Latest news

This website is closing for now as we reach the end of the borough wide phase of the Future High Streets programme. Coming next are engagement exercises focusing on each town centre at a time. If you would like to stay in the know, please email GrowthAndDeliveryTeam@rbkc.gov.uk to express your interest. The RBKC project team will then add you to the list of subscribers to updates about the programme. Please note that you will no longer be able to contact us through the website used thus far. Do you live or work in Notting Hill Gate? Then write to us to be a part of shaping an action plan to deliver practical improvements to your high street: GrowthAndDeliveryTeam@rbkc.gov.uk Notting Hill Gate is the pilot area for action plans that the team are aiming to implement in partnership with the community.

Thank you for taking the time to fill out the questionnaires. We have received almost 1,000 comments from over 500 people. This input has provided valuable insights into how our high streets are currently used and what should be our priorities for the future. There is a lot of information to digest so we have set out key findings for you bellow. Your feedback provided a baseline of evidence to shape local action plans that we are working on to help improve our high streets. Rather than policy documents, these are templates designed to be continuously adapted. We will share more about these with you soon. Key research findings How do you get to your local high street? Probably walking. This is by far the most common way of getting to high streets across the borough and all age groups. Cycling came second and public transport third. What do you think is the best way to buffer traffic noise on a busy road? Most likely, planting trees along the pavement. Residents think trees are better than benches with shrubs which could create obstacles for people with reduced mobility and other conditions. The top reasons for visiting high streets today are daily shopping and eating. But what will happen as online shopping keeps growing? We heard interesting ideas at workshops with residents’ associations and members of the Citizens’ Panel. When asked what changes they want to see on their high streets, a resident said: “Create the high street as a place you go to for experience, maybe a different experience every day of the week, a place for all types of people and families, and budgets. A place for everyone”. Others encouraged the Council to draw on inspiring examples to make people pause and increase dwell time. We heard markets, festivals, and new pop-up shops on vacant retail units are the top priorities to improve the high street experience. Explore the full reports to find out more about the unique strengths, challenges, and ambitions for each of our high streets. K&C Future High Streets Questionnaire Report January 2022 K&C Future High Streets Workshops Report October 2021

Local businesses, cultural organisations, and the Council are coming together to develop a number of new Business Improvement Districts (‘BIDs’), which is a key strand of the High Streets Programme. BIDs provide a mechanism for local business rates payers to pay an extra Levy to create a pot of money which can be spent on improvements to the local town centre or High Street – from small improvements like more regular cleaning, plants, or CCTV, to more ambitious large events or seasonal markets. Things that make the area thrive— not only commercially but also for residents. The Brompton Road partnership is proposing a BID in and around Brompton Road, crossing over into Westminster as well. The businesses are currently voting and a ‘yes’ majority would see a new BID come into existence. Similarly, the King’s Road partnership is proposing a BID in Chelsea, around King’s Road. The close of ballot for that BID is later in the year, 25th November. A new BID on Kensington High Street is also in the works and there is the potential for many more across our local high streets and town centres if the demand and desire is there. We will keep you updated as things progress on these, and whenever there is further opportunity for engagement. The BID partnerships have engaged with the relevant local residents and representatives for the best part of 2 years now, to make sure that the BID proposals work for everyone. What do you think about Business Improvement Districts? Can you spot where new BIDs are coming forward on this High Streets interactive map ? Please feel free to leave your comments. You can find more information about the BIDs on their respective websites: http://bromptonroadbid.co.uk http://kingsroadbid.co.uk

Have you noticed the new benches and flowers? Or the banners? Following a series of collaborative conversations and walkabouts, the first part of the town centre work began last year with the creation of a new visual identity for Kensington High Street. It focused on celebrating the cultural and natural attractions that it is home to by unrolling new banners, benches, and greenery. We wanted to test new ideas so that we could begin to build an evidence base of what might work when designing a future vision and delivery plan for the High Street. We think it is important that high streets serve local communities, and we hope that by implementing small ideas we can have a big impact. Based on your feedback from the survey, the toolkits that we are going to create will help us deliver additional interventions in the future, contributing towards an improved public realm, that is welcoming and resilient. We are looking forward to hearing what else you think is missing from the high street, or what you would like to see more – or less – of! Contribute towards the vision here: https://kcfuturehighstreets.commonplace.is/proposals/vision/step1

Six weeks of consultation and over 400 comments provide interesting insights about the ways in which people are currently using the high streets. We are looking for more feedback about businesses and the challenges they face after the pandemic; would you be able to help us and share your thoughts? Head to the Business and Community questionnaire to have your say. It will take you less than a minute to answer all five questions. Your views will help gauge the best strategies to support businesses and employment spaces in the future. Most respondents have said the number one priority should be to help local entrepreneurs and social enterprises who might not afford to operate on our high streets to rent vacant properties. Other popular ideas include allowing businesses to stay open for longer and to change use during the evening. Like a shop that becomes an events space at the end of the day. Some of these proposals require funding, so we want to know how residents feel about a voluntary contribution. Should this money be spent locally and on projects chosen by residents – from greening to cultural events? Details will be discussed in the future. What do you think? Please share your views through this quick questionnaire . And tell your friends, neighbours and work colleagues to get involved too! The Future High Streets consultation closes on 30 September 2021.

London’s high streets have helped shape the fabric of the city – they are a focal point for communities, economies and culture. It is no different in Kensington and Chelsea, and it is important that we work together to support their future, developing fresh strategies so that high streets not only adapt and survive but thrive. Take a look at this video from Mathilde Lebreton , Senior Project Officer at the City Hall, to learn more about the London policies addressing the challenge of changing high streets. Keep an eye on the 'Learn from experts' tile to hear from other professionals from the UK and abroad. Help us build a collaborative vision for Kensington and Chelsea’s high streets by taking our surveys and sharing your ideas. Key resource: The Mayor of London High Streets & Town Centres Adaptive Strategies