Building a platform for the voice of residents in St Pancras & Somers Town, Regent's Park, and Bloomsbury.
Author: Jason Leman
The HS2 Euston development has created potential for new housing and public realm works in the area, with plans being shaped by public and private bodies. The Old Diorama Arts Centre (ODAC) was commissioned by Camden Council to deliver a series of workshops and events to explore what the community wants. ODAC asked Jason Leman, neighbourhood democracy lead at Citizen Network, to explore building a platform for the voice of residents.
Workshop participants, photograph by Alice Horsley
People in the workshop discussed what it means for an area to have a voice and who has a voice around Euston. For them, it was the Council, government and corporations who had a voice, when it should be ordinary residents. People then played the 'Community platform game'. Through this game there were three options developed to support the voice of residents: an inclusive independent party; a community powered platform; and a community council controlled by an independent party.
Themes of the workshop, graphic illustration by Joshua Knowles
All the groups thought a platform for their voice needed a budget and/or legal powers. All wanted inclusive participatory decision-making, with support for creating conversations that involved new and different voices. Having spaces to meet, discuss and do were also important, alongside support for developing campaign skills that led to action.
Read and download the report (pdf) in your browser, link below.
The publisher is Citizen Network. A Community Platform for Euston © Jason Leman 2025.
community, local government, Neighbourhood Democracy, England, Paper
