Marcus Adams writes –

Crouch End Vision:

‘4 green gateways with a new square at its heart’

Places need a long-term vision that sets out future aspirations and ambitions.

We believe Crouch End needs a bold vision for the future!

Funding to deliver this vision may not be immediately available, but the creation of a long-term vision means that when finances are available there is a ready-made plan as to where to direct that funding, ensuring that however small it all contributes to the greater whole.

In 2024 and 2025 Crouch End Neighbourhood Forum (CENF) facilitated visioning workshops with local residents and stakeholders to shape a vision for the future of Crouch End, in the knowledge that in the region of £600,000 of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding is available for capital improvements in Crouch End.

Please visit our consultation map at https://crouchend2030.jtpengages.co.uk/

Crouch End Today

The centre of Crouch End has a distinctive form. Two ‘Y’s joined by the tail come together at The Broadway. Park Road from the north-west, Tottenham Lane to the north-east, Crouch Hill from the south-east and Crouch End Hill from the south-west are all traffic thoroughfares with vehicles coming together and passing through The Broadway.

The resulting environment is one dominated by vehicles. Huge white arrows painted on the carriageway outside Waitrose leave residents in no doubt who has priority. The public realm is poor with limited investment since the late 1990’s, with narrow pavements, and resultant poor air quality.

In contrast to the surrounding leafy tree-lined residential streets the centre of Crouch End lacks greenery with limited street trees and landscape. Biodiversity does not exist.

The annual CENF 2024 retail health check schedules the year-on-year decline of Crouch End as a retail centre with floorspace down from 33% in 2008 to 13% in 2024. The food and beverage sector is also challenged reducing to 16%. The number of vacant units has from 23 in 2023 to 32 in 2024. Tottenham Lane is dominated by charity shops and beauty parlours, along with empty shops.

https://www.crouchendforum.org.uk/crouch-end-retail-healthcheck-2025/

The centre of Crouch End is in decline.

Is this decline a surprise?

As demonstrated by the success of new places like Kings Cross or Battersea Power Station, people are drawn and attracted to attractive places; environments where they feel safe and comfortable; places to spend time and dwell.

Places that provide greenery for mental and physical well-being, where tree canopies create shade from summer sunshine, and where they people breathe fresh air and not exhaust fumes.

The Broadway and the centre of Crouch End is a poor environment and not one you would feel comfortable to dwell. The east and west sides of the street are separated by traffic dominated carriageways. Crossing by The Clocktower and by Dunn’s requires a wait in the traffic island. As a pedestrian you can often wait for what feels like ages at the crossing by Sainsbury’s.

Trips to the centre of Crouch End are a necessity not a pleasure.

From Copenhagen to Stoke Newington High Street it has been consistently demonstrated that improved and better quality public realm leads to improved business performance, greater vitality and improved safety.

What is next?

We welcome your thoughts on the 16 proposals set out on the online platform. Please add your comments and any other ideas you have.

We will keep the platform open for summer 2025 and then provide a summary of the consultation.