Church Street neighbourhood floats idea of canal-side market
Published: 11 June, 2010
by JAMIE WELHAM
A FLOATING canal-side market could be the centrepiece of a multi-million pound regeneration plan for one of Westminster’s most deprived neighbourhoods.
The idea is among a number put forward by people in the Church Street area, following the first round of consultation on the landmark scheme.
Groups, including residents’ associations, businesses, Transport for London and British Waterways, have all asked to contribute to the masterplan being drawn up by the planning consultancy Urban Initiatives.
Other ideas include a new indoor market with workshop space close in style to the Lanes shopping area in Brighton and erecting a new pier alongside the canal. Improvements to housing, more cycle routes and better lighting under the Westway were also suggested.
Urban Initiatives will report back to Westminster City Council with a range of options next months with a view to having the masterplan complete by December.
The city council’s cabinet member for housing Philippa Roe said these ideas were a big step forward in starting the consultation process to regenerate the neighbourhood.
She said: “These are ambitious and exciting ideas that could transform Church Street for generations to come. This project tackles much more than housing and covers everything from providing more job opportunities for local people to improving facilities in the area.
“Residents’ views are at the heart of this project and we want the wider community to tell us what they think. In the coming months, we shall encourage residents to get involved in the decision making process and tell us how they would like their neighbourhood improved.”
Despite being a 10-minute walk from the West End, Church Street suffers from some of the worst levels of deprivation in the capital. The council plans to finance the project by using a mixture of investment from private developers and central government.