Buxton Road Play Street

This new pedestrian space will create much needed play space on the High Street, creating a family friendly space in the town centre which can be used by all. The improvements will include new planting and trees, high-quality landscape materials, seating, lighting and informal play equipment.

These improvements form part of the ‘Walthamstow: Culture for All’ programme High Street Phase 2 works which is funded by UK Government using the Local Regeneration Fund.


What’s changing?

Following the success of the Mission Grove temporary play street trial in 2024 led by ‘London Play’ the project has been developed in collaboration with Mission Grove Primary School. The design was formed through a series of workshops and engagement events with children from the school led by designers Matt+Fiona.


Play street test concept on Mission Grove, May 2024


The plans for the Play Street were shared in August 2025 and included an online survey and in-person engagement event with a consultation for a Traffic Management Order for Mission Grove completed in Autumn 2025. Following this engagement, it was decided that Mission Grove was not a suitable location for a permanent play street, so Buxton Road was selected as an alternative location.

These engagement sessions provided useful insight into the requirements and improvements local children, residents and businesses wanted to see. Following design development by PCL this resulted in a scheme which improves accessibility, encourages walking and creates a more attractive child focused space, which is open to all. A public Traffic Management Order (TMO) consultation was also completed in 2026 for Buxton Road to review the proposed changes to vehicle access on site.


Proposed plan for Buxton Road. Image credit: Project Centre


Key improvements include:

  • Improved appearance and layout – creating new pedestrian space with high-quality materials including granite paving and Corten planters, and public art.
  • Play on the way – creating a new inclusive informal play space on the High Street for families to enjoy.
  • Increasing green space – new trees and in ground planting to create a healthier, greener space with greater biodiversity and climate resilience.
  • Improved accessibility - clearer signage and improved paving.
  • New lighting and street furniture – creating a safer space and opportunity for residents and visitors to sit and relax.
  • Supporting local business – providing break out space for families visiting the High Street so they can continue to visit the Market and shops and spend more time in Walthamstow.

Alongside the public space improvements, a community mural was also delivered in June 2026. This was designed by local artist Alisa Ruzavina in collaboration with pupils from Mission Grove Primary School and celebrates the identity, character and people of the High Street and Walthamstow Market.


Design workshop at Mission Grove Primary School, February 2026


As part of developing the design for the mural, a workshop was held with Mission Grove Primary School’s Arts Councillors. Their ideas and creativity directly shaped the mural design with key phrases and images produced by the children appearing in the final mural. Wider engagement on the design was also carried out with residents, market traders and businesses to help inform the design and include ideas from a wide breadth of local people.


Buxton Road Mural by Aliza Ruzavina completed in June 2026.


What to expect?

  • The public space improvement works will start on site in Autumn 2026 and are expected to complete in Spring 2027.
  • To allow the creation of the new pedestrian space, the Southern section of Buxton Road will be closed to vehicles, with a public Traffic Management Order (TMO) consultation was completed in 2026 for this.
  • Existing vehicle access points on the North section of Buxton Road will be retained for businesses and residents.
  • All businesses will remain open as usual with site works phased to minimise disruption.
  • There will be some temporary changes to market stall locations in this area during the improvement works to allow this to be carried out safely.
  • During the works pedestrian access to Buxton Road, the High Street and surrounding businesses will be retained at all times.
  • Updates will be provided on the Let’s Talk.


We appreciate your patience and co-operation during this period.

Should you have any further questions on the project or upcoming works, please contact the Area Regeneration team at regeneration@walthamforest.gov.uk


Buxton Road and Mission Grove, May 2025. Image credit: Dead Ready Productions.


What are the benefits?

The improvement works will create a new family-friendly pedestrian space for residents and visitors to sit and children play. This will support businesses on the High Street by encouraging more families to visit the market, shops, restaurants and cafes in the town centre, creating a welcoming, accessible and inclusive space for all ages.

The design introduces new planting, trees, seating, informal play equipment and improved lighting. This is complemented by a new mural that celebrates the identity and character of the local area to create a much-improved space for everyone to enjoy.

These improvements form part of wider UK Government funded investment across Walthamstow Town Centre which supports the council’s mission to build a thriving local economy that works for all and create safer, greener and more accessible neighbourhoods for everyone to enjoy.


For information on other High Street Phase 2 sites please visit: https://talk.walthamforest.gov.uk/high-street-public-realm-improvements

This new pedestrian space will create much needed play space on the High Street, creating a family friendly space in the town centre which can be used by all. The improvements will include new planting and trees, high-quality landscape materials, seating, lighting and informal play equipment.

These improvements form part of the ‘Walthamstow: Culture for All’ programme High Street Phase 2 works which is funded by UK Government using the Local Regeneration Fund.


What’s changing?

Following the success of the Mission Grove temporary play street trial in 2024 led by ‘London Play’ the project has been developed in collaboration with Mission Grove Primary School. The design was formed through a series of workshops and engagement events with children from the school led by designers Matt+Fiona.


Play street test concept on Mission Grove, May 2024


The plans for the Play Street were shared in August 2025 and included an online survey and in-person engagement event with a consultation for a Traffic Management Order for Mission Grove completed in Autumn 2025. Following this engagement, it was decided that Mission Grove was not a suitable location for a permanent play street, so Buxton Road was selected as an alternative location.

These engagement sessions provided useful insight into the requirements and improvements local children, residents and businesses wanted to see. Following design development by PCL this resulted in a scheme which improves accessibility, encourages walking and creates a more attractive child focused space, which is open to all. A public Traffic Management Order (TMO) consultation was also completed in 2026 for Buxton Road to review the proposed changes to vehicle access on site.


Proposed plan for Buxton Road. Image credit: Project Centre


Key improvements include:

  • Improved appearance and layout – creating new pedestrian space with high-quality materials including granite paving and Corten planters, and public art.
  • Play on the way – creating a new inclusive informal play space on the High Street for families to enjoy.
  • Increasing green space – new trees and in ground planting to create a healthier, greener space with greater biodiversity and climate resilience.
  • Improved accessibility - clearer signage and improved paving.
  • New lighting and street furniture – creating a safer space and opportunity for residents and visitors to sit and relax.
  • Supporting local business – providing break out space for families visiting the High Street so they can continue to visit the Market and shops and spend more time in Walthamstow.

Alongside the public space improvements, a community mural was also delivered in June 2026. This was designed by local artist Alisa Ruzavina in collaboration with pupils from Mission Grove Primary School and celebrates the identity, character and people of the High Street and Walthamstow Market.


Design workshop at Mission Grove Primary School, February 2026


As part of developing the design for the mural, a workshop was held with Mission Grove Primary School’s Arts Councillors. Their ideas and creativity directly shaped the mural design with key phrases and images produced by the children appearing in the final mural. Wider engagement on the design was also carried out with residents, market traders and businesses to help inform the design and include ideas from a wide breadth of local people.


Buxton Road Mural by Aliza Ruzavina completed in June 2026.


What to expect?

  • The public space improvement works will start on site in Autumn 2026 and are expected to complete in Spring 2027.
  • To allow the creation of the new pedestrian space, the Southern section of Buxton Road will be closed to vehicles, with a public Traffic Management Order (TMO) consultation was completed in 2026 for this.
  • Existing vehicle access points on the North section of Buxton Road will be retained for businesses and residents.
  • All businesses will remain open as usual with site works phased to minimise disruption.
  • There will be some temporary changes to market stall locations in this area during the improvement works to allow this to be carried out safely.
  • During the works pedestrian access to Buxton Road, the High Street and surrounding businesses will be retained at all times.
  • Updates will be provided on the Let’s Talk.


We appreciate your patience and co-operation during this period.

Should you have any further questions on the project or upcoming works, please contact the Area Regeneration team at regeneration@walthamforest.gov.uk


Buxton Road and Mission Grove, May 2025. Image credit: Dead Ready Productions.


What are the benefits?

The improvement works will create a new family-friendly pedestrian space for residents and visitors to sit and children play. This will support businesses on the High Street by encouraging more families to visit the market, shops, restaurants and cafes in the town centre, creating a welcoming, accessible and inclusive space for all ages.

The design introduces new planting, trees, seating, informal play equipment and improved lighting. This is complemented by a new mural that celebrates the identity and character of the local area to create a much-improved space for everyone to enjoy.

These improvements form part of wider UK Government funded investment across Walthamstow Town Centre which supports the council’s mission to build a thriving local economy that works for all and create safer, greener and more accessible neighbourhoods for everyone to enjoy.


For information on other High Street Phase 2 sites please visit: https://talk.walthamforest.gov.uk/high-street-public-realm-improvements