The Holborn Liveable Neighbourhood scheme aims to enhance the area by making it safer, greener, and less polluted, creating a more accessible and enjoyable space for residents and visitors alike.
Camden Council has commenced work on the first set of projects under the transformative Holborn Liveable Neighbourhood scheme, in collaboration with Transport for London (TfL). This ambitious project aims to enhance the Holborn area by making it safer, greener, and less polluted, creating a more accessible and enjoyable space for residents and visitors alike.
A Vision for a Better Holborn
Councillor Adam Harrison, Cabinet Member for Planning and a Sustainable Camden, expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative, stating:
“At Camden, we have long wanted to give Holborn the investment it deserves. We have already introduced several permanent transport safety improvements in recent years. In February 2024, we unveiled further enhancement plans and launched the Holborn Liveable Neighbourhood scheme. Now, we are thrilled to have begun delivering ‘STARter’ projects in the area, including at Keeley Street and Red Lion Street.
“We aim to transform Holborn into a vibrant, people-friendly area with attractive, healthy, and accessible streets, cleaner air, and more green spaces. To achieve this, we have engaged extensively with residents, businesses, and community groups to understand their aspirations for the area.”
Extensive Community Engagement
Since the project’s launch, Camden Council has engaged with over 1,050 people and gathered more than 3,000 valuable insights through focus groups, pop-up sessions, and online responses. The feedback highlighted the community’s desire for well-maintained, inclusive, and creative public spaces unique to Holborn. Additionally, respondents expressed the need for assurances that the project would not negatively impact traffic in the surrounding areas.
Councillor Harrison emphasised the importance of continued engagement:
“We are undertaking further targeted discussions with various local groups to ensure diverse perspectives are heard. Recently, we reached out to communities we had not previously engaged with extensively, including Coram’s Field Future Girls, LSE women entrepreneurs, Dragon Hall teens, Holborn Mosque, South Asian women’s groups, the local homeless soup kitchen, LSE BME Mentoring, and Camden Disability Action.
“We have also conducted focused conversations with individuals with vision impairments, sensory and physical disabilities. It is vital that we incorporate the experiences of as many voices as possible to ensure that our proposals benefit the entire Holborn community.
“We encourage everyone to continue sharing their thoughts online. A full public consultation on our draft designs for the broader scheme is expected next year. In the meantime, we have produced a video summarising our plans and the feedback received.”
A Multi-Million Pound Investment in Holborn
James Stewart, Director of Urban Symbiotics and the project’s engagement consultant, highlighted the significance of community participation:
“Last year’s engagement for the Holborn Liveable Neighbourhood was a fantastic opportunity to bring together residents, businesses, and visitors to shape a more inclusive and people-friendly Holborn. We are excited to continue working with Camden on further targeted engagement to ensure that local voices drive the area’s transformation.”
Approved by TfL in 2019 as part of its Liveable Neighbourhood Programme, the Holborn project is expected to cost approximately £40 million. Funding will come from multiple sources, including TfL contributions, council capital investment, Section 106 agreements, and third-party funding.
The council encourages ongoing public participation, with feedback welcome through the online consultation platform: Have Your Say Today – Holborn Liveable Neighbourhood – Commonplace.
