Design Engagement

During the design phase, the Camden Highline Team, Street Space, Field Operations and vPPR have worked together to devise and deliver a comprehensive programme of engagement to involve local people in the development of the Camden Highline. Together, we’ve harnessed a range of methods to hear the thoughts, ideas and ambitions of different people, perspectives and places.

Methodology

With an already high profile and hugely visible support from local groups, organisations, businesses and residents Street Space’s engagement approach aimed to involve those who hadn’t yet been as included in conversations about the Camden Highline. In particular, residents on the Maiden Lane and Agar Grove estates. The methodology included the recruitment of a local young producer, Chloe, to create a locally based team, embedded within the neighbouring estates, who was supported to co-lead the engagement process.

Together, the engagement team developed a radically accessible and inclusive programme of engagement to directly enrich and bring the benefit of wider participation into the emerging and collaborative design process of the Camden Highline.

What we’ve heard

Throughout the journey, we’ve recognised recurring themes through conversations with local people that demonstrate the ideas, thoughts and ambitions of the surrounding communities. The following insights aim to summarise what we’ve heard:

Local residents at the heart of the highline

“Where will it be? What will it look like? How will it change the estate? I’d love to find out more and understand how it could benefit me and my neighbours.”

As the news spreads about the Camden Highline, the interest and excitement of local people to be involved expands, along with the importance of bringing people on the journey. How can we continue to involve neighbouring residents in the design of the highline and prioritise the lived experiences of local people?

A highline beyond the boundaries

"We've been living with the same issues for a long time. How will the Highline connect and improve our existing spaces?"

The people we’ve spoken to are really excited about the potential of a beautiful new park along the railway line and want to extend conversations to neighbouring spaces that surround the site. How can we integrate and improve existing unloved and/or neglected spaces and unloved corners that touch the edges of the Highline?

Welcoming, safe and secure first

"...it feels like there's a divide between the older estates and some of the new developments, our bit is segregated from the back end, because it’s not safe, there's lots of drugs and stuff like that round there, we don't let our kids hang around there. Would be good for us to mix with each other more and have places where we can meet and talk - better connect people and make it feel safer."

We’ve heard of the importance of feeling safe, welcome anEnsure local benefit d secure, especially from residents and people living in close proximity to the Highline. How can we harness creative lighting and other security methods to make people feel safe and secure when using the footpath?

Ensure local benefit

"I want to see regeneration for the working class people who are from here and have been here a long time. People have been pushed out in the past and it's important that anything that happens here is sensitive to the lives of the people that it will affect."

Insights from Young People

Create opportunities for play in unexpected places.

"I like playing in the trees and woods, digging up the mud and playing pretend with my friends - we do it everywhere."

Balance activated and energetic spaces with calm and quiet places.

"If you put a zipline on there then lots of people will come and spoil how nice it is, you don’t want it to be too busy like a theme park, but little bits of fun would be fine, something for everyone, different sections for playing and different sections for sitting and being quiet."

Harness natural, recycled and renewable materials along the highline.

"It would be good if we helped the animals, could they use it? Could they live on it?" "You don't want it to feel too colourful, stand out too much. I'd like it to look natural - could we find things to build it with there's loads of old things around here that we could use."

Let us help make and shape parts of the highline—from signage to seating.

"We did the mural on the wall at Maiden Lane. Can we do another one? We could make lots of art to put on there. With some help."