A Focus on Public Realm
There is a range of exciting public realm projects going on in the Aldgate district to help the fabric of the area improve and revive for all.
In 2021 the BID’s ambition is to develop a masterplan and vision for the Aldgate district bringing together all the live projects and to provide a unified strategy to where future catalysts project may lie.
We are working with London Borough of Tower Hamlets, TfL, City of London and business and landlords to develop this masterplan.
Below is a range of news and updates from the BID relating to a range of public realm initiatives and projects.
Words of gold from our stakeholder – Jonathan Beilin of Newton Perkins…
With talk around the ‘death of the office’ now a distant memory and the vaccine rollout well underway, many employers and employees are looking to the future – and more specifically to their working environments.
With the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues having been sorely missed by workers, as well as out-of-work socialising, many are evaluating what requirements they will need when the workplace reopens. Aldgate, with its connections to transport hubs and thriving community outside of office life, is a destination employers should now be looking to.
Aldgate Connect BID, and its property group, are confident that Aldgate will become one of the more inspiring and vibrant locations in the City, attracting both businesses and visitors. Jon Beilin, Partner at Newton Perkins, and member of the property group, is extremely excited about the upcoming plans for the area.
“We are about to embark on a number of initiatives including the restoration of Petticoat Lane Market and Middlesex Street, cycling provisions, improvements to cleansing, waste and recycling facilities, and upgrading the condition of vacant buildings. The initiatives will undoubtedly highlight Aldgate as an exciting and protected destination, whilst supporting local businesses”.
Newton Perkins are commercial property consultants who work with more than 150 landlords and tenants in the area – and have been involved with the BID since before its inception.
Jon said: “It’s been great, I’m really pleased about Newton Perkins’ involvement in this project. We share the vision that Aldgate should no longer be seen as a gateway to more recognised areas but as an established destination in its own right. The area’s historical and strategic merit is tremendous and it deserves the same level of planned investment and enhancement we have seen in recent years in Farringdon and Shoreditch.”
In the surrounding office market area, commercial property consultants have seen a marked increase in enquiries. Jon reported: “Office requirements have picked up noticeably since January 2021 reaching 80% of pre-COVID levels – which is a hugely encouraging figure for agents.”
Requirements are coming in a variety of shapes and sizes, with some downsizing and others looking at how their current space can be adapted to allow for communal workspaces, less fixed desking and enhanced circulation. Much greater lease flexibility is also required by tenants particularly in the A- and B-grade property brackets. It is clear that with many lease events coming up in the next year or so, employers have a lot to think about.
Jon advised: “The market is probably the most competitive it has been since the financial crash in 2008. If you’re more of a pragmatic occupier there are excellent deals to be done and the majority of landlords recognise that. It’s a bit of a game of cat and mouse at the moment.”
While take-up was down around 60% in 2020, pre-lettings were still looking strong so smaller companies, who can mobilise quickly, have been taking advantage of the deals available.
And with many now actively looking to their future offices, Aldgate is proving to be a hugely attractive destination, offering something for both employers, in terms of attractive office space, and for employees, eagerly seeking a step away from their makeshift office at home.
Jon said: “Throughout my 15 years at Newton Perkins I’ve observed what I’d describe as the very careful and sensitive redevelopment of the Aldgate area. It’s been hugely interesting. The area has changed and grown and yet the spirit and culture of Aldgate has been carefully retained.
“The redesign of the busy Aldgate gyratory into a public square in particular has made a huge difference, providing occupiers with a communal breakout area and event space – so you’ve got the mixture of brand-new developments alongside historical and period buildings, which ultimately creates a location that is far more vibrant, exciting and interesting than your typical city location.
“When you compare Aldgate to the rest of the city it offers something different. There’s a feeling of community and culture, as well as originality you don’t get elsewhere. There’s also terrific value for tenants – you’ve got very good transport links and the river is just a 10-minute walk away.
“Aldgate has a huge amount going for it and is what we believe people will be looking for as a workplace destination post-lockdown.”
To get in touch with Jon please contact jb@newtonperkins.com
Whether you’re a new cyclist or just want to brush up on your skills, TfL’s free Cycle Safety Course is a must for you! As a bonus, get a 15% Halfords discount upon completion!
Register for Transport for London’s new free online course that will help you to cycle safely and confidently. There are four modules to complete and each one takes less than five minutes. The course is ideal for new cyclists or for those who would like to brush up on their skills.
The four modules include:
- Get ready to ride: gives you tips on getting you and your cycle ready for the road including basic maintenance and road handling skills.
- First time on the road: shows you how to cycle safely and responsibly and includes tips on setting off, road positioning and stopping safely
- On the road again: helps to get you cycling again with advice on traffic lights, roundabouts and junctions, and how to share the road safely
- Cycling with children or groups: gives you advice on cycling in a group
TfL has partnered with Halfords to provide all those who completed the course a 15% discount on Halfords cycle lights, locks and helmets!
Please go to cycle-skillsonline.tfl.gov.uk to sign up to the free course, and improve your cycle safety skills now!
And if you are interested in receiving face-to face cycle training, please go to Cycle Confident webiste to sign up for free sessions with Cycle Confident.
The funding from TfL’s Healthy Streets Fund for Business will be matched by the Aldgate community. We are 1 of 5 successful applicants to win the full tranche of funding available. This fund will be used to purchase waste compactors, wheelie bins and an electric vehicle to manage waste around the market to a micro-consolidation site in order to reduce waste collection traffic and emissions in and around Petticoat Lane Market streets.
The long-term aspiration for this project is to reduce the rubbish on the street making collections more efficient and encourage traders and businesses to be more aware creating a more sustainable market environment.
Do you want help and advice on how to reduce your deliveries or servicing to your office? Are there too many deliveries coming into your post room? Are you looking for cost savings to your servicing?
Transport for London are trying to reduce the traffic, freight and deliveries in central London. This will have a 2 fold effect – reducing traffic and reducing air pollution.
We are hosting a TfL interactive workshop in Aldgate to help the Aldgate business see what simple steps to reduce or retime deliveries, spend less and improve your carbon footprint making air in London cleaner.
Come to this FREE workshop to see how you can implement some changes to operations and find out more here https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/deliveries-in-london/delivering-efficiently/consolidating-deliveries?intcmp=37938
2 May
10-11.30AM
Royal College of Pathologists
Alie Street
The Partnership commissioned a report on how the functionality and performance of both Aldgate and Aldgate East stations could be improved. The core objective of this brief is to understand and provide recommendations to improve the under-performance and accessibility of Aldgate and Aldgate East Stations in relation to the wider area in order to enable growth. (more…)
HAVE YOUR SAY! The new Local Plan, called City Plan 2036, sets out the City Corporation’s vision, strategy and objectives for planning for the next 20 years, together with policies that will guide future decisions on planning applications. Once adopted, the new Plan will replace the current City of London Local Plan adopted in January 2015.
The City of London Corporation is also consulting on its very first Transport Strategy. (more…)
The lantern parade and the winter fete on 7 December were huge successes for the Aldgate community. There were at least 400 community members that came together with lanterns for a parade around the streets of Aldgate and finishing in the new Aldgate Square for the lighting of the Christmas tree and some stakeholder stalls. Well done to Aldgate Community Events for organising such a great event. (more…)
On 8th April 2019 the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) will arrive in central London to help clean up our toxic air and reduce harmful NOx road transport emissions. Polluting vehicles will be charged when driving in the zone. Find out if you will be affected….
What is it?
The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is a traffic management and emission reduction scheme. It will come into force on 8th April 2019. Initially, ULEZ will operate within the same area as the current Congestion Charge Zone and will be in place in central London. Quick view the ULEZ stakeholder leaflet here
TAP established a Public Realm Steering Group.
With the completion of the Aldgate Square Project, the ongoing Petticoat Lane market area enhancements as well as other major mixed-use developments the time is right for TAP to formally play a leading role in the public realm development agenda in Aldgate requiring a specific forum to discuss local topical public realm matters. This meeting group will have representation from a mixed sector base from both Tower Hamlets and City of London. (more…)
The City of London facilitated a public realm consultation with TAP members and stakeholders.
In February, TAP members, stakeholders and representatives from TfL and London Borough of Tower Hamlets were sitting around a consultation table facilitated by City of London highlighting issues around public realm in Aldgate and Aldgate East. Bad lighting, difficult wayfinding, signalling problems and unsightly derelict buildings came up as problems for Aldgate’s public realm. From this sessions some objectives and next steps were identified. It is our aim to enhance these issues seeing them as opportunities to improve the area’s environment.
The Aldgate Partnership is proud to attach our Aldgate Development Review that we recently commissioned with City of London prepared by Publica. This will serve as a baseline for our public realm work going forward. Alongside consultation, we are developing an action plan to work with our partners to help influence and shape public spaces, improve local issues relating to transport and the environment and the activation of spaces.
This is the City Fringe Opportunity Area and Planning Framework developed under Boris Johnson which situates Aldgate nicely to concentrate on all aspects of public realm and regeneration. The City Fringe is among London’s most significant areas for economic growth, whilst also containing some of the capitals most deprived neighbourhoods. The growth of Tech City represents a massive opportunity for London to establish itself as the tech capital of Europe, whilst fuelling a growth engine that can drive regeneration in inner East London. (more…)
This document describes the City’s objectives and desired outcomes for the next 10 years in greater detail.
