Description
The Roehampton area faces a number of challenges which will impact upon regeneration and local growth ambitions. Key among these is transportation links. With the closure of Hammersmith Bridge in April 2019, connections to Hammersmith and Fulham, as well as the broader north west of London, have reduced significantly. Train connections are restricted to Putney and Barnes stations, and primarily flow in and out of central London, with few cross-routes linking Roehampton to other south west hubs. This situation presents significant barriers to attracting new businesses and innovation within the area, and also presents sustainability and air-quality challenges by increasing the need to rely on road vehicles.The lack of transport links further exacerbates inequality in the area. There is a widely accepted relationship between transportation and mobility, as well as social exclusion, and this is visible in Roehampton, where communities and individuals without access to private vehicles lack fast and reliable transport options, in turn affecting their job, socialising, and recreation opportunities. The Roehampton ward, incorporating the University’s immediate neighbours on the Alton Estate, includes areas that are among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England, while Putney is characterised by high-value private housing.
Regeneration efforts in Roehampton will need to consider how transport can be more effective and sustainable, how to ensure that the area remains both affordable to a wide range of communities and offers accessible local employment and recreation/leisure opportunities. In the post-covid recovery period, with work and living patterns expected to shift and organisations becoming less reliant on central London office space, there are significant opportunities as well as challenges to address.
This event bought together Fleur Anderson, Labour MP for Putney, Roehampton and Southfields; Molly Scott Cato, Professor of Green Economics and former Green MEP for South West England and Gibraltar (2014-2020), Deacon Kathy Johnson (Roehampton Partnership) and Caroline Russell (Leader of the City Hall Greens) in a discussion focusing on what Roehampton needs to become a district of sustainable growth and regeneration, key issues and challenges and how we can address them.
Estimated audience numbers (if applicable)
65| Period | 29 Mar 2021 |
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