Open space at West Kentish Town Estate

What type of public space will be created by the redevelopment of West Kentish Town estate? Will new spaces be flexible, open and invite communal activity, as the existing spaces on the estate do?

West Kentish Town estate was once farmland, on a slight slope facing south. It was probably grassland used for raising animals and growing hay, for which there was a great demand in the 18th and 19th centuries.

1804 map showing the open fields where West Kentish Town Estate is now located

Nature is reasserting itself at West Kentish Town, with areas of grassy verges lining Grafton Road to the east and Allcroft Road to the west. In between are a variety of spaces which have developed in different ways over their 50-odd years existence. At the centre of the estate is the Weedington Road play area, partly given over to an enclosed multi-use games area. Other spaces can be categorised as follows:

entrance courtyards providing parking, with landscaping and trees (2,630m2)
shared semi-private spaces adjacent to flats which residents use for a variety of activities (2,685m2)
informal gardens created by residents (375m2)
meadow-like verges, with tree planting (3,010m2)
open/ common land at the edge of the estate (575m2)
garage courts (1,275m2)

This is a total of 10,115m2, not including the garage courts. Connecting these spaces are a series of pedestrian routes.

Parking between Durstan and Chelwood