Finsbury Park community plan

Nag’s Head Market

Approximate Cost: £15,000

This project will fund a feasibility study to investigate the future renewal of Nag’s Head Market.

Finsbury Park Secure Estate Cycle Parking

Approximate Cost: TBC

This project would deliver bike hangers at housing estates in Finsbury Park. Secure estate cycle storage would help residents to store cycles safely, rather than taking up space inside properties or being left in communal areas of buildings, where they can undermine fire safety requirements. The availability of secure cycle storage will also encourage more cycle use, with personal, environmental, health and economic benefits. 

Hood Court Estate Public Realm Improvements

Approximate Cost: TBC

This project would replace and upgrade the existing benches and picnic benches at Hood Court Estate. It would also replace the roof of the pram shed on the estate. These improvements would create a more pleasant public realm and increase amenity for residents.

Finsbury Park Local Economy Officer Post

• Local CIL (£25,000)

This project involves appointment of a dedicated Local Economy Officer for Finsbury Park ward to work on local business engagement, to deliver local social value, and to create local connections for affordable workspaces.

Sensory Room at Ambler Children's Centre

• Local CIL (£24,898)

This project will involve repurposing an existing outbuilding into a sensory room for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) at Ambler Children’s Centre. The sensory room will provide opportunities for learning with structured sensory activities. It will also act as a calming environment which can be used to support self-regulation.

Hornsey Road Children’s Centre

• Local CIL (£120,000)

This project will improve the nursery facilities at Hornsey Road Children’s Centre. Improvements will include the installation of new flooring at the centre, as well as new lifts.

Seven Sisters Road - Dedicated Street Cleaning Resource 

• S106 (£32,000)

This project will deliver additional street cleaning services to improve the streetscape of Seven Sisters Road. The purpose of the project is to improve the appearance of the area and increase amenity for residents and businesses in the area.

Refurbishment of Andover Community Centre

• S106 (£20,000)

The project will provide internal improvements to the Andover Community Centre. Improvements will include the repainting and repair of all walls, ceilings and doors within the centre.

Community Outreach Project 

• Local CIL (£50,000)
• S106 (£50,000)

This project aims to further build on the existing outreach project which aims to address anti-social behaviour around Blackstock Road and Seven Sisters Road. It will involve employing a Community Organiser who will expand outreach activities to including face-to-face organising, meetings, community events and training. Many of the individuals helped through the project are finding employment through delivery platforms or in hospitality, where they are at risk of experiencing exploitative conditions and low pay. The Community Organiser will also direct people to trade union support.

Finsbury Park Social Isolation and Oral History Project

• Local CIL (£15,000)

This project aims to understand and document the factors associated with social isolation and their relationship to educational and employment needs of people living in Finsbury Park. It will be led by academics and students from London Metropolitan University who will collect data using the oral history method, primarily through undertaking interviews with residents. Based on the findings, the aim will be to support individuals currently isolated through a series of events and activities.

Community Gardener - Andover Garden Squares Project 

• S106 (£55,764)
• Local CIL (£26,236)

This project would fund a Community Gardener to help facilitate community-led growing activities as part of the Andover Garden Squares project on the Andover Estate. The post would be funded for two-years. The aim of the project is to increase resident engagement in community gardening activity which promotes their health and wellbeing, facilitates positive and productive community relationships, improves the environment and potential for greater levels of biodiversity, and offers opportunities for residents to gain new knowledge and learn new skills.

Finsbury Park Estate Gardening Fund

• S106 (£19,500)

This project will deliver community gardening programmes across estates within Finsbury Park ward. It will fund planters, plants, soil and gardening equipment which residents can use to undertake their own gardening projects. The project will empower residents to develop their gardening and food growing skills, fostering a greater sense of community, and improving the public realm.

Andover Medical Centre

• S106 (£86,040)

This project will fund the decoration and furnishings of the Andover Medical Centre once it moves into a new premises. The current medical practice has six consultation rooms and serves over 6,000 patients. It is rundown and is operating in excess of 90% capacity. As such, the practice is in desperate need of expansion and renewal. The Council is currently working with the NHS to find a suitable alternative larger space for the medical centre to move into.

Galbur Foundation and Habib Counselling Mental Health Project

• Local CIL (£42,540)

The Galbur Foundation is a small charity which aims to empower local young people and adults from disadvantaged backgrounds. Although Islington is relatively well-served with mental health services, a high level of individuals from BAMER communities are not accessing these services - in particular, young people from Muslim background families. This project will target the Somali community, providing mental health support to boost their emotional well-being. The project will provide a range of services including: 1-2-1 counselling sessions, mental health workshops, and mental health first aid training courses for community leaders. It will also provide an actively ongoing ‘Community Coffee’ event which will provide a safe space with information sessions and emotional support for young Somalis and their families.

Isledon Road Gardens

• Local CIL (£287,000)
• S106 (£175,000)

The scheme will deliver improvements to Isledon Road Gardens. The sunken garden area is currently in disrepair and suffers from flooding and drainage issues. There is potential for this to be designed as a sustainable drainage space with a focus on biodiversity enhancement as well as general improvements to planting and garden design. The park could also benefit from some improved and more challenging and exciting play equipment, as well as some new safety surfacing.

Finsbury Park Ward Tree Planting

• Local CIL (£34,800)
• S106 (£58,735)

The project will deliver street tree planting throughout Finsbury Park ward, in line with the Council’s tree strategy. This will contribute to a greener Islington, which protects and promotes nature, and is better equipped to deal with climate change.

Finsbury Park Town Centre Accessibility Study

• S106 (£25,000)

This project will fund a study to investigate the accessibility of Finsbury Park town centre. The study will make recommendations for improvements to make the public realm more inclusive and accessible, particularly for wheelchair users and people with pushchairs. This was requested by local businesses in an effort to attract new customers.

Annette Road Cycling Contraflow Feasibility

• S106 (£10,000)

This project will deliver a feasibility study into contraflow cycling lane on Annette Road. The cycling lane would be delivered as part of a wider low traffic neighbourhood project in 2021/2022.

Improvements to the Therapeutic Gardens at The Old Fire Station and the Stress Project

• Local CIL (£15,000)

This project delivered improvements to the garden areas at the Stress Project and the Old Fire Station (the Holloway Neighbourhood Group building). The refurbishment works included repaving the path, installing new raised beds, and adding improved signage. The works addressed health and safety issues and have made the gardens more accessible for all. In doing so, service users and volunteers have been able to make better use of the gardens through therapeutic gardening and food growing activities. The Stress Project’s Wellbeing Group are also developing a sensory area in the garden.

Gardening Supplies for Holloway Neighbourhood Group

• Local CIL (£500)

This project funded new gardening tools and supplies for the Holloway Neighbourhood Group, including a shed and potting table, as well as compost, a hose, tools and plants. The scheme complimented an ongoing project to improve the therapeutic gardens at the Old Fire Station and the Stress Project. The gardening tools and supplies have enabled service users at both centres to partake in gardening activities.   

Finsbury Park Trust - Roof Replacement 

• Local CIL (£42,000)

The Finsbury Park Trust is a charitable agency that supports local businesses and community groups in the Finsbury Park area. This has been achieved by providing and letting community space in the form of affordable office and meeting space, alongside retail units, from its building at 225-229 Seven Sisters Road. This project funded the replacement of the building’s roof which was damp in many places due to constant leaks. The Trust have also secured grant funding to install solar panels on their roof, as part of energy savings and adapting to renewable energy. The works will enable the installation of the new solar panels. 

Finsbury Park Mosque - Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) Partnership Grant Top Up

• Local CIL (£16,250)

This project topped up the VCS Partnerships Grant received by Finsbury Park Mosque for the duration of the grants programme between 1 January 2021 and 31 March 2024. The mosque had previously received an annual VCS grant of £20,000 per annum, however this was reduced to £15,000. Finsbury Park ward councillors agreed to cover the shortfall, funding £5,000 per annum for 3.25 years.

Local History Project at Andover and Six Acres Estate

• Local CIL (£15,000)

This project documented the diverse working-class experiences of older people living on the Andover and Six Acres estates. It was led by academics and students from London Metropolitan University, who worked with volunteers from the estates and other local organisations, to undertake interviews with residents and other research. The project helped to tackle older people’s social isolation, improved mental health, and strengthened community and social cohesion.

Sensory Room at Pakeman Primary School

• Local CIL (£15,000)

This project delivered a new sensory room for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) at Pakeman Primary School. The sensory room will provide opportunities for learning with structured sensory activities. It will also act as a calming environment which can be used to support self-regulation. 

Expansion of Counselling Services at the Stress Project

• Local CIL (£32,000)

The Stress Project is a project, run by the Holloway Neighbourhood Group, which provides a range of low cost therapies and wellbeing activities for people experiencing stress related illnesses or mental health problems. This funding helped the Stress Project to expand their counselling programme to meet the needs of more residents experiencing mental health issues as a result of the pandemic. This included offering fast-track access to free counselling for people with low to moderate (or more severe) mental health issues.

Andover Estate Public Realm Enhancement

• Local CIL (£134,236)
• S106 (£239,040)

The scheme delivered a community garden in partnership with the Octopus Network, as well as secure cycle storage and bin storage units. The community garden will provide an opportunity for residents to engage in gardening activities and grow their own food. Secure cycle storage will help residents to store cycles safely, rather than taking up space inside properties or being left in communal areas of buildings, where they can undermine fire safety requirements. Bin storage units will address bin blight and improve waste management across the estate. 

Resurfacing of Sue Davis Pitch

• Local CIL (£35,000)

This project has resurfaced the Sue Davis pitch on the Andover Estate. Works involved safe removal of the existing grass carpet and several tons of rubber in-fill and sand to allow for a new synthetic grass surface to be laid. New cable reinforcement at upper level will also be installed to raise the height of the low hanging roof net. Project completed in May 2021.

Andover Estate Fashion Kit Out

• S106 (£207,000)

As part of the affordable workspace provision in Finsbury Park, this scheme will kit out the space in Andover Estate with light industrial fashion manufacture equipment and IT hardware to be used by fashion start-ups.

Finsbury Park Mosque - Boiler Upgrade

• Local CIL (£30,000)

This project will fund the replacement of the boiler at Finsbury Park Mosque. The mosque's current boiler was installed 28 years ago and, as a result, has very poor energy efficiency. A new boiler will increase efficiency, reducing energy bills. It will also provide environmental benefits and will reduce the risk of the boiler failing or leaking.

Corker Walk 3G Pitch and Basketball Court Repairs

• S106 (£15,000)

This project complimented the replacement of the Sue Davis pitch at Corker Walk on the Andover Estate. It delivered further improvements to the area surrounding the pitch and to the basketball court. Improvements included power cleaning the court surface, providing new basketball court markings, and repairs to the boundary wall, gate, posts and headers. The project also repaired and re-installed a piece of outdoor gym equipment. Project completed in August 2022.

Alsen Day Elderly Centre

• Local CIL (£17,166)

This project funded improvements to the Alsen Day Elderly Centre. This included the delivery of computer equipment with large touch screen facilities, enabling service users with disabilities to access the internet and become computer literate. The project also funded new furniture, to improve the comfort and surroundings for service users at the day centre. Project completed in February 2020.

Streets Kitchen Solidarity Centre

• Local CIL (£18,000)
• S106 (£82,000)

This scheme fully refurbished a council property on Seven Sisters Road to provide a new hub for Streets Kitchen, a grassroots group working to help the homeless community and challenge inequality across the borough. The group offer hot meals and a range of other services to those in need. Streets Kitchen will be located on the ground floor and the two upper floors of the building will be used to house other community organisations, as part of the council’s partnership-led approach to preventing homelessness. The refurbishment project involved redecoration and the replacement of flooring, updating of electrical systems, as well as the installation of a new commercial kitchen on the ground floor. Project completed in January 2022.

Old Fire Station, Mayton Street

• S106 (£49,645)

This project provided refurbishments to transform local community facilities at the Old Fire Station, home of the Holloway Neighbourhood Group. Works included: painting and decorating of communal areas and general improvements to the main hall and reception signage; repairs to toilets and improvements to disabled access bathrooms; replacing two boilers; refit of the WebRoom; renovation of the Garden Room; and, improved access to outside space.

Freedom from Torture Building Renovations

• Local CIL (£22,500)

Freedom from Torture is a charity that provides treatment and help for survivors of torture. The building at 111 Isledon Road is their treatment centre where they provide psychological therapy - including therapy groups, such as gardening therapy - and practical/legal help and advice, to torture survivors. The scheme delivered improvements to the reception area by refitting a new desk and storage; better disabled access; and successfully restored the exterior wall of the building. Project completed in January 2020.

Andover Kitchen Dishwasher

• S106 (£4,420)

The project provided a commercial dishwasher in the Finsbury Park Community Hub/Andover Kitchen for use by the FoodCycle programme. Project completed in November 2019.

Finsbury Park Creative Hub

• Local CIL (£248,000)
• S106 (£76,941)

The Finsbury Park Creative Hub Project is an ambitious and innovative arts-led regeneration project in Finsbury Park. Led by Islington Council's Arts Service, key arts organisations, and private sector businesses in Finsbury Park, it established a collaborative approach to the commissioning of a broad range of high quality arts interventions that promoted a coherent sense of place, community cohesion, new audiences and enhanced and improved the local physical landscape.

Muslim Welfare House Pathway Improvements

• S106 (£10,000)

The project delivered improvements to pedestrian access to the Muslim Welfare House, which is a key cultural and community destination, in Finsbury Park.

Finsbury Park Community Centre - Feasibility Study

S106 (£35,000)

The scheme undertook a feasibility study for the creation of social enterprise ‘Cafe on the Square’, which has successfully provided training and job opportunities for local people.

Fonthill Road Tech Workspace Lift Installation

• S106 (£40,000)

This project will fund the installation of a lift in the building which will house an affordable workspace for the technology sector in the Fonthill Road area of Finsbury Park. This will improve the accessibility of the building to disabled and older people, helping to achieve the Council’s accessibility requirements.

Manor Gardens Centre

• S106 (£7,735)

The Manor Gardens Centre is a multicultural, multi-ethnic health and wellbeing community hub. This project delivered improvements to the Manor Gardens Centre building, providing office and meeting space for use by the charity. Project completed in August 2019.

Islington Mind LD Together Programme

• S106 (£20,000)

This scheme will provide funding to support LD Together, a project developed by Islington Mind to support individuals who experience multiple disadvantages including complex mental health problems and learning difficulties in making friends, sharing experiences, and socialising in a safe therapeutic space. The service also provides ad-hoc one-to-one support to service users tackling more complex practical goals. The project is coordinated by 2 mental health professionals and runs out of Islington Mind’s Isledon Road day centre.

Ambler Primary School Sensory Room

• Local CIL (£25,867)
• S106 (£24,133)

This project delivered a new sensory room for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) at Ambler Primary School. The sensory room will provide opportunities for 1:1 and small group focused learning, as well as structured sensory activities to engage and motivate the children. It will also act as a calming environment which can be used to support self-regulation.

Andover Pre-school Heating System

• Local CIL (£18,607)

Andover Nursery provides places for some of the Borough’s most disadvantaged young children. This project delivered over door heaters and a new heating system which is gas safe and will bring up the winter temperature of the room from 13 to 18 degrees, which will provide a comfortable setting for young children to learn and play in. Project completed in February 2019.

Sam Morris Nursery

• Local CIL (£37,500)

This project provided internal improvements to the Sam Morris Nursery building. Improvements included painting and decorating inside the building, as well as replacement of the flooring. The redecoration of the nursery has improved the learning environment for the children, making the area feel lighter, brighter and cleaner. The new flooring has also improved health and safety outcomes, as there are no longer broken bits or loose corners. Project completed in November 2019. 

Kinloch Gardens Open Space Improvements

• S106 (£256,118)

The scheme improved Kinloch Gardens open space. Improvements overhauled the park and included: replacing existing play equipment and introducing natural play opportunities; improving soft landscaping; resurfacing paths; installing more seating in sunny positions; and, tree works.

Woodfall Park Improvements

• Local CIL (£63,000)
• S106 (£544,565)

The scheme delivered a range of improvements to the sports and play area at Woodfall Park. Improvements included: upgrading the pitch to provide a 5-a-side football and basketball pitch; replacing the ground-level wall with a fence; creating a new staircase in the middle of the pitch; adapting the ramp; lowering the wall of the sunken garden; replacing the playground surfacing; replacing the paths and other surfacing; fully replacing site furniture where appropriate; fully replacing play equipment; soft landscaping to improve sightlines and tree works; and, installation of electricity and water point for events.

Replacement of Intake and Bin Storage Cupboard Doors at Lenton Terrace 

• Local CIL (£5,900)

This project replaced the wooden doors of the intake cupboards and bin chambers at Lenton Terrace with stronger steel doors. The aim of the project was to address ongoing anti-social behaviour issues by preventing individuals from accessing the cupboards.

Bennett Court Playground

• S106 (£135,000)

This project delivered new play equipment and a new safety surface. It also refurbished the playground perimeter fencing. The new equipment provides a wider variety of exciting apparatus that caters to different age groups. The new safety surface prevents children from hurting themselves when they fall over whilst they play. Project completed in March 2020.

Andover Estate - Security Improvements

• S106 (£250,000)

This scheme delivered security improvements on the Andover Estate, at the request of the Tenants and Residents Association (TRA). The project installed additional visible CCTV units, aiming to help prevent crime and to make residents feel safer on the estate. 

Six Acres Estate

• S106 (£146,397)

This project landscaped the new plaza at the Six Acres Estate. The new plaza is a high-quality scheme, similar to the new Central Square on the Andover Estate, which is suitable for a variety of recreational and community-based uses for the combined Six Acres, Haden and Clifton estates, as well as the new build properties.

Andover Community Centre - Internal Decorations

• S106 (£25,000)

The scheme delivered internal decorations and replacement of doors throughout the Andover Community Centre.

Corker Walk - Pitch and Wayfinding

• S106 (£445,526)

Following the closure and demolition of the dangerous ball court located on the old Andover site, this project delivered a single multi-use ball games area at Corker Walk for use by residents of the Andover Estate. The new games area contains a full size 5-a-side artificial grass pitch and an adjacent hard court for multi-use games. Works also included: tree planting, landscaping improvements, drainage improvements, and the installation of new lighting and fencing.

Bennett Court Repaving

• S106 (£100,000)

The scheme involved resurfacing and repair the roadway at Bennett Court, to remove humps, trip hazards and increase draining and stop pooling of rainwater. The roadway at Bennett Court was full of cracks, divots and in a poor condition. The roadways on the estate are now safer and more attractive. Project completed in April 2019.

Bennett Court Community Centre - Windows

• S106 (£33,369)

This project replaced the original windows with double glazed windows at the Bennett Court Community Centre. This enhanced the use of the centre, improving the centre’s visual appearance and energy efficiency.

Andover Estate Tree and Lighting Management Project

• S106 (£25,000)

This project installed lighting and pruned trees, to support the installation of CCTV cameras. The upgrading of key lighting areas helped to improve CCTV monitoring, increasing security and safety on the estate.

Bennett Court Community Centre - External Refurbishment

• S106 (£59,800)

This project delivered external works which were required to improve both the appearance of the building and to protect it. Works consisted of: roof repairs; brickwork repairs & re-pointing; washing of elevations and painting to previously decorated areas; replacement of outstanding Crittal steel windows in UPVC; cleaning of gullies and drains; rendering to rear wall of building; and, removal of all redundant fixtures and fittings.

Bennett Court Estate

• S106 (£47,717)

This project delivered a range of open space and play space improvements on Bennett Court Estate.

Park Theatre, Clifton Terrace

• S106 (£10,000)

This project delivered a new theatre space in Finsbury Park. It includes a dedicated education floor on site, and provides a space to engage with young people and older members of the community, through a range of educational programmes.

Sobell Leisure Centre

• S106 (£1,107,626)

The Sobell Leisure Centre is the Borough's flagship leisure centre and attracts around 500,000 visits a year. The scheme has delivered a major upgrade to the centre in order to increase the site’s capacity.

Mayton Street Traffic Improvements

• S106 (£85,500)

This scheme will deliver an upgrade the Hertslet Road to two-way traffic between Seven Sisters Road and Mayton Street. It will also ban the left turn at the junction of Mayton Street and Hertslet Road. The preferred option - set out during the consultation process - is to implement a camera enforced No-entry system at the junction of Hertslet Road/ Mayton Street and Roden Street/ Hertslet Road to restrict vehicles exiting onto Hertslet Road.

Electric Charging Point at Clifton Court

• S106 (£3,168)

This project delivered an electric vehicle charging point at Clifton Court. The charging point provides residents with the option of using electric rather than petrol vehicles, which has better environmental outcomes.

Fonthill Road Speed Hump & Paving Improvements

• S106 (£40,000)

This project provided highway improvements on Fonthill Road. In particular, renewal of the speed humps outside the London Fashion Centre and repairs to the paving at several locations along Fonthill Road. The highway had deteriorated due to disturbance from heavy vehicles frequently using the road. The repairs have improved the appearance of the public realm, and have made the highway safer for all road users including cyclists, pedestrians and drivers. The project completed in February 2022.

Fonthill Road Shops Signage 

• S106 (£17,453)

This project delivered new signage for the new affordable workspace at 113 Fonthill Road, as part of the affordable workspace provision in Finsbury Park. This included funding for: the marketing of Fonthill Road; the cleaning and maintenance of signage; the shop front window fittings; and, licenses.

Seven Sisters Road/ Sussex Way

• S106 (£100,000)

The scheme delivered improvements to the 'square' outside the Poundland shop on Seven Sisters Road, with inclusion of public art. There was also scope for involving local young people through Spring Board (locally based) and other youth organisations - linking into existing projects.

Employment and Youth Diversionary Activities on Blackstock Road

• S106 (£30,000)

This scheme aimed to improve the public realm and address anti-social behaviour on Seven Sisters Road, Blackstock Road and other surrounding streets. The project delivered a successful outreach programme, which created employment opportunities and provided youth diversionary activities, such as English classes, boxing lessons, football matches, kickboxing sessions and other events.

Fonthill Road Tree Planting

• S106 (£14,860)

The project delivered the planting of 10 trees within the Finsbury Park Ward boundary, in line with the Council’s tree strategy. The planting of trees helps to improve air quality and enhances the environment.

Finsbury Park Ward Speed Management

• S106 (£20,000)

The scheme implemented measures to address any speeding issues that may be occurring following the implementation of the borough wide 20mph speed limit scheme. Measures included: new vehicle activated signs, visual road narrowing, additional 20mph road markings, and resident community enforcement programme.