Alfred Place Gardens

Built

@maple.studio/LDA Design

Alfred Place was an unremarkable, car-dominated London back street. Now it is a healthy, green oasis. The first park in the area for 25 years, it reclaims the street for people and for...

Alfred Place was a heavily parked back street and taxi rat run off Tottenham Court Road. Now renamed Alfred Place Gardens, it is Camden’s first new park in the area for 25 years. A meandering path lined with sculptural granite and timber seating makes Alfred Place Gardens a distinctive lunchtime spot in a busy area short on quality shared spaces. Lounging lawns, a children’s play space and diverse and colourful planting add delight and all-year-round interest. Mature trees frame the space.

This project is featured alongside our Public London: Activating the City insight study. The publication, exhibition and online project directory explore what constitutes a successful and democratic public realm today, the role of co‑creation and partnerships, and how we can ensure that places are fit‑for‑purpose in the long term.

NEW LONDON AWARDS 2022

Shortlisted in the PUBLIC SPACES category

Alfred Place was a commonplace London street, more busy service road and car park than anything else. With narrow pavements and nowhere to sit, it was a place to hurry through.

Now transformed into an inviting linear park, it is a tranquil, green oasis in one of the busiest parts of the capital. Renamed Alfred Place Gardens, it is Camden Council’s first new park in the area for 25 years and part of the borough’s major investment into the Tottenham Court Road and Shaftesbury Avenue area through the West End Project.

Camden asked LDA Design to rethink eight key streets and spaces in central London to make them work for people and for nature. For Alfred Place, this meant reclaiming the road and turning it into high-quality green space within a strict budget, and whilst maintaining essential access for services and emergency vehicles.

Drivers include improving air quality, supporting greater biodiversity and reducing flood risk. Planting provides year-round colour and new habitats.

Vote for this project in the ‘People’s Choice Award’. The voting deadline is 1 November 2022.

Project information

Status

Built

Borough

Camden

Size

2800 sq m

Estimated completion

March 2022

Location

8 Alfred Pl, London WC1E 7EB, UK