As part of a multi-disciplinary team together with Hatch Regeneris (economic evidence) We Made That (built environment) and Urban Shape (retail), PRD developed an Inclusive Growth Strategy for Streatham in the London Borough of Lambeth.

Streatham is a vibrant and well-connected part of Lambeth, with attractive and affordable housing stock, proud engaged communities and an evolving blend of retail, leisure, food and beverage provision, which is emerging along the High Road area. However, Streatham faces a number of barriers to inclusive growth, including the heavy traffic presence of the High Road itself, the oversupply of retail overall and the challenge of ensuring that growth is inclusive of (and not at the expense of) Streatham’s existing communities.

Through working closely with Lambeth Council and key local stakeholders (such as the Business Improvement District), a detailed evidence base and strategy was developed, which would inform Lambeth’s policy framework and guide the actions of key stakeholders towards mutually defined aims and targets for inclusive growth.

PRD’s role included considering the development potential of key assets and sites across Streatham to identify opportunities for developments and interventions that would support inclusive growth. The aim of development in each case was not purely financial return, but encompassed inclusive growth aims such as more housing, access to services and civic amenities, provision of workspace and community assets, improving the leisure and cultural offer and softening the urban grain.

PRD’s experience of developing and mobilising development was also deployed to provide clear action plans for London Borough of Lambeth about how the development of key opportunities could be achieved through the use of the Council’s assets, interests, powers and housing company.