Words by Smiley Team
When you visit a city neighbourhood, you usually expect to find cafes, parks and other facilities that are essential for communities to develop and thrive says urban designer Sean Bradley. However, we know that cities are not equal places, in fact, inequalities are rife; life expectancy can change by several years simply by changing postcodes. Thamesmead in south-east London is an incredible place with abundant assets, such as open spaces, lakes, and canals – but does have many urban challenges such as deprivation and poor health outcomes. However, change is underway as the area is part of a long term regeneration plan with significant investments from Peabody, the main social housing landowner.
Places like Thamesmead that have social or health issues are a prime focus for the community-led approach of the CLEVER Cities project, which looks to find co-benefits that improve the quality of life help of nature-based solutions, across Europe and in South America and China. Working with the other London partner organisations, the Greater London Authority and Peabody, Groundwork London, was brought into the project to set the foundation for local ‘co-creation’ process, helping community members to reimagine aspects of their neighbourhoods.
In Thamesmead, one of these community members is John Hogan. After living in the area for nearly a decade, he’d had enough of its grey walls and empty streets, and was keen to transform it into something more uplifting.
So John pitched his ideas to CLEVER Cities and won a grant from the Making Space for Nature Community Fund in order to start greening his neighbourhood. In 2021 he collaborated with a local artist, Gary Drostle, who painted a stunning mural across what was previously a bleak, empty brick wall and he helped a number of residents start planting on the balconies.
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Groundwork runs many community-led projects across London and the UK. Its co-creation model puts local people first, asking what they’d like to add to a space, rather than imposing decisions upon them. This helps designers find solutions that support people’s day-to-day lives.
To facilitate the process in Thamesmead, Sean and the CLEVER Team first had to help foster local networks, such as the Community Design Collective, in order to create stakeholder networks that could participate in the process.
Working in a community with diverse needs, it was necessary to create multiple communication channels for residents to participate. Before the pandemic, CLEVER Cities put together different engagement methods including in-person stands, where any local resident could show up to make suggestions. When the first lockdown started, they transitioned online, offering people the chance to submit ideas via a web portal.
“People suggested all kinds of things, from more flowers or benches, to colour on the buildings. We even had children saying they wanted sharks in the lake,” Sean laughs.
Nature is as integral to the project as the communities who lead it. Since its launch, they’ve developed an increasingly deep understanding of how plants and wildlife support local populations as well as environmental standards.
“Nature-based solutions have social co-benefits on people’s health, well-being, prosperity, safety and social cohesion,” Sean tells Smiley News. “So when we grow reedbeds in Southmere Lake, for example, that doesn’t just improve water quality - it also improves the experience of people who walk or exercise around it. We are interested in seeing how nature affects social processes.”
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Looking to the future of Thamesmead, John intends to use his funding for additional projects that will improve the neighbourhood further. With blossoming balconies, more artwork and local events, he hopes to connect residents and help the community to thrive.
He says: “We're hoping to generate more community engagement and maybe then start to create something like Utopia, transforming grey post-war architecture into a greener, and more welcoming area.”
Visit Thamesmead to see the impact community members have had on the local area.
For more information visit the project website, thamesmeadnow.org.uk
Follow Groundwork London on social media to see more about this and other projects working to improve communities and green spaces. Instagram: @groundworklondon | Twitter: @GroundworkLON.
