Launched by the council last year, the Heart of Harrow Regeneration Programme is now firmly underway and seeks to transform our borough.
The future’s bright
Harrow’s regeneration scheme was sparked by a dispiriting report which highlighted a number of negatives in the area including weak and poorly designed streets and spaces, poor station facilities and a generally unattractive and cluttered look.
The Heart of Harrow Regeneration Programme, launched in 2017, promises 5500 new homes, two new schools and thousands of new jobs as well as an improvement in the look and function of public spaces. Harrow Council have now also announced that the scheme, which will cost £1.75 billion, is looking to the future with the use of new and innovative technology.
Harrow comes first
Head of Communications at Harrow Council, Daniel Lester, says that something special was needed in order to keep momentum and promote public interest in the plans. The way to do that, Daniel says, is to do something that nobody has done before. It has now been revealed that Harrow Council plans to use augmented reality in order to present its new vision of Wealdstone to its residents.
The first borough in the country to use augmented reality for regeneration plans, Harrow’s investment in this technology is an indication of its commitment to improving our borough. The augmented reality vision, which will be available to residents, will work by users simply passing their Smartphone or tablet over a printed model of the town in order to be able to take a virtual tour of the exciting new plans for Harrow.
The science bit
The process of augmented reality is relatively simple – a live view of an area or environment is superimposed with a digital version (using 3D computer generated layers) to create an immersive perception. By doing so, the creators can allow users to view and interact with the existing model and the planned one – in the case of Wealdstone, the area as it currently is and, Harrow Council’s new vision for it.
Re-imagining our borough
With the recent spate of crime and shocking headlines in Harrow, the council’s long awaited plans will be welcomed by residents new and old. Although no date has, as yet, been set for the launch of the augmented reality vision of Wealdstone, the council hopes that this demonstration of its proactive and forward thinking philosophy will motivate residents to get on board with the new plans.
By Nicci Rae
