Red Path is an important pedestrian and cycling path in Hackney Wick that has been neglected and under-maintained for decades. By putting local young people at the centre of planning its improvement, the Red Path project aims to show what community-led urban transformation can achieve.

Four local young people were recruited for paid roles to co-lead the project. Working with expert consultants on women and girls’ safety, ecology, accessibility and lighting over eight weeks, the team developed a proposal to improve the path. They then presented their ideas to local residents to gain the input of the wider community. Taking on board feedback from all key stakeholders, our team then developed a RIBA 2 design package.

This proposal has now been adopted by London Borough of Hackney who have used it to secure a further £330,000 of project funding. Funding will deliver immediate capital works and develop a plan of longer term improvements, both shaped by local young people.

The project is led by Build Up, urban design collective Space Black and youth charity Hackney Quest, working in collaboration with London Borough of Hackney and project funders London Legacy Development Corporation.

Read co-leader Faith and Freddie’s Red Path blogs here.