Agenda item

This Scrutiny is focussed on the work of the Growth Zone Sub Group Place, Public Realm, Culture and Meanwhile, particularly informing the development of the Five Year Public Realm Programme.

The Director of Growth provided the Committee with an outline of the Growth Zone scheme, noting that Croydon’s plans had been approved by Cabinet and the Government in the summer 2016 which enabled a loan to the council for infrastructure programmes. Key aspect of the Growth Zone project was public realm improvements.

The Interim Head of Spatial Planning informed the Committee that public realm had been developed under the Growth Zone to build upon previous projects to take into account the evolving priorities, including wellbeing, culture, and financial benefits. As part of the five year programme there would be a series of Cabinet reports, with the Growth Zone report due to go to Cabinet in December 2017.

While it was noted that to deliver such a programme would take time to design, consult upon and implement, it was important that the programme encouraged the activation of culture within the area. To ensure the best programme the Committee were asked to provide their views on the three questions outlined the report.

The Committee were informed that evidence showed that the quality of the public realm directly influenced the decisions of investors, and thus had a financial impact on the borough on the business rates achieved. The introduction of three large organisations to the opportunity area was seen in some part due to the improvements to the public realm, especially following the introduction the policy outlining the quality and building materials that should be used by private developers when delivering public realm.

The increased focus on delivering healthy streets was noted as an important factor in ensuring the delivery of successful spaces which enabled interesting activities for everyone throughout the day.

Lucy Saunders of the Greater London Authority informed the Committee that the healthy streets approach had been developed with the question of how we use public space and how it impact on our health at the core. The indicators included; are people choosing to walk and cycle, are the spaces easy to cross, are they safe, is there shade and stop points, and low pollution levels. It was stated that healthy streets were part of the Mayor’s agenda as it was noted that if the streets improved then health improvements would be witnessed.

The Creative Director informed the Committee that public realm had an impact on cultural regeneration, with work beginning to make College Green from being one of the most unsuccessful examples of public realm to one of the most successful spaces.

The Committee were informed that it had been found culture could be used to develop other public spaces by animating or activating the space. Culture, it was stated, could change the character of the space and make it feel safer, and thus a more attractive area to be in and walk through.

Members were shown examples of Meanwhile projects which showed how interactions with sites could change with the introduction of cultural activities. Students were working with the council to change the way people interacted with Wandle car park through a Meanwhile activity. Additionally, at the end of 2017 it was planned there would be a large scale lighting projection project in Croydon across three sites. This project would be positive, celebratory and seasonal, and it was hoped would encourage people to visit the sites to see what was happening.

The Interim Head of Spatial Planning informed Members that they were looking to achieve a greater provision of public realm, and increased levels of walking and cycling which would facilitate in the continually changing perception of Croydon. It was noted that there had been some good interventions around East and West Croydon stations, however focus was to move to the mid-Croydon area including St Georges Walk and the Katherine Street area. It was further recognised that the Dingwall Loop tram proposal also provided an opportunity for further public realm improvements. The plan was that once the improvements to mid-Croydon were made then attention would be turned to the Old Town.

Members were positive about the work that had been outlined and that officers were looking towards the Croydon of the future and were pleased that there was an energy and desire to deliver the project.

Committees stressed that it was important that while the large schemes were being delivered that the health outcomes were being maximised with the areas being kept clean and tidy. It was further recognised that streets would be healthier if trees were replaced if felled and open space was protected and utilised, where possible.

In response the question posed in the report, Members stated that it was important that the council was honest when undertaking the consultation as often the public felt that they had a strong influence on the outcome. It was imperative that relationships were built as it was a great opportunity to seek the views of the public and organisations.

Members stated they were pleased to hear that inclusiveness was an integral part of the public realm project and questioned whether safe spaces would be built into the public realm to enable those who felt threatened somewhere they could go.

In response to Member questions, the Interim Head of Spatial Planning stated that trees were an important component, however schemes needed to be well designed and greening needed to be in proportion but were recognised for their benefits, including the provision of shade.

The public realm projects being discussed would be part of the Opportunity Area which would see growth, and as such it was important that the developed areas provided open spaces for all ages and groups. To ensure high quality public realm was delivered the public realm design guide would be reviewed and the lifetime cost of the schemes would be taken into consideration.

Officers acknowledged the importance of providing appropriate facilities and safe spaces and were engaging with the Public Health team to develop the ideas which would be incorporated within the revised public realm design guide.

In regards to ensuring there was meaningful engagement officers confirmed that a communication strategy was to be developed and would include engagement with businesses. However, while the public realm projects would be focussed on the town centre it was acknowledged that the impacts would be experienced across the borough, and as such the Committee were assured that consultation would be undertaken across the borough.

The Cabinet Member for Homes, Regeneration and Planning confirmed that the council would need to be honest about the level of influence and what could be achieved. It was acknowledged that public realm improvements would benefit the whole borough, but people’s expectations needed to be managed.

In response to Member question the Committee were informed that while greenery was not a specific indicator within the healthy streets indications, it was a contributor to all ten indicators.

Officers stated that parks improvements were part of a number of projects, of which the Growth Zone was one factor, and confirmed that legacy components would be picked up. It was stressed that the Growth Zone was around activation, however ensuring groups were working together would be ensured.

Members raised concerns that the works completed in South End had widened the pavements but had removed the cycle lane, which it was felt was not the right balance.

The Committee further raised concerns in regards to the East Croydon masterplan which it was felt was not properly consulted on and was business driven. The bridge across the railway line was also felt to have failed to deliver a meaningful connection to Addiscombe. The Chair further noted that road safety had not been improved on Addiscombe Road or Cherry Orchard Road, in particular for cyclists.

It was noted that it was important to be clear as to the outcomes of Growth Zone; which would include more homes in the town centre, more jobs, fewer cars; which would lead to the benefit of more art and culture.

The Committee noted that the public realm improvements would be focussed to Croydon town centre, but stressed that it would be important that the quality of the public realm did not degrade as soon as someone stepped out of the town centre and requested that the principles of good public realm would be extended to those within walking distance of the town centre.

The Director of Growth confirmed that they were looking at extending into the corridors that fed into the town centre. There were a mix of schemes and there was acknowledgement that there would be more people and so there was a focus on public transport to ensure it would be able to cope with the additional pressure. While it was noted that the car had been the dominant mode of transport to access Croydon in the past, and that it was important that traffic was able to flow through the roads, there were no projects that sought to increase traffic in the town centre. The Cabinet Member for Homes, Regeneration and Planning stated that one of the successes would be to slow traffic through Croydon, and as such work would continue to make Wellsley Road greener and increase the number of pedestrian crossings.

The Cabinet Member suggested that further aspects of the Growth Zone could be considered by the Committee at future meetings to ensure Members had a complete view of the projects. Furthermore, the Cabinet Member stated that they would be happy to arrange engagement sessions with councillors to discuss the plans before going to Cabinet, and the Chair confirmed that a walkabout that took place before the meeting had enabled Members to gain an understanding of the new spaces and how they were used.

In reaching its recommendations, the Committee made the following CONCLUSIONS:

• That the aims of the programme were endorsed;
• The infrastructure needed to be built, both for those who lived and worked in Croydon presently and for those in the future;
• That the introduction of more street trees was encouraged;
• That the challenge of engaging with councillors and the public was recognised as ongoing; and
• That the Council needed to be more confident in communicating how the town centre would change.

The Committee RESOLVED to recommend to Cabinet that:

1. The principles of the programme be endorsed;
2. The engagement programme be honest with the aims of the project and limitations to ensure people are aware of what can be achieved;
3. Future reports and engagement activities clearly communicate how the town centre would change from the Masterplan (2007/8) and into the future (2025); and
4. Those with disabilities are taken into consideration when designing schemes and consulting.