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London businesses and local authorities meet to tackle air quality crisis

17th March 2020 / Posted by CRP Team

Inner and outer London councils, businesses improvement districts (BIDs), and healthcare industry specialists have come together to share knowledge and solutions to London’s air quality crisis – currently responsible for thousands of premature deaths each year in the capital.

With air quality improvement projects already taking place and increasing pressure for both public and private sectors to take more action, the ‘Clean Air Future’ event on 27th February 2020, hosted by London Councils, London Environment Directors Network (LEDNet), the Association of Directors of Public Health London (ADPH London), and Cross River Partnership at Westminster City Hall, was a welcome opportunity to share successful initiatives and how targets should be translating into actions in some of London’s most polluted areas.

LEDNet and ADPH London were clear that more has to be done sooner and for councils and businesses to utilise their connections to consolidate resources, knowledge, and best practise in order to provide cleaner air for all. Air Quality Leads for ADPH London and LEDNet said:

“We need a strong, shared narrative and campaign on air quality and public health impacts across London that will change the public’s perception around their own contribution to cleaning our air – including the overall benefits of physical activity to most people.

Across the country, there are some excellent examples of work being led by local councils to invest in sustainable transport, renewable energy and redesigning streets to encourage more people to walk and cycle.

But councils could do more if they had the right powers and funding.  At the heart of our position is a call for the Government to take the lead globally by allocating at least 2.5% of UK annual GDP to properly fund the response to climate change and improve the air we breathe, with a significant increase in resources available to councils to tackle the issue.”

The London Borough of Camden shared their approach to parking policies, pedestrian priority infrastructure and car reduction measures, highlighting consistent reviews of permits and policy as keys to their success. As one of the 24 London boroughs to declare a Climate Emergency, Camden is pushing ahead with ambitious carbon as well as air pollution reduction plans, ensuring it plays it’s part in helping the city, and the UK, in reaching its climate targets.

Cadogan Estate, which spans 93 acres of business and residential property in the heart of London, presented the current challenges and opportunities being faced by the local business community. Their strong actions on air pollution are backed by over 60% of respondents to a recent community stakeholder survey, indicating ‘air quality improvements’ and ‘reduction in traffic congestion’ as their number one priority in the area.

Simon Pitkeathley – CEO, Camden Town Unlimited and Euston Town BID, and Chair for the event, echoed the wider challenges and how business working together can place greater action on air pollution at the top of their agenda:

“Hearing everyone talk so practically about the changes being made towards a Clean Air Future has been amazing. Today has been about moving on from visualisation to implementing actual solutions. We will continue working with our businesses to achieve clean air targets across Camden, Euston and beyond.”

Cross River Partnership showcased their innovative air quality improvement projects, most notably Healthy Streets Everyday – a 3-year programme bringing together London boroughs, BIDs, landowners, academic institutions, and charities to deliver pedestrian-friendly traffic regulations, streetscape improvements and car-free events across the city.

Key outcomes from the event have been condensed into 25 Top Tips for Action on Air Quality for businesses and local authorities.

New funding opportunity – Round 2 of Clean Air Thames funding

17th March 2020 / Posted by CRP Team

After a successful first round of funding awarded for the retrofit of GPS Marine and Port of London Authority (PLA) vessels, CRP is pleased to announce that the second round of funding will be open for applications in Spring 2020. The Clean Air Thames project is being delivered in collaboration with the Greater London Authority, PLA, and the City of London Corporation to retrofit a number of vessels along the river to reduce exhaust particulates and improve air quality.

Clean Air Thames funding is open to operators running vessels on the Tidal Thames within Greater London. We are excited to review the second round of applications, which will be open until September 2020.

For more information, please visit our project page, or contact Project Manager Sefinat Otaru. Look out for the announcement of the start date for the second round of applications!

A day in the life of CRP’s Clean Air Villages project

17th March 2020 / Posted by CRP Team

Promoting the new Fulham shared electric vehicle (EV) for businesses – CRP’s Chioma Wuche gives her first-hand experiences

This new scheme intends to give local businesses shared access to an EV at no cost in order to tackle poor air quality. I have enjoyed talking to a range of businesses in Fulham to promote the shared electric van. After the successful launch of Brixton EV, I am happy that we have to opportunity to work with more business to implement another successful scheme.

To find out more visit the Clean Air Villages webpage or contact me at chiomawuche@crossriverpartnership.org

Healthy Streets Everyday Steering Group Outcomes

17th March 2020 / Posted by CRP Team

CRP held a Steering Group meeting with the 17 Healthy Streets Everyday Local Authority partners, plus Cadogan Estates, University of Westminster, Sustrans and Transport for London on 3rd March 2020.  Many thanks to London Borough of Hackney for hosting us!

Guidance was offered to Healthy Streets Everyday project partners on Clean Air Day 2020, which will take place on Thursday 18th June.  This is a fantastic opportunity for boroughs and their communities to trial Play Streets and / or School Streets, closing streets to vehicular traffic and cleaning up the air.  CRP will be issuing a measuring and communications pack to project partners very shortly.

Organisations can book onto future School Street guidance sessions via London Borough of Hackney’s ModeShift events page website.

The Healthy Streets Everyday Steering Group also learnt from the experiences of London Borough of Lewisham in implementing their ambitious Healthy Neighbourhoods programme.

Finally, the Steering Group received an early briefing from Transport for London on their plans for Car Free Day 2020, on Sunday 20th September.  Some boroughs are considering more frequent Car Free Days to encourage more healthy uses of streets on an ongoing basis – let’s keep them going!

Any queries, just get in touch!  The more we do together, the better!  susannahwilks@crossriverpartnership.org

Congratulations to Cheapside Business Alliance!

17th March 2020 / Posted by CRP Team

CRP would like to congratulate our partner business organisation Cheapside Business Alliance (CBA), who have secured ballot successes in Cheapside and Aldgate! CBA have successfully renewed their term for 5 more years. Local businesses voted to renew the City of London’s first business improvement district, and also for creating the first BID for Tower Hamlets – Aldgate Connect.

CRP is looking forward to delivering projects across London in partnership with Cheapside Business Alliance. We are pleased that BIDs are proving to deliver brilliant projects such as greening and adding value to the public sector. With over 60 BIDs in London, BIDS play an important role in promoting the area as a destination and supporting local business growth.

For more information, Cheapside Business Alliance’s 2020-2025 Business Plan can be found here.

Working together to develop a framework for appraising and monitoring parking initiatives

17th March 2020 / Posted by CRP Team

The Central London Sub-Regional Transport Partnership, managed by Cross River Partnership on behalf of TfL, is working with ITP to develop and appraisal and evaluation framework for parking management schemes in central London, following on from recommendations in a recent London Councils’ report on the benefits of parking management. This new appraisal framework will support councils to develop a clear evidence base for demonstrating the important role parking management plays as a public service, and will facilitate exemplar practice in scheme design and evaluation.

We hosted a successful workshop with ITP and borough officers to kick-start the project, exploring the issues, challenges and opportunities in their existing practice. It really demonstrated the rich diversity of London neighbourhoods, as well as the shared ambitions around key themes such as road safety and air quality.

We look forward to sharing the final report in the spring!

10-year stewardship strategy – Cadogan

17th March 2020 / Posted by Sefinat Otaru

Over the past year, CRP has worked with Cadogan to develop a comprehensive 10-year stewardship strategy for its estate located in the heart of Chelsea, London.

The strategy, Chelsea 2030, is an updated approach to safeguarding Cadogan’s three stewardship pillars: Environment, Community, and Heritage & Conversation.

Sign up to our monthly newsletter and follow our social channels for the latest updates on the strategy launch.

For more information, please contact CRP project manager, Sefinat Otaru.

Congratulations to Victoria BID

17th March 2020 / Posted by CRP Team

A huge congratulations to Victoria Business Improvement District for securing a third consecutive term! The overwhelmingly positive ballot response is testament to Victoria BID’s unrelenting support for local businesses, leading the way on enhancing the local environment and public realm, establishing robust policing initiatives, fostering long term sustainable economic growth, and promoting Victoria as a world-class destination and gateway to London over the past 10 years. The BID team, led by specialist regeneration expert Ruth Duston OBE, OC, will work with businesses and other key stakeholders to deliver the Victoria 2020-2025 vision, driving positive change and amplifying Victoria and its future growth.

CRP is proud to be partnered with Victoria BID, collaboratively delivering projects that contribute to the social, environmental, and economic health of London – engaging people, to deliver great places, through innovative projects. We very much look forward to continuing our positive relationship over the next five years and beyond. Congratulations, and we look forward to seeing the fantastic work that is yet to come!

Lighting London Sustainably

17th March 2020 / Posted by Susannah Wilks

CRP is extremely pleased to be sponsoring the Centre for London to start a new piece of research on Lighting London Sustainably, alongside sponsors the City of London Corporation and the Greater London Authority, and major sponsor the Rothschild Foundation.  The research recognises the potential that sustainable lighting approaches can make to addressing many urban challenges, and builds on the interest generated in light by the successful Illuminated River Foundation initiative to install artwork underneath all of central London’s Thames bridges.  The research will take into account the many useful findings that arose from Historic England’s Light Conference on 25thOctober 2019, and CRP’s Lighting in London event before that.  CRP looks forward to welcoming the Centre for London to present on this exciting new research initiative at its Board meeting later this month.

LEAP Annual Update Meeting

16th March 2020 / Posted by Susannah Wilks

CRP was extremely pleased to attend the Mayor of London’s Local Economic Action Partnership (LEAP) Annual Update Meeting alongside hundreds of other active organisations in the London Living Room on 5th March 2019.  Deputy Mayor of London for Business, Rajesh Agrawal, welcomed everyone to the proceedings, which were chaired by Angus Knowles-Cutler, Deputy Co-Chair of the LEAP.  The LEAP’s funding programmes were presented, including the £22m of capital funding that will be available through Round 3 of the Good Growth Fund.

We were also reminded about the on-line resource www.growthhub.london for information and support on everything from Business Rates, to Brexit, to Corona Virus.

There was a chance for the audience to question members of the LEAP Board, facilitated by the GLA’s Debbie Jackson, including Simon Pitkeathley, who also Co-Chairs CRP’s Board alongside Councillor Wendy Hyde of the City of London Corporation.

Thank you for having us!  It was inspiring to see the strategic context within which CRP’s environmental sustainability projects are making such a valuable input to inclusive economic growth.

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