Regeneration project: Green Lanes

Green Lanes has received £99,000 from Round One of the Outer London Fund, and is getting £1.9m from Round Two, matched by £220,000 from Haringey, to give this buzzing high street the environment it deserves. Formerly one of Victorian London’s finest shopping streets, Green Lanes has suffered from limited investment and upkeep over the years. Despite this, a thriving and diverse community and a rich variety of independent shops and eateries give it a lively personality. An energetic Traders Association working with Haringey Council have helped develop a programme of improvements to smarten up shop fronts, declutter pavements, and slow and reduce motor traffic along the high street. Several street corners have also turned into new public spaces where shoppers can linger and enjoy the atmosphere.

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Animating places

The regeneration of the area was first signalled in early 2012 by a shop front art project, funded by Round One of the Mayor’s Outer London Fund. This smartened up seven vacant shops on the high street in an attempt to increase local interest in Green Lanes’ bid for further Outer London Fund investment. Following success in the second round of the fund, work started in earnest to develop a wide programme of improvements to give Green Lanes an environment befitting its distinctive personality.

Public spacess

Green Lanes is benefiting from public space improvements to support the lively high street character. East Architecture Landscape Urban Design have designed a scheme to turn the corners of Green Lanes linear high street into eight new ‘micro-squares’, offering people somewhere to stop and enjoy a coffee or snack, or just rest their feet. New signage around Green Lanes train station will lead visitors to the high street. They will also be welcomed by a bold mural on the railway bridge, thanks to TfL who is painting the bridge sign for free. TfL are also making improvements to pavements, surfaces, crossings, parking facilities, bus stops, provisions for cyclists and adding trees, benches and bins along the high street.

Hosting events

The first Harringay Green Lanes Food Festival, organised by the Harringay Green Lanes Traders Association in 2009, drew some 10,000 visitors in a celebration of local culture and cuisine, that took over the whole high street. The second Food Festival in September 2011 confirmed the success of this community event. It attracted 20,000 visitors who enjoyed food stalls, live performances and many other activities. There has also been a Christmas Market and a pop-up shop, used as an information point and consultation space to get locals involved in the redesign of Green Lanes.

Supporting business

The Harringay Green Lanes Traders Association has been boosted by investment from the Outer London Fund grant, which it was also instrumental in securing. As well as organising events like the Food Festival and a Christmas Market, the association has introduced a loyalty card scheme to promote shopping on Green Lanes. Led by enthusiastic and entrepreneurial individuals, the group has spoken on behalf of the entire business community, ensuring they continue to thrive.

Building frontages

An extensive programme of renovations designed by East Architecture Landscape Urban Design working with a number of other designers, is underway to spruce up Green Lanes. Thirty premises will benefit from improvements including everything from facade cleaning, relocation of satellite dishes and superficial redecoration to the replacement of entire shop fronts. Innovative works to contemporary buildings is complementing the renovation of historic facades. This will create a revitalised streetscape that expresses the heritage and vibrancy of Green Lanes.

Stewardship

The first round of Outer London Fund investment was used to support the Harringay Green Lanes Traders Association. The group has brought together businesses and residents in partnership to determine the future of the area. It has played an important role in bidding for and securing a second round of support from the Fund and has been an active force in the design development of improvements to Green Lanes.

Borough: Haringey

Partners/client: LB Haringey

Consultants: East Architecture Landscape Urban Design

Funding: Mayor of London £319,000, LB Haringey £220,000