One Soho Soho Is a Unique Part of the Capital Tha Ge

CONTENTS SOHO INTRODUCTION 1 NO STAMP FOREWORD 2 REQUIRED ONE SOHO 4 ACTION PLAN ORDER 10 OPPORTUNITY 20 ENTERPRISE 26 RENEWAL 36 CONCLUSION 42 LIST OF ACTIONS 44

WEST END TEAM WESTMINSTER CITY COUNCIL ONE SOHO SOHO IS A UNIQUE PART OF THE CAPITAL THAT HAS GROWN OUT OF A RICH FREEPOST LON17652 LONDON SW1E 6YY CULTURAL AND COMMERCIAL HERITAGE. WHILST IT HAS AN INTERNATIONAL IDENTITY AS A CUTTING-EDGE AND COSMOPOLITAN MELTING POT, SOHO THRIVES THANKS TO THE PERSONALITIES AND ENERGY OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK HERE, WHICH MAKES THIS AREA A TRULY CONTEMPORARY COMMUNITY. ORDER WITHOUT ORDER WE CANNOT LIVE IN, WORK IN, OR VISIT SOHO IN ENJOYMENT AND PEACE. WE WANT BEING IN SOHO TO BE A SAFE AND PLEASANT EXPERIENCE AND WE WILL WORK WITH THE POLICE AND THE SOHO COMMUNITY TO ACHIEVE THIS. OPPORTUNITY THERE IS A SENSE OF BELONGING AND WIDE RANGE OF OPPORTUNITIES IN SOHO THAT MAKES EVEN VISITORS FEEL AT HOME AND MAKES IT ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING AND COLOURFUL PARTS OF THE CAPITAL, IF NOT THE WORLD, IN WHICH TO LIVE AND WORK. ENTERPRISE ENCOURAGING DIVERSITY IN RETAIL AND PROTECTING SOHO’S SMALL BUSINESSES, PROMOTING ALL THAT SOHO HAS TO OFFER AND OPENING UP DIALOGUE BETWEEN BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS, MAKING THE CITY COUNCIL MORE BUSINESS-FRIENDLY; WE WANT THESE TO BE THE FOUNDATIONS FOR ENTERPRISE IN SOHO. RENEWAL: OUR LASTING LEGACY WE WILL BE JUDGED BY FUTURE GENERATIONS ON HOW WE LOOK AFTER THE HEART OF THIS CITY. WE PROPOSE REAL CONSULTATION WITH RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES AND WORKERS IN AREAS OF REGENERATION, AND WE WILL IMPROVE THE PUBLIC REALM TO MAKE SOHO ACCESSIBLE TO ALL AND ENSURE THAT ALL OF SOHO IS USED TO ITS FULL POTENTIAL. CONTENTS SOHO INTRODUCTION 1 NO STAMP FOREWORD 2 REQUIRED ONE SOHO 4 ACTION PLAN ORDER 10 OPPORTUNITY 20 ENTERPRISE 26 RENEWAL 36 CONCLUSION 42 LIST OF ACTIONS 44

WEST END TEAM WESTMINSTER CITY COUNCIL ONE SOHO SOHO IS A UNIQUE PART OF THE CAPITAL THAT HAS GROWN OUT OF A RICH FREEPOST LON17652 LONDON SW1E 6YY CULTURAL AND COMMERCIAL HERITAGE. WHILST IT HAS AN INTERNATIONAL IDENTITY AS A CUTTING-EDGE AND COSMOPOLITAN MELTING POT, SOHO THRIVES THANKS TO THE PERSONALITIES AND ENERGY OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK HERE, WHICH MAKES THIS AREA A TRULY CONTEMPORARY COMMUNITY. ORDER WITHOUT ORDER WE CANNOT LIVE IN, WORK IN, OR VISIT SOHO IN ENJOYMENT AND PEACE. WE WANT BEING IN SOHO TO BE A SAFE AND PLEASANT EXPERIENCE AND WE WILL WORK WITH THE POLICE AND THE SOHO COMMUNITY TO ACHIEVE THIS. OPPORTUNITY THERE IS A SENSE OF BELONGING AND WIDE RANGE OF OPPORTUNITIES IN SOHO THAT MAKES EVEN VISITORS FEEL AT HOME AND MAKES IT ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING AND COLOURFUL PARTS OF THE CAPITAL, IF NOT THE WORLD, IN WHICH TO LIVE AND WORK. ENTERPRISE ENCOURAGING DIVERSITY IN RETAIL AND PROTECTING SOHO’S SMALL BUSINESSES, PROMOTING ALL THAT SOHO HAS TO OFFER AND OPENING UP DIALOGUE BETWEEN BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS, MAKING THE CITY COUNCIL MORE BUSINESS-FRIENDLY; WE WANT THESE TO BE THE FOUNDATIONS FOR ENTERPRISE IN SOHO. RENEWAL: OUR LASTING LEGACY WE WILL BE JUDGED BY FUTURE GENERATIONS ON HOW WE LOOK AFTER THE HEART OF THIS CITY. WE PROPOSE REAL CONSULTATION WITH RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES AND WORKERS IN AREAS OF REGENERATION, AND WE WILL IMPROVE THE PUBLIC REALM TO MAKE SOHO ACCESSIBLE TO ALL AND ENSURE THAT ALL OF SOHO IS USED TO ITS FULL POTENTIAL. SOHO BOUNDARY CONSULTATION Soho is the area within the boundaries set by Oxford Street, Regent Street, Shaftesbury Avenue, and Charing Cross Road (for the purpose of this Action Plan). Please fill in and return this freepost consultation card to us by Friday 27 October 2006.

Please list your top five actions by number (in order of importance): 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH 5TH 3 What was your age on your last birthday? …………………………………………………………………

Featured Imagery 1 KINGLY COURT EXAMPLE 12 31 56 8 24 4 Do you have any long-standing illness, disability or infirmity? (long-standing means anything that has 2 SOHO SQUARE troubled you over a period of time or that is likely to affect you over a period of time). Please 3 one only. 3 ROYALTY MANSIONS TOTTENHAM ONE SOHO 4 SOHO HOTEL COURT ROAD Yes 5 SOHO SQUARE No  6 OLD COMPTON STREET ORDER 7 GAY HUSSAR 8 OLD COMPTON STREET 19 20 5 To which of these groups do you consider you belong to? Please 3 one only. 9 SOHO SQUARE 18 OPPORTUNITY TREET GREA 10 SOHO SQUARE FORD S OX T W White Black or Black British RO C 11 OLD COMPTON STREET C N HAP TO HARING CR OXFORD SUT ENTERPRISE 12 MEARD STREET EET British African CIRCUS STR EL EN HO 13 CLARION HOUSE OLL ST SO ARE HILL H 21 Irish  Caribbean  RA R QU EE S 10 14 M T OLD COMPTON STREET E EE T 9 RENEWAL S 2 ILLIES AC STR EET Any other White background ………………… Any other Black background ………………… PL 5 PL EL O 15 LIBERTY NO STR 22 AR AC 7 T SS RO ILLIES 13 16 FLAXMAN COURT GY E AM ST PO CARLISLE STREE R REE T TE LL L ET Yes No Don’t know AND N Summary: On the whole do you feel that the changes indicated 17 BERWICK STREET MARKET STREE MA ST T Mixed Asian AY BERWIC AD R ST ARBL would positively benefit you, as well as the wider Soho area? 18 GOLDEN SQUARE EET D’ E’S COURT DEAN T REET 12 N REE AN 13 23 White & Black Caribbean Indian  19 MOOR STREET H ST K ST G ST S U 10 4 GR O W TR 20 GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET REET White & Black African Pakistani  LBOR AR RICHMOND E REET E AR ET EK Is there anything else that you would have included in this plan? Please use the space below to tell us; M DO ST AT 11 14 N E 20 ST White & Asian Bangladeshi  GR U 16 TEMA F 24 DU R BA RITH RE as well as your ideas for the ‘Go Green’ Agenda: ST E 15 F T M OUR’S PL REET Any other Mixed background …………………  Any other Asian background ………………… 17 M ST 19 AR EW 1 REET MOOR Additional Streets SH REET STREET ST HOPKINS S 15 S 12  A K 3 11 ET ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… LL 1 LITTLE MARLBOROUGH STREET AC IN RE CARNAB T T 2 G S 14 ST E REE Chinese and Other ethnic groups ES ST ON 2 FOUBERT’S PLACE 3 REET BROADWIC RD PT T T A M RE TREET 16 ME REET KI Y ST CO TREE 3 MARLBOROUGH COURT * D S Arab  N S P Y ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… GL TR L IER OL 8 ACE 4 GANTON STREET Y E CH R ST E LEXING UR ROMILL Chinese EGEN T 5 UPPER JOHN STREET RE 4 1 ET BO E RE T ST KINGL TO ER ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Other ethnic group …………………………………………………………………………… 6 UPPER JAMES STREET G N T T RE PE S ST Y COURT AT 7 LOWER JOHN STREET TREET REET 6 PUL

8 LOWER JAMES STREET RU E REET BRIDLE T U ST ENEY ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 3 K P 17 EN 6 I consider myself a member of the following religious group. Please one only. 9 SMITH’S COURT A 6 ER V BE A T LA ST Y 10 ST R PORTLAND MEWS NE R U 5 EE RE B LEICESTER GR ES None/no specific religion  11 LIVONIA STREET T T T E T SQUARE E E E T F ABOUT YOURSELF 18 A RE A N RE T ST H Christian* 12 WARDOUR MEWS ST W E ER S ER INDM H WA GOLDE W C 13 SHERATON STREET SQUAR E 9 AR We want to consult as many people as possible that have an interest in Soho. The following questions Buddhist  R 8 BR WICK IL 14 FLAXMAN COURT RD L will help us to see who has responded. As with the rest of this questionnaire we will only look at the YA ST Hindu  15 DUCK LANE S SHER R TRE 7 HAM EE overall figures for these questions and will not link it back to you personally. Your answers are in the T Jewish  16 TYLER’S COURT ET W OOD S strictest confidence, please answer as many questions as you feel comfortable with. 17 WINNETT STREET Muslim  DENMAN STREET A TREE 18 SOHO STREET IR T Sikh  19 FALCONBERG MEWS GLASSHOUSE 1 Which of the following applies to you? Please 3 as many as apply. STR EET 20 FALCONBERG COURT ST Any other religion …………………………………………………………………………… R 21 GOSLETT YARD EE T I live in Soho  *including Church of England, Catholic, Protestant and all other Christian denominations 22 ORANGE YARD I work in Soho  23 WEDGEWOOD MEWS PICCADILLY I own a business in Soho  24 GREEK COURT CIRCUS 7 Are you: Please 3 one only. * the OneSoho shop is located I attend school/college in Soho  Straight/Heterosexual  at 4 Marlborough Court I visit Soho on a regular basis  Gay  I am a tourist (please state nationality) ……………………………………………… Lesbian  Other (please describe) ……………………………………………… Bisexual  An additional map showing how the area has been divided into ‘Action Zones’, as well as specific development sites, can be found on page 45. Transgender  2 Are you male or female? Please 3 one only. Intersex This document is available upon request in alternative formats, such as large print, Braille and audio, as well as in other languages. Male Other (please describe) …………………………………………………………………………… Female Rather not say  SOHO BOUNDARY CONSULTATION Soho is the area within the boundaries set by Oxford Street, Regent Street, Shaftesbury Avenue, and Charing Cross Road (for the purpose of this Action Plan). Please fill in and return this freepost consultation card to us by Friday 27 October 2006.

INTRODUCTION

This Action Plan follows in the footsteps of other area-based Action Plans for parts of London’s West End. It seeks to build on what’s already here, address issues of importance and to celebrate the best that Soho has to offer. Many of Soho’s residents and businesses have worked with Westminster officers to produce this consultation draft, which marks the very beginning of partnership working for Soho’s future.

THE MANAGEMENT OF THE SOHO ACTION PLAN This Draft Plan has been written with the help of the Soho Contact Group (a group of representatives from the local Soho community) and will remain a community-based Action Plan, with regular meetings taking place with the West End Team to discuss progress on projects, priorities, new actions and funding. Implementing the actions will take time, with some actions being quicker to realise than others but we want this plan always to reflect the needs of the community so that the Contact Group will have the ability to prioritise and amend actions according to the greatest needs of Soho at the time. The life of our West End Action Plans is normally around 5 years but the actions are refreshed throughout their lifespans. Not all of the actions are funded. The West End Team will aim to find ways of funding the delivery of the actions from both within and outside of the Council. External funding is very important to all of our Action Plans and some actions will need to be funded solely from external sources. During the consultation period, we will begin to prioritise the actions as they currently are so that we can start the job of raising resources as soon as possible. This is the draft Soho Action Plan and we want you to fill in our survey at the back and tell us what you think. When we have the results of the survey, we will amend the Action Plan to reflect what people have told us and Westminster City Council will then adopt it for implementation. This is your plan, please take part.

Come and see us during our consultation period! We will be at: 4 Marlborough Court (just off Carnaby Street) Visit us online! We are at: www.westminster.gov.uk/onesoho Email us! [email protected]

Soho is covered by a number of Westminster City Council policies, including the Unitary Development Plan, the Licensing Policy and the Soho Conservation Audit. The Council has published a Statement of Licensing Policy in accordance with the Licensing Act 2003, setting out the policy of the Council in its capacity as licensing authority. The Council’s policy as planning authority is contained in the Replacement Unitary Development Plan. In the event of any conflict between those formal policy documents and this Action Plan, the formal policy documents shall take precedence. We would like to emphasise from the beginning that this document seeks to build on the policies already set out, and should not be misconstrued as contradictory or seeking to change them. All of these documents are available on our website or can be requested through our One Stop Services. ACTION PLAN SOHO

FOREWORD

This draft Action Plan represents the culmination of months of discussion and consultation with a focus group of residents, businesses and traders, to set out a shared vision for Soho’s future. Soho is a relatively small area of Westminster, but it’s an area unmatched in terms of its history, traditions and vibrant daily life. This Action Plan will sit alongside the other Plans for the West End, showing the commitment of the City Council and our partners to deliver a safer Soho, with a thriving local economy, improved opportunities for the whole community, and an environment that befits Soho’s status as one of the number one destinations in London. I am very grateful to everyone who has worked together to achieve these shared aspirations. The challenge is now to ensure that the vision in this Action Plan is truly the right one for Soho – and then to make it a reality. I look forward to hearing your views.

Councillor Danny Chalkley Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Transport

Soho is very dear to me. I used to live here and I am delighted that I now represent its residents. It is one the very first multicultural communities in the country, a place where families and businesses have always enjoyed living side by side and where everyone is proud of its cultural heritage. It is truly a village, a many faceted one, and I hope that readers of this Action Plan will discover aspects of Soho they didn’t know about, or view the Soho they know well in a different way. Residents are Soho’s greatest asset. They care passionately about its past, present and future. But we want all those who love Soho to help shape the outcome of this consultation. I therefore urge everyone that reads this document to respond, because your views will help preserve the best, eliminate the worst and maintain the ongoing vitality that is uniquely Soho.

Councillor Glenys Roberts West End Ward Member and Lead Member for the Soho Action Plan

As a long term investor in, and a hands-on manager of a wide range of properties including numerous shops, cafes, restaurants, offices and residential accommodation, Shaftesbury is pleased to endorse the initiatives promoted here and is committed to the area’s prosperity and effective management. Successful businesses are the area’s lifeblood and have a key role to play in the shaping the future of Soho. The business community is constantly and continually evolving, adapting to new fashions, latest trends, customer and client expectations. As a company, we are committed to helping to maintain and develop Soho as a vibrant, attractive and prosperous community. We appreciate the potential benefits that this draft plan can help deliver. We urge everyone with an interest in promoting and sustaining this unique neighbourhood to contribute to and help influence this Action Plan for Soho.

Simon Quayle Director, Shaftesbury PLC ACTION PLAN SOHO

As Chairman of the Soho Business Association and a long term local resident I am acutely aware of the many benefits the Soho Action Plan will have for businesses in the West End. And, having lived here all of my adult life, I also welcome the plan as a resident. For those of us who live here it represents potential for enhancing quality of life, conserving what’s best about Soho whilst creating a healthy atmosphere which will help the area to make positive new developments for the future.

Troy Wear Chairman, Soho Business Association

At the heart of any thriving and successful community is the involvement of residents and we would encourage everyone in Soho to read and respond to this Draft Action Plan. As a community based housing association providing homes in Soho for over 30 years we value the support of Westminster in ensuring the provision of additional affordable homes in an area of mixed use and mixed income. In welcoming this exciting plan with its range of initiatives we recognise the need to work with local people and partner organisations to deliver results. The Draft Plan aims to connect with the community – please make sure you give your views to have a real say in the Soho of today and the future.

Chris Best Chief Executive, Soho Housing Association

Soho is a unique part of the capital. No other part of London has such a mix and concentration of residents and businesses, where the community makes intensive use of the streets as part of everyday life, meaning street issues feature strongly on the quality of life agenda. Recently, many specialist shops have disappeared, and the growth of our unusual night time leisure industry has transformed the heart of Soho, which attracts a greater number of people in the small hours than in daytime. As a resident I feel amongst the challenges in this draft plan, the most difficult is to reconcile the changes that have occurred in this area with an improvement in residential amenity, and to stem the loss of specialist uses so we don’t become another UK high street.

David Bieda Soho Society 4 ACTION PLAN SOHO

ONE SOHO SOHO IS A UNIQUE PART OF THE CAPITAL THAT HAS GROWN OUT OF A RICH CULTURAL AND COMMERCIAL HERITAGE. WHILST IT HAS AN INTERNATIONAL IDENTITY AS A CUTTING-EDGE AND COSMOPOLITAN MELTING POT, SOHO THRIVES THANKS TO THE PERSONALITIES AND ENERGY OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK HERE, WHICH MAKES THIS AREA A TRULY CONTEMPORARY COMMUNITY. ACTION PLAN SOHO

1 Kingly Court / just off Carnaby Street ACTION PLAN SOHO

Soho is the most exciting of London’s villages. Home to over 4,000 residents1, it is the centre of the British film and theatre business and full of historic restaurants and pubs. It has a vibrant artistic history and since the Sixties some avant garde shopping. Bordered by Oxford Street, Regent Street, Shaftesbury Avenue and Charing Cross Road2, it has a thriving night scene. The challenge is to marry all Soho’s different ways of life and make the best of them. Newcomers to the area invariably see it as a clubbing and drinking venue, yet to focus only on this scene is to sell Soho short. Soho has one of the most distinguished histories of anywhere in London and is much written about3. It is one of the first multi-cultural, multi-lingual, multi-denominational communities, whose inclusive way of life has always attracted people making a real contribution to how we live now. Few areas pack such rich history into a small space and our aim is to build on this distinguished past and make it a model for the future. The concept of the urban village is unique to London. Most residents live in high-density housing, who walk to work and only a very small percentage own cars making them commendably green. They have few private gardens, so the quality of life on the street, which they share with bars, restaurants, pubs and offices, takes on huge importance. Contrary to appearances, Soho’s nightlife accounts only for a fraction of the area’s economy, yet it takes up a huge tranche of Council, police and health resources, which could be put to more positive use. Residents and businesses have always lived side by side here. Newcomers are attracted into the area by this mix, including household names from the theatre and film business who have moved into Georgian houses and new loft space. Alongside its rich architectural history there are some dazzling new developments. There are long-standing residents who come from all over the world. The number of places of worship testifies to the many different communities. St. Anne’s Tower survived the blitz. The old synagogue is now the Soho Theatre, and a Buddhist Hari Krishna temple has moved into Soho Street. In Soho Square is St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church, whose thriving congregation includes the many Italians who still own family grocers and restaurant businesses dating back several generations. Of course we would not be without the family minded, entrepreneurial Chinese community, whose language school in Soho ensures that their children do not lose touch with their origins. There are families of all backgrounds with young children who go to the Soho Parish Primary School and it has one of the finest educational records in the country. Some of Soho’s residents were born here and have lived all their lives here and are now older, having collected a valuable record of Soho life. One of our aims is to found a local museum to display this for the benefit of residents and visitors. We want to provide community services for residents young and old, restoring the famous Marshall Street Baths as a local leisure centre, offering swimming and other recreational pursuits and encouraging small businesses whilst preserving the markets and specialist shops4 that are unique to the street scene.

1 Based on Soho Society figures 2 Please refer to map on inside cover 3 For an account of Soho and its history we suggest reading from the Soho Society Book List, which is available from their website: www.thesohosociety.org.uk 4 Please refer to the section entitled Enterprise ACTION PLAN SOHO

2 Soho Square / South East corner ACTION PLAN SOHO

Although there are no official figures, it is estimated that 7- 10%5 of the residential population is lesbian, gay, bi-sexual or transgender (LGBT). Soho is an important LGBT residential and visitor destination on a London-wide, as well as a national and international level. This is because it is a place where the LGBT community feels welcome and safe, but this is not always the case. The lack of specific facilities, such as a community centre for the LGBT community, was highlighted in a consultation exercise by Kairos in Soho (KiS) in the preparation of this Action Plan. KiS has greatly assisted us in identifying various needs and we will continue to work with them to support initiatives that address the particular needs of the LGBT community. Local people tell us it is important to find ways of providing new, accessible community facilities. We will, with the West End Community network and others undertake an audit of Soho’s current community facilities and work with landowners and statutory services to ensure that the need for further community facilities is met in a co-ordinated way. Westminster Primary Care Trust (PCT) provides a wide range of community health services from the Soho Centre for Health and Care. These include the Soho NHS Walk-in Centre, General Practitioners, Dentists and other services for people who live, work and visit Soho. In order to promote health the PCT has worked with local people in developing a ‘Healthy Soho’ Action Plan which aims to improve the health and wellbeing of the community. There is a need for safe, accessible play-space for children in Soho. We are working towards the Government’s five outcomes in Every Child Matters6 through the development of Soho’s integrated Children’s Centre providing a broader range of services for parents, pupils and the wider community at Soho Parish School. We are committed to developing quality early years services and our aim is to continue this level of support throughout a resident’s life. We will promote the development of a sustainable community by seeking affordable housing schemes, promoting life-time homes and encouraging the retention and improvement of existing residential stock. We will also protect and enhance residential amenity and protect the shops and community services that residents rely upon. The opportunity to provide more affordable housing could be addressed when considering planning applications for residential developments. Westminster aims to support older residents to live longer in good health and independence as far as possible, by continuing to work closely with the PCT in Soho to deliver more preventative services keeping people active and healthy. Westminster’s One City vision recognises the important role older people play and we want to promote inter-generational activities in Soho in recognition of that. Our Every Older Person Matters agenda will see us expand the range of activities available at Age Concern’s Covent Garden Day Centre. We will continue to work with and support the unique and valuable role played by Westminster Advocacy Service for Senior Residents. Understanding different benefits systems can be complex. We will make sure that all older people in Soho are contacted by the new Pensions Joint Visiting Team offering help and support to those that need it. We will also promote adult education, leisure services and volunteering opportunities across all communities in partnership with the Westminster Volunteer Centre.

5 Kairos in Soho estimate 6 www.everychildmatters.gov.uk – Bringing together all services for children and young people to improve outcomes for children and young people, led by local authorities ACTION PLAN SOHO

3 Royalty Mansions, 8-14 Meard Street / Soho Housing Association 10 ACTION PLAN SOHO

ORDER WITHOUT ORDER WE CANNOT LIVE IN, WORK IN, OR VISIT SOHO IN ENJOYMENT AND PEACE. WE WANT BEING IN SOHO TO BE A SAFE AND PLEASANT EXPERIENCE AND WE WILL WORK WITH THE POLICE AND THE SOHO COMMUNITY TO ACHIEVE THIS. 11 ACTION PLAN SOHO

4 Soho Hotel / 4 Richmond Mews 12 ACTION PLAN SOHO

CRIME AND SAFETY Although Soho is very safe compared to other major city centres (including other parts of London) it can, at certain times and in some places, be uncomfortable, threatening and unwelcoming. Soho is currently covered by a Dispersal Zone, which means that drug dealers and users can be dispersed outside of the boundary of the zone. The zone is designated under anti-social behaviour legislation and expires after 6 months and is not intended to be a permanent tool. Community feedback tells us that this method of combating drug misuse in Soho and the West End has worked well and with the Police intend to continue using Dispersal Zones to target crime where appropriate. A Street Drinking Control Area has been in operation in Soho and across Westminster since October 2004. This discretionary power does not outlaw drinking on the street, but enables the Police to ask people not to drink on the street if they are deemed to be acting in an anti-social way, or are likely to do so. Soho is part of Westminster’s West End ‘Stress Area’, for further information see our Statement of Licensing Policy 7 January 2005, sub-section 2.4. The number of licensed premises in this area has reached saturation point so there is a policy of generally not granting entertainment licences that would allow new pubs, bars, dance premises or take-away hot food and drink premises in this area, or which would intensify their use. Westminster has recently produced draft Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) for entertainment uses, covering 33 areas, including Soho. This guidance addresses the character and function, amenity and local environment and provides detailed guidance for 10 sub areas within Soho. Public consultation on the SPG is currently underway for Phase One (including Soho) and closes on 15 September 2006. Some aspects of Soho’s vibrant night-time economy have a negative effect on Soho’s residents and businesses. Noise related to alcohol consumption at night, for example, can be very disruptive. Most noise occurs when people are arriving at or leaving premises and we will work with operators to inform their patrons that they are exiting a residential area and direct them to public transport. We recognise that ambient noise levels in many parts of the City are above desirable levels and are committed to developing a long-term strategy to reduce ambient noise levels where they are excessive through a combination of licensing, regulatory and enforcement powers. When considering noise our residents tell us that there is a particular problem with late night waste collections especially the collection of bottles from commercial premises and from recycling banks. The nature of premises in Soho means that the storage of waste overnight is both impractical and unsafe, but we will work with our own and private waste collectors to try and reduce noise from late night collections.

7 “Clipping” disturbs the order for residents and other law-abiding people as well as causing problems for unsuspecting visitors to Soho. City Guardians have distributed warning leaflets to potential customers to deter them from entering premises and accepting offers on street. The leaflet distribution and arrests have reduced reported crime dramatically and this will continue until we can legislate against those responsible.

7 “Clipping” can be explained as obtaining money by deception, through the suggestion of sexual services. This can be either on-street or in premises. 13 ACTION PLAN SOHO

5 Soho Square 14 ACTION PLAN SOHO

Considerable efforts from both the Premises Licensing and Planning Enforcement Teams have delivered a large reduction in the number of clipping premises. We are pursuing legislation under the London Local Authorities Bill (LLA) to make these businesses illegal. We will continue to work with the Police to negate the impact of on-street clipping which affects our residents in their homes and illegal clip joints, closing them down where possible. As part of our commitment to keep Westminster safe we have extended the CivicWatch programme to include Soho, offering additional enforcement and a team of City Guardians. The Police have allocated additional officers for neighbourhood policing since April 2006. All these partners use the CivicWatch process for joint-agency problem solving including consideration of ‘designing out’ the opportunities for crime where possible. ‘Hate Crime’ (which includes faith, homophobic, transgender, racially motivated and repeat victim crime) is a recognised problem in Soho. Data from the Metropolitan Police for November 2004 to December 2005 suggests that, on average, hate crime occurs a total of 5.9 times per calendar month in the Soho Met Police area. Anecdotal evidence suggests that this figure could be much higher and that it is under reported, particularly in respect of homophobic offences. We will work with the Police, the LGBT community and other partners to combat this, and we will relaunch the Tell-A-Friend scheme, where victims of such crimes can report safely via a third party. It has also been suggested that an LGBT-friendly cab service in Soho would help the community feel safer. We will also encourage a stronger working partnership between the Westminster PCT and the Police to ensure that information from victims of crimes, such as sexual assaults, may help the Police to refine their approach. We will also work to ensure that the public is informed of such dangers. Drug dealing and related activity have been problems in some parts of Soho. With our partners in the health service and Police we have developed services for drug users to divert them away from drug use and possible criminal offending. A Drugs Intervention Programme has been developed to provide a specialised day programme for offenders involved in substance misuse, and includes counselling and relapse prevention. We will continue to target individuals leaving custody in partnership with NHS prescribing and stabilisation services. The Dispersal Zone has provided the opportunity to disrupt and enforce against known drug dealers and users. In some areas, there are problems with discarded hypodermic needles. We will continue to tackle this by expanding Buildings Based services for drug users in hostels and existing treatment centres and pharmacies so that the full range of services available to the end drug user can be targeted and provided in one place. Evidence tells us this is already bringing results with Westminster residents accessing treatment at a rate of 13% more than expected.

Services are integrated with alcohol misuse assessments, as part of our joint Alcohol Strategy; we will continue to support families and friends living in Soho so that they can encourage healthier lifestyles and support the whole community to tackle drug use and its effects. 15 ACTION PLAN SOHO

6 Old Compton Street / View towards Charing Cross Road 16 ACTION PLAN SOHO

Aggressive begging has been tackled quite successfully with the use of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) and intensive enforcement. The number of beggars has reduced significantly across Westminster over the last two years, since the Council and the Police, supported by a Home Office ‘Trailblazing’ grant, have specifically targeted street begging. Cash point begging has also been tackled with some success, with many now covered by CCTV. The Police are signed up to respond ‘soonest’ to such begging incidents: their second highest response level (after ‘immediate’ for urgent calls). We are repeating and enlarging our Killing With Kindness campaign this year, which educates the public about the consequences of giving to beggars. The aim is to divert money into established services for homeless people to fund treatment and support and to considerably reduce overall the number of people sleeping rough in the area. Following the recommendations of an independent report, we have moved from providing services and assessments on the streets to building based provision. The City Council funds a dedicated Metropolitan Police Team (located within their Safer Streets Homelessness Unit) to work with the Building Based Services and ensure that the delicate balance between enforcement and the social care agenda is maintained. Street drinking schools are targeted, with the aim of encouraging people to accept services aiming to considerably reduce the number of people sleeping rough in the area. The last few years has seen a rise in the number of agents who stop people on the street and ask for charitable contributions. We are pursuing legislation under the LLA Bill to prevent the high number of ‘chuggers’, as this has been a source of regular complaint to the Council. However, similar legislation is being sought under the Government’s Charities Bill, which may make changes to the LLA unnecessary. The City Council and other statutory bodies have worked hard over the last few years to educate the public about the dangers of illegal mini-cabs. However, they still exist in the West End and Soho is no exception. We will work in partnership with Transport for London (TfL) to promote the Safer Travel at Night campaign and will also work with licensed mini-cab companies to establish the provision of an easily recognisable pick-up point, similar to a taxi stand. There are some unlicensed sex shops in Soho and officers from the Premises Licensing Inspectorate routinely monitor this activity. Their work has led to many being closed down and this will continue until all unlicensed premises have been closed. In five years, we have reduced the number of unlicensed sex shops from fifty two to fourteen. During 2005/06 four unlicensed shops were closed and no new premises opened. The sale value of the material seized is the equivalent of £585,325 not entering the illegal economy. Eighty four raids have been undertaken and a total of 27,015 items of unclassified material (videos/DVDs) seized from these premises. This figure represents the highest seizure of unclassified material since we undertook this work six years ago and we have pursued prosecutions against eighty two people as a result of these raids. During 2005, we launched a programme to make Westminster a ‘Wireless City’. A current pilot scheme allows CCTV cameras and noise monitoring equipment to operate over a wireless network in parts of Soho. We will use this to observe and monitor emerging areas of criminal activity, as well as existing hotspots, in order to take appropriate enforcement action. 17 ACTION PLAN SOHO

7 Gay Hussar / 2 Greek Street 18 ACTION PLAN SOHO

The Police and the City Guardians have worked together on an initiative where bicycles are marked and logged onto a database for easy identification in case of theft. There are also a large number of bicycles clamped to posts and private railings throughout the West End and Soho, causing an obstruction. We will continue to install on-street cycle stands where possible and encourage businesses to do the same in their car parks.

KEEPING THE STREETS CLEAN AND CLEAR The provision of an attractive and safe environment is of paramount importance to both residents and businesses in Soho. The community tells us that despite general high satisfaction levels, some of Soho’s streets are in need of improvement, particularly for those with reduced mobility or small children. We will conduct a street audit with local organisations, including the Soho Society, and those representing older residents and those with disabilities, to investigate streets and pavements where improvements may be needed. Furthermore, we are keen to work with landowners, businesses and residents to find partnership funding in order to establish a programme of ‘street scene’ improvements throughout Soho. Soho’s streets are narrow leaving little room for the increasing number of users competing for space. It is our intention to review and rationalise all street signage, bollards and planters, ‘A’ boards and other potential obstructions in line with our public-realm strategy. When improvements to public space are being considered, whether the land is public or privately owned, the needs of people with disabilities will be taken fully into account. This will include the removal of barriers such as steps, improved wayfinding and orientation, good signage and lighting. Westminster is seeking legislation to control hand-held signboards where they affect public safety and cause an obstruction. We conducted extensive research when our cleansing services contract was tendered and awarded in September 2003 and it is clear that we have made important progress with rubbish collection in Soho. The local community tell us that Soho is generally clean and we recently consulted widely on waste collection times as part of the Bags off the Street initiative and collection times have been amended in accordance with the results. Despite this, we know there are some areas we could improve on, such as looking at where we need narrower vehicles to access narrow streets. Despite the pressures on this busy area, there is generally a high standard of cleanliness but residents and visitors in Soho are concerned about the amount of street fouling. Urination on the street is common and not only in out-of-the-way corners. We will review our street washing schedules in areas of concern, look at treating the street surfaces to combat the smell, investigate better lighting and signage to public toilets and the provision of new public toilets where possible in Soho. We will work with pubs and clubs to encourage patrons to use toilets before they leave the premises, as well as promoting the creation of accessible toilets in licensed premises where none exist. 19 ACTION PLAN SOHO

8 Old Compton Street 20 ACTION PLAN SOHO

OPPORTUNITY THERE IS A SENSE OF BELONGING AND WIDE RANGE OF OPPORTUNITIES IN SOHO THAT MAKES EVEN VISITORS FEEL AT HOME AND MAKES IT ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING AND COLOURFUL PARTS OF THE CAPITAL, IF NOT THE WORLD, IN WHICH TO LIVE AND WORK. 21 ACTION PLAN SOHO

9 Soho Square 22 ACTION PLAN SOHO

Part of the One City vision is to increase opportunity for Westminster’s communities. These opportunities are wide-ranging and affect a number of our service delivery areas.

EDUCATION There are three main educational establishments in Soho: Westminster Kingsway College (WKC), Soho Parish Primary School, and the Westminster Adult Education Service (WAES). Soho Parish School is running a campaign to raise £1 million to secure a long-term lease on two floors of 13-14 Archer Street, adjacent to the school. ‘Room to Grow’ at the school aims to increase physical education space by 116%, classroom space by 27% and community use by 100%. WAES will be looking into finding suitable, accessible premises in Soho that are fit for the future. The Soho Action Plan will support both WAES and the school by encouraging the whole community to work with them and support their work. We are also working with Soho Parish Primary School to produce a School Travel Plan. There is scope for improving the traffic situation on Great Windmill Street where drivers often approach the top end by the school too quickly. The signage needs to be improved and City Guardians have already begun work in the school to help educate children about the dangers of the road, as well as providing a visible support outside the school when the children are entering and leaving school. Parents and teachers have expressed great concern about the sex-related premises that are adjacent to Soho Parish Primary School. The City Council has encouraged these premises not to open at times when children are entering or leaving the school, but parents and residents are still concerned about their presence. We will continue to seek legislation to enable it to shut down hostess/near-beer bars and we will continue to lobby for this. WKC is a college of further education and a strategic partner of Westminster City Council in meeting the educational needs of the residents and employers of Westminster. At its Peter Street Centre, WKC provides English programmes for speakers of other languages (ESOL), for 1,500 students per year, and vocational programmes for the creative industries sector. We will continue to support WKC and its work, focusing especially on the creative industries so important to Soho’s local economy. In particular, we will work with WKC as it seeks to improve its current site, together with our own adjacent sites around Berwick Street. The cultural community within Soho is keen to contribute to local education. For example, the Photographers’ Gallery (moving to Soho in 2009) will re-write its education strategy and we encourage community input into this.

CULTURAL SERVICES We provide support via the Westminster City Council Arts Liaison Service and other avenues to promote the arts within Soho. Soho contains several independently owned art galleries and a high concentration of resident artists. We will make sure that the utmost is done to improve cultural and community benefits in considering local redevelopment opportunities, by encouraging public art programmes as part of any new developments as well as looking into using derelict sites as temporary homes for artworks. We see public art programmes as an opportunity for Soho’s communities 23 ACTION PLAN SOHO

10 Soho Square / City of Westminster signage 24 ACTION PLAN SOHO

to come together and be creative. We also see them as a chance to promote positive images of everyday Soho life, of its residents, workers and communities. We recognise that positive and realistic images of the LGBT community in particular are rare, despite Soho’s significant LGBT presence. With this in mind we would look to encourage art from all sectors of Soho’s diverse community. There is also a thriving live music and jazz scene in Soho which we talk of more in our Enterprise section. Examples of where lighting schemes have been used as public art can be found close to Soho in Chinatown. In Soho, this was successfully achieved at St. Anne’s Gardens with the ‘Wall of Light’ project. Advice on proposals for new public art in Westminster is provided by the Public Art Advisory Panel, and in the document Public Art in Westminster. We will continue to work with community organisations and support community festivals. There are some churches and faith organisations in Soho that play important support roles within the community and we will continue to work with these organisations. Similarly, the Soho Society actively engages local community members of all ages, organising many community events and is renowned for the annual Soho Festival, a true community event since 1973. Soho Pride celebrated its 4th year in 2006, consisting of market stalls, drinks, food, and dancing on the streets. London welcomed gay and lesbian visitors from all over the world to the EuroPride Festival from 16 June to 1 July 2006 and Soho was a major focal point during this time. The Council will continue to work to improve its management of these events. We will also continue to work with art galleries and theatres in the area, such as the Photographers’ Gallery, the Soho Theatre, and Shared Experience, to ensure that the concerns of these establishments are understood and addressed in the context of the Soho Action Plan where possible.

HEALTHY SOHO Westminster will be supporting the PCT’s delivery of the Healthy Soho Action Plan and, as well as delivering improved services for older residents, we will work with the PCT to expand the range of preventative services available to residents in Soho so that the health of the whole community is improved. Pre-empting the Government’s expectations in the White Paper ‘Our Health, Our Care, Our Say’, we will deliver services targeted specifically at meeting the needs of Soho’s communities jointly so that residents are able to access the full range of health and community based services as seamlessly as possible. We will continue to monitor the effectiveness of services provided in other areas with a view to introducing new and appropriate ways of supporting improved health and wellbeing in the Soho community including for example, GP Exercise Referrals for those with chronic conditions associated with poor fitness. 25 ACTION PLAN SOHO

11 Old Compton Street / corner of Frith Street 26 ACTION PLAN SOHO

ENTERPRISE ENCOURAGING DIVERSITY IN RETAIL AND PROTECTING SOHO’S SMALL BUSINESSES, PROMOTING ALL THAT SOHO HAS TO OFFER AND OPENING UP DIALOGUE BETWEEN BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS, MAKING THE CITY COUNCIL MORE BUSINESS-FRIENDLY; WE WANT THESE TO BE THE FOUNDATIONS FOR ENTERPRISE IN SOHO. 27 ACTION PLAN SOHO

12 Meard Street / View towards Wardour Street 28 ACTION PLAN SOHO

Soho offers a dynamic mix of uses, all of which contribute to the area’s distinctive character. Supporting Soho’s vibrant economy, in a way that recognises its contribution to London as a whole, will be one of the central challenges as we deliver the Soho Action Plan. We are keen not just to focus on the big names and the obvious points of interest – such as Soho’s well-known bars, clubs, and restaurants – but also to work with small businesses to promote the area’s mix and history. Soho remains an important location for the headquarters of many national and international businesses, and the significant number of office premises in the area ensures that a large daytime population enters the area. Film and media production studios are often 24 hour operations, meaning that staff can be entering or leaving Soho at any time of the day or night. We will continue to work with the media and creative industries so that their needs and issues, such as safety for staff late at night, are understood and met. In the One City document, we look to sustain local community retailers that are under commercial pressure and we have already begun this process with our Savile Row Strategic Group, for example. The City Council, in partnership with private landowners and small business owners, will look into ways to attract and retain independent businesses. We will apply this in particular to the Berwick Street area, which has seen a decline in business and we will explore ways of promoting it and increasing its economic sustainability. We want to become more business friendly and the reliance on delivery vehicles for many businesses in Soho is paramount. The Parking Department will continue to investigate loading restrictions within certain streets of Soho, particularly relating to deliveries. We also hope to work with local businesses in deriving the most effective logistics for deliveries. We are working with businesses and the freight industry to improve loading/unloading facilities and have been instrumental in developing a London-wide loading/unloading code of practice. In addition, through the Clear Zone Partnership we are discussing the possibility of introducing a delivery consolidation scheme. Soho could be used as a pilot area for such an initiative and, as the boundary of the Clear Zone is currently being revised, there is the potential to incorporate Soho within the Clear Zone. We want to acknowledge where there has been a change or mix in business use and ensure that we keep up with those changes. For example, considering the creation of additional loading bays in areas where the business mix has changed recently, such as Richmond Mews. We are always open to suggestions for making parking arrangements more accessible. We have recently increased the maximum stay period on meters from two hours to four to assist Soho’s visitors. This will be reviewed during 2006 to decide whether it has had a positive impact. The ‘Parking Permit Re-Engineering Review’ will look into all parking permits and will include consideration of provisions for tradesmen and contractors. Parking for the Berwick Street market traders will be considered as part of this process as this was raised as a particular problem during consultation with 29 ACTION PLAN SOHO

13 Clarion House, 4 St. Anne’s Court / Soho Housing Association 30 ACTION PLAN SOHO

the local community. We recognise that vehicles used by disabled people, including minibuses adapted to transport wheelchairs, need at least to be able to pick up and drop off passengers, and we will work on making this possible. We are also reviewing provision for motorcycle and bicycle parking in Soho and the West End following the increase in the Congestion Charge and increased levels of correspondence relating to parking space availability.

ENTERTAINMENT There is a vast array of entertainment on offer in Soho and for decades the area has been a top food and drink destination. The restaurants are mainly independently owned establishments and some restaurant owners have told us that there is a need for a ‘local restaurant group’, or perhaps a ‘forum’, where local views and issues can be discussed. Historically Soho has always attracted musicians and as a consequence, today Soho has a buzzing live jazz and blues scene. This scene is supported by popular venues such as Ronnie Scott’s on Frith Street, Jazz After Dark on Greek Street, and the Jazz Club on Dean Street. We will work with our partners to promote this as an aspect of Soho’s historic inheritance. The modern sex industry has existed in Soho for over 50 years. By the end of the 1960s Soho’s well-established sex-related premises included film clubs, strip joints and mail order and retail shops. Today the City Council is highly active in driving out illegal trade within the industry and this will continue. Central Government’s proposals to decriminalise small brothels will be closely monitored by our Planning Department to ensure that their impact does not result in either nuisance to the local community or loss of permanent residential housing stock.

SOHO’S BUSINESSES Soho is the centre of the film, video, and publishing industry – being home to both multinational and independent businesses – as well as the television and film post-production industry. The area is criss-crossed underground with the fibre of Sohonet and at rooftop level by free space communications laser beams. Westminster City Council will endeavour to work more closely with media organisations and will support any Soho-focused media industry association or forum, to work with us in identifying and addressing issues for this important sector. Soho is also home to 01zero-one, the Creative Learning Lab operated by Westminster Kingsway College (WKC). 01zero-one offers vocational and short-course programmes for the creative industries sector as well as providing well-equipped meeting space, which is a valuable resource for employers and community groups located within Soho. We will support WKC’s efforts to increase the range and number of educational and training programmes focused on the creative sector. 31 ACTION PLAN SOHO

14 Old Compton Street 32 ACTION PLAN SOHO

Soho is an internationally recognised focus for gay economic and community activity. We have adopted a framework by way of Supplementary Planning Guidance for external flags, including rainbow flags, which highlight this aspect of Soho and we would like to work further with these businesses to ensure their needs and issues are understood. We would also like to encourage a greater range of gay businesses, thereby providing a wider variety of choice for local residents as well as visitors.

Soho provides a unique and popular shopping experience. In its recent history, Soho was famous for its cosmopolitan food shops. Brewer Street was home to butchers such as Slater Cook, Bisney and Jones and Randall, while Aubin was a butchers and delicatessen. Old Compton Street housed Richards, a famous fish shop, and the House of Hamburger specialised in preserved fish and today is home to many restaurants, bars and clubs retaining a number of long standing patisseries, cafes and the Prince Edward theatre. We will actively protect and promote key shopping destinations across the whole range of Soho’s shopping areas, for example Berwick Street’s music and rag trade shops, Newburgh Street’s cutting-edge fashion shops and the tailoring industry (for more information please read Bespoke Tailoring in London’s West End – March 2006). Berwick Street with its market and characteristic small retailers and cloth shops will be encouraged as ‘Soho’s local high street’ with shops sustained by the local community. In the face of great adversity, partly due to escalating rents and property values, a surprising number of specialist shops still thrive in Soho. We want to ensure the continued success of these shops and boutiques. Whilst we have very limited powers to protect smaller businesses, we will work with landlords as part of this Action Plan to ensure that everything possible is done to retain and enhance the Soho shopping experience. It is envisaged that an initiative like this will also encourage local goods and service providers, such as butchers, cobblers and bakers, back into the area. We will look into establishing a Soho-focused independent retail association. Today, the Carnaby Street shopping district is a thriving area packed with a range of shops. However, the full potential of the entrance to Carnaby Street via Great Marlborough Street is unfulfilled. A pedestrian approaching from Great Marlborough Street is confronted by a dominating motorcycle bay and aesthetically poor entrances to the public lavatories. As this is an important area, alongside buildings and streets of historical significance, upgrading the street scene would be considered a high priority. The City Council will work with landowners, including Shaftesbury PLC, to make improvements to this part of Soho. 33 ACTION PLAN SOHO

15 Liberty / Great Marlborough Street entrance 34 ACTION PLAN SOHO

Berwick Street market is historically renowned for its quality fruit and vegetables, bread, fish, cheese, spices and flowers. However, there is a perception that recently, both the area and the market have been deteriorating in quality and character. Business benefits for the market traders could be looked at as part of a regeneration of the Berwick Street area, which is being guided by the Berwick Street community. For example, market traders have highlighted the lack of electric points, washing facilities and toilets. And a lack of signage, parking provision, stall design, variety and the penalty-points system have all been identified as major impediments to the market’s success. We will investigate a longer-term vision for the market and explore initiatives that could help it to flourish; there has been a suggestion for developing a farmers’ market, for instance. It has also been suggested that a waste-handling facility be installed for Berwick Street market, including a rotary waste compactor and a cardboard baler; which would enable recycling for the market traders’ waste. At present, waste from the market is taken to the Dufour’s Place street-cleansing depot and deposited in a skip compactor. Alongside this, we will consider implications for Rupert Street market, which was also celebrated historically for its quality fresh foods. We will look into initiatives that, wherever possible, would ensure vacant premises are turned around quickly for use. The opportunities provided by such premises could be used to bring services back into the local area and, in some circumstances, return upper storeys to proper residential use. We will investigate the flexibility of leasing arrangements with landlords, perhaps using some vacant premises as temporary art space, for example. It will soon be mandatory for those applying for planning consent to provide an access statement that will demonstrate how access for disabled people is going to be achieved. We will work with applicants to make the most of this opportunity and examine ways to match improved access to buildings with improved access to the approaches to the building, where these are in the public realm. For smaller businesses, we will provide advice on how to maximise access for disabled people, focusing on quick wins. 35 ACTION PLAN SOHO

16 Flaxman Court 36 ACTION PLAN SOHO

RENEWAL: OUR LASTING LEGACY WE WILL BE JUDGED BY FUTURE GENERATIONS ON HOW WE LOOK AFTER THE HEART OF THIS CITY. WE PROPOSE REAL CONSULTATION WITH RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES AND WORKERS IN AREAS OF REGENERATION, AND WE WILL IMPROVE THE PUBLIC REALM TO MAKE SOHO ACCESSIBLE TO ALL AND ENSURE THAT ALL OF SOHO IS USED TO ITS FULL POTENTIAL. 37 ACTION PLAN SOHO

17 Berwick Street market 38 ACTION PLAN SOHO

PUBLIC REALM The architecture, historical street patterns and spaces of Soho are important assets. We have adopted the Soho Conservation Area Audit, which highlights the area’s architectural merits. Parts of Soho are dark and need improved lighting. We will carry out a street-lighting audit and look at innovative ways of lighting up Soho. We envisage carrying out an access audit of Soho to identify where more areas can be made more open and welcoming for disabled people. Beak, Kingly and Warwick Streets have been identified as in need of physical improvement. Some simple solutions could apply here, for example rationalising and improving the footways and raised tables to make access more welcoming for pedestrians at crossover points. If Crossrail proceeds, a significant number of buildings and businesses in the north-eastern part of Soho will be affected. The construction of Crossrail will result in considerable disruption to those visiting, living and working in the area, as well as to traffic and pedestrians. Westminster City Council is seeking to minimise the impact of the development and to ensure that proper provision is made to mitigate disturbances. We will continue to lobby for this. Soho’s three areas of green space – Soho Square, St. Anne’s Gardens and Golden Square – are small but vital components of Soho’s life. While there is some scope for improving these spaces and increasing access to them for disabled people, we would not want to change their function or role. Additional maintenance measures, such as public art programmes and lighting, would augment the attractiveness of these spaces. The Environment and Leisure department is currently drafting an Open Spaces Strategy, which will include Soho. We will also look at enhancing Golden Square and encourage partnership-working with local groups on improvement to open spaces, such as Soho Green’s ‘Artshed’ toilet at St. Anne’s Gardens.

GO GREEN AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES It is important to do more to help the environment and sustainable communities are crucial to an area’s future. As well as meaning clean, safe and welcoming, this also covers matters such as being well run, accessible to everyone and forward-looking, so that what we do now will be beneficial to future generations. This is particularly important when looking to improve existing areas of the city and here in Soho, developments will follow our emerging Sustainable Communities agenda. We can look towards including an integrated set of proposals to improve sustainability over the life of this plan in terms of reduced energy use coupled with some micro generation, radically improved domestic and commercial recycling levels, water conservation and a reduced reliance on vehicles using fossil fuels to meet local transport needs.

BERWICK STREET We want to promote a wider regeneration scheme for the area around Berwick Street and are considering how proposals can be taken forward with local residents and businesses, together with the Trenchard House and Westminster Kingsway College sites. We have established a Berwick Street Advisory Group to liaise and work with us to see the regeneration through. We want to support the mainstay of the Berwick Street community and encourage this area of Soho to develop and prosper: its residents, shops, the market and educational facilities. There is a specific website that will give updated information on this work: www.westminster.gov.uk/berwickstreet 39 ACTION PLAN SOHO

18 Golden Square 40 ACTION PLAN SOHO

Westminster has pursued compulsory purchase action in respect of 10 mixed commercial/ residential buildings containing ‘walk-up prostitutes’ flats’ in recent years in and around the Berwick Street area. The purpose of this action had been two-fold; to improve the condition of the worst of the 60 or so houses in Soho used in this way and to return the parts of these houses intended for residential use to this purpose. We will continue to implement this programme.

MARSHALL STREET A high-quality refurbishment is proposed for this site known as Marshall Street Baths. Plans include a restored, historic public swimming pool and a range of leisure services that will provide a state of the art public leisure centre for community use, a smaller 200-space car park and a new-build depot to meet the cleansing needs of the area. It is important that this reduces the current impact on residents in Dufour’s Place. In addition to providing residential accommodation, the scheme will also include commercial units to encourage small, independent businesses. It will include affordable and key- worker housing, in accordance with planning policy. We will continue to revitalise this area and work with the community during the development phases of this scheme.

HAM YARD Ham Yard is mainly derelict, apart from one office building on the south side. In 2003, planning consent was granted for a mixed-use scheme comprising of residential units, commercial space, and a small restaurant. This was subject to legal agreement to secure affordable housing, public art and some street improvements, but the landowners have not yet pursued the scheme. It is a great time to bring about real change in this part of Soho. We will continue to encourage an imaginative development for the site and the regeneration of Great Windmill Street that this would bring.

VISITORS TO SOHO Soho can seem like a maze at times but that is part of its appeal. Visitors will find that they are never far from a restaurant, bar, shop, or café. We will work to promote Soho and encourage more daytime visitors. Directions to the main thoroughfares, such as Charing Cross Road, Oxford Street, Regent Street and Shaftesbury Avenue would be useful in guiding pedestrians, especially at night. As part of a wider scheme to ‘waymark’ the West End we will investigate opportunities for signage improvements, especially on the more ‘trodden’ streets such as Old Compton Street and Wardour Street. Black cabs can be difficult to find in Soho as there is now only one through route (Wardour Street) and drivers are reluctant to get held up in the one-way system. A traffic survey will be carried out with a view to addressing this, balanced with not encouraging more traffic into the area. We will also investigate the possibility of a black cab rank on Shaftesbury Avenue. Pedicabs have not been universally welcomed as they block streets and pavements and their behaviour in the midst of traffic can be dangerous. The City Council has been working to introduce enforcement powers against pedicabs and will continue to lobby the Department for Transport (DfT). Transport for London is also committed to consulting on a licensing regime for pedicabs and has produced a document this summer. We will continue to work with TfL on this issue. CONCLUSION 41 ACTION PLAN SOHO

19 Moor Street 42 ACTION PLAN SOHO

ONE SOHO, ONE CITY… ONE SOHO ACTION PLAN

The Leader’s vision for the City of Westminster is clear: everybody who lives, works, and visits the borough shares it with other people and we cannot, and should not ignore those around us. New arrivals must accept British culture and values and respect all people regardless of race, nationality, religion, age, gender, disability or sexual orientation. Soho, with its mix of people, businesses, and communities is an excellent example of this. Our vision, as set out in this Action Plan, is that Soho remains inclusive and tolerant, and that it is a fantastic place to:

Live, work, visit, learn, invest …and be creative.

These six themes can be achieved through the actions set out in the following section, and we believe that these will be a lasting legacy for Soho.

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LIST OF ACTIONS IN THE SPIRIT OF SOHO, THIS DOCUMENT COMMITS TO CHANGES THAT WILL BE REALISED THROUGH TRUE PARTNERSHIP WORKING, WHICH STARTS NOW. BE PART OF SOHO’S FUTURE. TELL US WHAT YOU THINK. 45 ACTION PLAN SOHO

ACTIONS AND DEVELOPMENT SITES The following pages set out the actions the City Council would like to achieve for the Soho area, working in partnership with residents, businesses and stakeholders. The area has been divided into four zones (shown below) to show more specifically where each individual action will be addressed. Each action is also grouped into short, medium or long term priorities. All these actions are aspirational and will only be carried forward by securing funding. This means it is imperative that we all work together, in partnership, if we are to achieve our collective aims.

STREET OXFORD CH

A R HO IN SO RE G CROSS SQUA

R PO D O EA L G AD AND N RE BE S EK R TR FR ST WICK WA E I S ET RE E TH TREE RE R T

ST E D ST H T S T O T UG RE U REE R BORO ET RL MA ST T AT R GRE EET DU

F REET OUR’S MA K ST RSHALL

HOP PL BROADWIC T AC EE INGE KI R CARNAB ST T E NS EE ST RE STR N ST D TO ST R E R EA T M Y E RE COMP ST P ET D LA L REET O L CE REGENT EXI N T GT EE ON STR R S ETE T P S R TREE EET

ET T TRE S E AK U BE EN AV RY GRE BU ES EN ET AT T E F WI A GOLD STR H N S SQUARE ER D W M IL BRE L D S R TREET YA M HA

ACTION AREA ZONES ACTIONS TIMETABLE KEY ST SHORT TERM: 12 months or less Development sites D MT MEDIUM TERM: 2 to 5 years OneSoho Shop: C LT LONG TERM: up to 5 years 4 Marlborough Court B (just off Carnaby Street)

A 46 ACTION PLAN SOHO

ONE SOHO 1 / LT/ABCD Look into the provision of a Local Museum to record Soho’s rich and varied history. 2 / ST/ABCD Undertake an audit of Soho’s community facilities and services working with the West End Community Network to investigate options for a community centre. 3 / ST/ABCD Consult on classes or groups to be held at the Marshall Street Leisure Centre, when they re-open. 4 / LT/ABCD Work with Kairos in Soho to support the needs of the LGBT community. 5 / ST/ABCD Examine the feasibility of a LGBT community facility as a focus for community action, health and social care, social enterprise, exhibition space and research. 6 / LT/ABCD Work with the Primary Care Trust to ensure its services are well promoted in the local area. 7 / ST/ABCD Westminster Primary Care Trust to establish a ‘Healthy Soho’ user group to oversee the implementation of the ‘Healthy Soho’ Action Plan. 8 / LT/ABCD Deliver the outcomes from Every Child Matters. 9 / LT/ABCD Promote sustainable community by investigating affordable housing provision in all new schemes, promoting life-time homes and by retaining and improving our existing residential stock. 10 / MT/ABCD Expand facilities for Older People in Soho through the Age Concern Covent Garden Day Centre. 11 / LT/CD Promote the provision of adult education and leisure services. 12 / LT/ABCD Promote inter-generational initiatives in the community. 13 / LT/ABCD Increase volunteering activities across all communities in Soho.

ORDER 14 / MT/ABCD Use ‘Dispersal Zones’ to target crime in partnership with the Police. 15 / MT/ABCD Continue to operate a ‘Street Drinking Control Area’ in Soho. 16 / MT/ABCD Limit new late alcohol and entertainment licences in the West End ‘Stress Area’. 17 / LT/ABCD Develop a strategy to deal with ambient noise levels in Soho. 18 / MT/ABCD Work with night-time establishments to reduce disturbance and urination when patrons leave premises. 19 / MT/ABCD Promote the creation of accessible toilets in licensed premises where none exist. 20 / MT/ABCD Work with the Police to reduce the number of illegal ‘clip joints’ and to reduce on-street clipping, particularly where it affects residents. 21 / LT/ABCD Use the CivicWatch process for joint-agency solutions to safety issues. 22 / MT/ABCD Undertake an audit and then implement ‘Design Out Crime’ initiatives in the area. 23 / LT/ABCD Support and assist initiatives to address homophobia (including aggressive behaviour, mocking and harassment) and eliminate the targeting of Soho for such activity. 24 / LT/ABCD Re-launch the Tell-A-Friend scheme and work with the Police to combat hate-crime. 25 / MT/ABCD Investigate the provision of a licensed LGBT friendly cab service. 26 / LT/ABCD Strengthen the working relationship between the Police and the Westminster Primary Care Trust to improve awareness of crimes such as drug rape. 27 / LT/ABCD Investigate the use of ASBO’s and continue to use CCTV to combat aggressive begging at cashpoints. 28 / MT/ABCD Support lobbying for legislation to curtail the activity of ‘chuggers’. 29 / LT/ABCD Continue to support and promote the ‘Safer travel at Night’ campaign in partnership with TfL, including the establishment of a recognisable pick up point for licensed mini cabs. 30 / LT/ABCD Close down all unlicensed sex shops. 47 ACTION PLAN SOHO

31 / LT/ABCD Expand the Wireless City scheme network of CCTV to monitor criminal activity, illegal mini cabs and to improve safety in known hotspots. 32 / MT/ABCD Work with Police on initiatives to prevent cycle theft, including investigating suitable locations for cycle stands. 33 / LT/ABCD Undertake an audit of the street scene in order to establish a programme of streetscape improvements with local partnership funding including review and rationalise street furniture and signage. 34 / MT/ABCD Lobby for legislation to control the use of hand-held sign boards. 35 / MT/ABCD Review waste collection rounds to investigate where narrower vehicles are needed and how such vehicles can be made available for these streets. 36 / LT/ABCD Investigate locations for new public toilets and improve signage and lighting to existing facilities. 37 / MT/ABCD Investigate the implementation of preventative measures where street urination is common and review street washing schedules in these areas.

OPPORTUNITY 38 / LT/CD Work with Westminster Adult Education Service to find new premises. 39 / LT/A Support Soho Parish School’s ‘Room to Grow’ campaign where possible. 40 / LT/A Work with Soho Parish Primary School to produce a ‘School Travel Plan’ including educational initiatives for children and improved road safety measures close to the school. 41 / LT/ABCD Lobby for legislation to shut down hostess and ‘near-beer’ bars. 42 / LT/A Work with Westminster Kingsway College in developing its accommodation as part of the wider redevelopment of the Berwick Street area to increase its prominence in the area for the English Language Courses and the Creative sector. 43 / LT/B Facilitate community input into the Education Strategy of the Photographers’ Gallery when it moves to Soho in 2009. 44 / LT/ABCD Encourage public art programmes which reflect the diversity of the Soho community as part of any new developments. 45 / LT/ABCD Actively encourage art programmes to positively reflect Soho life. 46 / LT/ABCD Where possible, work with landowners to use derelict sites as temporary homes for community art projects. 47 / LT/ABCD Support local community organisations and community festivals. 48 / LT/ABCD Work with local independent art galleries and theatres to address their needs. 49 / LT/ABCD Work with Westminster Primary Care Trust to deliver targeted services that meet the health and social care needs of the whole Soho community, focussing especially on services which aim to improve the health and lifestyles of residents.

ENTERPRISE 50 / LT/ABCD Work in partnership with local businesses to promote the area’s local mix and history and to protect and promote Soho’s key shopping destinations. 51 / LT/ABCD Work with local landowners and small businesses to attract and retain independent businesses and establish a Soho-focused independent retailers association to encourage independent retailers back into the area. 52 / LT/ABCD Continue to review loading provisions within Soho also considering areas where business mix has changed, such as Richmond Mews. 53 / LT/ABCD Support the Clear Zones Delivery Consolidation Scheme working with the Clear Zones Partnership to include Soho within the Clear Zone boundary. 48 ACTION PLAN SOHO

54 / MT/ABCD Review the four-hour maximum stay period for on-street parking meters. 55 / MT/ABCD Consider provisions for tradesmen and contractors, as well as parking for the Berwick Street market traders and key workers as part of the Parking Permit Re-Engineering Review. 56 / LT/ABCD Work on making it easier for vehicles used by disabled people, including minibuses adapted to transport wheelchairs, to drop off passengers. 57 / LT/ABCD Review provision for motorcycle parking in Soho and the West End. 58 / LT/ABCD Establish a forum or ‘local restaurant group’ to address catering trade issues. 59 / LT/ABD Promote Soho’s live music scene. 60 / LT/ABCD Continue work to drive out illegal trade within the sex industry. 61 / LT/ABCD Monitor the impact of central government’s proposals to decriminalise small brothels. 62 / LT/ABCD Work with the media industry in Soho and support any forum or association set up to address their needs. 63 / LT/ABCD Work with gay businesses to address their needs and issues, and encourage a greater range of gay economic and community activities. 64 / LT/B Work in partnership with landowners to improve the entrance to Carnaby Street via Great Marlborough Street. 65 / LT/ABCD Work with landlords to help sustain specialist and local community shops. 66 / LT/C Work with the local community to regenerate the Berwick Street area, encouraging it as ‘Soho’s Local High Street’. 67 / LT/AC Formulate a long term vision for Berwick Street and Rupert Street market to help them operate more efficiently and to flourish. 68 / LT/ABCD Explore initiatives to bring vacant premises quickly back into use, including temporary art spaces while more permanent use is sought. 69 / LT/ABCD Work with landowners to consider access for disabled people in all public realm building planning applications.

RENEWAL 70 / ST/ABCD Undertake an audit to assess the need for street lighting improvements. 71 / LT/B Make necessary physical improvements to Beak, Kingly and Warwick Streets in partnership with landowners. 72 / LT/ABCD Lobby to minimise the impact of the Crossrail development and ensure proper provision is made to mitigate disruption. 73 / LT/BD Explore options for improving Soho’s open spaces and implement the ‘Open Spaces Strategy’ including reviewing access for disabled people and looking at ways of enhancing Golden Square. 74 / LT/B Promote a regeneration scheme for the area around Berwick Street, encompassing the Trenchard House and WKC sites, working in partnership with the local community. 75 / LT/B Regenerate the Marshall Street Leisure Centre, working closely with the local community to revitalise the area. 76 / LT/A Encourage redevelopment of the Ham Yard site and the regeneration of Great Windmill Street. 77 / LT/ABCD Work in partnership to promote Soho more widely and encourage more daytime visitors. 78 / LT/ABCD Introduce better signage as part of the wider scheme to “waymark” the West End, as part of the Central London Partnership Scheme. 79 / MT/A Investigate the possibility of a black-cab rank in Shaftesbury Avenue. 80 / LT/ABCD Lobby the DfT to introduce enforcement powers against pedicabs, and work with TfL to consult on a licensing regime. SOHO BOUNDARY CONSULTATION Soho is the area within the boundaries set by Oxford Street, Regent Street, Shaftesbury Avenue, and Charing Cross Road (for the purpose of this Action Plan). Please fill in and return this freepost consultation card to us by Friday 27 October 2006.

8 LOWER JAMES STREET RU E REET BRIDLE T U ST ENEY ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 3 K P 17 EN 6 I consider myself a member of the following religious group. Please one only. 9 SMITH’S COURT A 6 ER V BE A T LA ST Y 10 ST R PORTLAND MEWS NE R U 5 EE RE B LEICESTER GR ES None/no specific religion  11 LIVONIA STREET T T T E T SQUARE E E E T F ABOUT YOURSELF 18 A RE A N RE T ST H Christian* 12 WARDOUR MEWS ST W E ER S ER INDM H WA GOLDE W C 13 SHERATON STREET SQUAR E 9 AR We want to consult as many people as possible that have an interest in Soho. The following questions Buddhist  R 8 BR WICK IL 14 FLAXMAN COURT RD L will help us to see who has responded. As with the rest of this questionnaire we will only look at the YA ST Hindu  15 DUCK LANE S SHER R TRE 7 HAM EE overall figures for these questions and will not link it back to you personally. Your answers are in the T Jewish  16 TYLER’S COURT ET W OOD S strictest confidence, please answer as many questions as you feel comfortable with. 17 WINNETT STREET Muslim  DENMAN STREET A TREE 18 SOHO STREET IR T Sikh  19 FALCONBERG MEWS GLASSHOUSE 1 Which of the following applies to you? Please 3 as many as apply. STR EET 20 FALCONBERG COURT ST Any other religion …………………………………………………………………………… R 21 GOSLETT YARD EE T I live in Soho  *including Church of England, Catholic, Protestant and all other Christian denominations 22 ORANGE YARD I work in Soho  23 WEDGEWOOD MEWS PICCADILLY I own a business in Soho  24 GREEK COURT CIRCUS 7 Are you: Please 3 one only. * the OneSoho shop is located I attend school/college in Soho  Straight/Heterosexual  at 4 Marlborough Court I visit Soho on a regular basis  Gay  I am a tourist (please state nationality) ……………………………………………… Lesbian  Other (please describe) ……………………………………………… Bisexual  An additional map showing how the area has been divided into ‘Action Zones’, as well as specific development sites, can be found on page 45. Transgender  2 Are you male or female? Please 3 one only. Intersex This document is available upon request in alternative formats, such as large print, Braille and audio, as well as in other languages. Male Other (please describe) …………………………………………………………………………… Female Rather not say  CONTENTS SOHO INTRODUCTION 1 NO STAMP FOREWORD 2 REQUIRED ONE SOHO 4 ACTION PLAN ORDER 10 OPPORTUNITY 20 ENTERPRISE 26 RENEWAL 36 CONCLUSION 42 LIST OF ACTIONS 44