Transformed from a rat-run into a gathering place, Alfred Place Gardens is an example of ‘grey to green’ conversion, created as part of Camden’s wider ​​West End Project. The project has displaced cars in the previously heavily parked street with pedestrian-friendly space, a forest-inspired walkway, play spaces, lawns and an event space.

Who is on the project team? 

LDA Design – Lead designer, Landscape Architect

Arcadis - Civil, M&E and Structural Engineers

Norman Rourke Pryme – Construction Project Management and Cost Consultancy

Michael Grubb Studio – Lighting Design

ID Verde – Contractor

DSDHA – Initial overarching West End Project Strategy

Describe the context of this project and its neighbourhood and people?

Alfred Place was a commonplace back street off Tottenham Court Road in London’s West End. More service road, car park and rat-run than anything else, with narrow pavements: a place to hurry through. The street itself is lined with offices and the back entrances of large stores from along Tottenham Court Road; the Building Centre is at the top end. There is little access to nature in the area and it is woefully short of outdoor places to relax, whether for workers to breakout for lunch, or for residents to meet with friends. There are next to no play spaces.

The brief from Camden Council was to reimagine, enliven and green Alfred Place so that it became a place to bring the community together, support local health and wellbeing and provide a richer visitor experience, as well as strengthening Camden’s response to climate breakdown. The result is an exemplar of grey to green conversion, pioneering a softer city.

Tell us what you did and how the project enlivened the place?  

Alfred Place has been transformed into a tranquil, richly planted, and welcoming park, with generous seating, biodiverse planting, shade-giving mature trees and play spaces. It is Camden’s first new park in the area for 25 years and it has been achieved by reclaiming road space for people and for nature. Renamed Alfred Place Gardens, this once heavily parked street is now designed for pedestrians and cyclists, while maintaining access for services and emergency vehicles. This child-friendly space features attractive, climate-resilient planting providing year-round interest and new habitats; with lounging lawns framed by gentle slopes and grasses.

The design has three character areas: a dappled-shade woodland walk under a mature tree canopy with forest floor planting of wild garlic, snowdrops, and ferns. This flows through into a sequence of sunnier play spaces which make the most of openings in the tree cover. Plants with interesting seed heads were chosen here for their playfulness. The third area is made up of lounging lawns and an events space edged with swathes of grasses and colourful herbaceous perennials.

Did the project make a positive social and environmental contribution? 

The design encourages people to interact with sensory planting via steppingstones; a meandering, undulating sculptural seat stimulates exploration. The Gardens has attracted diverse users: students, shoppers, workers and residents. This is an accessible environment with expansive pavements, a comfortable balance between hard and soft landscape, and elegant, curved timber seating with backs and arm rests. Connection to the Building Centre has improved, drawing visitors out into the Gardens. To the south, there’s pop-up power for community events or a coffee kart. New bike stands and Santander docking stations support active travel.

Engagement with the community and interest groups has shaped the design. There were three pop-up events in the space to connect with potential users, with comments collated from 350+ conversations. Two evening talks helped reach those not available during the day, plus online questionnaires, webpage and QR code. Camden appointed a designated community engagement liaison officer who has built long-term relationships.

It provides significant biodiversity net gain with more than 2,000 new plants and 5,000 bulbs and is aligned with Camden’s Biodiversity Action Plan. Retained London Plane trees are joined by 28 Amelanchier, Birch and a handsome golden-barked Prunus Mackie, all providing dappled shade and cooling. Planting will attract pollinators and is low maintenance, selected to withstand hot, dry summers and wet winters. Non-toxic, biodegradable moisture retention gels in the soil act as miniature reservoirs.

The park is designed to tolerate deluges. All new paths are permeable, with resin permeable comprising 30% recycled content. Combined with new flowerbeds, this delivers a substantial water catchment area. Materials designed or manufactured in the UK were used where possible and selected for longevity and sustainability.

The family friendly street is designed to encourage people to linger, supporting social cohesion and local business. It’s been busy since opening, helping the area to get higher visitor numbers (Tottenham Court Road has hit one million visitors in a week).