Clerkenwell community plan

Carbon offsetting: Extension of energy network to Clerkenwell

• Expected cost: £4,629,535

This project would extend the proposed energy network to the Clerkenwell ward. New development and existing residential buildings would be connected to a potentially cheaper and greener heat supply.

Open space: Wilmington Square railings

• Expected cost: £250,000

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).

Community facilities: Inclusive economy initiatives for Clerkenwell

• Cost: £102,000 from local Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)

This project involves the appointment of a dedicated Inclusive Economy Officer for Clerkenwell ward to work on local business engagement, to deliver local social value, and to create local connections for the affordable workspaces. The Local Economies Officer set up three new apprenticeships for young residents, helped community organisations access Greater London Authority (GLA) funding, and coordinated the Finsbury Small Business Forum.

Community facilities: Finsbury Health Centre

• Cost: £100,000 from local CIL

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

• Cost: £200,000 from local CIL

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.

Community facilities: Exmouth Market Centre

• Cost: £2,500 from local CIL

This funding supports a 20-week early years music and play project at the Exmouth Market Centre. The project runs sessions for pre-school children and their parents and carers that include singing and music-making.

Community facilities: Finsbury and Clerkenwell Volunteers

• Cost: £2,000 from local CIL

This funding supports the volunteer coordinator who currently organises 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: Finsbury Estate

• Cost: £310,000 - £23,077 from developer contributions (S106) and £286,923 from local CIL

The scheme will introduce estate infrastructure improvements, including repainting of the blocks’ common areas and re-providing waste storage which was identified as the top priority by the Estate’s Tenants and Residents Association (TRA). The project is the next stage of works which started with the play space refurbishment and resurfacing.

Estate improvements: Margery Estate

• Cost: £108,500 from local CIL

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, and four new column lamps. We are now working to provide new benches on the estate and an enclosed and roofed lumber point.

Transport and public realm: Clerkenwell Green transport and public realm improvements

• Cost: £1,453,000 from developer contributions (S106)

This project will involve a transformation of Clerkenwell Green to provide improved conditions for pedestrians and cyclists. Measures implemented include the removal of all parking and some through-traffic to increase the amount of public space provided by more than two thirds. The project will also introduce high-quality footway and carriageway materials, new seating, new trees, and a new statue of Sylvia Pankhurst.

Transport and public realm: Clerkenwell Common transport and public realm improvements

• Cost: £660,000 from developer contributions (S106)

The project will include the refurbishment of Victorian toilets and creating a community space for local events. Placed in an area with a long history of political resistance and protest, the community space will honour the heritage but also act as a welcoming space for the local community.

Transport and public realm: Amwell Street cycle speed reduction

• Cost: £8,042 - £6,992 from local CIL and £1,050 from developer contributions (S106)

The scheme will introduce measures along Amwell Street aimed at measuring and reducing cycle speed. These measures will also help reduce vehicle speed.

Open space: Ward-wide tree planting

• Cost: £25,000 - £11,055 from local CIL and £13,945 from developer contributions (S106)

Additional tree planting throughout the ward in line with the tree strategy. This will also support communications around greening the ward.

Youth safety parent engagement project (External project)

• £20,000 Strategic Local CIL 

This funding supports the Youth Safety Parent Engagement Programme, which offers advice to parents and carers to empower them with knowledge and techniques to help keep children safe in the community. 

Marx Memorial Library (External project)

• £90,000 Local CIL 

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.

St John’s Garden Improvements (Parks)

• £15,000 Local CIL and £72,104 (S106)

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

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.