FOI - Getting Building Fund [Nov 2024]

A holistic package of town centre investments that will mobilise quickly in support of Covid-19  recovery. These projects span across London will regenerate town centres, enhance public realm and improve high streets. 

See 1.1 to 1.9 for specific details

• 274 jobs created
• 127 construction jobs created
• 237 jobs safeguarded
• 2,620 sqm commercial floorspace unlocked
• 503 businesses assisted
• 16,975 sqm public realm or green space improved or created

See 1.1 to 1.9 for breakdown
 

This investment will bring forward work that would not otherwise have taken place.The two project activities will enhance key areas of public realm which will have a positive effect on the perceptions of Erith and on footfall in the town centre.  This in turn will benefit local businesses.

• Pier Road - Improving the tired and cluttered Pier Road public realm to create an attractive, active, pedestrian and cyclist friendly high street encouraging people to spend more time in the town centre    
• Erith High Street - The project will improve access to the gardens and riverfront making it safer for pedestrians and cyclists and adding to the impact and enhancement of important amenity space. It will also contribute to improving land and sales values for nearby development sites aiding their viability

• 20 construction jobs created
• 2 jobs safeguarded
• 30 businesses assisted
• 2,990 sqm public realm or green space improved or created

This will be the first project delivered in the Catford Town Centre masterplan area, serving the local population of Lewisham between Downham/ Bellingham and Lewisham.

• Youth Employment and Training Hub - refurbishment and conversion of a council owned building to provide a non-statutory jobs and skills hub with a multi-agency approach via the Lewisham Deal Partnership encompassing Lewisham Homes, Phoenix Community Housing Association, Lewisham College, Lewisham hospital and London University, plus provision from specialist youth support groups
• Holbeach Road - public realm improvements including market infrastructure to the pedestrianised area of Holbeach Road which runs along the side of the building, and also fronts the Catford Mews Cinema

• 150 jobs created
• 74 construction jobs created
• 20 jobs safeguarded
• 270 sqm commercial floorspace unlocked
• 60 businesses assisted
• 500 sqm public realm / green space created

The project will reuse part of a major retail site as a catalyst for a range of projects to increase commercial and social value and set the tone for further development that complements the core retail offer of the town centre.

• The Undercroft (Factory of Futures) - will transform an empty unercroft into a space for creatives and new creative enterprises. This activity is designed to align with a number of local organisations inlcuding Kingston University, Kingston College and Creative Youth to deliver inclusive and diverse programming and engage young people as core beneficiaries 
• Connected Kingston - Public realm improvements as identified in the Reimagining Kingston Strategy to animate the neglected riverside area and open up spaces and alleyways as natural routes into the Market Place/town centre

• 50 jobs created
• 13 construction jobs created
• 1,600 sqm commercial floorspace unlocked
• 50 businesses assisted
• 700 sqm public realm / green space created

This is a multi-faceted place-based project focused on improving the high street and market along North End Road. 

• Public realm - The investment will deliver additional public realm improvements around the proposed building at Zero Coomer Place and will support the closure of North End Road to through traffic during market trading hours, creating a step-change enhancement to the pedestrian experience. 
• Zero Coomer Place building - Design work up to Planning to secure design quality and reduce the risk, thereby allowing the council to test new forms of asset management that can create social value. Inclusion of additional low energy / carbon neutral infrastructure and equipment in the new building. The council will also investigate the potential to use  funding to support the fit out a commercial grade kitchen space to support the creation of a food-focussed hub and attract a greater variety of prospective operators and users.

• 1,075 sqm public realm or green space improved or created

The additional project activities will deliver considerable enhancements to the existing Good Growth Fund scheme of public realm improvements. 

• Queen's Crescent - It  will impement ambitous changes to the highway to create a pedestrian/cyclist zone as well as considerably more public realm within a key neighbourhood centre. Funding will deliver an intergrated, phased masterplan for the street, implement street activation projects including planting and seating as well as create additional activation and engagement activities.  The council will support traders on the street to become resilient to future challenges and secure opportunities around changing consumer patterns as a result of the pandemic. 
   

• 20 jobs created
• 30 jobs safeguarded
• 1,500 sqm public realm or green space improved or created

This project will improve operation and business development in Chapel Market in response to the Covid-19 Pandemic and support the needs of a diverse local community

• Public realm - introducing new spaces to dwell and enjoy the market; improving accessibility for pedestrians; improving the air quality in the area by reducing traffic locally; accommodating social distancing requirements; attracting a diverse range of existing and new shoppers; and improving the provision of services to traders including electricity points, hot water and secure storage.
• Supporting traders and sustainable micro businesses -providing business development training  to existing stall-holders; attracting new stall-holders through one-off events and outreach to youth groups; and offering on-site support and guidance for Covid-safe and sustainable market operations
• Activating the market as the heart of the Angel - securing the future of the market as a vibrant place to shop, trade and visit, by delivering a number of specialist events e.g. Spring Fair; outreach to under-represented groups; and, promoting the benefits of 'shop local' and the heritage of Chapel Market 

• 30 jobs created
• 65 jobs safeguarded
• 50 sqm commercial floorspace unlocked
• 360 businesses supported
• 3,700 sqm public realm or green space improved or created

The project in Ilford town centre complements the GGF funded refurbishment of the listed town hall as artist workspace; conversion of a car park into a covered market; the refurbishment of a warehouse; and fit out of a space within a Salvation Army scheme. 

• Janice Mews / Hydrophonic High Street - The additional investment will bring a vacant unit back into economic use creating workspace and jobs as providing a platform to raise the profile of urban growing and deliver educational events
   

• 4 jobs created
• 400 sqm commercial floorspace unlocked
• 2 businesses assisted

The investment will deliver a strategic town centre project that will bring in new programmes and activities needed in the town centre as identified by the local community. This will be delivered alongside the the agreed Good Growth Fund project. 

• High Street Recovery - this activity will bolster and expand a series of high street public realm improvements to attract more residents and shoppers to Green Street. This investment will support the social distancing measures the council has already put in place to widen footways along the high street.  
• Queen's Market and Affordable Workspace - Additional improvements to Queen's Market to support existing traders, attract new traders and support the vitality and appeal of the market. The council will also assess what other uses can be facilitated to support its affordable workspace programme and fit out vacant units which would be managed and let by the workspace provider that is appointed for the wider Good Growth Fund project.  
   

• 20 jobs created
• 10 construction jobs created
• 120 jobs safeguarded
• 300 sqm commercial floorspace unlocked
• 2,000 sqm public realm or green space improved or created

The project activities build on and connect into the existing GGF projects for Wood Green,to help to improve footfall to the town centre and supporting economic recovery by strengthing connectivity and wayfinding.The proposals also build on the forthcoming Haringey Walking and Cycling Action Plan, Haringey's Good Economy Recovery Plan and Re-opening the High Street s project.

• Mayes Road (Phase 2) - Public realm improvements including SUDS, footway widening and green infrastructure 
• Barrett Gardens - Co-design of public realm improvements, including SUDS, green infrastructure, improving connectivity and accessibility and creating an amenity and play space
• Wood Green Mall Artwork - Co-design and community engagement for a public artwork intervention

• 10 construction jobs created
• 1 business assisted
• 4,500 sqm public realm or green space improved or created

This targeted investment in two large-scale film and TV studios projects will help develop world-class cultural production infrastructure across east London as part of the Thames Estuary Production Corridor, boosting the growth of the UK’s world-leading screen industries sector and creating new jobs to aid long term recovery.

See 2.1 to 2.1 for specific details

• 144 construction jobs created
• 11 construction jobs created
• 48 jobs safeguarded
• 37,915 sqm commercial space unlocked
• 37 businesses assisted
• 6,170 m roads/cylce lanes/walkways unlocked
• 800 sqm public realm or green space improved or created

See 2.1 to 2.2 for breakdown

In Summer 2020 LBBD/Be First secured planning permission for London's largest film studios including 6 sound stages totalling 140,000 sq ft plus associated workshops and offices.  The package of enabling infrastructure works delivered over the next 18 months will speed up the development of the site making it ready for the private sector to deliver the studios.     The studios will bring substantial socio-economic benefits to the local and regional economy with significant evidence regarding the high demand for film studios and limited supply. 

• Wandsworth Road -  upgrading carriageway, upgrading and providing new footways and drainage  to enable road to be used by non film studio businesses in the adjacent business park so that the film studio site can be a totally secure / self contained.  Work also includes removing a utility gantry on the site which prevents access and relocating non film studio car parking away from the site and a new security arrangement
• New link road - including footways and drainage, between public highway roundabout and site, creating access to film studio site and associated visitor parking area
• Power supply - Create provision to ensure the studios have the power they need ready for the studios to be operational 
• Cycle way - Delivery of cycle way link into the site
• Signage - Delivery of site signage to ensure clear routes for vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists

• 80 construction jobs created
• 37,000 sqm commercial space unlocked
• 5 businesses assisted
• 6,170 m roads/cycle lanes/walkways unlocked
• 800 sqm public realm or green space improved or created

It is suggested at peak the studios will have 1,200 people working there. Significant jobs and business generation in the supply chain is envisaged. 

3 Mills Studios is London’s largest film and television studio, situated in Bromley-by-Bow, an area undergoing significant regeneration.  This project and the GBF fund will support the long term financial viability of the Studios with the creation of new spaces for businesses and employment on the site, supporting the creative industries in east London. The project will modernise the ageing industrial buildings on the site, improve the digital infrastructure and bring greater use to redundant spaces creating new useable floor footprint to establish new opportunities for businesses to locate at the Studios, increase job opportunities, as well as enhancing the attractive of the Studios for TV and film production.  The investment will deliver the follwoing activities:

• Gin Still Floor Footprint and Renovation - creation of additional floor space in the roof void as rentable production offices to support filming on the site, or to be let to small businesses associated with the TV and film industry
• Rooftop Level 1 -  internal refurbishment to reconfigure and refit the space into 8 production offices. 
• Customs House - grade II listed building to be tanked and reinstated to offer 6 office units with shared facilities. 
• The Screening Room - modernisation project which would include more digital infrastructure, acoustic improvements, better access, new HVAC, fit out and fabric improvement. The space could also be made attractive to business, education and community uses
• Wi-Fi and fibre network - upgrade across the entire studio site to bring 3 Mills Studios up to the standards the industry now demands.
• Dressing Room / Ancillary space - modernisation of facilities to help protect the income levels achieved in this space.
   

• 66 jobs created
• 11 construction jobs created
• 48 jobs safeguarded
• 915 sqm commercial space unlocked
• 32 businesses assisted

In partnership with Subregional Partnerships West London Alliance (WLA), Local London, and South London Partnership (SLP), the GLA would match secured funding from the Strategic Investment Fund, and Strategic Investment Pot (SIP), for improving digital connectivity in areas of Outer London currently not met by the market, prioritising areas of high employment density. The model will bring wholesale fibre connectivity to local public assets lowering costs for private investment for ‘last mile’ connections to homes and businesses. 

Pending a review on delivery methods for delivering the connections, Sub-regional Partnerships WLA and SLP will make use of the TfL Telecommunications Commercialisation Project and Local London will use their existing framework developed for the SIP. The Connected London team will also work with providers and the Skills team to ensure support for infrastructure skills delivering the wider programme. 

The Connected London team in support with regional teams established through the Mayor’s £1m allocation (MD2530) will provide support to ensure smooth delivery by ensuring that local authorities are prepared and ready to allow necessary permissions to allow the concessionaire on site and access to the roads.

• 70,800 new superfast broadband connections to properties