Whitehall Place: From Lane to Landmark

Whitehall Place is more than a pathway – it’s a daily route used by schoolchildren, families, and residents. Despite its importance, it suffers from fly-tipping, rat infestation, poor lighting, and anti-social behaviour. A neglected environment sends a signal of disinvestment, contributing to a sense of abandonment and a lack of belonging for local youth.

We aim to transform this unsafe cut-through into a vibrant, clean, and creative community route—restoring pride in place and improving wellbeing for local people and youth.

Our Kahani CIC — founded by two brothers with roots spanning three generation in Newham —is working with Forest Gate Community School, local artists, residents and council teams to transform it into a safe, green and welcoming route.

The project focuses on a 100-metre Community Wall along the school boundary that brings youth creativity to the heart of the street. Co-designed artwork, ceramics, local photography and interactive elements will be paired with solar wayfinding, improved lighting and climbing greenery to create a continuous, well-kept streetscape. This partnership aims to give students a voice in shaping their environment. This will transform a space associated with neglect into one of care and creativity.

Alongside the wall, we will coordinate lane clean-ups and a clearer refuse plan to reduce fly-tipping and hazards, and open up access to nearby creative studios and a community garden for workshops, exhibitions and family events.

What this delivers: an upgraded public space; visibility and “eyes on the street”; calmer school journeys; and increased confident footfall that supports nearby traders. In year one we expect to engage over 1,000 people through co-design, installs and events.

Funding will cover workshops, artist production, materials, lighting, greening and project management — enabling residents and young people to turn an overlooked cut-through into a source of pride for Forest Gate.

This initiative is a model for how overlooked back roads can become front lines of community transformation. We believe every street can become a space where local ideas grow, communities connect, and pride in place is rebuilt.