Neasden in Brent is to receive more than £3m to revitalise the high street, as well as investment in green spaces and improving road and cycle lanes. It is hoped the cash injection will help transform one of London’s most polluted town centres into a ‘greener, safer, and more accessible area’ for residents and visitors.
The funding is part of the Mayor of London’s, Sadiq Khan’s, £12.4 million Civic Partnership Programme, which is investing in five projects across the capital. As well as in Neasden, money has been awarded to schemes in Ilford, Hoxton, Lewisham, and Croydon to go towards ‘open, connected, and inclusive public spaces and high streets’.
In Neasden, £3.1 million is being invested to make improvements to the town centre, including plans to ‘invest in green spaces’ and ‘realign and improve crossings at the eastern road junctions, according to City Hall. The scheme will also ‘refresh the high street to include a community training kitchen’, designed to ‘engage with young people and the local community’.
Town centres totalling the size of four Wembley football pitches will be made greener, safer and more accessible over the next three years. Assembly Member for Brent and Harrow, Krupesh Hirani, believes the funding will help build the local economy and give the area ‘assets that help vulnerable residents find connection and purpose’.
Mr Hirani, who lives in the area, said: “Neasden has a thriving community, and I am proud to call it home. We know our area has some challenges – we are the most polluted town centre in London and our town centre can feel blocked off by the North Circular.”
He added: “That’s why this investment in Neasden is so important. By addressing the pollution and traffic, our community will enjoy a healthier and more welcoming town. On top of that, we can expect our local businesses to see the benefits of an improved high street and vulnerable Brent residents find opportunities in the community kitchen – showing just how much this investment will help our community thrive.”
The other four areas awarded funds include £3m for projects in both Ilford and Hoxton, as well as £2,486,000 for Lewisham and £814,000 for Croydon. Mr Khan’s deputy mayor for planning, regeneration and the fire service, Jules Pipe, said: ”These projects aim to give Londoners of all backgrounds a greater role in shaping how their city grows and deliver better public spaces to live, work and play.”
Grant Williams is a journalist and Local Democracy Reporter (LDR) for Reach PLC, reporting on local government, politics and community issues across London. As part of the Local Democracy Reporting Service, he has contributed to Harrow Online, covering council decisions, housing developments, transport, planning matters and stories affecting local communities across Harrow and Brent.
