Momentum has been working on an ongoing basis with Central District Alliance Business Improvement District (CDA) since 2021. This support allows CDA to deliver public realm and movement improvements across the BID area, which includes Farringdon, Holborn, Clerkenwell, Bloomsbury and St Giles.
The work includes providing highways expertise and design development on the Central District Alliance BID Place Plan, which is a strategic, coordinated approach to supporting streets and public spaces in the CDA BID area. Additionally, we have supported with identifying places where there may be an opportunity for CDA to support public space improvements that help celebrate neighbourhood identity, enrich the natural environment and promote sustainable movement.
Our work has seen positive changes implemented on streets within the BID area. In November 2022, working in partnership with Camden Council, CDA supported public realm works at Red Lion Street, providing new trees, improved cycle lanes and pedestrian links and better wheelchair mobility. Residents, workers, and visitors are now enjoying more public space in Holborn.
In addition, in June 2023, a temporary pocket park was delivered in Clerkenwell and was showcased throughout June as part of the London Festival of Architecture. This was a collaborative project alongside the London Borough of Islington which is providing innovative solutions to implementing new green spaces in the highway. This rewarding project saw a number of benefits, such as greening the highway and the associated positive impact on people’s physical and mental health, providing an additional place to stop and rest, and providing a place to socialise and enjoy interaction with others. We’ve also been working alongside Islington on the development of a council-owned garden, St John’s Garden, close to Farringdon Station.
We are continuing to work alongside Camden and Islington Councils to improve the arrival experience at key gateways with the BID area, through greening, lighting, surfacing and wider public realm improvements.
