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Westminster Economic Model Business Survey

27th April 2021 / Posted by CRP Team

The coronavirus outbreak has significantly impacted residents and businesses within Westminster and throughout the UK.

12th April was a milestone for businesses in Westminster. The Economic Model Business Survey is open now, and asks a series of questions about how the lockdown has affected you. Westminster City Council hope to hear from a wide range of businesses, of all different types and sizes, and will use feedback to inform their approach to supporting the borough’s recovery.

Please do take the time to respond, as your views are important to the council. The survey is open until 12AM, Sunday 9 May and will take around 10-15 minutes to complete.

Westminster City Council adopted City Plan 2019 – 2040

27th April 2021 / Posted by CRP Team

At a full council on 21st April 2021, Westminster City Council’s City Plan 2019 – 2040 was formally adopted and will now become the city’s new Local Plan.

The new City Plan will replace all current policies in Westminster’s City Plan (November 2016) and saved policies in the Unitary Development Plan (2007). The City Plan 2019 – 2040 outlines an ambitious strategy to make Westminster one of the best places to live, work and play. This plan will equip the city to adapt to changes which have been brought about in the last year with appropriate policies aligned to new government guidance and legislation.

The City Plan focuses on creating a city for all to enjoy with more affordable homes, sustainable developments which are conducive to their aim of becoming a carbon neutral city by 2040 and flexible policies which will enable Westminster to continue to be a city of unique character but a contemporary destination for residents and visitors alike.

EFLES April Update

27th April 2021 / Posted by Sefinat Otaru

Electric Vehicle Fleet-centred Local Energy System (EFLES), a CRP project in partnership with UK Power Network Services, Moixa and UPS, was featured in Current± Chats earlier this week. Claire Thompson-Sage, sustainable development coordinator at UPS, discussed EFLES, barriers to transitioning to electric vehicles, and the need for flexibility among other topics.

Read the full article here!

For more information, please contact CRP Project Manager Sefinat Otaru.

CLSRTP Urban Logistics Map

27th April 2021 / Posted by CRP Team

CRP is pleased to announce that since launching the Potential Urban Logistics Hubs in Central London study, we have moved onto the next phase of creating an online tool to showcase the available sites for logistics operators to occupy for sustainable last-mile deliveries.

The study, commissioned by the Central London Sub-Regional Transport Partnership, investigated the requirements that a logistics operator would need for a micro hub, and the availability of underutilised space across Central London that could be used for logistics purposes. 29 sites were identified in the study, including underutilised carparks and railway arches.

The next phase of work has been to create an online tool to showcase available sites that could have potential for being used for logistics purposes, the tool will filter sites and include necessary information on size, location and requirements for an operator.

CRP will be launching the new tool at Lunchtime Launch 5, showcasing the sites currently on the map with how landowners and operators can get involved.

If you are an operator looking for space to have a micro hub, or a landowner who has under-utilised space, this tool will be invaluable to making efficient and green choices for logistics whilst improving air quality.

Please contact CRP Senior Project Officer Laura Jacklin for more information.

Clean Air Villages 3 Reflection

27th April 2021 / Posted by CRP Team

Photo Credit: London & Partners

The CRP team recently wrapped up Clean Air Villages 3 (CAV3) with a final steering group meeting. The CAV3 team and partners celebrated the achievements of the project, while acknowledging the added challenges of the pandemic. The entirety of CAV3 engagement was conducted virtually, and yet the team:

  • Contacted 1,500 businesses
  • Monitored 18 vehicles for EV suitability
  • Implemented 7 cargo bike schemes utilised by pharmacies and food banks during the pandemic
  • Launched an Air Quality Ambassador programme and a LinkedIn Clean Air Community group!

All in all, it was a challenging and remarkable year for the CRP team. We learned so much about what businesses need, not just to mitigate for poor air quality, but to thrive and survive. We’re looking forward to providing more support and guidance in CRP’s Clean Air Villages 4 project – to help make London a safer, healthier city for us all.

Beyond that, CAV3 was filled with workshops, forums and the development of 15 new Clean Air Routes.

You can read more about the CAV3 programme projects and achievements in our imminent case studies, which cover CRP’s 17 online events hosted during the CAV3 programme, how businesses can switch to electric vehicle, Vivacity monitoring in Soho, cargo bike deliveries during the pandemic and all of our Clean Air Routes. Stay tuned for all the CAV3 case studies, which will be published soon!

For more information, please contact CRP Project Manager Kate Fenton.

National Walking Month

27th April 2021 / Posted by CRP Team

May is National Walking Month!

Walking has been one of the go to activities for most Londoners and has quickly become one of our solaces during the pandemic.

A Transport for London report found that 31% of Londoners preferred walking instead of using any other mode of transport last year while 57% of people now go on regular and longer walks for exercise than previously.

The benefits of a stroll have been tremendous, giving all of us that time away to get some fresh air and a change of scenery, rediscover our local neighbourhood and to clear our minds from the various daily stressors. As a result, the charity Living Streets who champion safe and pollution free streets have initiated the #WalkThisMay
campaign to address the need for cleaner air on London’s streets.

Similarly, CRP have developed resources and tools such as the Walking Tube report and Clean Air Route Finder that maps out walking routes in London with better air quality than those suggested by popular journey planners. These routes were monitored and mapped by Tranquil City, an urban environmental research group, which found that by taking these routes, it would cut peoples’ exposure to air pollutants by almost a quarter!

For more information, please contact CRP Project Officer Anusha Rajamani.

Illuminated River Project Lights Final Bridges

27th April 2021 / Posted by CRP Team

Photo credit: Westminster Bridge, Illuminated River © James Newton

On Tuesday 13th April, The Illuminated River artwork on Blackfriars Road, Waterloo, Golden Jubilee, Westminster and Lambeth Bridges was unveiled! The illuminations now extend across nine Thames bridges in total, forming the longest public art commission in the world (3.2 miles in length).

Huge congratulations to The Illuminated River Foundation and Sarah Gaventa, leading the collaborative network of more than 50 stakeholders and project partners who have shaped the amazing installations, from concept stages to the final switching on of the mesmerising lighting artwork. The project is the result of the most detailed and extensive pan-London planning processes the capital has ever seen without an Act of Parliament.

To celebrate the completion, a new public engagement programme for 2021 will be launched by the Illuminated River Foundation, with innovative evening activities created for different audiences (in line with potential tier restrictions).

CRP has enjoyed enormously advising The Illuminated River Foundation on strategic aspects of the project ever since the original idea first came about.

CRP’s Spotlight On: London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham

27th April 2021 / Posted by CRP Team

This week’s focus is on CRP partner, the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, who are set for a green recovery through the Hammersmith and Fulham Climate Alliance. We heard from Emily Tulloh, Climate Emergency Community Engagement Lead, about the Council’s route to net zero. 

Hammersmith & Fulham Council has been supporting local businesses as restrictions lift: from our Shop Local Shop Safe campaign to distributing COVID-19 grant funding. Now, we want to help organisations build back cleaner and greener through the Hammersmith & Fulham Climate Alliance.

This will be a network of local organisations committed to reducing emissions to net zero by 2030. By connecting with others, organisations of all sizes will be supported reduce emissions, share experiences and collaborate on carbon reduction projects. The council has set an ambitious target of reaching net zero across the borough by 2030. But we need new ideas, new partnerships and new ways of working to usher in a sustainable future for generations.

That’s why we need your input to design the Hammersmith & Fulham Climate Alliance. We’re in our early stages of developing the Alliance, working alongside CRP and local BIDs. Now we need local organisations to share their experiences and help us shape the proposition.

There are many different ways you can get involved:

  • Take part in a 45 minute interview: sharing your hopes, fears, ideas and challenges of building a greener business
  • Get involved as a strategic partner: taking part in co-production workshops, helping us design and shape the network

Please submit your email address through this form and we’ll be in touch. We hope you can join us on the route to a green recovery!

Clean Air Villages 4 Inception Meeting

27th April 2021 / Posted by CRP Team

CRP kicked off the first inception meeting for the Defra-funded Clean Air Villages 4 (CAV4) this month, welcoming 25 new partners.

The programme will focus on tackling the challenges of freight and logistics across London and beyond, to improve congestion and air quality. The five project themes are
Consolidation, Distribution, Mode, Technology and Policy.

Exciting planning is underway as the team starts to look at feasibility of river, rail and walking freight. CAV4 will look to find new innovative ways of moving goods across London in a green recovery for all.

For more information about CAV4 project delivery, please contact CRP Project Manager Kate Fenton.

New CRP Board Co-Chair

27th April 2021 / Posted by Susannah Wilks

It is with great pleasure that CRP can announce that Councillor Keith Bottomley, CC of the City of London Corporation, is taking over from Councillor Wendy Hyde as Co-Chair of the CRP Board, with immediate effect.

Keith is already Vice Chairman of the City’s Policy and Resources Committee, Chairman of the Port Health & Environmental Services Committee, and Chairman of the Projects Sub Committee, Policy & Resources, so brings a wealth of experience and knowledge with him.

On behalf of the CRP Board, we would like to thank Wendy most sincerely for all of the guidance, advice and support that she has given us over the last five years. Westminster City Council continues to play the lead accountable body role for CRP, for which we are extremely grateful.

CRP look forwards to working with the Board over the coming year and beyond. For more information, please contact CRP Director Susannah Wilks.

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