Masterplanning • Staples Corner

Empowering community: a design code rooted in lived experience.

Staples Corner is a historically significant industrial area in Northwest London, with a strategic position on the North Circular, directly across from Brent Cross Town. This makes it an ideal location to help address the capital’s increasing demand for logistic facilities and affordable housing. But a lack of investment in the existing building stock, poor public realm, and complex landownership issues have prevented progress.

Brent Council has ambitious plans to use its planning powers and public assets to direct change in Staples Corner, creating a thriving mixed-use community with 2,200 new homes and rich commercial opportunities. Drawing on our expertise in placemaking and engagement, the council engaged RCKa to empower local residents to play a more active role in shaping the development of their neighbourhood.

Selected by lottery, we assembled a representative group of community champions and – through a series of co-design workshops – we listened to, upskilled and collaborated with our champions to establish a set of shared guiding principles for Staples Corner. The result is a design code rooted in lived experiences, reflecting local needs and aspirations.

25 local community champions

Over 4000+ flyers and invitations to businesses and residents.

Co-location of industrial with residential to deliver 2,200 new homes

"The engagement process now underpins not only the Design Code, but also the emerging Masterplan... helping to build on the experience, skills and trust of the Staples Corner community"

Principal Urban Design Officer, London Borough of Brent Council

Shaping a shared community vision

As much of the land is not in Brent’s ownership it needs to use its planning powers to take greater control over the long-term vision for Staples Corner. Simultaneously, offering clear guidance to developers regarding future development will bolster confidence and encourage future investment. This is where DLUHC’s Design Code Pathfinder Programme came in—providing funding for the council to produce a Design Code for the Staples Corner Growth Area.

In line with the borough plan ‘Moving Forward Together’, RCKa supported the council in placing community action at the forefront of emerging policy, securing local input at an early stage of the process. We worked collaboratively to co-create a series of guiding principles under a strategic ambition that will promote well-being while allowing the sites’ diverse businesses and communities to thrive.

"Creative approaches must be used to develop support structures and create community spaces and activities to develop a sustainable and healthy new area"

Local business owner

A Design Code focusing on lived experience

With support from the Sortition Foundation, a representative team of community champions was selected from local residents using a randomised selection process. RCKa then worked collaboratively with Brent’s champions, facilitating a series of co-design workshops exploring various themes including home, public realm and work. The process was designed to be iterative, with ideas being developed and refined during each session, ultimately leading to the collective consensus of the group.

The outcome was the formulation of six co-produced guiding principles, serving as the cornerstone of our vision for the future of Staples Corner, deeply rooted in the lived experiences of the local community.

"This project will be the result of a collective effort and I am confident it will have a positive impact on the area where I live."

Staples Corner resident

Exploring delivery of industrial co-location

RCKa’s ambition was to involve local people from the very outset and to empower residents to take ownership of the project in the long term. To help raise awareness of the proposals we held a community paint and planting day, during which the tired security shutters were given a new lease of life. RCKa worked with graphic designer Bandiera to design a colourful mural for the shutters, with local people helping to apply this to the vacant shopfront.

Client
Brent Council

Key Stakeholders
Brent Combined Authorities
Greater London Authority

Status
Completed 2023

Location
Staples Corner, Brent

Project Team
Rhiona Williams
Quincy Haynes
Emily Temperton
Anthony Staples
Shalini Tahalooa
Eden Malik

Collaborators
5th Studio

Branding & Graphics
Bandiera

Related project

Ryde Business Park

Project list