SPACE turning liabilities into assets Accents is an award-winning placemaking consultancy, born in Poplar, East but working COMMUNITY enabling people to define their futures across the capital and beyond.

BUSINESS We conceive and deliver building identity and a stronger social, economic, cultural and local economy environmental regeneration strategies and projects that grow PLACE cohesive places, whilst creating celebrating heritage and finding sustainable revenues that bring fresh opportunity in future change investment into the community. PEOPLE turning individual passions into projects 74,428 people engaged in Accents-led events and projects Over £10.4m invested in Poplar 282 businesses and community networks launched or supported, creating 52 local jobs 553 events delivered ACCENTS’ £587,367 realised in energy FIRST 5 savings for housing tenants £407,331 generated YEARS in new lettings 142,791 polluting car miles removed from Poplar’s roads Engaged 438 volunteers, giving 29,664 volunteer hours Over £4.8 million value in positive publicity for Poplar “Surging property prices have led BALFRON SEASON to the loss of small business start- 2014 saw a summer of culture in Balfron Tower, up space, while our city’s creative opening Erno Goldfinger’s iconic masterpiece to workforce is being driven out” the public. The season included RIFT’s celebrated production of Macbeth, Bow Arts’ London Festival of Sadiq Khan Architecture projects and the National Trust’s pop- Mayor of London up flat designed by Wayne and Tilly Hemingway. 3,500 visitors came to the events, which garnered £1.2m in positive publicity.

“I’ve lived in Poplar all my life and have been photographing its changing Work, cultural and shape over the last 18 years. Accents has democratised space previously leisure space must inaccessible, adding colour and life. For my Transition be embedded in the photography project, this SPACE meant a really well attended exhibition in the heart of the capital’s physical Lansbury estate”

change SOLAR PANELS OPEN POPLAR Michael Mulcahy, Photographer & Over the last 5 years our solar Award-winning initiative launched Poplar resident panels programme has seen the in 2015, turning liability space into installation of 6,688 panels across assets. The first two rounds generated Poplar. £36,000 in energy savings over 200 proposals with 35,500sqm for residents have been realised of ideas, £430,000 investment and to date, and the programme will £67,000 in annual rent, rising each generate £2m income over the next year. Spaces transformed include 20 years, ringfenced specifically affordable studios from a fire- for community investment and damaged basement, the UK’s first Accents looks differently at reducing carbon emissions. Haitian coffee shop and numerous space, to maximise value for meanwhile activities. stakeholders, businesses and communities, existing and new. “Never doubt that committed citizens can change the world – indeed, it is the only thing that ever has” Margaret Mead

POPLAR PEDDLERS R-URBAN “I’ve lived here all my life and know a lot of people. But I’d Uniting road-cycling middle-aged R-Urban, operated by Public Works lost contact with people as men in lycra, young people on BMXs, architecture and art collective, we didn’t have a common Bangladeshi mums and people offers a unique programme of place to socialise. Now I learning to ride a bike, Poplar Peddlers workshops, events, discussions meet up with old friends is truly inclusive. The group was and summer schools. Focussing on every Friday and it’s great to established in 2015 with regular group urban sustainability and citizen- reconnect with them again. An area’s people rides and cycling training. 2018 saw led technology, local people come We have a lot of lost time to a new BMX track at Langdon Park, together through sharing food and make up and chat” COMMUNITY are its key asset delivered in partnership with learning new skills. The site has a Access Sport. classroom, community kitchen, micro- Aberfeldy resident anaerobic digester, tool library and who goes to the raised growing spaces, making use of Tommy Flowers a former carpark.

THE TOMMY FLOWERS The Tommy Flowers, East London’s Accents supports a range first community pub, was set up in of local groups, projects partnership with Aberfeldy Big Local and local artist collective Fitzrovia Noir. and networks to help grow Tea room and art gallery by day, pub by their capacity and take ever night, it has become a much-loved social stronger roles in shaping their hub for the whole community, long-term and new residents alike. communities. “There are now 4.8 million small businesses in the UK and they form the lifeblood of every city economy across the country”

Centre for Cities “Launch22 has had nothing but a positive experience working with the Accents team. From initial conversations through to launch, they have been CHRISP STREET ARBEIT E14 communicative, open to collaboration and flexible EXCHANGE Through our Open Poplar programme, with our requirements as This intervention in the regeneration creative workspace provider Arbeit a small, growing business. of Poplar’s district centre improved converted a fire-damaged basement Strong local enterprise The team are extremely enterprise space, supported business underneath flats in the Lansbury professional and we’ve kept growth and amplified local voice. estate into 12 affordable studios. in regular contact since is a vital element Mayor of London investment saw Local tenants include creative launching our space. We look 1,028sqm improved commercial practitioners across digital production, forward to a long-lasting of building self- space, upgraded shop fronts, and graphic design and visual arts. Start- BUSINESS business relationship with 300 businesses supported. The Pop ups work alongside more established the team.” sustaining, inclusive Up Business School and a microloans small businesses and all can take programme offered enterprise advantage of a shared gallery space Tom Previte communities support, while the Poplar & Bow on the site. Head of Operations, Enterprise Network provided a B2B Launch22 platform for trade and networking.

LAUNCH 22 @ CHRISP STREET EXCHANGE Our co-working and enterprise support hub launched in 2016. Funded by the Mayor of London’s High Streets Fund, the hub Accents gives local business a is run by Launch 22 and offers affordable desks and meeting space to a range of local businesses. Accompanying business voice, supports start-ups and growth programmes include incubation, mentoring in a range of opens up new and existing enterprise essentials and regular networking and hackathon events. opportunities for enterprise. “Without a past you AIR QUALITY can’t have a future” Air pollution is a major concern across London. Accents’ Michael Ende partnership with the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, University of East London and climate change groups is delivering a programme of behavioural change activities, community events, schools programmes and targeted local interventions. A masterplan, ‘A12: Green Mile’, has been developed detailing potential green infrastructure interventions, with the first stages currently being implemented.

“What’s exciting about the team is that they work with what’s there, with what’s The capital is coming and with open minds, spying the opportunity to changing rapidly: make the right interventions at the right time. For the London’s population A12 they have structured PLACE a masterplan of potential green interventions with is set to reach 11 partners and are securing chances to make each million by 2050 ANGELA LANSBURY LANSBURY MICRO a reality.” FILM FESTIVAL MUSEUM Dr Paula Vandergart 2014 was a homecoming for Dame Since opening in 2016, the V&A’s Sustainability Research Angela Lansbury, grand-daughter of Lansbury Micro Museum has Fellow, University politician, social reformer and local attracted 3,603 visitors through its of East London hero, George Lansbury. Personally evolving exhibitions, exploring the selected screenings of seven of her story of this part of East London. It most iconic movies delighted residents re-illuminates the area, bringing new old and young, with Chrisp Street visitors and broadening understanding Market transformed into an outdoor of Poplar’s heritage. Accents reflects on cultural cinema for the event. The festival The museum is run by local volunteers identity - past, present and was brought about through Accents’ and curated by the V&A, ahead of its partnership with the George Lansbury move to Eastbank in 2022. future, to create places for all the Memorial Committee, and garnered community, current and new. £1.2m in positive publicity. “It doesn’t make sense to hire smart “I’ve enjoyed being involved with Accents and the people and then tell them what to incredible amount of do; we hire smart people so they interesting, detailed and can tell us what to do” involved research they do to secure financial investment Steve Jobs for ground breaking projects and to maximise their value. A good example is the Photovoltaics project, which combines energy creation with solving a range of other SWING EAST WOMEN EAST problems, from personal 2019 saw Estates Team Leader Nelson Inspired by the suffrage centenary, health to major company Piperides’ sixth Swing East, the festival Personal Assistant Nicola Rushton network supply issues.” which celebrates the best of swing started Women East in Stroudley Peter Harrold People are most music, dance and vintage markets, Walk, Bow, where Sylvia Pankhurst Lead Electrical in its 1951 Chrisp Street home. Over gave her first speech on the back of Engineer, 4,000 people come each year to dance a cart. Now looking to the next 100 Poplar HARCA productive when to the hottest bands, and eat and drink years, Women East empowers women from local food stalls. Christmas and and girls through arts and politics, PEOPLE they work on what Valentine events and regular swing providing a platform for all the diverse dance classes have also been a hit. voices of East London’s women to they care about shape their futures.

POPLAR SINGERS Deputy Communications Manager Hannah Douse started Poplar Singers in January 2016 and it was an immediate hit, attracting members from 18-85 years old. The community choir’s first public outing was the stunning De:Part Accents supports individuals to performance with LIFT and Spitalfields Music and they work on self-generated projects, recently played the Barbican as part of Sky Art’s OpenFest: developing services, connectivity Art 50. Now a fully-fledged independent organisation, Poplar Singers perform regularly at events across London. and themselves. Conceived and developed by Accents, considerable commercial space in “Accents is doing remarkable in partnership with London College the next decade. London’s policy work in Poplar, developing BRINGING Re-seeding a of Fashion, UAL, creative workspace strategies are focusing on the huge audacious projects that provider The Trampery, and the GLA, undersupply of fashion and creative draw on deep roots in the this £6m scheme is part-funded by the workspace and production facilities neighbourhood’s history to fashion industry Mayor of London and Poplar HARCA. in East London. Utilising loan create new opportunities for IT ALL financing, increased land values and the future. The Trampery is in East London Combining low cost studios, training, new revenue streams, there is an honoured to be working with garment production and a café opportunity to secure and curate a the team to help realise Poplar TOGETHER and events space, it will support 170 financially self-sufficient cluster that Works and foster a new focal businesses, create 85 local jobs and benefits residents, developers and point for fashion and creativity Leaside Fashion and Creative 185 training and apprenticeship the local authority alike. A potential in Poplar.” opportunities in its first two years. Cluster is a sector-leading ambition 40,000sqm cluster is deliverable over the next decade - supporting 650 Charles Armstrong Poplar Works is just the first step in to return design and manufacturing businesses and creating 3,500 jobs. Founder, The Trampery seeding a burgeoning industry in the to the Lower Lea, delivering Lower Lea as it undergoes seismic This re-seeds an industry which will permanent jobs and affordable physical and demographic change. deliver social, economic and cultural workspace for a mixed and Local regeneration and fashion regeneration, and forge a strong, sector growth contexts hold an ambitious community. saleable area identity. Ultimately opportunity to build a sizeable cluster producing a sustainably accessible, of inter-related fashion and creative authentic and ambitious place for the The first phase, Poplar Works, converted workspace in Poplar and beyond. benefit of East London’s community, redundant garages alongside the A12 into a current and future. multi-faceted fashion workspace, adjacent Residential-led schemes, often to large scale residential development sites. on brownfield sites, will deliver Accents’ consultancy OUR SERVICES SERVICES seeks to take the ¯¯ Placemaking ¯¯ Commercial and mixed use development learning garnered ¯¯ Cultural and community regeneration within Poplar ¯¯ Public/Social value delivery & monitoring to support urban ¯¯ Environmental sustainability change across the ¯¯ Commercial modelling ¯¯ Planning application support capital and beyond. ¯¯ Facilitation / workshops ¯¯ Public speaking Ongoing experience embedded in a rapidly changing part of We also work with a range of sector-leading associates who can offer: East London, alongside strong “We have successfully partnerships and creative worked with Accents on a ¯¯ Community engagement / outreach delivery, gives Accents a unique number of projects across ¯¯ Estate regeneration ballot support & advice London. Their ability to placemaking offer. advise the right commercial ¯¯ Facilitation and community strategies Clients include local authorities, has been invaluable for developers, housing associations ¯¯ Planning advice us to design schemes with ¯¯ Architectural & masterplanning services the strongest impact for and academic institutions. current and future local ¯¯ Public realm / art strategies communities” ¯¯ Qualitative & quantitative research Simon Jeffery Associate Land and New Business Director, Countryside “Accents are building opportunities and partnerships in the East End that deliver for all the SPREADING community, current and PARTNERS future” THE WORD Professor Frances Corner, OBE Warden, Goldsmiths University

“The Accents team understands that communities are about more than just housing. By working with partners from across the private and public sector, TALKS AND TOURS UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIPS they’re delivering innovative projects that are having a Accents has participated at over Accents works with a range of genuinely positive impact on 40 industry events in the last year, academic partners, including the residents of Poplar” from Tallinn to New York, and project based work and placement Vicky Clark from Hamburg to Chelmsford. opportunities for students. Divisional Director, Growth and Economic Development at London Borough of Tower We have presented and advised on a Our partnership with Bath University supports Hamlets range of themes including placemaking student projects designing theoretical narratives, socio-economic strategies and infrastructure that tackles the physical making best use of assets. Over 1,000 severance of the A12 and people have visited Poplar to witness the canal. We are collaborating with Queen Mary “Accents have unlocked a impact of Accents initiatives on the ground. University of London to support longitudinal range of opportunities in the research on demographic shift alongside the area, sometimes challenging physical change in Poplar. Our air quality – always interesting, and we interventions are delivered in partnership with continue to deliver a number University of East London, and London College of very successful projects of Fashion, University of the Arts London, is a with them” key delivery partner for Poplar Works. Marcel Baettig CEO, Bow Arts Trust “One of the best regeneration “Accents imagines – and delivers teams in London” – exactly the kind of inclusive TEAM Jamie Dean Regeneration Manager, Greater London Authority placemaking programmes London needs” Lisa Taylor Executive Director, Future of London Paul Augarde Danny Tompkins & Founder / Director, Coherent Cities Director of Placemaking, Danny joined Accents after heads up Accents with 15 years’ his sociology degree, and now experience in housing, following facilitates community led projects a career making feature films. and refurbishes empty spaces.

Blossom Young Beibei Mu Head of Operations, Blossom With 6 years’ experience in project leads Poplar Works and develops management in financial services, socio-economic strategies across Beibei delivers cultural, enterprise ¯¯ UK Housing Awards: Innovative Landlord of the Year the capital. and community related projects. ¯¯ Alan Cherry Award: One to Watch

¯¯ Guardian Public Services Awards: Transformation Alex Jeremy Felicity Scott Head of Partnerships, Alex leads Coordinates projects, drawing ¯¯ Countryside: Bid Consultant of the Year broad-based regeneration on her 8 years’ in housing and ¯¯ 24 Housing Awards: Innovation of the Year programmes, with a background ongoing studies in sustainability in local government. and transformational adaptation ¯¯ Women in Housing Awards: Most effective project in improving planning. the lives of women or communities

¯¯ Sustainable Housing Awards: Housing Provider of the Year Bree Sims Combines her 18 years PR and ¯¯ Sustainable Housing Awards: Sustainable Housing Partnership placemaking experience with of the Year leading our theatre, film and arts projects. ¯¯ Sustainable City Awards: Greening the Third Sector

¯¯ Community Impact Awards: Greener Living accents.org.uk [email protected]

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@accents_ldn