Westway Urban Design Strategy
2018–2019

Client Organisation
Westway Trust

Partner/Funder
GLA

Client Contact
Alex Russell, Joint CEO Westway Trust

GLA Contact
Mathilde Lebron, Regen Team

Project Date
2018–2019

Consultation Team
Fluid

Fee Value
£70,000

Project Director
Christina Norton / Afolabi Spence

Award
Good Growth Fund (Round 2 Jan 2020)

Westway estate vision
‘The Westway will be a rejuvenated, well-used and valued community space. In will be an inclusive and welcoming public ‘street’ that is green, clean and safe. A place where people feel proud and celebrate its heritage, culture and creativity. And where there is a flourishing local economy that directly benefits local people’

Fluid was appointed by the Westway Trust to develop an urban design strategy for the 23 acres of land they manage on behalf of the local community under the Westway flyover in west London. The strategy sets out a vision for the Westway estate over the next 10 years to deliver physical improvements, renewal and better economic and other opportunities for local people. The work is supported through the Mayor of London’s Good Growth Fund and addresses the Good Growth themes of Empowering People, Making Better Places and Growing Prosperity.

The strategy was developed through a robust co-design process based on a comprehensive and collaborative engagement process with the local community and stakeholders from winter 2018 to summer 2019. As part of the Trust’s efforts towards greater openness in the way they work, the Trust organised regular Public Forums open to the local community to have their say and influence decision making. Fluid worked closely with the Public Forum to discuss the developing strategy and allow people to share their views. Feedback from the Public Forum helped to inform and shape the final vision and strategy for the Westway estate. The final strategy sets out the quick wins, short-term and long-term vision focused on social, economic, environmental and cultural opportunities.

The outcome was a set of overarching community objectives that were tested at 4 area workshops leading to the development of six urban design principles to deliver the objectives. These included: Creating a Community Street, Welcoming Gateways and Connections, Activating the Public Realm, Green & Clean, Arts Culture & Creativity and Thriving & Sustainable Economy. The six principles will be delivered along the length of the Westway Trust estate to create a cohesive and unified place and identity and connect to wider urban fabric east-west and north-south.

As well as an overarching vision and street actions, Fluid produced five Area Strategies for sections of the estate, showing how the principles could deliver better places, opportunity for affordable workspace and an improved environment. These were broken down into quick wins, short, medium and long-term projects and whether they could be delivered by the Trust or in partnership with others.