We're a charity who will turn a disused railway line into a new park.
The Camden Highline will connect Camden Town, King's Cross and the 20,000 people who live in between.
We've done the design and secured planning permission. Now we're fundraising to build it, and need your help.
Paul Romans Photography Exhibition
Camden Highline WIP offers a behind-the-scenes look at the charity transforming a disused railway line into a new urban green space for London, through the lens of local documentary photographer, Paul Romans.
25 - 28th November 2024
11am - 8pm
216 Camden High St, London NW1 8QR
Tracking the Heritage
Tracking the Heritage (a sub-project of the Camden Highline) emerged from the thousands of local people we’ve taken on walking tours of the Highline route. Many said that it was the first time they had really stopped to admire the physical heritage surrounding them; we want to provide this feeling to the millions of people who visit, work, study or live in Camden.
There’s a huge amount of fantastic heritage resources out there; an overwhelming amount really. To deal with this we’ve enlisted the help of nine young people from the local area. These Heritage Trainees worked with experts to collect, collate and distil these resources. Their work was recently showcased in an exhibition in Camden. We are currently running a free education programme for Camden state schools and we’ll soon be organising themed walking tours. We’re always on the lookout for local people with stories to tell. If this sounds like you, please get in touch!
Design
James Corner Field Operations, the team behind the New York High Line are leading the design. Their proposal is an extraordinary linear garden for all, punctuated with woodland groves for quiet reflection, a suntrap pavilion, an outdoor classroom, play areas, habitat platforms and spaces for art, culture and community activity.
Benefits
39% of Camden residents do not have access to private outdoor green space. We aim to build a garden for everyone.
Social
The Highline will provide a focal point for the local community, acting as a local place to interact on a day-to-day basis, as well as providing opportunities for volunteering and the provision of events.
Health and Wellbeing
Park use has a huge benefit on user’s health and wellbeing. As a linear park, the Camden Highline will help people build physical exercise into their daily routine.
Local Economy
Camden Highline will provide jobs and apprenticeships, as well as boosting local business spend.
Biodiversity
The planting interventions on the Camden Highline will introduce four new ecosystems, dramatically improving local biodiversity.
Education
Our education programme aims to inspire young people to take ownership of their surroundings and develop an interest in the built environment and beyond.
Art and Heritage
The Camden Highline will be a platform to shine a light on art and heritage. We have already started unvieling Camden’s rich industrial past here.
Our Supporters
The project has got to this stage thanks to the support of thousands of Camden Highliners, who have given their time, money and voice to the project. The first ever Camden Highliners, who got us started. We work to ensure that the Highline is a new common space for the surrounding community. The Camden Highliners have already started, coming together to improve Camden Gardens and using the project as an educational tool for volunteer-led workshops in local schools.
Building a new park means creating an alliance of local voices, politicians and others who can help make it happen. Since our crowdfunded launch three years ago we’ve been busy doing so. We have support from Network Rail, TfL, Camden Council and key landowners in the area.
"Regenerating this disused industrial thoroughfare will bring the communities of Holborn and St Pancras closer together, not to mention some much needed green space and fresh air. This is a fantastic vision, and I look forward to seeing it become a reality."
Keir Starmer, Leader of the Labour Party and MP for Holborn & St Pancras
"The Camden Highline is a really exciting proposal which is capturing the public imagination and would contribute to the Council's ambition to improve links between Camden Town, Camley Street and King's Cross. The Council is ready to work with those behind the project as it moves forward."
Councillor Georgia Gould, Leader of Camden Council
"This innovative project has the potential to become a real asset for Camden and is a great example of a local community taking an idea and garnering support in order to make it a reality. I look forward to seeing it develop."
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London
Press Coverage
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‘Hoping to repeat the success of Manhattan’s park, London is transforming a disused rail line, elevated 25 feet above the city’s streets, into its own floating green space.’
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‘The linear park will transform unused train tracks into green space. But London may avoid the worst criticisms of its Manhattan predecessor.’
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‘Like New York’s version, the Camden Highline will be designed by James Corner, occupy a former rail track, and attract selfie-taking tourists. Unlike New York’s, it may not invite a boom of luxury condos.’
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‘The man who helped revitalise New York with a linear park on a disused elevated railway hopes to do the same for the UK capital.’
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‘US studio James Corner Field Operations has won a competition to convert a kilometre-long section of disused railway in central London into "a garden in the sky" named the Camden Highline.’
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‘The backers of London’s own version of the New York High Line are set to launch a £35 million fundraising campaign to pay for the ambitious project.’
Meet the team
Simon is the CEO of the four organisations. His skill and experience is what lets them to take on big ideas and make them real.
Simon Pitkeathley
William Ginestier
William manages the back-end of the project, the hidden part of the iceberg which keeps the Highline moving forward.
Georgie Street
Georgie leads on the Camden Green Loop, the neighbourhood strategy joining our neighbourhoods up with the Highline and other public realm initiatives.
Hasanul Hoque
As the Operations Director, Hasanul helps make the projects happen across all four organisations .
Roisin Morrison
Roisin is in charge of developing the project, building momentum and working out how best to turn support into action.
Leyah March
Leyah manages Camden Collective, which provides free business and community space in vacant buildings. Collective hosts exhibitions, panels and workshops to help local voices shape the Highline.
As Community Engagement Officer, Alex is currently leading our Tracking the Heritage project; working with locals across the area, celebrating the history and heritage surrounding the Highline.
Alex Ross
Eve is our new Projects Manager working on the Camden Green Loop. She has recently returned from studying abroad in Italy and is now working on all things Camden Town.
Eve Gilmour
Our Design Team
JAMES CORNER FIELD OPERATIONS
.James Corner Field Operations is an international landscape architecture and urban design practice with offices in London, New York, San Francisco, and Shenzhen. Their many award-winning, public realm design projects include New York’s High Line, London’s South Park at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Hong Kong’s Avenue of the Stars and Victoria Harbourfront, Seattle’s Central Waterfront, Brooklyn’s Domino Park, and Miami’s The Underline.
www.fieldoperations.net
vPPR ARCHITECTS
vPPR Architects was established in 2009 by Tatiana von Preussen, Catherine Pease, and Jessica Reynolds, and is an award-winning practice known for bold designs that bring clarity to complex sites, with a focus on community and sustainability. Located in Kentish Town, London, projects include Camden’s Horse Hospital, Wembley Olympic Way, and the RIBA Award-winning Otts Yard and Vaulted House.
www.vppr.co.uk
Design Lead: James Corner Field Operations
vPPR Architects, Piet Oudolf, Hew Locke, Street Space, Speirs Major, Tony Gee Engineering, AKT II, Rider Levett Bucknall, Atelier Ten, Pentagram, Authentic Futures
Our Trustees
Richard Terry (Chair)
Richard is a Kentish Town resident and retired former Director of Arup.
Deb Thomas
Deb is a former Director of Arup and is currently Director of Development and Strategic Asset Management at C&C.
Dr Catherine Horwood Barwise
Catherine is a social historian and author specialising in horticultural history. She lives in Primrose Hill.