The project will convert the former Community Law Centre into a three-storey, multi-use space that builds on the success of the Civic Action Lab pilot currently operating in the building.
A New Model for Community Led Innovation
Councillor Nasrine Djemai, Cabinet Member for New Homes and Community Investment, said the Neighbourhood Spaces Programme aims to revitalise underused council buildings and turn them into financially self-sustaining hubs for collaboration and community action.
She highlighted that residents across Camden are already working to address issues such as food insecurity, the climate emergency, loneliness and youth unemployment. According to Cllr Djemai, the new Neighbourhood Space will help bring these efforts together, creating a shared environment where “assets, ideas and skills can come together to drive positive, neighbourhood-led change” aligned with the We Make Camden missions.
Backed by Major Investment
The redevelopment is being funded through Camden’s successful Levelling Up Fund bid, with additional support from the City of London Affordable Workspace Programme, the Council’s Section 106 Carbon Offset Fund, and further Council capital investment.
Designed to Meet Net Zero Standards
Councillor Adam Harrison, Cabinet Member for Planning and a Sustainable Camden, emphasised that the project represents a major step towards the borough’s Climate Action Plan commitments. The retrofit will follow a whole life carbon approach, assessing not only the building’s operational emissions but also the embodied carbon associated with construction materials and long term maintenance. Specialist low carbon design consultants have been commissioned to guide decisions that minimise environmental impact across the building’s entire lifecycle.
Cllr Harrison noted that the approach aims to significantly improve energy performance, promote regenerative materials, prioritise reuse, and reduce long-term operating costs resulting in a building that is both environmentally responsible and financially resilient.
A New Community Anchor for Kentish Town
Once complete, the Kentish Town Neighbourhood Space is expected to become a central hub for local residents, community groups and small businesses, supporting inclusive economic growth and strengthening neighbourhood networks
https://news.camden.gov.uk/camden-approves-first-neighbourhood-space-for-kentish-town/
Source Camden Council
