The initiative could set a new national standard for how local authorities and developers work with communities.
Planning and infrastructure is a huge government priority. While necessary, plans have arguably pressured councils into rushing new strategies – especially in relation to providing new homes – meaning developments may not be delivered to the best of their ability.
However, a new initiative, otherwise known as The Ilford Arrival – part of the Greater London Authority’s Civic Partnership Programme (CPP) – doesn’t fall into such a category. The regeneration project, which was proposed to help boost community engagement in Ilford, includes plans to construct a new bridge, pocket park, riverside walk and restore an abandoned golf course.
Image: Artiest impression of part of the development.
While impressive, the real celebration goes to the team behind the development, who can be described as nothing short of extraordinary. Diverse Dialogues – an urban strategic consultancy – have been appointed to lead the creation of a co-client team made up exclusively of young women and girls.
Aged between 16 and 25, the group of females are set to work alongside Redbridge Council and the Greater London Authority to offer their opinions on the new project.
Periscope – a design agency founded in 1999 has also been appointed to work on Ilford’s regeneration plan.
Commenting on the news, Kuljeet Sibia, founding director of Diverse Dialogues, said: ‘Ilford is a place shaped by movement, by migration, culture and creativity that comes with a richness that’s too often overlooked in the way places are developed.
‘After years working across design, planning and delivery, I’ve seen how decisions are routinely made without truly understanding the communities they impact, especially those who’ve been historically marginalised.’
‘With Ilford Arrival, we wanted to change that, to move beyond extractive consultation and instead create space for genuine collaboration and authorship,’ Kuljeet continued. ‘That meant being honest about who holds power and finding ways to share it more equally by not just listening to communities but working alongside them and ensuring they are informed decision-makers in shaping the future of their neighbourhood.’
In similar vein, Jules Pipe, deputy mayor of London for planning and regeneration, has celebrated the scheme’s inclusivity.
‘The Ilford Arrival Project will connect the town centre to Roding Valley, transforming the local area, and it’s great that this work has been informed by the insights and ideas of a team of local women and girls,’ Jules explained. ‘Funded by the Civic Partnership Programme, the project will empower the local community, giving Londoners of all backgrounds a greater role in shaping how their city grows and delivering better public spaces to live, work and play.’
Images supplied via Diverse Dialogues and Periscope.
In related news:
Leave a Reply