New neighbourhoods approach to improve local areas

Image
Children and adults cycling
Published: 5 March 2023
Filed under: Neighbourhoods

We've launched our ambitious new neighbourhood approach, setting out a new vision that proudly celebrates our local neighbourhoods. We’re bringing support services closer to resident’s homes, making Waltham Forest a more inclusive and accessible place for everyone.

This new approach focuses on our 15-Minute Neighbourhoods model and is our response to the challenging times we are all facing. We want our communities to be more empowered, to lead and self-organise, and have the confidence to make the positive change they want to see.    

Our new neighbourhoods approach focuses on three core themes:  

  • Everyone taking part and fulfilling their potential  

  • Everyone benefitting from shared prosperity  

  • Shaping the borough together  

Our four key priorities for this programme will be making streets safer, tackling health inequality, improving services for families and becoming net-zero by 2030. We spoke to local residents about why they love their local area and what they'd improve. It was great to hear directly on why Waltham Forest is so unique and what more we can do to improve local areas for residents. 

With 40% of Waltham Forest residents citing fear of crime and violence as a top concern, we're starting with our Safe Streets pilot, a targeted improvement programme in two areas where residents have reported hot-spot areas of crime and anti=social behaviour - Chingford Mount and South Leytonstone. 

Our staff will deliver their existing primary functions with a focus on joint problem solving, tackling community safety concerns and additional resident-focused engagement. This work will be done in partnership with local partners included the local police services.