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Hannen Road car free day
September 3
Working with Lambeth Council’s ‘Big Shift’ programme which aims to help residents, businesses and schools choose cleaner and healthier ways of getting around the borough, Station to Station and A Small Studio are running a Car Free Day on Hannen Road (next to West Norwood Railway Station).
(suggested images, not intended plans)
The council also has funding to establish Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) to help mitigate flooding caused by increasing climate change, with Hannen Road being an area where this kind of planting could potentially be installed.
(suggested images, not intended plans)
When? Feast Sunday, September 3 2023, 10am-4pm
Where? Hannen Road
Why? The purpose of Big Shift car free days is to celebrate neighbourhoods by freeing up streets for socialising and play, and giving over much-used roads to pedestrians. We are taking advantage of Lambeth’s Big Shift programme to close the road for one day and ask you the same questions we are asking ourselves: could Hannen Road have a SuDS installed and, in the process, become an improved street with a stronger and more playful public space that improves the natural environment?
Why Hannen Road? Because Hannen Road is the step-free arrival to West Norwood from the train station, this street is busy at certain times of the day, but we don’t often have the opportunity or reason to stop and enjoy its potential. This is true for many off the high-street roads and public spaces. This road has beautiful mature trees, it takes us up to Knights Hill and down to Norwood High street, it has a gentle slope giving it an interesting topography and it is a main arrival into West Norwood from the train station. The local area has also been found to be one of the most suitable locations for SUDS to help improve the borough’s ability to adapt to climate change.
What is planned for the day? The Big Shift road closure will be a single day of celebration and collective activities on the road. There will be a series of activities and ‘slow zones’ to imagine how Hannen Road could look and function if it was redesigned with the aim of improving the environment.
Who is invited? We are inviting all local residents of Hannen Road, and residents of West Norwood generally, to come this September Feast and participate on this single day of community engagement. We want to co-design the street collectively and hear your ideas about how we can improve Hannen Road. If you would like to take part, please register here.
Are we planning to close the road permanently? No. Lambeth is looking at ways to improve drainage of surface water across different areas in Lambeth as part of its action on climate change. One way of doing this is by re-paving the street with ‘permeable paving’ and installing a Sustainable Drainage System under the road. This means cars would still be able to access and park on Hannen Road. However, there are many ways of installing SuDS which are beautiful and imaginative. Why? Because some solutions create spaces to play, areas to relax, more planting, open water gardens and they can even lead to increase of birds, bees, bats and a greater biodiversity. We are working together as a partnership to ask the local community the type of SuDS system they would prefer and where they could go.
How exactly can I participate? Who is involved?
We are working as a partnership and together we can offer guidance and support to co-design the space. We have a mixed set of skills and so do you, so please join. Our team and skills include:
Local residents & businesses; from both Hannen Road itself and the local area.
There will be closed workshop to talk to Hannen Road businesses and residents on
Thursday August 17th at 6pm
Location: A Small Studio
Description: This is a closed workshop to speak to residents about the opportunities and constrains of co-design.
Activity: There will be a presentation to explain the purpose of Co-designing Hannen Road, what Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) are and to encourage residents to form a resident group. We will explain the different activities taking place on Sunday September 3rd and what their purpose is.
Lambeth Council ; with the finance in place for road improvements, and the strong desire to make a scheme in collaboration with residents
Station to Station BID; represents local business between West Norwood and Tulse Hill and supports business needs (including the need for parking and facilitating deliveries) as well as improving footfall and the local area’s street appeal.
A Small Studio; is a local architecture practice based in West Norwood that likes to think global and act local which is why it sees much potential on Hannen Road. The studio is technically equipped to design public realm, but on this occasion it wants to work with the local community to turn blue-sky thinking into reality.
University of Greenwich; has London’s leading Landscape Architecture and Urbanism school and knows the technical and social benefits of SUDS through years of faculty research and working with students. They are supporting the team with their technical knowledge and experience of co-designing.
As a team we believe that SuDS would make a better contribution to the local environment and community if they were designed, developed and even managed by a group of local residents.
For more information please email info@stationtostation.london
