News Articles Archive - Cross River Partnership

CRP is proud to have supported Westminster City Council in the delivery and launch of a new micro logistics hub at Q-Park Leicester Square, enabling sustainable freight and low-emission deliveries in the heart of the West End.

Co-funded by the Westminster Climate Fund and the Zero Emissions Network (ZEN), the hub will enable businesses to receive and send urgent same-day deliveries using e-cargo bikes, reducing van journeys, congestion and pressure on valuable kerbside space. Operated by closer2, the micro logistics hub provides charging and parking infrastructure for e-cargo bikes, supporting cleaner and more efficient last-mile logistics across Westminster and beyond.

The hub uses the VoloX VoloTrax digital platform to coordinate safe, compliant and efficient day-to-day operations.

The project builds on the success of Westminster’s and CRP’s Pimlico micro logistics hub trial and supports the council’s ambitions for cleaner air, healthier streets and a decarbonised transport network.

CRP was delighted to join partners and stakeholders at the launch event and looks forward to seeing the positive impact this innovative scheme will have on sustainable urban freight across London.

Read the full press release here: https://www.westminster.gov.uk/news/westminster-city-council-launches-new-micro-logistics-hub-west-end

Time really does fly. It’s now been a month since I returned to CRP as Director, having previously been part of the team from 2015 to 2019. Coming back has given me a chance to reflect on how CRP has evolved, and on the things that make the partnership as relevant today as ever.

One thing that definitely hasn’t changed is the team’s energy and commitment. It’s been a pleasure to reconnect with familiar faces and meet new colleagues. A team full of enthusiasm, expertise and a shared determination to make London a greener, fairer and healthier place for all.

Conversations with partners have also reinforced why CRP’s convening role matters. Bringing together public and private sector partners, combining strategic collaboration with strong local knowledge and translating ideas into delivery remains at the heart of what we do. In a changing and increasingly challenging funding landscape, that collaborative approach feels more valuable than ever.

There have already been some fantastic opportunities to see CRP’s work on the ground. Highlights include the opening of the new micro-logistics hub at Q-Park Leicester Square [link to project page] and joining the Healthy Streets Everyday II Steering Group for a visit to America Street [link to project page], where the street has been transformed into a pedestrian-friendly space supporting residents and local businesses.

My first month culminated in our biannual Board Meeting on 8 October, bringing partners together to share progress, exchange ideas and discuss future collaboration and funding opportunities. We were also delighted to welcome prospective new partners interested in CRP membership.

One month in, I’m excited about what comes next and the opportunities we have to build on CRP’s unique collaborative approach.

Please do reach out if you’d like to connect: Tanja Dalle-Muenchmeyer, CRP Director.

In September, Cross River Partnership joined partners from across Europe in Milan for the final pilot city visit of the Just Streets project, alongside a General Assembly to share progress, lessons learned and plans for the next phase of the programme.

The visit offered a firsthand look at Milan’s ambitions for sustainable mobility, including a tour of Corsico, where partners are piloting Local Urban Mobility Hubs (LUMs). These neighbourhood hubs are designed to better connect public transport, walking, cycling, local services and public spaces, helping to create more accessible, vibrant and liveable communities.

Exploring the area brought home the real-world challenges of designing streets that work for everyone. A shared route alongside the canal illustrated the competing demands placed on limited street space, and the importance of considering accessibility and safety alongside wider mobility goals.

A particular highlight was an interactive workshop that encouraged participants to work backwards from a shared vision for Corsico’s future. Together, partners explored the practical steps needed to create greener streets, safer journeys, stronger public transport connections and public spaces that support healthier communities.

As Just Streets enters its final stages, the visit provided a valuable reminder that creating healthier, greener and more inclusive places depends on both local action and international cooperation.

The General Assembly also highlighted the value of collaboration between cities, researchers and practitioners. Sharing experiences and learning from different approaches helps strengthen projects like Just Streets and supports the development of practical solutions to common urban challenges.

As the project moves forward, the visit provided a valuable reminder that creating healthier, greener and more inclusive places depends on both local action and international cooperation.

Interested in learning more about Just Streets and the work taking place across Europe? Visit https://www.just-streets.eu/ or contact CRP Project Lead, Sefinat Otaru, and explore how partner cities are testing new approaches to sustainable and inclusive urban mobility.

CRP is pleased to see published From Ambition to Action: Decarbonisation Barriers Across Westminster Organisations, a new summary report prepared for Westminster City Council as part of the Sustainable City Charter Innovation Challenge.

Drawing on extensive engagement with organisations across Westminster, the report explores the challenges businesses and institutions face when trying to reduce their carbon emissions and identifies opportunities for innovation and collaboration to accelerate progress towards net zero.

The findings highlight several common barriers to decarbonisation, including:

Heritage and building constraints that can limit retrofit options

Funding uncertainty and competing investment priorities

Gaps in data, evidence and carbon measurement

Ageing or incompatible systems and infrastructure

Operational complexity and resource pressures

These insights have been used to develop clear problem statements that will help shape the next phase of the Innovation Challenge. The programme will bring together Westminster-based SMEs and Sustainable City Charter signatories to test innovative low-carbon solutions in real-world settings, helping organisations overcome barriers and accelerate practical climate action.

CRP would like to thank all the organisations that contributed their time, expertise and insights to this important piece of work.

Read the report: Sustainable City Charter Innovation Challenge Decarbonisation Barriers – Summary Report (Final Vers…

If you have any questions about the report or the Sustainable City Charter Innovation Challenge, please contact Katie Smith, Communications & Business Development Manager at Cross River Partnership.

Southwark Council has recently opened a new Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) Support Grant, providing £1.5 million of time-limited support to local VCS organisations experiencing financial pressure.

The one-off investment will run for two years, from 2026 to 2028, and is intended to help organisations adapt as the funding environment changes. The council makes clear that this is not a new ongoing grants programme, but targeted support designed to help Southwark’s voluntary and community sector navigate current financial challenges.

🔗 Find out more and how to apply here: https://www.southwark.gov.uk/community-engagement/grants-and-funding/voluntary-and-community-sector-support-grant

CRP partner We Are Waterloo has been awarded Silver Gilt at the London in Bloom Awards 2026, recognising its work to create greener, more biodiverse, and climate-resilient spaces across Waterloo.

https://wearewaterloo.co.uk/wearewaterloo-awarded-silver-gilt-at-london-in-bloom-2026/

Through community gardening initiatives, urban food-growing projects, pollinator-friendly planting, and sustainable drainage features, We Are Waterloo is helping to create a healthier, more attractive environment for people, businesses, and wildlife.

The award demonstrates the value of collaborative action in enhancing public spaces and encouraging community involvement in local environmental improvements. CRP is pleased to have supported greening improvements on Hercules Road through the Healthy Streets Everyday II programme, contributing to Waterloo’s greener future.

Find out more about We Are Waterloo’s greening initiatives here.

The St Paul’s Gyratory Transformation Project is reshaping a traffic-dominated part of the City into a greener, safer and more welcoming environment.

The transformation includes Greyfriars Square, a new 3,500m² public space created by closing the southern section of King Edward Street to traffic. Alongside the new square, the project will introduce safer walking and cycling routes while maintaining access for buses and motor vehicles.

Construction began in April 2025, with Phase 1 due for completion in 2027. A timelapse of the project’s construction is available here: St Paul’s Gyratory Traffic Changes Timelapse at the Cheapside New Change Junction – YouTube

CRP partner London Heritage Quarter is delivering an expert-led walking tour of Victoria.

The tour will take participants through some of Victoria’s most iconic landmarks, including the Victoria Palace and Apollo theatres, home to Hamilton and Wicked, Buckingham Palace, Cardinal Place and the magnificent Westminster Cathedral.

As well as uncovering the area’s rich heritage, the tour provides a great opportunity to experience the benefits of walking first-hand, encouraging people to explore central London actively, discover local destinations on foot, and enjoy a healthier, more sustainable way to travel.

Find out more here about the tour happening this November.

The Mayor of London has published the new Draft London Plan, setting out a vision for how the capital could develop over the next 20 to 25 years. As London’s statutory Spatial Development Strategy, the Plan provides the framework for future development across the city, covering housing, transport, economic growth, infrastructure and the environment. It is intended to guide London’s development through to 2046-47. The key areas covered are:

Making the best use of land

Delivering the homes and neighbourhoods Londoners need

Growing London’s economy in a way that benefits all

Creating a greener, more resilient and healthier city

Place visions and place-based approaches

For CRP and its partners, the focus on creating a greener, more resilient and healthier city is particularly relevant. The draft Plan includes policies to improve energy efficiency, enhance green infrastructure, increase access to green spaces, improve air quality, protect London’s waterways and more.

Many of these priorities align with projects already being delivered across the CRP partnership. With initiatives focused on reducing carbon emissions from sustainable freight projects such as the Waterloo Freight Hub trial, to urban greening through CRP’s Healthy Streets Everyday II programme, CRP works with local authorities, Businesses Improvement Districts (BIDs) and communities to deliver practical, place-based solutions; CRP’s projects contribute to some of the ambitions outlined in the draft Plan.

Read the draft London Plan and explore the proposed policies: Draft London Plan consultation resources | London City Hall

Have your say: the draft London Plan consultation is open until 15th October 2026, giving you the opportunity to help shape London’s future. Find out more and respond to the consultation here: London Plan | GLA Engagement Portal

Image Description: Four indicative renders of a proposed community garden parklet for Bolsover Street. The design includes stepped timber seating, integrated planters with flowering plants and shrubs, accessible seating areas, and space for people to sit and meet outdoors. The parklet is positioned between existing street trees.

CRP partner, Harley Street Business Improvement District (BID), has been recognised as a co-winner of the University of Westminster’s Local Community Partner Award 2026, celebrating its work bringing together students, businesses and the local community. The award recognises a longstanding partnership that has created mentoring, volunteering and networking opportunities for students while strengthening local connections.

Harley Street BID is also a delivery partner in CRP’s Horizon Europe-funded Just Streets project, which aims to create more equitable, inclusive and sustainable streets that work better for people. One example of this collaborative approach is a proposed community parklet on Bolsover Street, outside the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital. Parklets transform small areas of road space into attractive places to sit, rest, meet others and access outdoor space, helping make streets more welcoming and people-focused. The proposed parklet has been designed to benefit hospital patients and visitors who may not be able to walk further afield, while also providing a new space for local workers, residents and the wider community.

The project also demonstrates the value of the BID’s partnership with the University of Westminster. Students helped develop an earlier iteration of the parklet design through a co-design process with local stakeholders, exploring how the space could best support local needs.

Harley Street BID has recently submitted revised parklet plans to Westminster City Council. The BID is inviting people to learn more and share their views at a drop-in session on Thursday 20th August 2-5 pm, in the Pembroke Suite at the Holiday Inn London Regents Park by IHG, Carburton Street, London, W1W 5EE. Questions and feedback are welcome as the proposal continues to develop.

For more information, please email Just Streets’ Project Manager, Sefinat Otaru, or Harley Street BID at contact@harleystreetbid.com.

Archives: News Articles

CRP Supports Launch of New West End Micro Logistics Hub

One Month In As CRP’s New Director: Partnerships, Projects and the CRP Board

Just Streets – Exploring the Future of Urban Mobility in Milan

From Ambition to Action: Decarbonisation Barriers Across Westminster Organisations

Southwark launch new VCS Support Grant

Celebrating Greener Streets: We Are Waterloo Wins Silver Gilt Award

Greyfriars Square begins to take shape in the City of London

Explore Victoria with London Heritage Quarter

Shaping London’s Future: Have Your Say on the Draft London Plan

Harley Street BID Celebrates Award as Parklet Plans Progress