PRESS RELEASE: EUSTON’S CULINARY STREET SET FOR AMBITIOUS REGENERATION AFTER RECORD HS2 FUNDING AWARD
Traders of culinary institution Drummond Street and Euston Town business partnership have been awarded £650,000 for the first stage of an exciting regeneration scheme aimed at mitigating the impact of HS2. The funding offers communities the chance to reimagine the high street in a post-Covid-19 environment.
Euston Town business partnership is leading on a regeneration project with the traders of the world-famous Drummond Street, a cluster of independent restaurants celebrated for South Indian cuisine with local connections going back generations. In collaboration with Camden Council, Jan Kattein Architects and local communities, Euston Town is developing a multi-pronged strategy to mitigate the impact of HS2 construction with public realm interventions.
Euston Town BID is delighted to announce that the first stage has now been funded with £650,000 from HS2’s Business & Local Economy Fund, the highest award yet, matched by £160,000 from Euston Town.
The Drummond Street business community holds huge cultural and economic significance to Euston, which falls in the top 10% of England’s most deprived areas. The immense pressure brought by HS2 construction has left the traders of this culinary staple at serious risk. To ensure this community a place in Euston’s future, Euston Town commissioned Jan Kattein Architects to work with a range of stakeholders on an ambitious strategy in 2019. The result is a neighbourhood vision that celebrates a diverse mix of cultures, creates a culinary destination and builds business resilience.
Stage 1: MAKE AN ENTRANCE.
An initiative to bring neighbourhood entrances to life with murals, greenery and creative lighting schemes. Shop frontages will be redesigned to complement local Georgian architecture and respond to cultural diversity, alongside a shared garden space that will provide tranquil respite from the urban environment and away from construction sites.
This will be followed by two further stages designed to mitigate HS2 construction as it progresses further:
Stage 2: CONNECT THE DOTS.
Completing the ‘People’s High Street’; a flexible public realm primed for community events and street food markets. Green walkways will link communities and increase permeability for surrounding neighbourhoods, whilst street furniture will encourage play and leisure from visitors.
Stage 3: KNIT TOGETHER.
Vacant space will be occupied with temporary creative workspaces and pop-up shops or events, forming a meanwhile high street with a rotating offer. Businesses will also be able to make use of the roadway to deliver a truly pedestrian-friendly neighbourhood.
From August, Euston Town and Jan Kattein Architects will embark upon a variety of consultation activities to begin an inclusive design process. The BID is currently working on partnerships with local organisations to facilitate learning opportunities, particularly for young people and business owners. Included in the immediate projects will be the development of customised and branded street furniture enabling traders to reopen safely whilst respecting social distancing.
Simon Pitkeathley, Euston Town CEO said:
As businesses emerge from Covid-19 we are seeing the high street’s transformation catalysed; what we thought would take a decade is happening in a matter of months. When we committed to this project a year ago, we knew that an irreplaceable cultural asset was at risk. Now, we are faced with the unexpected challenge and opportunity to place Drummond Street at the question facing our businesses — how do we reimagine our neighbourhoods so they best serve our communities, and become once again an intrinsic part of our future cities?
Jan Kattein of Jan Kattein Architects said:
I have worked in high street regeneration for 12 years and know that Drummond Street has a lot to offer. Creative thinking and pulling together are critical to address the challenges faced by high street businesses and that’s exactly what’s happening in Drummond Street. We have ambitious plans to create safe outdoor dining areas for restaurants, introduce greening, improve shopfronts and signs, install lights, artwork and quirky street furniture. Drummond Street will be transformed to create a truly spectacular foodie destination in North London.
Cllr Danny Beales of Camden Council said:
“We have worked in partnership with Euston Town BID, the Drummond Street traders and local residents to develop these proposals.
This will be very welcome news to local businesses who have lost valuable trade in recent times and have also been affected by their close proximity to the construction work. It’s been a very difficult period since station works began, added to the current challenges businesses are facing due to COVID-19.
This funding will enhance the Drummond Street area and greatly improve the local environment for all who live and work there.
Already renowned for its famous restaurants and other food outlets, this significant award will enable us to encourage visitors and tourists and help to secure this important areas future”
Mohammed Salique, owner of Diwana said:
“As a business community, many of us have ties to Euston going back generations. This is our home, and we want to be a part of the changes that are happening. We are delighted to be working with Euston Town BID to build a bright future for Drummond Street where we continue to celebrate local cultures and invite new visitors to experience our neighbourhood.”
Mark Thurston, HS2 Ltd CEO said:
“The HS2 funds are such a critical part of how HS2 can support communities and business on the line of route that are affected by the construction of Britain’s new high speed railway. Not only can they provide local and targeted relief from the impact of construction, they can also create a positive and lasting impact in communities beyond that. The Drummond Street Revival Project will transform the area, and this is an important investment that will provide benefit to local businesses for many years to come.”
