London Mayor dishes Dalston dosh

By Hackney Citizen | Friday 19 March 2010 at 10:26
Hackney Council wins £2.3million to transform Dalston town centre
Hackney Council will be getting £1.3million from the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, to transform Kingsland High Street as part of the council’s major improvements to Dalston town centre.
It will also be getting an additional £1m from the London Development Agency (LDA) as part of its commitment to supporting the Council to transform Dalston.
The funding was granted after the Council submitted proposals developed with Design for London to transform the area, which include better walking and cycling routes, planting more trees to make the town centre greener, and providing improved lighting.
There will also be new crossing points between Ridley Road and Dalston Kingsland station, and the relocation of bus stops and cycle stands.
The council says further plans to make the town centre easier and safer to get around include dropped kerbs for wheelchair users and those with pushchairs, safer crossings for blind and visually impaired pedestrians, 20mph speed limits and introduction of CCTV.
It is hoped the improvements will make what is already a popular town centre for shoppers and tourists even more attractive for local people and visitors alike.
The £1.3m funding is part of Transport for London’s Local Implementation Plan Major Schemes programme to help transform the capital in time for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Councillor Alan Laing, Hackney Council’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said, “Securing this funding, together with the money already secured from the LDA, will help us transform Kingsland High Street and build on our investment within the Dalston area, and is welcome news indeed. We’re delighted that TfL [Transport for London] supported our exciting proposals and we look forward to this transformation to a key town centre and gateway into the borough.”
Mayor of London Boris Johnson, said, “When the world comes here during the 2012 Games we want the place to look its best and for people to have enjoyable journeys through the area. These great projects will help enhance the capital as a whole, giving local communities and visitors improved public space, and providing a legacy for London that lasts for many years to come.”
Peter Bishop, London Development Agency Group Director for Design, Development and Environment, said, “The centre of Dalston is going through a transformation. These proposals will improve links between Dalston’s existing communities with the town centre and create a series of public spaces.  The London Development Agency’s investment and partnership with Hackney Council will really make the most of the opportunities brought to Dalston by the East London Line extension.”
The transformation of Kingsland High Street links closely with the Dalston masterplan which the Council adopted in January following consultation with residents, community groups and local businesses. The council says the masterplan “is designed to guide growth and investment in Dalston over the next 15 years,  while ensuring  Dalston’s distinct character that makes it such a popular destination for residents and visitors is strengthened.”
A new London Overground station will be opened at Dalston Junction by June and it is estimated that up to five million people could use the station every year. Around the station,  the Council is working with partners to build 500 new homes, a new library and public archive, shops, restaurants and a modern public square.
More on the £1.3m funding from Mayor of London:
The projects were chosen from 48 applications across 26 London boroughs because they support the aims of the Mayor of London’s Great Outdoors programme to improve public spaces in the capital and because of their direct benefit to the 2012 Olympic Games.
A key part of the criteria was that projects would have demonstrable benefits for the 2012 Olympic Games and be completed by early 2012, as well as meet the Mayor of London’s strategy for Better Streets
‘London’s Great Outdoors – A Manifesto for Public Space’ is supported by two practical guides, ‘Better Streets’ and ‘Better Green and Water Spaces’. Together they set out the Mayor of London’s vision for improving public spaces in London.  This will ensure that our streets, squares, parks and green and water spaces are fit for a great world city, are enjoyed by everyone who visits them and most importantly, help improve the quality of life in the Capital.
They are accompanied by an implementation plan that will see £220 million invested in over 50 public realm improvement projects over the next three years, funding for which comes from Transport for London, The London Development Agency and London’s boroughs as well as other sources. The measures include redesigned streets, which can be shared by both the pedestrians and vehicles and reclaimed derelict green spaces and underused waterways.
The manifesto and guides have been written and produced by the Greater London Authority, London Development Agency, Design for London and Transport for London.  For further information please go to: www.london.gov.uk/greatoutdoors
Kingsland High Street, Dalston - artist's impression

Kingsland High Street, Dalston - artist's impression

Hackney Council has been awarded £1.3million from the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, to transform Kingsland High Street as part of the council’s major improvements to Dalston town centre.

It will also be getting an additional £1m from the London Development Agency (LDA) as part of its commitment to supporting the Council to transform Dalston.

The funding was granted after the council submitted proposals developed with Design for London to transform the area, which include better walking and cycling routes, planting more trees to make the town centre greener, and providing improved lighting.

There will also be new crossing points between Ridley Road and Dalston Kingsland station, and the relocation of bus stops and cycle stands.

The council says further plans to make the town centre easier and safer to get around include dropped kerbs for wheelchair users and those with pushchairs, safer crossings for blind and visually impaired pedestrians, 20mph speed limits and introduction of CCTV.

It is hoped the improvements will make what is already a popular town centre for shoppers and tourists even more attractive for local people and visitors alike.

The £1.3m funding is part of Transport for London’s Local Implementation Plan Major Schemes programme to help transform the capital in time for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson, said, “When the world comes here during the 2012 Games we want the place to look its best and for people to have enjoyable journeys through the area.

“These great projects will help enhance the capital as a whole, giving local communities and visitors improved public space, and providing a legacy for London that lasts for many years to come.”

Councillor Alan Laing, Hackney Council’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said, “Securing this funding, together with the money already secured from the LDA [London Development Agency], will help us transform Kingsland High Street and build on our investment within the Dalston area, and is welcome news indeed.

“We’re delighted that TfL [Transport for London] supported our exciting proposals and we look forward to this transformation to a key town centre and gateway into the borough.”

Peter Bishop, London Development Agency Group Director for Design, Development and Environment, said, “The centre of Dalston is going through a transformation.

“These proposals will improve links between Dalston’s existing communities with the town centre and create a series of public spaces.  The London Development Agency’s investment and partnership with Hackney Council will really make the most of the opportunities brought to Dalston by the East London Line extension.”

The transformation of Kingsland High Street links closely with the Dalston masterplan which the council adopted in January following consultation with residents, community groups and local businesses.

The council says the masterplan “is designed to guide growth and investment in Dalston over the next 15 years,  while ensuring  Dalston’s distinct character that makes it such a popular destination for residents and visitors is strengthened.”

A new London Overground station will be opened at Dalston Junction by June and it is estimated that up to five million people could use the station every year.

Around the station,  the council is working with partners to build 500 new homes, a new library and public archive, shops, restaurants and a modern public square.

More on the £1.3m funding from Mayor of London:

The projects were chosen from 48 applications across 26 London boroughs because they support the aims of the Mayor of London’s Great Outdoors programme to improve public spaces in the capital and because of their direct benefit to the 2012 Olympic Games.

A key part of the criteria was that projects would have demonstrable benefits for the 2012 Olympic Games and be completed by early 2012, as well as meet the Mayor of London’s strategy for Better Streets

‘London’s Great Outdoors – A Manifesto for Public Space’ is supported by two practical guides, ‘Better Streets’ and ‘Better Green and Water Spaces’. Together they set out the Mayor of London’s vision for improving public spaces in London.

This will ensure that our streets, squares, parks and green and water spaces are fit for a great world city, are enjoyed by everyone who visits them and most importantly, help improve the quality of life in the capital.

They are accompanied by an implementation plan that will see £220 million invested in over 50 public realm improvement projects over the next three years, funding for which comes from Transport for London, the London Development Agency and London’s boroughs as well as other sources.

The measures include redesigned streets, which can be shared by both the pedestrians and vehicles and reclaimed derelict green spaces and underused waterways.

The manifesto and guides have been written and produced by the Greater London Authority, the London Development Agency, Design for London and Transport for London.  For further information please go to: www.london.gov.uk/greatoutdoors

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