Urban Design Workshop, Forest Hill, London

This placemaking workshop was held in order to start shaping a vision for improving Forest Hill town centre. The Forest Hill Society and SEE3 organised and supported the workshop, with support from the Greater London Authority's Outer London Fund. Ed initiated the workshop as a founding member of SEE3, with Hillary Satchwell representing the Forest Hill Society.

The workshop harnessed the analytical and creative skills of the local community, and was supported by local architects, urban designers, landscape architects and similar professionals along with civic leaders and traders.

BEEP studio has been commissioned to write and draw up the results of the day and produce a summary of the vision for a wide public. This work is intended to stimulate placemaking and regeneration projects, and to inform future funding applications and Local Plan policy guidance.

The workshop entailed:
• Short introductions to the project
• Site visits to identify key issues
• Four creative groups over four zones
• Feedback of ideas to the local community
• Review of overall vision and next steps

The sites and areas under examination included:
• Station forecourt & surrounding area
• Perry Vale and related sites
• Connections between Forest Hill & Sydenham
• Dartmouth Road & pocket park opportunities