High Street Classroom
Mayor of London
Date: 2024 – Present
London
A learning community of passionate people working to improve London’s high streets and town centres.
High Street Classroom launch - a celebratory workshop and collective lunch on East Street market
Since January 2024, JA Projects, have been leading a team including Architecture00 and Kelly Drake to develop the High Street Classroom, a programme for the Mayor of London as part of their High Street Network.
The High Street Network is a community of passionate people working to improve London’s high streets and town centres. Our mission is to support high streets to be inclusive, resilient and thriving.
The High Street Classroom is a learning programme of events and activities. Treating London’s high streets as our classroom, we visit projects, learn from each other and collaborate on fresh ideas to help deliver good growth for Londoners.
The High Street Classroom programme includes:
Visits to inspiring projects across London
Seminars on important high street topics
Working Groups who come together to innovate and develop solutions to specific challenges
Social gatherings
We are currently in the second term of programming, which includes:
A seminar at the Whitgift Centre in Croydon to explore the changing role of the shopping centre.
A visit to Southall to explore the multi-faceted role of food on the high street.
The launch of Tomorrow’s Market Good Practice Guide at Walthamstow Market.
A seminar examining the potential role of healthcare on high streets.
The first term of programming included:
A celebratory workshop and collective lunch on East Street market.
A walking tour of Wood Green with Haringey Council and Haringey Youth Panel, exploring the importance of working with young people.
A seminar with the GLA’s High Street Data service looking at how data can be used in the High Street context.
A seminar in the Cally with Islington Council, exploring access to secure property for small businesses, creative & cultural sectors, and community organisations
A walking tour of Brixton with Lambeth Council, considering the importance of supporting high streets after hours
A working group which is meeting to develop new thinking on Local Authorities’ roles in unlocking, accelerating and supporting access to secure space on the high street.
The project is ongoing. You can sign up to upcoming events on our eventbrite page, and join the network by filling in this form.
Below are a few highlights from the first series of events.
High Street Classroom launch - a celebratory workshop and collective lunch on East Street market.
Photos: JA Projects
Youth on the High Street - a walking tour of Wood Green with Haringey Council and Haringey Youth Panel, exploring the importance of working with young people.
Photos: JA Projects
