Camberwell Station Road

Date: 2022

Transforming a hard-working street into a beacon of resilience and sustainability.

Concept (Images and Text): Adapted from competition entry led by Prior and Partners + Arup with contribution by JA Projects and others.

JA Projects and an interdisciplinary team has worked alongside Southwark Council, the GLA and local stakeholders, to transform a vibrant Camberwell neighbourhood into an even better place to live, work and visit.

Local community participation has been central to this commission. We‘ve conducted numerous walkabouts, knocked on every door along the road, and met online and in person with local residents, businesses and community groups. Through these conversations three key themes emerged:

• a street for all

• connecting Camberwell Station Road

• making good impressions

JA Projects also facilitated a series of co-design workshops with young people, culminating in a walking tour co-created by voices from Sacred Hearts School (SHS) and the Southwark Young Advisors, who prepared an inspirational tour sharing the issues and articulating the vision, including the desire to:

• enhance green spaces

• produce an inclusive and diverse street

• celebrate Camberwell Station

• support local mechanics and industry

Alongside BBUK (landscape architects) and BHA (project managers and costs consultants), we explored strategies for the entire length of the road before settling on a phased approach that makes the best use of the £1m Good Growth funding. The proposals seek to instil a sense of belonging and ensure people feel safe and welcome. Improvements to the landscaping will tackle competing agendas, capture local voices, encourage local businesses and jobs, remedy poor drainage and improve air quality.

The project is anticipated to go on-site in November 2022 and be completed in Spring 2023.