail Corridor

5.25. The new park P.1 is planned to be developed. There is an opportunity to create a green seamless connection among Poplar and Canary Wharf and enhance a potential of rail transport node.

5.32.. The new park P.2 is planned to be developed in relation to development of new Housing block.

5.26. Outdoor Sport Facilities are planned to be developed to achieve a good quality public space.

5.27. Further development of Poplar Recreation Ground Memorial Park to create a better spatial integration with the existing churchyard in relation to green corridors crossing the area.

5.28. Further development of Pennyfields Park to create a better spatial integration and good quality open space.

5.29. Expand and integrate Stoneyard Lane Gardens with a Green Corridor and existing rail infrastructure to establish a good quality connection with Canary Wharf.

5.30. Create a good quality and well integrated park in Trinity Gardens to support a Green Corridor towards new Civic Spaces.

5.31. Create the park and integrate the Churchyard of All Saints Church to create a good quality open space for a community and to promote greenery and heritage integration.

Parks and Outdoor Sports Facilities

Image: Kings Cross Kings Cross

DELIVERY

PHASING & FUNDING

PHASING

PHASE 1 (5 YEARS)

Strengthen the importance of landmark historic buildings to aid in wayfinding and give the area a clearer identity by creating a heritage trail.

Provide the public with art installation spaces dedicated to expressing what Poplar both past, present and future means to them.

Implementation of wayfinding signage in and around transport hubs, public spaces and foot/cycle paths.

PHASE 2 (10 YEARS) Redevelop social housing for Pennyfields Estates.

Re-invigorate Poplar’s High Street as the historic centre of the area by better defining its form, character and function.

Redevelop Chrisp Street Market Remove Ming Street and extend Poplar High Street over Pennyfields to improve way-finding.

Rerouting the cycle superhighway from Ming Street to Pennyfields.

Redevelop area adjacent to Blackwater DLR station to improve access to the east of the site.

Reinstate some of the traditional pattern of joined up streets that once connected the area better reflecting the historic built form and its evolution.

Revitalise East India Dock Road and Poplar High Street with better design of public realm and built form pattern.

Wide implementation of high quality foot/cycle paths throughout Poplar, including delivery of north to south connections running through Poplar

Implement temporary urban greening along Aspen Way.

PHASE 3 (10+ years) Decking over Aspen Way to provide the pubic park and reconfiguring the cycle super highway.

Extending Poplar DLR Station.

Developing riverside and parkside private housing and temporary food market area.

Redevelop mixed use social housing for Gateway Point.

Develop creative industry area with mixed use residential in site north of Blackwater DLR Station Re-establish Poplar’s historic link between its local residents and the surrounding water / waterways.

FUNDING Funding for the regeneration project will be recieved at varying points for the furation of the regeneration scheme.

Funding for the project will come from a variety of different organisations ranging from government organisation to private bodies.

This diagrams suggest where potential funding for each of the strategies may come from.

Homes England Tower Hamlets Council Community Fund Greater London Authority Local Enterprise Partnerships

Community Fund

PPPs Future High Streets Fund

Future High Streets Fund

Local Prosperity

Tower Hamlets Council PPPs

Future High Streets Fund

Future High Streets Fund Welcome back fund

Greater London Authority

Section 106

Open and Green Space

Tower Hamlets Council

National Lottery Heritage Fund National Lottery England

Greater London Authority

Highways England

Section 106

CIL

Welcome back fund

Housing

History

Tower Hamlets Council

Welcome back fund

CIL

National Lottery Heritage Fund

English Heritage

CIL

Greater London Authority Section 106

National Lottery England

Section 106 Greater London Authority

Movement Future High Streets Fund

Welcome back fund Tower Hamlets Council

CONCLUSION

CONCLUSION Taking inspiration from the name Poplar, our vision seeks to anchor Poplar in the symbolic meaning of its name - Prosperous - Transformative - Visionary Our vision seeks to anchor Poplar into the London landscape as a destination whilst celebrating its history.

This is achieved through the promotion of health and wellbeing, local biodiversity and local economic prosperity. By creating initiatives and resources for the civic economy, our vision promotes sustainable communities by anchoring 5 foundational strategies.

OBJECTIVES Anchoring placemaking in Poplar by: 1. Connecting existing movement patterns to Poplar 2. Increasing activity on the street as well as housing supply 3. Improving the local economic prosperity of the area and investing in the community 4. Strengthening Poplar’s link to its history 5. Improving the quality and quantity of the area’s open and green spaces

ANCHORING POPLAR

Remembering the past and looking to the future

Image: Elizabeth Quay The Towers at Elizabeth Quay

CONTRIBUTORS Harry Introduction Context

Movement Analysis and Strategies

Amy Vision panel

Strategic Vision

Housing Analysis and Strategies Conclusion

Document organisation

Charlie History Analysis and Strategies

Pui Kwan Local Prosperity Analysis and Strategies

Ignas Open/Green Space Analysis and Strategies

All SWOT

Concept Map Masterplan Strategies Phasing Funding

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