North Paddington regeneration to “transform” the area
“From new basketball courts to buildings for the community, and barbers who talk to you about mental health,” according to Westminster City Council, the latest snapshot of the North Paddington project reveals an area “which is being reinvigorated” thanks to more than £10 million in investment by the council.
Dozens of new projects have been revealed to be in the pipeline. These include expanded community hubs, “an explosion in arts funding,” and courses teaching “Dragon’s Den-style skills to entrepreneurs of the future.”
The details have just been published in the Midway Report, a two-year snapshot of progress on a range of projects falling under the North Paddington Programme umbrella. The area was chosen as a priority area for investment by the council, which aims to “level up years of underinvestment and neglect.”
The “hugely ambitious” renewal programme drew on the feedback of local people to create “one of the most comprehensive regeneration schemes ever launched by a local authority.”
The upgrades will include:
- Over £10 million invested in expanding and improving community buildings
- More than 426 new trees planted, and upgrades to Maida Hill Market and Harrow Road completed
- Over £825,000 awarded in grants to support more than 50 community organisations
- £4.5 million invested in a range of local capital projects
- A family hub designed by residents which has served more than 1,200 meals to local people
- A totally revamped Maida Hill Square, offering everything from free dance classes to international food stalls
- New sports facilities
- Hundreds of trees planted and new green spaces
Residents have led the way in highlighting the changes they want to see in the area,” the council says. The ambitious span of the North Paddington Project has covered everything from a shopfront improvement programme on Harrow Road to working with the NHS to provide specific local health services, and even training barbers to lead conversations with customers about mental health.
Community spaces have been a particular focus in North Paddington. For example, The Exchange at Ernest Harriss House, a new community hub opened by the council and operated by North Paddington Food Bank, involved more than 400 local people in its design and has proven to be a huge success, delivering 28 events and more than 1,200 meals to residents. The Council is also commissioning a new family hub for £2.5 million to serve even more residents.
The next phase is the £4.5 million Community Capital Grants Fund. This will help to upgrade and revitalise community-run spaces in North Paddington, improving local facilities, making them more accessible, sustainable, and better suited to support health and wellbeing.
“The Council’s ongoing commitment towards creativity and the arts has resulted in funding of £2.7 million being secured to support the expansion of Paddington Arts, which will boost cultural access, provide vital community infrastructure, and create opportunities for young people and local creatives, opening the way for young people to develop employable skills in the creative industries,” the council said.
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