MICA talks ‘Connected Cities’ at Future Cities Forum

MICA Director Gavin Miller joined a panel discussion at Future Cities forum to discuss ‘Connected cities – planning and place-making’.

Gavin was joined by Alex Williams, Head of Planning at Transport for London, and Colin Wilson from Southwark Council on the panel where they discussed the extension of the Bakerloo underground tube line. MICA previously carried out strategic studies around the extension to the Bakerloo Line on behalf of TfL, from which Southwark Council and TfL have now launched a campaign called ‘Back the Bakerloo’.

‘Back the Bakerloo’ outlines plans to build new stations and a rail line from Elephant and Castle through to Lewisham with hopes to begin construction in 2023 at a cost of £3.1 billion. Following proposals outlined by MICA, the new line would run down the historic Old Kent Road with three new stations named Bricklayers Arms, Burgess Park and Asylum.

The regeneration is aiming at providing new homes and creating a sense of pride of place for those that live there. Over the next three to four years, growth is expected and this extension enables London to deliver its housing target. Creative businesses are likely to locate themselves around these developments and some interest has already been shown in this area with artists attracted to setting up their studios.

Old Kent Road was one of several locations around London that MICA studied as part of its work with TfL. All of the transport studies were on display for two months at the NLA Gallery as part of our ‘Growth Lines’ exhibition.

To read more about Growth Lines, click here.