A firm of consultants have been appointed to create a plan to shape the future of Thornton Heath High Street and wider area.

Shaping Thornton Heath is an opportunity for the local community to contribute to the plan as Thornton Heath imagines what a future after Covid-19 might look like.

The conversation will also help to understand some of the impacts of the pandemic on the local community and the ideas people have to support residents and businesses respond and adapt to the new environment we are finding ourselves in. 

The council has appointed a consultant team, led by design and research practice CarverHaggard, to develop the £50,000 project.

The same firm developed a community plan for South Norwood and have been working on a project for public space improvements for London Road.

CarverHaggard are working with The Means, which describes its vision as: ‘changing the places where we work and live, for the better’, who will be speaking to local schools, places of worship, residents associations, businesses and other community groups over summer 2020.

Following these conversations a plan will be published setting out the vision for Thornton Heath and ideas for short, medium and long term projects to help achieve this. The plan is intended to be used to influence the development of key sites that are expected to come forward in the coming years. 

The council is keen to hear as many voices as possible on this so to get involved email thorntonheath@themeans.co.uk or visit www.shapingthorntonheath.com from 10 August for more information.

Since 2016 the council has been involving local people in an improvement programme, making the town centre high street and Brigstock Road more attractive. This included new pavements and road improvements, shop and building front improvements and wall art by local artists. The final part  this project is the improvements to the forecourt of Ambassador House.

While Shaping Thornton Heath is an important opportunity to consider the longer-term future of the area, the council is installing a new urban green at the heart of Thornton Heath on the forecourt.

This will cover all of the forecourt from the steps at the bus stop to the commercial units on the ground floor of Ambassador House.

Planters will be installed between August 17 and 28 and planted up by Urban Growth, a social enterprise that improves Londoners’ well-being by collaborating with them to create and maintain beautiful, biodiverse spaces.

This new space will include new lighting, planters and artwork by local artists. In May 2020 local artist Bareface completed his striking art installation “Dare to Dream” as part of the improvements, and local artist Vân Dang completed the finishing touches to her wall art in June.

This is the final stage in the Nature Needs Heroes campaign that began with an event with Loyle Carner on the forecourt back in November 2019. 

Local residents are invited to participate in the gardening club that will grow and maintain the new urban green. 

It will be an opportunity to meet new people, take ownership of a central location in the area and learn new skills with monthly gardening lessons run by Urban Growth. 

Thornton Heath also has a new Regeneration Manager. Kwame Lowe who joins the council from the London Borough of Redbridge with a background in community engagement, community-led housing and arts and culture. He is keen to start meeting and working with the community.

For more information, and updates on how to join the gardening club and be involved in the installation: visit www.new.croydon.gov.uk/planning-and-regeneration/regeneration/places-croydon/thornton-heath