London Mayor launches his " Manifesto for Public Space"

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson today set out his vision to transform London's public spaces . Over the next three years, in excess of £220 million will be invested in over 50 public space projects, ranging from redesigned streets to reclaimed green spaces and waterways.

The Mayor launched London’s Great Outdoors , A Manifesto for Public Space, which sets out his commitment to champion the improvement of public spaces and create places that are fit for a great world city. His manifesto is supported by two practical guides that set out his principles for designing better streets, roads and squares as well as better green and water spaces.

Better Streets – Practical Steps shows how small measures and larger planned redevelopments can make London’s streets and unique public squares more user friendly and attractive, thriving places to be in. £180 million is being invested in street and public space projects that will be delivered by 2012/13, including the redevelopment of Leicester Square, the introduction of diagonal crossings in Oxford Circus, and a number improvements to town centres across outer London including Richmond, Sutton and Woolwich.

Better Green and Water Spaces – Practical Steps outlines how many of the capital's parks, green spaces and waterways can be made more accessible and pleasant for Londoners. It will help meet one of the Mayor’s priorities to see much better links to waterside places, new public spaces along the banks of the Thames and greater usage of the river and its tributaries, for transport, sport and play. The guide highlights over 30 projects that will be delivered over the next three years, currently supported by more than £40 million of investment. These include Burgess Park in Southwark, which will have exciting designs for its revamp unveiled today. It also includes the 'Help a London Park' scheme and major projects around the Olympic Park and across east London.

The Mayor said:
“‘If you Google our city with a satellite map you will see how the world beneath you is divided into two categories. There is private space – that is, homes and gardens occupied by individuals and their families. However, more than half of the London landscape is shared space including roads, parks, canals, rivers, squares, piazzas, malls and monuments. This shared space is a vast and complex environment in which millions of perfect strangers must move, meet and negotiate. It is, therefore, critical that we invest in them so that London’s great outdoors is fit for the future.

"I want to work with the boroughs and other bodies to shape and breathe new life into London’s public spaces. This means creating a network of well designed and enticing outdoor areas, which increase our city’s popularity as a place to live in, visit and invest.”

Tony Armstrong, Chief Executive of Living Streets said:
“We welcome the Mayor’s ‘London’s Great Outdoors’ document, particularly the focus on rebalanced streets. We have campaigned for years for better streets and we are pleased that the Mayor is taking a lead in viewing our streets from the point of view of people. We look forward to working closely with the Mayor to implement steps to achieve a world class walking city.”

Koy Thomson Chief Executive of the London Cycling Campaign said:
“We support the Mayor’s case for maintaining a high quality public realm. The Mayor already knows that increases in cycling are both a cause and effect of improvements in the public realm. We welcome the emphasis given to streets as public spaces and look forward to working with the Mayor to breathe life into them”

Deirdre McGrath, Head of Civic Engagement, London Civic Forum said:
“London Civic Forum welcomes the launch of the Mayor’s manifesto ‘London’s Great Outdoors’ and we and our members look forward to working with him to ensure that all Londoners have access to a well designed and well maintained public realm.”

The Mayor also published details of the 36 projects selected under the Mayor’s Great Spaces programme, which was launched earlier this year. Selected from over one hundred entries submitted by London boroughs, these Great Spaces will receive public recognition as exemplar public spaces as well as design support and feasibility funding.