Kingston Council awarded funding to support high street recovery in New Malden

With the impacts of coronavirus continuing to be felt by town centres across the country - and the further pressure placed on businesses by new restrictions - the funding will support us in empowering residents to drive innovation and breathe new life into the town centre, while celebrating the area’s rich cultural heritage and diverse communities.

The aim of the GLA’s High Streets for All Challenge is to improve public spaces across the capital, and create new exciting uses for underused high streets and their buildings. New Malden is one of only 15 projects to have been awarded funding.

Councillor Sweeney, Portfolio Holder for Business and Leisure, said:

New Malden is one of South West London’s most unique and diverse town centres, and we are delighted to have been awarded this funding by the GLA to help drive recovery and provide the area with the vibrant culture scene that it deserves.

Put on by and for New Malden’s communities, the programme of events is particularly exciting. Through these events and the other projects taking place, we want to celebrate the New Malden that has attracted - and continues to attract - so many communities from around the world.

The events will take place in the new town square at the Cocks Crescent site, set to open in the New Year as a ‘meanwhile space’ as longer term developments for the area progress.

The funding comes at an exciting time for New Malden, with a number of projects taking place to improve the town centre in both the short and long term. 

Currently, the council is talking to the community about improvements for the Fountain Roundabout - ‘the gateway to New Malden’ - and a nearby pocket park to revitalise the area.    

Danielle O’Shaughnessy, Community Connector, the New Malden Town Centre Partnership, said: 

We have all been concerned about the decline of the High Street, in particular the closure of the Department store, Tudor Williams, and a number of banks - so we were delighted to hear that we have secured funding from the Mayor of London High Streets for All Challenge. We are looking forward to some great new ideas and projects that will enhance the town centre and place it firmly on London's map.

Deputy Mayor for Planning, Regeneration and Skills, Jules Pipe, said: 

The Mayor and I are committed to ensuring our high streets can flourish and thrive at all times of the day and night, as we emerge from the pandemic. This project is a great example of a local partnership coming together and leading the way with innovative solutions that will help ensure the benefits are felt by all.

If you would like to be part of the New Malden Town Centre Partnership or to volunteer to support this programme of events, please get in touch with Danielle at danielle@thevillagenewmalden.co.uk.