Lambeth Council to fund 25 parklets, created and maintained by residents
As part of their Kerbside Strategy, Lambeth Council are running a Community Parklet Scheme, under which residents can apply to have one of 25 parklets (one for each ward) installed in their street.
The Council have partnered with Meridem Design to create the parklets to a specification put forward by the successful applicants. The parklets will typically be installed in former parking spaces on residential streets, although they can be installed on high streets if criteria is met and on the basis that they are not for business purposes.
From a starting point of a base and barriers around three sides, the designs can incorporate seating, tables, planters – anything that opens the kerbside to create places for people to rest, play and garden.
Lambeth Council will build the parklet and will be responsible for major maintenance or repairs while a ‘parklet keeper’ from the local community will keep the parklet clean, tidy and well maintained.
The applications are open to groups or individuals.
The Council’s Kerbside Srategy was published at the start of this year and sets out their vision to reclaim the kerbside as a public space. The ultimate goal is to transform 25% of the borough’s kerbside space into places for people, and not just cars.
There is enough kerbside in Lambeth to stretch from London to Edinburgh and almost 94% of it is currently used to provide and manage car parking – a disproportionate amount given that three out of five households don’t even own a car.
The Strategy is made up of four priorities:
- Enable accessible and active travel
- Create places for people
- Increase our reslience to climate change
- Reduce traffic and emissions from transport
Meridem Design,who are partnering with Lambeth Council, have already created a number of parklets across London (such as the one in Barnes, pictured here) as well as creating Outdoor Study Hubs at Imperial London, in which students can study or socialise and hold meetings surrounded by greenery, while charging their phones or laptops through the incorporated solar technology.
