NextGen panel takes part in a Youth Design Review Panel  

Written by Devaune Whittle – NextGen Panel member

Our group’s theme was environmental sustainability, looking at how we can ensure the green space, architecture and materials used in the proposals are sustainable to support a healthy environment.

Our main points included:

1. Types of materials and where/how they are sourced
We explored what materials are currently being used to support developments in London such as bio-based, recycled and reclaimed materials from local sources. These, along with natural materials, are becoming increasingly popular as they are cheap and effective alternatives to existing harmful materials that are currently prevalent in the borough.

2. Ethicality of materials used for the spaces
We talked about ethical factors for sustainable practice and the long-term impact of this. We agreed that materials/resources should benefit the spaces, local traders/businesses and the community. It should be representative of the people of Croydon as it is brought together by the people.

3. The supporting environmental infrastructure
There was great reference to the waste management system in Amsterdam which makes use of a range of innovative technology to support their waste infrastructure, most notably their underground waste containers. Waste management is an ongoing issue for the borough, and while there is a large administrative effort from Croydon council to support this, it was agreed that the spaces can begin to facilitate this by having, for example, underground waste containers installed to start this.

Written by George Darkin, NextGen Panel member 

Our group focused on access (both spatial and social) and specifically looked into what would make Croydon feel easier to manoeuvre, safer and more welcoming for young people. 

We discussed the importance of the masterplan having well-lit public spaces and more greenery but picked up on the need for more comfortable seating, particularly in areas where young people might want to spend time. 

Accessibility being a key issue led us to consider reducing kerbs and creating more level access, as well as having clearly separated cycle lanes so that different ways of travelling through the town centre can work alongside each other safely. We also felt that seating and shelter should be positioned more centrally in the main areas due to the inaccessibility of those areas in more extreme weather and considered whether a temporary pavilion or similar flexible space could provide a productive gathering space. 

Our group also raised the importance of considering genuinely affordable housing, so that Croydon can remain accessible to a wider range of people. 

Finally, we questioned what is meant by creating a “community” space and how these spaces can be designed for democratic and inclusive use, rather than serving only one group. This came from the number of broadly defined community areas but we believed that if those spaces are not made through the inhabitants, accessibility is hard to achieve. These issues matter because young people need a town centre where they can travel independently and feel safe and also spend time where they feel welcome. 

Written by Savannah-Blu, NextGen Panel member 

“We Need a Purpose to Visit Croydon” 

Our group talked about how different generations socialise and how this has changed over time. 

As young people, we feel we socialise differently from older generations because we have grown up with phones, social media and online communication. We can easily speak to our friends without actually meeting them, so we often stay at home and only go out when there is a reason or something specific to do. 

We felt that Croydon could have more places that give young people a reason to come together and socialise in person. One idea we discussed was creating an entertainment destination around the Whitgift area, similar to the O2 Arena. This could include concerts, a cinema and different restaurants and dining experiences. 

We thought that concerts featuring popular artists could attract young people from Croydon and surrounding areas. Music brings people together because those who enjoy the same artist or genre can share an experience and meet others with similar interests. 

Having a cinema and places to eat would make it more than just somewhere to attend a concert. People could meet friends, watch a film, enjoy a meal and spend more time together. 

We also felt that these experiences could encourage people to explore more of Croydon, discover its shops and other local businesses, and return for future visits. This could benefit the town centre by attracting more visitors and supporting local businesses, while making Croydon a more exciting and socially connected place for ALL. 

Written by Dzifa Dzah, NextGen Panel member

As part of the Public Realm & Place discussion group, our focus was reviewing the current designs for the Croydon Project through the lens of community and placemaking.

The proposed public square, open green space and the Continuous Canopy concept show intentionality in the design to ensure both the natural and built environment work in harmony. Our initial concerns were about street-level user experience around the proposed tall housing blocks along Wellesley Road. The adjacency of tall buildings may cause uncomfortably windy conditions for users in that area.

Additionally, concerns were raised about housing tenures. As young people in Croydon, we hope that this development will be inclusive to new people but also ensure existing communities within Croydon are not excluded. We hope to see a good mix of affordable, private, and shared ownership housing tenures to accommodate a variety of people.

We raised the idea of using meanwhile spaces to investigate how people might use the spaces being proposed. We believe that by activating disused spaces, the public Meanwhile spaces could change behaviours towards the town centre to reduce the rate of anti-social behaviour, building local buy-in, and increasing anticipation for the final project.

The spaces could provide opportunities for material circularity through temporary pavilions, and engage enterprises run by local people through temporary retail. In doing so, these spaces could help re-engage local people with the town centre, creating more reasons to spend time and money within the borough rather than travelling elsewhere for leisure, social and cultural activities.