Clerkenwell community plan

Playground improvements at St James’s Church

• Expected cost: £100, 000

This project would renovate the toddler play area in St James’s Church gardens by replacing play equipment and renewing the surfacing. The project would also include landscape works to the surrounding area and new seating.

Bevin Court Waste and Recycling

• Our funding: £15,000
• Project to begin Spring 2026 

This scheme will instal bin shelters and a new lumber unit to improve cleanliness and appearance of bin area following resident complaints. The design of this scheme will be complementary to building's design and respect its listed status.

Amwell Bicentennial

• Our funding: £15,000

• This project will explore options for renewing the play space in St James’s Clerkenwell, engage with residents in the area, and explore costs for the playground improvements. Project to begin Summer 2026 

This funding is a contribution towards a two-week events programme to mark 200 years of local history and change organised by the local organisation The Amwell Society. 

Hear Me Out Thistle

• Our funding: £1,000
• Project to begin January 2026 

This funding will enable the purchase of materials and hiring professionals for music-based workshops bringing together local residents and asylum seekers to promote social cohesion.

Sing along Songs Creative Resources for Children

• Our funding: £745
• Project to begin January 2026

Providing musical and creative equipment to local families and nurseries, enabling children under 8 to explore songs and games at home.

Playground improvements at St James’s Church: feasibility study

• Our funding: £10,000
• Project to start Autumn 2025

 Wilmington Square railings 

• Our funding: £265,000
• Project started July 2023

 This scheme would restore the Grade II listed garden railings and gates to improve access and protect the heritage asset. Several sections of railing have now fallen away, allowing access to the park even after closing.

Improvements would also include reopening access to the garden through a new gate on the west side of the square (near the end of Atteneave Street). An initial allocation was used to run a feasibility study.

Community facilities: Finsbury Health Centre

• Our funding: £100,000
• Project started in February 2024

This project makes a contribution towards the refurbishment of the Finsbury Health Centre’s historic building which will be undertaken by the NGHS. Councillors supported phase two of the refurbishment which includes restoration of the health centre’s elevation. The refurbishment will later move on to introduce internal improvements to the building necessary for the continuous provision of services to the local community.

Community facilities: House of Illustration

• Our funding: £600,000 
• Project started in October 2024

This project provides a contribution towards the refurbishment of the Grade II listed building of the New River Head, Amwell Street, bringing the half-acre site into public use for the first time as the House of Illustration also known as the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration. The site will include outdoor spaces, amenities, and programmes for the benefit of the local community.

Inclusive Economy Initiatives for Clerkenwell

• Our funding:  £180,735
• Project started October 2019

Appointment of a dedicated Inclusive Economy Officer for Clerkenwell ward, to work on local business engagement, to deliver local social value, and create local connections for the affordable workspaces.

Marx Memorial Library (External project)

• Our funding: £90,000
• Project started September 2023

This funding supports a full-time Outreach Officer for three years. The Officer will continue the MML’s outreach, engagement, and partnership initiatives that seek to build a network of local heritage, cultural, and educational institutions in and around Clerkenwell.

Finsbury Estate Gardening

• Our funding:  £17,500
• Project started Spring 2024

This project is supporting a fledgling gardening group on Finsbury Estate. The scheme will improve two areas of communal garden on estate where existing planting has struggled to sustain.

Finsbury Estate Repainting

• Our funding:  £100,000
• Awaiting confirmed start date for works

Funding to support planned capital works in Finsbury Estate, focusing on repainting and redecoration of the communal areas within Finsbury Estate.

Holford Place Resurfacing

• Our funding:  £33,500
• Works expected Spring 2026

This scheme would resurface the pedestrian way and reset the planting edges and curves. This would be followed by landscaping works improve visibility and reduce ASB. Other benefits include improved accessibility, reduced trip hazards and renewed environment.

Support for Margery Street Community Space

• Our funding: £12,200
• Project started September 2025

Support for funding one year of operating costs allowing time to explore sustainable options for long-term use.

Hugh Myddelton Primary School Playground

• Our funding: £350,000 
• Project completed December 2025

Redeveloped playground at Hugh Myddelton Primary School, including the installation of a large climbing frame, accessible changing area and toilet for community use, a sensory garden/Ecospace.

Funds to Clerkenwell Estate Secure Cycle Parking

• Our funding: £52,300
• Project completed March 2025

The project provides secure, covered, cycle storage for residents across several estates in Clerkenwell, including Brunswick Close, Weston Rise, Southwood Court, Myddleton Passage Estate, Spa Green Estate, and Finsbury Estate.

Estate improvements: Finsbury Estate

• Our funding: £310,000
• Project completed March 2025

This project involved introducing the necessary improvements across the estate, as per the needs raised by residents. This included a major refurbishment of the playground - upgrading the iconic helter-skelter, providing accessible equipment, diversifying the equipment to make it more suitable to wider age ranges as well as resurfacing the vast area.

Holford House Security Lighting

• Our funding:  £7,000 
• Project completed March 2025

This project installed new lighting to improve security on the alleyway leading to Holford gardens and help residents feel safe when walking through at night. 

St John’s Garden Improvements (Parks)

• Our funding: £87,104
• Project completed December 2024

This project delivered sympathetic improvements to soft landscaping and works to improve paths, access, and drainage across the gardens.

Marx Memorial Library Evaluation Work (External project)

• Our funding:  £4,000 
• Project completed December 2024

This funding enabled the MML to develop and put into action a new outreach and feedback strategy to make sure their work responds to the community’s needs. The evidence collected in this scheme is expected to help the MML access other sources of funding to continue its work.

Youth safety parent engagement project

• Our funding: £40,000 
• Project completed December 2024

Led by Islington Parent Empowerment Champions (PECs) project during April – July 2024 in Clerkenwell, the project supported local parents and carers in increasing the quality of life for children and young people. Parents and carers joined online and in-person sessions providing information and advice to empower them with knowledge and techniques to help keep their children safe in the community. 

Clerkenwell Green transport and public realm improvements

• Our funding:  £1,453,000
• Project completed August 2024

Delivered in two phases, the scheme created a greener public space that can be enjoyed by those living, working and visiting Clerkenwell Green. This was achieved by creating more space for pedestrians, laying high-quality paving across the Green, adding benches, and introducing new trees and plants for more natural and sustainable urban drainage.

The new environment has fewer cars, making the Green safer and more convenient for those who walk, wheel or cycle. The changes to Clerkenwell Green also help to showcase the area’s historic buildings and other important local landmarks.

Estate improvements: Estate recycling and food waste facilities

• Our funding: £18,750
• Project completed May 2024

This scheme upgrades and provides new recycling and food waste storage and management facilities at Clerkenwell estates, including Southwood Court, Weston Rise Estate, Holford House, 13 Clerkenwell Close, and Mallory Buildings.

Community facilities: Finsbury and Clerkenwell Volunteers

• Our funding: £2,000
• Project completed May 2024

This funding supported the volunteer coordinator who organised 69 one-to-one befriending relationships between volunteers and older people across central and south Islington. Finsbury and Clerkenwell Volunteers aim to reduce social isolation and improve clients’ mental health, and support clients to live independently and maintain a high level of wellbeing.

Estate improvements: Margery Estate

• Our funding: £ 103,683.99 
• Project completed May 2024

This scheme has introduced landscaping and accessibility improvements around the Margery Estate. Working closely with the TRA and ward councillors, officers delivered a new cycle storage with capacity for up to 20 bikes, new level tarmac paving, a new water point for estate gardeners, four new column lamps, a new lumber point, and benches.   

Granville Square netting and fencing

• Our funding: £34,000 
• Project completed March 2024

The project provided a fencing extension around the play area as well as filling in fencing gaps around planting beds on Granville Square.

Open space: St James' Church Garden

• Our funding : £537,251
• Project completed February 2024

The project involved soft landscaping improvements, including ground cover planting, selective shrub and tree removal, tree planting, lawn improvements, and opening up the under-used north-east corner of the park for more active use. The scheme also involved hard landscaping including path resurfacing and widening, and possible reinstatement of a historic path from Clerkenwell Green to the church steps. The scheme delivered access improvements including a new vehicle gate on the St James Walk side of the park and step-free access at the gate adjacent to the church entrance. This scheme was complimentary to the Clerkenwell Green project.

Community facilities: Exmouth Market Centre

• Our funding: £2,500
• Project completed February 2024

This funding supported a 20-week early years music and play project at the Exmouth Market Centre. The project ran sessions for pre-school children and their parents and carers that included singing and music-making.
The project was well attended, with an average of 165 children and 150 adults attending per week. The sessions have continued beyond the funding period.

Ward-wide tree planting

• Our funding: £ 32,335
• Project completed December 2023

In line with the council’s tree strategy, this scheme supported tree planting throughout the ward, as well as communications groups in different parks. 

Brunswick Estate CCTV

• Our funding: £7,692
• Project completed May 2023

This project installed additional cameras at Brunswick Estate, cameras being repositioned and all relevant cabling works to go alongside with this. 

Amwell Street cycle speed reduction

• Our funding: £7,354
• Project completed May 2023

The scheme introduced measures along Amwell Street aimed at measuring and reducing cycle and vehicle speeds. These measures reduced the risk of conflicts between cyclists and pedestrians to make a safer environment for all. 

Build A Bike

• Our funding: £8,000 
• Project completed March 2023

A bike fixing scheme to work with 50 young people on the six-week bicycle maintenance courses. The programme mentored 10 young people for nine months, working with young people at risk of committing theft and youth violence. The activities took place in a range of youth and community centres and housing estates across the borough. Clerkenwell ward councillors supported the project alongside Bunhill, St Peter’s, Caledonian and Holloway wards. First two cohorts of participants started the course in spring 2022, the second one started the following autumn.

Earlstoke Estate

• Our funding: £150,000 
• Project completed January 2023

This scheme involved community safety improvements on the estate, including adding wall light fittings at locations identified by the TRA as well as providing new security gates at ramps, giving fob access to residents.

Bevin Court garden shed and pram storage

• Our funding: £6,900 
• Project completed December 2022

This project introduced a new storage facility for the gardening group, based on the residents’ decision on its location and design. The previous bike storage is also being repurposed to be used by residents as a pram storage facility, including new lighting and doors.

Brunswick Close Estate

• Our funding: £80,000 
• Project completed December 2022

The scheme introduced surfacing and paving improvements to improve accessibility. Blocks have been relayed with slip-resistance elements added and planters have been overlaid on the slippery paving blocks. New surfacing has also been provided at the back of Mulberry House, alongside a new swing installed for the youngest residents.

Inglebert Street/Myddelton Square buildouts

• Our funding: £25,000 
• Project completed December 2022

This project saw the installation of new footway buildouts on Inglebert Street at the junction with Myddelton Square, one on either side of the road. The buildouts narrow the crossing distance, increase visibility and add a tree on the southern buildout to create an aesthetic gateway from Inglebert Street to Myddelton Square, a suggestion by a local resident.

Spa Green Estate

• Our funding : £160,000 
• Project Completed November 2022

This project focused on improving safety, accessibility and attractiveness of the open space around the estate by introducing surfacing and paving improvements. It involves resurfacing and repairing faults in the pathways and roadways, removing divots, as well as introducing patchwork fixes. The complex surfacing works took place in ten locations across the estate and reshaped the estate’s public realm.

Myddelton Square Gardens fencing

• Our funding : £22,000
• Project completed Summer 2022

The project replaced the temporary wooden fencing with a permanent metal protective fence around the newly planted flower beds at the Myddelton Square Gardens. The new fence will also be installed around the Memorial Rose Bed commemorating the lost nearest and dearest of the residents in the area.

Hugh Myddelton Nursery

• Our funding: £80,000
• Project completed Summer 2022

This scheme involves an upgrade of the area and facilities outside of the nursery. New cycling storage has been provided, with works currently ongoing on introducing a new wild meadow, hedgerow planting and green roofs on the cycle shelters. 

WE HEAL grant programme

• Our funding: £60,000 
• Project closed December 2025

A new arts fund has been set up to celebrate Women and Girls Artists of Clerkwenwell. Manged by Islington’s Arts Team, funding was allocated to local artists and organisations to deliver therapeutic participatory arts initiatives, projects or workshops designed to improve the mental, emotional and physical wellbeing of Islington women and children who have experienced violence. This programme has received support from several wards in Islington.

Clerkenwell Green Festive Event

• Our funding: £5,000
• Project completed December 2025

This funding supported a community event and market to celebrate festive season and promote local businesses. Delivered in conjunction with Central District Alliance (local BID).

Marx Memorial Library National Lottery Bid (External project)

• Our funding:  £12,000 
• Project completed November 2025

This funding is bringing together the necessary expertise to support the Marx Memorial Library & Workers' School in its application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

PEEL Heating and Lighting Consultant

• Our funding:  £2,000
• Project completed July 2025

Funds to support the installation of a new lighting system for improved environmental impact, visitor experience, and reduced running costs. 

Community facilities: Build A Bike

• Cost: £8,000 from local Community Infrastructure Fund (CIL)

A bike fixing scheme to work with 50 young people on the six week bicycle maintenance courses. The programme mentored 10 young people for nine months, working with young people at risk of committing theft and youth violence. The activities took place in a range of youth and community centres and housing estates across the borough. Clerkenwell ward councillors supported the project alongside Bunhill, St Peter’s, Caledonian and Holloway wards. First two cohorts of participants started the course in spring 2022, the second one started the following autumn.

Community facilities: Marx Library roof repairs

• Cost: £30,000 from local CIL

These works ensure that the historic building is no longer vulnerable to water getting in and flooding in the future. In the aftermath of the flood at the Marx Memorial Library on 24 September 2022, the library urgently needed resurfacing of the flat roof, removal of defunct air-conditioning ducts from the roof, resurfacing of the memorial garden and redirecting drainage away from the building. The scheme also included the installation of new flood alarms and an environmental monitoring system in the basement to help protect the unique collections.

Community facilities: Kings Cross Baptist Church gate

• Cost: £750 from developer contributions (S106)

The gate is to prevent drug usage in this area.

Community facilities: Three Corners Centre

• Cost: £54,402 from developer contributions (S106)

The scheme delivered improvements to the youth and community learning centre, Three Corners.

Open space: Myddelton Square Gardens fencing

• Cost: £22,000 from local CIL

The project replaced the temporary wooden fencing with a permanent metal protective fence around the newly planted flower beds at the Myddelton Square Gardens. The new fence will also be installed around the Memorial Rose Bed commemorating the lost nearest and dearest of the residents in the area.

Open space: Holford Gardens

• Cost: £15,000 - £14,608 from local CIL and £10,392 from developer contributions (S106)

This scheme provided an improved path network and uplift to the turf and planting, as well as making all the entrances fully accessible. The wider environmental improvements included sympathetic landscaping, planting of diverse native plants, trees, hedges, and putting up bird and bat boxes.

Open space: Granville Square netting and fencing

• Cost: £34,000 from local CIL

The project provided a fencing extension around the play area as well as filling in fencing gaps around planting beds on Granville Square.

Open space: St James' Church Garden

• Cost: £537,251 - £200,000 from local CIL and £337,251 from developer contributions (S106)

The project involved soft landscaping improvements, including ground cover planting, selective shrub and tree removal, tree planting, lawn improvements, and opening up the under-used north-east corner of the park for more active use. The scheme also involved hard landscaping including path resurfacing and widening, and possible reinstatement of a historic path from Clerkenwell Green to the church steps. The scheme delivered access improvements including a new vehicle gate on the St James Walk side of the park and step-free access at the gate adjacent to the church entrance. This scheme was complimentary to the Clerkenwell Green project.

Open space: St John's Gardens, Benjamin Street

• Cost: £102,500 from developer contributions (S106)

The scheme improved access, soft landscaping and drainage.

Estate improvements: Earlstoke Estate

• Cost: £150,000 from local CIL

This scheme involved community safety improvements on the estate, including adding wall light fittings at locations identified by the TRA as well as providing new security gates at ramps, giving fob access to residents.

Estate improvements: Bevin Court garden shed and pram storage

• Cost: £1,900 from local CIL and £5,000 from developer contributions (S106)

This project introduced a new storage facility for the gardening group, based on the residents’ decision on its location and design. The previous bike storage is also being repurposed to be used by residents as a pram storage facility, including new lighting and doors.

Estate improvements: Brunswick Close Estate

• Cost: £80,000 from developer contributions (S106)

The scheme introduced surfacing and paving improvements to improve accessibility. Blocks have been relayed with slip-resistance elements added and planters have been overlaid on the slippery paving blocks. New surfacing has also been provided at the back of Mulberry House, alongside a new swing installed for the youngest residents.

Estate improvements: Estate recycling and food waste facilities

• Cost: £18,750 from local CIL

This scheme upgrades and provides new recycling and food waste storage and management facilities at Clerkenwell estates, including Southwood Court, Weston Rise Estate, Holford House, 13 Clerkenwell Close, and Mallory Buildings.

Estate improvements: Finsbury Estate exterior spaces

• Cost: £40,213 from developer contributions (S106)

The scheme improved Finsbury Estate exterior spaces through softening the central spaces and reorganising the parking areas to maximise green space.

Estate improvements: Spa Green Estate

• Cost: £160,000 - £136,815 from local CIL and £23,185 from developer contributions (S106)

This project focused on improving safety, accessibility and attractiveness of the open space around the estate by introducing surfacing and paving improvements. It involves resurfacing and repairing faults in the pathways and roadways, removing divots, as well as introducing patchwork fixes. The complex surfacing works took place in ten locations across the estate and reshaped the estate’s public realm.

Estate improvements: Finsbury Estate play space

This project delivered upgrades to the multi-age play area at Finsbury Estate, equipping the playground with new safe tarmac surfacing, seating, barriers separating play areas for children of different ages and diverse play facilities. The equipment installed included features accessible to disabled children as well as replacing the helter skelter, iconic to the playground.

Estate improvements: Mallory Buildings pavement and garden upgrades

• Cost: £44,975 - £20,000 from local CIL and £24,975 from developer contributions (S106)

This scheme involved repairing the pavements by the entrance to the estate. It also delivered improvements to the residents' garden including landscaping works.

Estate improvements: Clerkenwell Estate secure cycle parking

• Cost: £52,300 from developer contributions (S106) 

The project provided secure, covered, cycle storage for residents at the following estates in Clerkenwell: Arlington House, Bevin Court, Brunswick Estate, Myddleton Passage Estate, Southwood Court, and Spa Green Estate.

Estate improvements: Sherston Court food-growing area

• Cost: £30,430 - £11,355 from local CIL and £19,075 from developer contributions (S106)

The scheme redevelops the disused football pitch into a food growing area. The area was closed-off to residents for some years and used to be full of leaf fall, litter and debris. Bringing the area back into use for the benefit of residents and the public to ensure that it is better maintained. The new food growing area brings joy to residents of all ages.

Estate improvements: Weston Rise Estate multi-use games area

• Cost: £205,000 from developer contributions (S106)

This scheme converted the local football pitch to a multi-use games area. It also delivered improvements to the estate's underused timber garden. The previous unsafe timber planter and decking was removed to make way for the of new planting, surfacing and seating.

Play space: Myddelton Square and Granville square play areas

• Cost: £33,000 from developer contributions (S106)

This scheme is to replace the children’s train and carriage play equipment in Myddelton Square and Granville Square with new play facilities.

School facilities: Hugh Myddelton Nursery

• Cost: £80,000 - £2,889 from local CIL and £77,111 from developer contributions (S106)

This scheme involves an upgrade of the area and facilities outside of the nursery. New cycling storage has been provided, with works currently ongoing on introducing a new wild meadow, hedgerow planting and green roofs on the cycle shelters.

School facilities: Clerkenwell Parochial CE School playground improvements

• Cost: £100,000 from developer contributions (S106) 

The scheme was to refurbish the outside spaces at the school, including new artificial surfacing, and replacing the trellis fencing and new planting in the roof garden. It also involved improving the area outside of the early year’s facility, and installing a barrier to prevent the early year’s children from going into the school playground.

Transport and public realm: Inglebert Street/Myddelton Square buildouts

• Cost: £25,000 - £751 from local CIL and £24,249 from developer contributions (S106)

This project saw the installation of new footway buildouts on Inglebert Street at the junction with Myddelton Square, one on either side of the road. The buildouts narrow the crossing distance, increase visibility and add a tree on the southern buildout to create an aesthetic gateway from Inglebert Street to Myddelton Square, a suggestion by a local resident.

Transport and public realm: 812 bus service

• Cost: £54,000 from local CIL

The 812 bus service was a weekday hail and ride service that operates a 30-minute timetable, 7 hours a day between 9.30am and 4.30pm. The S106-funded service operated on across the central and southern parts of the borough for a few years. Wards served included Canonbury, St Peter’s, St Mary’s, Barnsbury, Clerkenwell and Bunhill.

Transport and public realm: Vernon Square

Cost: £90,000 from CIL admin

This scheme delivered improvements to the footways, carriageway resurfacing, creation of a shared surface between Vernon Square and the open space area, and re-adjustment of traffic layout. It has prevented by-passing of traffic lights and supported the correct flow of traffic on the Square.

Transport and public realm: Cowcross Street - West Section

• Cost: £548,311 from CIL admin

This project introduced new kerbs to the western end of Farringdon Station Forecourt and Farringdon Road, to the eastern end of Farringdon Station Forecourt and Cowcross Street, to the northern end of plaza Farringdon Station Forecourt at Turnmill Street, as well as to the shared surface to between Cowcross Street and Turnmill Street, including top and bottom of both ramps.

Transport and public realm: St John Street (Lloyds Row to Percival Street)

• Cost: £31,980 from developer contributions (S106)

The scheme improved the fourth area of public space on St John Street, between Lloyds Row and Percival Street, the area in front of the new Islington Museum and Patrick Coman House. This area is now designed in line with design concepts and materials used for St John Street public spaces at junctions with Agdon and Wynyatt Streets.

Transport and public realm: Greenhill Rents

• Cost: £66,000 from CIL admin

This scheme has delivered public realm improvements.

Transport and public realm: Exmouth Market framework

• Cost: £337,810 from developer contributions (S106)

The scheme has delivered improvements to Exmouth Market.

Transport and public realm: Turnmill Street traffic management

• Cost: £101,551 from developer contributions (S106)

The scheme improved safety and accessibility along Turnmill Street. It involved a removal of north-west-to-south-east rat runs by reversing the direction of Turnmill Street, an increase in cycle lanes and usable footway space, a reduction of vehicle dominance and the amount of tarmac, and an increase in parking facilities for bikes and motor cycles. The scheme also provided new spaces for potential tree planting.

Transport and public realm: Rawstorne Street streetscape improvements

• Cost: £92,578 from developer contributions (S106)

The scheme delivered streetscape improvements, including footway renewal, replacement of the emergency access closure in Rawstorne Street, decluttering of street furniture, tree planting and improvements to signage and lighting in the area.