South Leytonstone is located at the southern tip of Waltham Forest, situated between two distinct landscapes – the wetlands and marshes of Lee Valley Park and the woodlands and green open spaces of Epping Forest. Our strategy focused on connecting between these landscapes—bringing their distinct character and ecological richness to the thresholds of local neighbourhoods, while enhancing connectivity, permeability, and local identity. We proposed a series of new public space interventions, connected by strategic active travel corridors that offer safer, greener links between local landscapes and high street environments.

This series of over twenty phased projects delivers improvements across residential streets, road junctions, school gateways, and modal filter areas, while also enhancing existing public space. The interventions incorporate a range of measures, including rain gardens, permeable surfaces to carriageways, new street trees and wildlife habitats, blended crossings, raised carriageway tables, extended green spaces, and new pocket parks – all aimed at creating a more connected climate resilient environment.

Eleven of these improvements will be delivered in the first phase, scheduled for summer 2025. These site-specific interventions aim to create more liveable streets by introducing new greenery and street trees, enhancing connectivity, incorporating SuDS features and rain gardens, and providing spaces to play, relax, and enjoy. The design approach promotes climate resilience by increasing tree canopy cover, reducing land surface temperatures, managing stormwater, and enhancing carbon sequestration. This is reinforced by a coordinated materials strategy that prioritises re-use, de-paving, and a consistent palette of natural, recycled, and low-impact finishes.

At Woodhouse Road, we collaborated with young people from the local school through a series of design sessions to co-create a new ‘school gateway’. Together, we explored local green ecosystems and considered multi-species encounters. The result is a welcoming and accessible entrance, featuring playful paving integrated with a new green corridor of rain gardens, informal play elements, and seating.

The project was developed in collaboration with the LBWF Highways team and is located within the South Leytonstone Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN), part of Waltham Forest Council’s wider initiative to create safer, greener streets.