Refined Proposals for Improving Ha'Penny Steps' Open Space

Local residents, businesses, visitors and stakeholders identified the following as priorities for redesigning the open space at Ha'Penny Steps:

• keeping the site green
• providing one or more trees
• increasing the site's attractiveness to wildlife
• providing better lighting
• providing new, more attractive railings
• making the site cleaner

Based on the feedback obtained from public consultations held during October 2007 and April 2008, we have now refined our proposals for improving this site.

Our proposals are listed below. The location of each of the numbered improvements are depicted here.

1. levelling the grassy 'mound' so that the grassed area is the same height as the paving next to the canal
   
   
2. installing a new light on the adjacent building development
   
   
3. installing two seats; these will be designed so as to prevent people from sleeping on them
   
   
4. installing two new litter bins
   
   
5. replanting the small area of plants adjacent to the canal
   
   
6. improving the area between the ramp up to the footbridge and the canal, to create a small area for wildlife; this could include a "green wall" and/or waterside habitat planting
   
   
7. installing new 1 metre high fencing next to the canal; this will be designed so as to discourage pigeons from perching on it
   
   
8. providing a lockable gate in the new canal fencing to enable local schools to get on and off the floating classroom when it calls (this will remain locked at all other times, as is the current situation with the existing gate)
   
   
9. changing access into the open space from the adjacent bus stop on Harrow Road (currently there is a sloping ramp here); there are two suggestions: replacing the existing ramp with steps, or blocking access from this point entirely
   
   
10.  replacing the tree currently in the open space with another high quality specimen (the existing tree is being removed as part of the construction works underway for the new building development, and the plans to level the 'mound')
    
    
11.  there are three suggestions for the area of grass closest to the footbridge: leaving the area as grass, planting an additional tree on it (to be of the same species as the new tree specimen adjacent to the building development), or installing a piece of public art there

What will happen next?

The design for the open space is currently being finalised. Improvements will begin in the autumn 2008, once the site is no longer being used for construction works for the adjacent building development.