COMMUNITY HUB OPENS DOORS
A forgotten storeroom has been transformed into a bright, welcoming space for the local community to use
What is thought to have once been the parcel office at Highams Park station, had in more recent times been used for storage, and become neglected.
But, as part of our strategy to support communities, earlier this year the room was handed over to the local Highams Park Planning Group (HPPG).
“Before the handover, after clearing out the rooms we carried out some landlord works – renewing the electrics, building a wall to create separate rooms for the facilities, such as the toilet, and opening up the side access gate,” explained Matt Bromley, who managed the project.
HPPG then took over to manage the interior decoration and other refurbishment, working with local companies.
Completed in autumn this year, the newly opened Highams Park ‘Station Rooms’ are now being used for a variety of local events, including a ‘repair café’ for Halloween costumes.
Gina Chin, service delivery manager, said: “It is a lovely space, which has been put to great use by the local community group."
“It opens opportunities for so much more interaction with our locals, who are all very pleased to see spaces like these being used in such innovative ways.”
Funding for the work came from our Overground Improvement Fund, Greater London Authority’s ‘High Streets For All’ fund, Waltham Forest Council and HPPG itself.
Gordon Turpin, Chair of the HPPG, said: “The rooms are small but very centrally located and will provide a great resource for the local community – and there has already been great interest in booking the space.”
Highams Park is the second community hub we’ve delivered following the Chingford Community Hub, which was handed over to Love North Chingford in November 2021.
Built with Shorthand