ODAC and other local partners were commissioned last year to conduct arts-led community research that informed the Euston Housing Pact, which fed into the Euston Housing Delivery Group's wider strategies. ODAC’s own report, A Community Powered Neighbourhood in Euston also features findings and recommendations that could not be adopted in the Pact.
The Euston Opportunity Brochure “sets out a housing-led vision for Euston over the next 30-plus years, highlighting the potential to deliver in the region of 6,000 homes, and setting out clear recommendations and a pathway to delivery.” The Brochure features a host of references and images (albeit not all with full credit) of ODAC-produced work in Euston, including the Regent’s Park Estate Story Trail public art and Regent’s Roots Festival. And we're re referenced as part of the “strong cultural presence” that “support[s] a spectrum from global excellence to local experimentation" (p.21).
The regeneration context in Euston is key to ODAC’s community-responsive programmes, and we are planning major new projects that empower communities here to shape the neighbourhood creatively.
“At Euston, the opportunity is to demonstrate how major transport infrastructure, wider movement improvements and housing delivery can be aligned to create neighbourhoods that are well connected, well designed and resilient over time. Done well, this approach can set a national precedent for how infrastructure investment supports housing-led regeneration rather than displacing it.” (p.41)
We agree - but it isn’t the ‘housing’ that could be displaced - it is ‘people’ who live in housing. People who already call Euston their home. Displacement of existing communities is already happening, and is a systemic failure. Success that should be defined wellbeing, retention and resilience of the current local community, as part of the wider development.
The ‘national precedent’ that Euston needs to set is one of real community leadership in a complex multi-stakeholder regeneration programme; to have created and executed the structures for communities who are here already to decide together and design together. A neighbourhood with community-led culture at its heart.
ODAC and our partners’ work are vital infrastructure in enabling this. And we're both part of networks that are proving elsewhere that community-led regeneration works, and initiating projects that can co-develop the policy and governance structures we need (to be announced).
"There is also a role through the improvements of the public realm to better connect local institutions with residents, supporting greater sharing, learning and exchange, and helping to bring learning, culture and discovery into the streets and public spaces—making the area’s innovative activity, discovery and stories more visible, shared and inclusive." (p.36)
Regent's Park Estate Story Trail and further public art commissions from Camden’s Transport department and The Euston Partnership are demonstrators of community-led public realm improvements - and they are just the start. Our Neighbourhood Makeshop programme has been nurturing residents' DIY skills and creativity. Let's co-imagine and co-build what's next.
"...it can be supported by investment in jobs, culture, public realm, sustainability and transport. It looks at the role housing can play in shaping Euston as a more coherent, liveable and investable place over the long term." (page 29)
In this financial climate, cultural and community infrastructure needs long-term investment to ensure it's still here when the development is complete. The health of the neighbourhood depends on it. Camden Culture Service's Euston Neighbourhood of Culture plans must be leveraged for this.
“Realising this opportunity will require sustained commitment, integrated planning, long-term delivery capacity and collaboration with community and private partners. Throughout, the principles of the Euston Housing Pact should remain central to how change is shaped and how benefits are shared.” (Conclusion, p.50)
When the Euston Housing Pact was published back in March we said, “The Pact, and the processes of its development, is an exemplary first step that we hope will be adopted and further developed by more stakeholders. The Pact principle of Boldness and Ambition will guide ODAC’s continued work with communities and urban change partners in Euston.” This stands, but the Pact must be fully adopted and followed, otherwise it risks further undermining community trust.
We - and our Regent’s Park Together partners - are ready. Our work, and our trusted relationships with residents of all ages, helped shape the Pact. We’re ready for the next steps, but collaboration has to be equitable, and it has to begin at the beginning.
It really is a huge opportunity, and true community-led decision making and creative cross-sectoral collaboration is the only way forward. London - and the country - cannot risk it being any other way.
If you're part of an organisation that is looking at Euston as an ‘opportunity’ to be part of, the key is to invest in the social infrastructure that is already leading. We’ve got a track record; we’re doing the organisational development to be ready for next steps; and we look forward to hearing from you.
