Wood Green Town Centre
2015–2018
Client Organisation
London Borough of Haringey
Client Contact
Beth Kay, Head of Regeneration
Date
2015–2018
Consultant Team
Fluid lead / PM with Soundings Consultation, Aecom and Cushman & Wakefield
Fee Value
£350,000
Project Director
Christina Norton / Afolabi Spence
Award
New London Architecture Award 2016, Commended in Masterplan & Area Strategies Category. Good Growth Fund
Category
Regeneration | Masterplan | Area Action Plan | Opportunity Sites Feasibility
Fluid was appointed by the London Borough of Haringey in April 2015 to develop an Investment Framework (IF) and masterplan for Wood Green Town Centre to deliver over 5,000 homes and 14,000 new jobs. The vision is for Wood Green to be known as more than a destination for shopping. The Investment Framework focuses on the provision of a balanced community where there are places to live, work, play and shop.
As the Investment Framework was to be supported by an Area Action Plan, Fluid worked together with Haringey to carry out the ‘Issues and Options’ and ‘Preferred Options’ consultation. The Area Action plan was adopted in 2017 and carries forward many of the recommendations. The IF set out a detailed and proactive policy framework to guide development, regeneration and investment over the next 25 years. This included a vision for how this can be realised spatially and describes in detail the financial practicalities of delivery.
The spatial framework sets out a network of improved pedestrian routes to unite the currently disconnected areas and help bind together new retail, working, living and leisure destinations all tied to the anticipated Crossrail 2 station, whilst new landscaping allowed greenery to once again become part of the area’s identity.
The regeneration strategy was based on extensive site analysis and research into the socio-cultural and economic vitality of the area. Fluid carried out a number of separate studies including a ‘Characterisation and Placemaking Study’ and an ‘Economic Vitality Study’ The latter involved engaging with over 300 local businesses, many of whom were located in the ‘Cultural Quarter’. Located between the town centre and Alexandra Palace Park the ‘Cultural Quarter’ lacked visibility and coherent links to the town centre and stations.
The strategy response was to enhance east-west links, improve public realm and relocate the council offices and town hall to provide centre of gravity for footfall opening up the vacated land to create a Liveable Neighbourhood at heart of the town centre delivering social / council housing. The town centre has been successful in winning Good Growth funding to support the regeneration and build on the positive meanwhile uses strategy that has brought in new workspace, culture and social life to the area.
Sister company Soundings was appointed by the Council directly to deliver an extensive engagement and consultation process. They coordinated outreach consultation targeting residents, hard to reach groups, high street retailers and a business forum at each stage to tune the emerging masterplan to local needs and desires. A consultation hub was also set up in a large, vacant retail unit, where exhibitions and workshops of all kinds were held.