Category: Public realm

Streets, walkways and open spaces

Can City residents and property developers find common ground in Destination City?

Posted on by David Wilcox

Property development in the Square Mile can lead to tensions with residents. Barbican residents have campaigned forcefully against office development on the former site of the Museum of London, and residents on the Middlesex Street estate fought a 24 storey office tower because of overshadowing. However a recent report from the City Property Association makes … Continue reading “Can City residents and property developers find common ground in Destination City?”

Site for a new children’s playground in the City?

Posted on by David Wilcox

Update: The City Corporation has announced that work will begin on the scheme on 8 July 2024, and will take about 18 months. The news release gives details of traffic and bus diversions. The City Corporation is in the final stages of consultation on a new square near St Paul’s Cathedral – and councillor John … Continue reading “Site for a new children’s playground in the City?”

New City square near St Paul’s set for approval

Posted on by David Wilcox

The City Corporation is set to approve plans for the spectacular new square that I reported last year. The scheme will transform the southern end of King Edward Street, in front of the new Panorama St Paul’s development on the site of the former BT headquarters. The developer is expected to make a contribution. The … Continue reading “New City square near St Paul’s set for approval”

Plans for a substantial new square near St Paul’s Cathedral

Posted on by David Wilcox

Update December 2022: the City Corporation has now formally published proposals for the St Paul’s gyratory, described in the article below, and invited comments, saying: ”The gyratory, which was introduced in the 1970’s is dominated by motor traffic and we are exploring options to improve the area for other street users. The project area stretches … Continue reading “Plans for a substantial new square near St Paul’s Cathedral”

’Seats at the table’ for equity coming to West Smithfield

Posted on by David Wilcox

Winners have been announced for the competition I wrote about in July to deliver in Spring 2023 “temporary public realm interventions in Smithfield and East London that collectively develop a deeper understanding of the public’s experience of streets and public spaces”. A news release announced that Re-Fabricate and the DisOrdinary Architecture Project won the competition … Continue reading “’Seats at the table’ for equity coming to West Smithfield”

£50,000 Smithfield design competition might take inspiration from Bartholomew Fair

Posted on by David Wilcox

Update: Winners have been announced with a proposal for ‘Seats at the table’. “The team will work with local disabled and non-disabled youth to co-design spaces of sharing, making, learning, nourishment and socialising”. More here. A new competition ‘Co-designing Equity in the Public Realm’ aims to deliver “temporary public realm interventions in Smithfield and East … Continue reading “£50,000 Smithfield design competition might take inspiration from Bartholomew Fair”