What a successful landscape-led urban framework looks like for future communities

Anne Wynne

The key to bringing beneficial change through public space design to densely populated, multi-generational urban areas, such as Central Somers Town, is demonstrating a people-first approach that centres residents’ voices and uses green spaces to strengthen community and access, argues Anne Wynne at DSDHA

Understanding how local people live, play and learn through a meaningful co-design and stewarding process over the long term is at the heart of our approach on projects such as Central Somers Town. In 2014, The London Borough of Camden approached us to act as master planners, working with four other design teams, for a landscape-led rejuvenation. The area is a disadvantaged part of Central London, in between Kings Cross and Euston, with approximately 5000 residents, 70% of which live in socially rented homes. As we’re now on the final phase of the master plan – or urban framework as it might be better referred to as –, we can see the valuable and practical insights on urban frameworks that this project offers.

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