Blakedown Landscapes has successfully completed the landscaping of North Street Garden, a new permanent public green space in the heart of Romford, delivered on behalf of Romford BID in partnership with the London Borough of Havering and funded through the UK Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
Originally introduced as a temporary feature by Romford BID in 2022, the space was part of an initiative to bring colour and vibrancy to Romford High Street, spotlighting local businesses and encouraging greater footfall and dwell time.
With new funding secured, it has now been transformed into a permanent fixture and was recently unveiled by the Mayor of Havering.
Blakedown’s scope of works involved significant public realm enhancements, delivered in line with a design by Sally Prothero Landscape Architects, and focused on supporting sustainability, biodiversity, and community use. The finished scheme features new paving, combining high-quality materials with reclaimed pavers from the original site, pollinator friendly and drought tolerant planting, rain garden planters, and a bespoke raised planter with a glazed brick façade. The site also includes new street furniture and shade-tolerant trees to encourage everyday use by residents, visitors, and local workers.
Chris Wellbelove, Managing Director at Blakedown Landscapes, said “we are proud to have delivered North Street Garden as an attractive green space that will benefit Romford’s town centre for years to come. At Blakedown, we are committed to creating lasting, accessible public realm environments, and this project shows how even modest spaces can make a big impact when designed and delivered with care.”
The scheme is part of a wider initiative by Romford BID to enhance the high street through greening, accessibility improvements, and placemaking.
Julie Frost, Romford BID Director, said “We’re thrilled to have delivered this permanent green space for Romford. North Street Garden is more than just a name – it’s a reflection of how this space has become part of our community. We’re so pleased that the public helped us choose it!”
Councillor Barry Mugglestone, Havering’s Cabinet Member for Environment, added “Havering has some great parks around the outskirts of Romford town centre but there was no green space within the busy high street areas. We then had the opportunity along with Romford BID and the GLA’s UKSPF fund, to create and improve a green space just next to our local shops and businesses. We hope that the North Street Garden is somewhere residents and anyone working in the area and using our local shops, can enjoy.”
North Street Garden reflects a broader shift towards embedding urban greening, climate resilience, and community-focused design within town centre regeneration strategies.
