Remarkable City created a high strategy for West Hendon Broadway, a struggling high street in west Barnet, close to the Welsh Harp Reservoir. We worked to three clients; the London borough of Barnet and house builders Barratt London and Metropolitan Housing Trust.

A new development of 2,000 homes was part way through completion by Barratt London and Metropolitan Housing Trust and Remarkable City worked with Boyer to apply their high street best practice. We undertook deep research in the field, from the perspectives of economic and planning data, and also by canvassing the views of local businesses and residents. We then facilitated a synthesis workshop with a pan-Barnet group of senior officers to work out what was possible in the short and medium term.

We came up with a three pronged strategy for the street, to prioritise upfront action to put in place improvements so that an improved street was in operation by the time a majority of the new homes were tenanted: (1) that a Tenants and Residents Association (TRA) be formed, that could provide local governance for the street, (2) that a number of physical, regulatory and business support improvements be made, and (3) that businesses work together to promote the street. For West Hendon Broadway, we actually facilitated the inaugural TRA meeting and tabled recommendations.

The high street strategy is now being implemented. As of August 2019, the TRA has met again as a formal body and another meeting is scheduled. In a follow-up to another recommendation, hoardings are being placed over empty shops and painted by local artists in a way that will bring consistency to the look and feel of the street, and connect it in people’s minds to the nearby Welsh Harp Reservoir. A locally-focussed ASB team is in place to deal with issues that were highlighted the strategy.

“Remarkable City and Boyer are a professional team who interpreted our brief to produce a high street strategy for West Hendon Broadway and got to work straight away to put this into action. They worked closely with us and our stakeholders to provide well-structured and practical recommendations, with an excellent final report appropriate for multiple internal and external audiences that went well above and beyond our expectations. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to anyone looking to create a high street fit for the future."

Shelleyna Rahman, High Streets & Town Centres Investments Manager, London Borough of Barnet