SHOP FRONTS ON Tottenham High Road and West Gren Road have been transformed with bespoke designs from a project by Haringey Council.
Almost 25 shopkeepers had their shop fronts changed to funky designs after working closely with architects and have already reported an increase in trading.
Greater London Authority and business owners provided the funding of the £90,000 scheme. They also had experts from YOU&ME Architecture give workshops to local residents to make sure the new designs reflect the areas personality and character.
Locals were even given a guided walk along both streets last Saturday to see the new facade of designs for themselves.
Councillor Alan Strickland, Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration, said: “These fantastic designs mean some of Tottenham’s favourite independent businesses are looking better than ever, and it’s great to hear that more shoppers are discovering the huge range of stores on their doorstep.”
Among the shops to receive a makeover were party shop Celebration Partyware, convenience store GNTC and mini-market Kejetia – with the facelifts being a key part of the council’s regeneration work to make the area more welcoming for shoppers.
Co-founders of YOU&ME Architecture, Alicja Borkowska and Iris Papadatou, said: “We have worked closely with local business to develop their existing brand and individuality on the high street. Our approach has been to group the shops in a series of ‘clusters’ on the high street strategically located to maximise impact and encourage further future growth and investment. We have focused on shops in particular bad condition and key corner units whose gable ends often give opportunities for artworks.”
The council’s 20-year plan for regeneration in Tottenham is based on the feedback of thousands of local people. It sets out how supporting the area’s existing traders are while attracting new businesses is key to securing a better high street and more job opportunities.
Designers continued by saying: “The designs take cues from the area’s rich history, community stories, as well as the amazing range of service and products available along West Green Road and High Road. Kejetia’s windows display food products from plantain to African bitters; West Green Carpets takes persian rug patterns to create patterns on the shops side shutters which are permanently down; an artwork on Gunaydin side elevation depicts the story of Seven Sisters’ trees and Bucky’s News embellishes the Victorian architecture of the high street creating a bay window motif on the shopfront. It’s been a great process!”
Businesses in north Tottenham are also set to benefit from a £1.5million scheme to restore historic shop fronts to their former glory, with early design work with traders due to start soon.
Traders in Myddleton Road, Bounds Green, have also seen shop fronts restored as part of efforts to attract more shoppers to the range of independent stores on the street.
