The Mayor of London announced the Outer London Fund (£50 million of funding, in two rounds) in early 2011 to help regenerate declining high streets and town centres in those London Boroughs not benefitting directly from CrossRail or the 2012 London Olympics.
The first round of bidding was to provide immediate access to £10 million in funds for quick-to-deliver projects to promote retail areas and draw in shoppers up to Christmas and into the New Year. Harrow Council was awarded £496,000 for Harrow town centre and £360,400 for North Harrow. The North Harrow award is going towards improvements to the shopping area in the form of better lighting, extra car parking bays, decorative planting and in the support and development of an local Traders’ Association to be active in promoting the shopping area.
The second round was intended to fund projects with long-term impact in a shopping centre. Because of the extent of the damage caused by the August riots, the scope of the Fund changed, with more boroughs now in competition for the remaining money.
Harrow Council is putting forward projects for Harrow town centre, Wealdstone District Centre, Rayners Lane and North Harrow.
The main proposal for North Harrow is to fund a Community Hub in the office space vacated by Harrow Children’s Services (above North Harrow library). This would be a partnership between the council and the Harrow branches of two major national charities seeking to move out of their current cramped office space in Harrow. There is enough office space for the partnership to expand to include other voluntary and cultural organisations, providing advice and support to individuals and small businesses, encouraging new local volunteering projects and ultimately to develop into a local arts, community and social centre. If the council’s bid succeeds, this ambitious and exciting project would increase the numbers of people visiting North Harrow, improve trade and be of long-term benefit to the area.
Want to know more? Would you like to support this proposal? Email David Sklair, North Harrow Regeneration Project Manager at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
.
Last Updated on Monday, 24 October 2011 18:59
