In autumn 2023 Build Up began an extended program of facilitated design workshops with four young people from the area surrounding red path in Hackney, which is a vital pedestrian cycling route that connects Hackney Wick with Homerton And lower Clapton. The path has been very poorly maintained for many years, but the local community were very keen to make improvements.

Red Path is an important pedestrian and cycling path in Hackney Wick. But it was very clear from the local young people co-leading the project, from the Hackney Quest staff who grew up in the neighbourhood, and from our extensive community consultation that it requires substantial improvement. Red Path is currently perceived as unsafe by a substantial proportion of local residents, is inaccessible for many people with mobility constraints, and is seen as profoundly unattractive. It urgently requires redesign and reimagining.

The Red Path Project is a collaboration between urban design collective Space Black, youth construction and design specialists Build Up, and local youth charity Hackney Quest. The Red Path Project aimed to set a new benchmark for community co-design – handing over power to local young people and residents to decide how Red Path should be transformed, with the help of relevant experts.

Four local young people were recruited in paid roles as Project Leads. They became the core design team, working with design experts from SpaceBlack and Build Up, along with a series of specialists on issues such as women and girls’ safety, ecology, and accessibility. The design process took place over the course of 8 weeks, including two workshops with local residents to gather feedback on initial design ideas. The design for the space that has now been presented to Hackney Council.

The next stage of the project, to implement some of these changes is now in progress, so watch this space!