Connecting and improving Hoe Street

In January 2023, the government announced that a £17.2m bid submitted by the Council to improve Walthamstow was successful. The funds will be used for projects that unlock Walthamstow’s potential as an inclusive, safe, and welcoming cultural destination.  

The plans to improve Walthamstow are built years of engagement with the local community to understand the changes residents want to see. Resident feedback helped shape proposals we submitted to secure the funding and we are continuing to work together with residents as projects progress to help shape the next phases of improvements.

Part of the government funding will be used to upgrade public spaces in High Street, Hoe Street, and St James Street. Residents will see an increase in walking space, new signage, street lighting, additional greenery and street furniture. There will also be opportunities for public art to elevate the experience of the town centre, encouraging people to visit and spend time in the area. 

Improvements in Hoe Street will act as a pilot and the first phase of this programme of investments. Scroll down to find out about how we’re improving Walthamstow. 

We’re making improvements to Cairo Road, E17 to create a space close to Soho Theatre Walthamstow and other cultural venues on Hoe Street that will be a social community space for people, along with improved routes for walking and cycling and a more tranquil area closer to the residential street. This includes more planting and biodiversity, and Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS).  

The scheme also responds to local concerns regarding anti-social behaviour and aspirations for a greener and safer space following local engagement that happened last year. 

Improvements include: 

• new high-quality surfacing, landscaping, and planting to improve biodiversity 
• installation of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) 
• improved lighting 
• new cycle stands 
• public art and projection installations, subject to permission 
• creation of an outdoor area, with lighting and power supply to also support community events 
• retention of all six trees 

The development of the scheme has also been guided by our sustainability agenda with a low-carbon approach towards materials and construction with ambitious aims for integrating trees and planting whenever possible. 

Work began on initial construction in February 2023.

The landscaping and planting phase will follow civil engineering works completion, we will provide further updates and more information on how you can get involved with planting and with future maintenance soon. 

Following recent engagement with ward Councillors and residents, we are in the process of implementing double yellow lines on Eastfield Road; and are planning to install new speed humps on Cairo Road and Eastfield Road in late Spring 2023 to make the streets safer for pedestrians, to prevent anti-social behaviour and to reduce carbon emissions. 

Find out more about resident engagement that took place at Cairo Road.

Email the Regeneration Team at regeneration@walthamforest.gov.uk if you'd like to get involved.

In 2019, the Council acquired the former Granada/ EMD Cinema on Hoe Street to ensure that it remained an entertainment venue and cultural hub for community use. The refurbished venue, which will be re-branded as the Soho Theatre Walthamstow, will be complemented by new paving to highlight the entrance and an improved pedestrian crossing for those making their way to the theatre. 

Find out more about Soho Theatre Walthamstow

The vision for Hatherley Mews is to become an accessible cultural and creative hub that will complement the neighbouring Soho Theatre Walthamstow with new lighting, new paving, and artwork installations.  

We want to keep the character and heritage features of the Mews by reducing the impact of traffic, improving the pedestrian experience, and enhancing the look and feel of the area.   

This will open up Hatherley Mews as an intimate space that could be used for community and cultural events, helping to support the vibrant mix of businesses based there.  

Enhancing a colourful and welcoming walkway with improved lighting for those arriving from Walthamstow bus and Underground station and the eastern end of Walthamstow High Street. 

This work will improve the safety and use of this space, as well introducing more trees and planting. 

For more information, visit the Rosebank Villas and The Scene Let's Talk webpage. 

Gobo projections inspired by theatrical spotlights, wayfinding banners and landmark artworks have been proposed to help navigation on Hoe Street, creating a visually unified language of wayfinding clues at night but also offering opportunities to people to immerse themselves in the light and be “in the spotlight". 

In summer 2023 the Council worked with Greenaway and Greenaway and Wood Street Walls on an engagement programme to involve the Walthamstow community to help shape the design of the artworks. 

The architectural details of the Listed Central Parade will be highlighted and the clock tower lighting will be refurbished. 

We are exploring how we can improve the safety and use of the space around the entrance to Walthamstow Overground Station next to the entrance off Selbourne Road.

The proposals include bringing the empty kiosks back into use and making much-needed improvements to the space including new surfacing, greenery, lighting, and signage. In refurbishing the units, the Council will look to identify operators to support culture and the evening economy on Hoe Street. 

We’re creating a greener, safer and more welcoming pocket park space at the junction of First Avenue and Hoe Street E17. The improvements will focus on improving the use of the pocket park and will include additional planting, trees, street furniture and lighting to make the pocket park a more restful and green community space. The construction work is expected to be completed in early 2024.  

The park is also located next to Phase one of the University of Portsmouth Campus which is opening in 2024 and will form a key reception space in welcoming new students, staff and residents to Walthamstow town centre. 

Visit the Juniper House Pocket Park Let's Talk webpage to find out more.