Camden Town Masterplan

Camden Town Unlimited (CTU) is the Business Improvement District (BID) for Camden Town. Responding to a 20% reduction in footfall in Camden’s Central Business District in recent years, CTU appointed Sheppard Robson to undertake a Masterplan for the High Street to rejuvenate the area’s cultural and commercial offer.

Euston Station is out of the area of influence of the BID, however the introduction of High Speed 2 railway means that the station and its relationship to Camden is considered in the masterplan. The ambition is to create a second exit from Euston onto Hampstead Road, opening a direct entrance from the station onto Camden High Street.

Camden High Street has a surprising mixture of businesses, with the vast majority of these being offices rather than the retail and leisure businesses frequently associated with the area. Local businesses are keen to see more affordable housing in the area, ensuring that there is the opportunity for employees to live closer to their work and at the same time participate in the broader community.

Sheppard Robson’s proposals look at the idea of a number of generic interventions which could be implemented independently and would contribute to the high street incrementally. These were grouped in zones in response to the distinct character areas of the high street.

Since the preparation of the masterplan, CTU has secured substantial funds for public realm improvements including the widening of the pavements and the enhancement of the alleyways joining the high street to the residential districts behind.