Improvement Work FAQs

In January 2023 the council successfully secured £17.2 million of Local Regeneration Funding to support the delivery of the ‘Walthamstow: Culture for All’ project (formerly Levelling Up Fund). 

The funding will unlock Walthamstow’s potential as an inclusive, safe and welcoming cultural destination and will see enhancements to its cultural spaces and hubs including Hatherley Mews, Chestnuts House and Vestry House Museum.

This includes the delivery of public space and greenspace improvements to support venues with better pedestrian connections, including at Walthamstow High Street and Market, Hoe Street and St James Street. The projects include new lighting, improved surfacing, signage, additional planting to make the area greener and improve biodiversity, and opportunities for public art. 

The improvements to public spaces are being delivered alongside investment in Council-owned heritage buildings across the Town Centre including at Hatherley Mews, Chestnuts House and Vestry House Museum, designed to preserve and enhance their historic character and make them more accessible to the community, making Waltham Forest a great place to live and age well. 

The investment draws on extensive engagement conducted with residents, businesses, traders and stakeholders to develop Walthamstow’s cultural offer as a legacy from Waltham Forest being London’s first Borough of Culture in 2019, including findings from our research on Creativity and Culture in Walthamstow.

Led by feedback from residents, businesses and market traders, the improvements will include:

• Improved safety and accessibility – a reworked layout for Walthamstow High Street including improved paving and wayfinding
• New feature signage to Walthamstow Market
• Increasing green space – new trees and drought resistant planting to create healthier, greener spaces which improve biodiversity.
• Improved appearance - new high-quality materials including granite paving and Corten steel planters.
• New street furniture – including seating and improved cycle parking.
• Supporting local business – making it easier and more enjoyable for residents and visitors to visit the High Street and Market.

Creating additional space for pedestrians around this busy junction will make it an easier and calmer space for people to move through the market and spend time in the area. Additional planting and new paving will also improve the appearance of the space, and new seating will provide an opportunity for people to rest whilst shopping. New signs for Walthamstow Market also aim to bring new shoppers to this part of the market.

Works will include the re-surfacing of carriageways and footpaths as well as landscape improvements such as new planting, benches and Walthamstow Market signs.

All businesses will remain open as usual with works phased to minimise disruption. During the works pedestrian access to the High Street and surrounding businesses will be retained at all times. 

Vehicle access will be retained where possible with periods where vehicles will be diverted to allow works to take place safely on site. There will generally be no vehicle access from Palmerston Road to the High Street. The use of Palmerston Road and Willow Walk will remain unchanged for vehicles.

High Street Phase 2 public space improvement locations are shown in red with the routes in blue showing diversions to provide access to the high street.

There will be some minor changes to market stall locations in this area following the improvement works create a safer and greener space for pedestrians. To allow work to be carried out safely some trader pitches may need to be re-located for periods during the works. 

During works there may also be increased levels of noise and dust however these will be mitigated where possible to minimise impact to residents and local businesses. We appreciate your patience and co-operation during this period.

We have informed local residents and business via letter of the overall programme timelines and impacts to your home or business and give you as much notice as possible. 

The contact details of the council’s Area Regeneration Team can be located at the end of these FAQs. Please contact the team directly if you require any support or have further queries regarding the work.

A public drop-in session will be held on the 16 September 2026 at Walthamstow Library in the ground-floor glass meeting room from 5-7pm. This will be an opportunity to discuss the construction works being carried out on site, including answering any questions you may have around access to the site during works.

To avoid disruption during Christmas period all site work will be temporarily paused over the Christmas period. 

As there is currently no parking in this area, there will be no impact to parking during or after the work has been completed.

Pedestrian and vehicle access will remain the same following the completion of the public space improvement works.

We do not anticipate any impact on public transport services due to this work.

The work is expected to start in September 2026 and be completed by March 2027, taking approximately 7 months, subject to weather conditions. Work will be phased to minimise disruption with pedestrian access to businesses and market retained at all times. Please note that this indicative programme may be subject to revision, and we will update you to keep you informed of any changes.

Throughout the works, the following addresses on the High Street will be required to present their refuse and recycling in tied-up sacks on the pavement in the alternative locations listed below. These tied up sacks should still be presented on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays between 6am-9am to be collected.

If you have any mobility issues which will prevent you from presenting your refuse and recycling in these areas during these works, please contact us before the works begin so we can arrange accommodations for your refuse and recycling to be collected.

135 – 143 High Street (odd numbers) 

Alternative waste collection from the corner of Storey Road and High Street in the area circled below in red outside of ‘The Chequers’ pub. No waste should be placed directly outside the pub in the areas outlined in blue.

121 – 133 High Street (odd numbers)

Alternative waste collection from the pavement in front of 12 Palmerston Road, Walthamstow, E17 6PD in the area circled below. Please ensure the sacks you present for collection do not obstruct the nearby bus stop or the cycle lane on Palmerston Road. 

96-110 High Street (even numbers)

Alternative waste collection from Palmerston Road near the junction with Mission Grove in the area circled below. Please ensure the sacks you present for collection do not obstruct the cycle lane on Palmerston Road.

67-107 (odd numbers) and 50-94 (even numbers) High Street

Alternative waste collection from the corners of Mission Grove and High Street in the areas circled below.

43-65 (odd numbers) and 34-48 (even numbers) High Street

Alternative waste collection from the corner of Carisbrooke Road and High Street in the areas circled below.

If you are a business which presents waste for collection on the High Street you should also contact your waste collection provider and arrange for your waste collection to be taken from these alternative locations.

If your address is not included above your waste collections will continue as normal through the works.

Thank you for your cooperation whilst we make improvements to the High Street, it is appreciated. 

If you have any questions on the project or upcoming works, please contact us via the details below: 

Waltham Forest Area Regeneration Team 

email: regeneration@walthamforest.gov.uk