STREETSCAPE GUIDANCE

HOME
INTRODUCTION
PART A
A vision for London’s streets
PART B
From strategy to delivery
PART C
New measures for new challenges
PART D
Balancing priorities
PART F
Appendix
PART E
Physical design and materials
SECTION 6
Introduction
SECTION 7
High quality footways
SECTION 8
Carriageways
SECTION 9
Crossings
SECTION 10
Kerbside activity
SECTION 11
Footway amenities
SECTION 12
Safety and functionality
SECTION 13
Street environment
SECTION 14
Transport interchanges
Streetscape Guidance
[Part E – Physical design and materials] Street environment 310
Derbyshire Street Pocket Park
London
Creation of small urban parks in underused streets and
public realm
Key functions
Opportunity
Providing access to quality open space is always a
challenge in the most densely developed parts of the urban
environment. There are many competing pressures on the
public realm and creating green space requires thoughtful
design and creative use of space. The eastern end of Derbyshire Street,
Bethnal Green, was a dead-end road with only one function – space for
12 car parking bays. These were used infrequently; consequently the
space created conditions that encouraged antisocial behaviour and flytipping.
Benefits
London Borough of Tower Hamlets sought to provide environmental and
social benefits by transforming the underused space into a pocket park.
The design incorporated a cycle path, new seating, green-roof covered
cycle racks and bin stores, a rain garden and a defined area for café
tables and chairs. Bespoke planters to capture rainwater from the roof of
Oxford House, a popular community and arts centre, were designed and
provided by Thames Water.
Images courtesy of Greysmith Associates
Implementation
The aim was to recreate an important node for pedestrians and
cyclists within a thriving network of streets creating an active place
from an unused space. A small section of the adjacent park was also
incorporated into the design of the scheme, increasing connectivity as
well as improving the opportunity to provide sustainable urban drainage.
Funding for the project was provided by the Mayor of London’s pocket
park initiative and London Borough of Tower Hamlets.
Applying in London
Derbyshire Street Pocket Park is an excellent example of how the
conversion of an underused grey space into a quality green one can
provide a suite of improvements that address issues affecting many parts
of London, for example, tackling antisocial behaviour or coping with
areas prone to flooding. Each of the interventions delivered here can
be applied in similar spaces across London, creating a mosaic of small
urban spaces which are valued by local people and deliver more strategic
environmental benefits through cumulative impact.