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Connecting Wimbledon across the tracks Public realm and movement strategies “Make big plans; aim high in hope and work... Let your watchword be order and your beacon beauty.” Daniel Burnham Many ofthevisitors liningthe streetsto seethePrinceexplored thetown centreforthemselves. ey visited themany shops, ate at oneofthemany fine-dining restaurants,watchedashowat theeatre. ey noticed how easy it isto walkaround the town. ecarisno longerking. Placetakesprecedence. At theend oftheday fireworks lit upthenight sky. Many stayed to continuethefestivitieson into thenight, takingin oneof thetowns’premiernight-spots. WhetherthePrincedid wecan only guess. However, hedoes takeaerhis Uncle…. Although the‘city on rails’isa realgamechanger, it isthecom- bined impact ofsmallerprojects that havebeen put in placeover thelast twenty yearsthat have really transformed Wimbledon. Smallerdevelopment projects, such astheculturalcentrenext to theeatre, shopfront improve- ments, street greeningand junc- tion redesign havebeen key to Wimbledon’ ssuccess. uardian G Wimbledon .co.uk Friday 11 August 2034 Stillproudly reportingthelocal newsin print form ADVANTAGE WIMBLEDON Transf ormation of town gets royal approval as Crossrail station opens WIN! Watch theDons, backhomeat PloughLane, in thenew premiership season! Enterourseason ticket prizedraw Seesportspages ecentreof Wimbledon wa s packed yesterday asPrince George, carryingout hisfirst offi- cialdutiesas CounsellorofState, declared ournew railway station open. Alwaysuniqueas theonly station in London to combine trains, tubesand trams, it now also takeson specialsignificance asthe jewelin theCrossrail crown. Servicesbegan operating earlierthisyear, but it isonly now that wecan seetherealbeauty of thenew station complex. ePrincewas effusivein his praiseforthe new station which rediscoversthegolden ageofthe railway. “Wimbledon looksamaz- ing” hesaid. “e transformation issomething tobehold. Crossrail 2 isthesameageasme,butis look- ing far better!” hequipped. eformerstation concourse and crowded concessionshave madeway fora new curved, glass structurethat welcomesthetrav- eller. eplatformshavebeen extended and a new entrance opened wherethe‘fridgeon the bridge’used to stand. isis hometo new shops, civicfacili- tiesand businesses. “Wehadto question whythe mostsustainable location in the town centre was given over toacar park” said the leaderofthe Council. “Itjust didn’tmakesense.” At theheart ofthenew station quarterisa new plaza. It isa grand new socialspace, a place to meet and relax. It isthe towns livingroom. estyleof theplaza isreflected throughout thetown centre, with streetsand spaces bindingthe centretogether. is cohesivenesshashelped foster realcivicpride and owne rship amongstthecommunity. erealsurpriseis aboveand beyond thestation, wherea dramaticnew development has risen overtherailway. is ‘city on rails’hasstitched the towncentretogether,provided new homes, green spaceand wild meadows, connectingthe Common, Wimbledon Parkand WandleRegionalParkwith the town centrethrough a green web. edevelopment optimisesthe location. A consciousdecision wastaken backin the2010’sto ensure development wasofan appropri- atescaleand grain, respecting and respondingto theexisting fabric. erewasmuch debateat thetimeabout theimpact oftall buildingsacrossthe capital. In Wimbledon webucked thetrend and havebeen rewarded with a new urban neighbourhood that already feelslikeit hasbeen here forever. Ourhero, thehead ofplanning, takesupthe story, “Wedecided veryearlythatw e needed totake TfL head on. And we won.e Broadwaywasalwaystoo broad. We putit on a‘road-diet’.e traffichas been tamed,treesplant- ed,and more space for pedestrians and cyclistscreated.” eBroadway isnow an attrac- tiveBoulevard. It isupthere with thebest that Barcelona and Pariscan offer. It providesa relaxed and convivialshopping environment, with spaceforal fresco dining. On weekends smallparkletspopup, with stalls sellingcrasproducegrown at thenew urban farm. Oncea month, theWimbledon Ciclovia givestheheart ofthe town over to pedestriansand cyclists. Local and independent storesand busi- nessesarethriving, complement- ingnational retailers. elatest digitaltechnology is hardwired into thetown, enhanc- ingthe visitorexperienceand strengtheningthelocal offer. Wimbledon issmart, but more Report byA. Writer Features Editor importantly,liveable.Creative industrieshavetaken root round thestation, attracted by fantastic connections, localcultureand quality ofplace. erangeof housingand excellent education- alattainment hasattracted many to makeWimbledon theirhome ofchoice. Wehavea tolerant and open community that haswel- comed changeand taken a lead rolein makingthishappen. etransformationofWimble- don emerged fromtheFuture Wimbledonideascompetition launched sometwenty years’ago. efutureis welland truly now. Known globally foreChampi- onships, Wimbledon’sreputation hasnow been enhanced asthe premiertown centrein south west London. Wecan now all proudly say that Wimbledon is ace! Moreinside: Editorialcomment Property Business Weather p.10 p.25 p.30 p.40 Interior: Wimbledonstation, 2034 Imagesource: Farrells Tomorrow’s news, today! Wimbledon 2034: game, set and match... an entry into the ‘Wimbledon Town Centre Ideas Competition, 2014’ O b j e c t i v e s V i s i o n P h y s i c a l s t r a t e g i e s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Civilised streets Mix and diversity Green web Social spaces A home for all Wimbledon Entry Reference: FW0001 Acupuntur e Glue & r epair 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 6 7 Streetscapeimprovements High St gateway improvements Shopfrontimprovements Enhance environment for small businesses Sensitive redevelopment of YMCA Towncentregatewayimprovements Mixed use development of car 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. park site Publicspac eimproveme ntsatTheatre Cultural use on car park site Reuse of vacant buildings Shopfront and building heights policy area Public space improvements by leisurecentre 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. New station arrival space Junction realignment and rationalisation of road space Limited vehicular access along Broadway,with Hartfield Road returned to two way operation Entry treatments to side roads, providing pedestrian priority 1. 2. 3. 4. Worple Road character area with rationalised vehicular movements High Street character area Junction realignment and rationalisation of road space Junction gateway design wit h improved pedestrian crossing 5. 6. 7. 8. New station square Development over and above railway land Linear park and wild meadows Urban farm 1. 2. 3. 4. Mixed use development over railway New connections to existing communities New development links in with the existing urban form 5. 6. 7. Pedestrian and cycle friendly spaces will be created in the town centre,creating a more attractive environment for people to visit and spend time in. The town centre will have a wide range and mix of uses,large and small. The town centre will be about more than shopping. It will be a place for people to meet. It will include shops,businesses,homes, community and cultural uses. Local and independent businesses will thrive. New parkland spaces and tree planting will take place,greening streets and enriching biodiversity. Opportunities for local food production will be provided. Space for street entertainment will be created in the town centre,responding to and enhancing the current cultural offer. These places will provide space for people to meet and relax. They will be the town’s‘livingroom’. A wide range and mix of housing will be accommodated across Wimbledon,providing choice and the opportunity for all to make Wimbledon their home at all stages of their life. The town centre will embrace and be at the forefront of digital technology,enhancing the visitor experience and viability of local businesses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Educational / community use New routes connecting with existing neighbourhoods Geodesic domes for urban agriculture Leisure and recreation space Revitalised commercial buildings New station entrance and town square Mixed use retail,commercial and residential uses above station,extending ‘Centre Court’ Residential development,with variety of housing types and tenures Linear park,incorporating wild meadows and play space 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. The Broadway The ‘Complete Street’ The ‘future Wimbledon’will have a pedestrian and cycle friendly ‘High Street’, with new tree planting,space for cafes and market stalls. Vehicle access will be limited. In the ‘future Wimbledon’streets will be redesigned to have a better balance between users. B elow ground services will be rationalised to provide easy access and reduce the impact of ongoing maintenance. Small targeted projects Station neighbourhood Optimise access Transformational change in the town centre will be underpinned by an excellent public transport network,providing frequent and rapid services to, from and around Wimbledon. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 In the ‘future Wimbledon’a new neighbourhood will be created,integrating with and connecting communities on both sides of the railway lines. Flexible space* Carriageway Cycle lane Footway Footway inc.SUDS *space forparking,street furniture,parklets,busshelteretc Cycle lane Commonservice duct witheasy access Active street front age Active street fronta ge Stitch (1) What could Wimbledon Town Centre be like in 2030 (2) How do we get there (3) How could Wimbledon respond to changing economies and demographics?
