St James Quarter Improvements

About St James Quarter

St James Quarter is a key regeneration area in Walthamstow, encompassing Courtenay Place, the Transport for London (TfL) bus station, and St James Street Overground Station. Over recent years, the area has seen significant transformation, including the delivery of new homes and the establishment of Crate St James on the site of a former council car park.

Following in-person discussions with local businesses and residents, Waltham Forest Council has designated St James as an Economic Impact Zone (EIZ). This initiative aims to stimulate economic growth through targeted improvements such as enhanced signage, the introduction of pavement licences to reduce costs for businesses using outdoor space along the High Street, and the delivery of new public artworks and events. You can find more details on our St James EIZ page.

As part of this wider regeneration effort, the council is also delivering public space improvements around St James Street Station and Courtenay Place, including the footpath to Brunner Road. These enhancements will make the area safer, more inclusive, accessible, and environmentally friendly, benefiting residents, businesses, and visitors alike.

Funded by the UK Government, this project forms part of the Walthamstow: Culture for All programme. The first phase will focus on landscape improvements, including new paving, lighting, seating, in-ground planting, and public art installations designed to reflect and celebrate the character of the area.

In addition, opportunities to open some of the railway arches near St James Station are currently under review. For updates and further information, please visit our St James Railway Arches page.


What are the benefits?

Delivered through the Walthamstow: Culture for All programme, this initiative supports the council’s mission to build a thriving local economy, create safer and greener neighbourhoods, and ensure that every part of the borough, including the distinctive and valued St James area, can flourish.

The enhanced public spaces will offer better, safer connections between St James Street Overground Station, the St James bus station, and the High Street. Drawing inspiration from the area’s rich heritage including the St James Street Conservation Area and the Heritage Lottery Funded shopfront and outdoor space improvements, the proposals include new paving, planting, lighting, and public artworks. These changes aim to improve the look and feel of the area while making it more inclusive and welcoming for everyone.

The proposals have been shaped through extensive consultation throughout 2024 with local residents, businesses, Waltham Forest Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) advisory panel, Met Police Design Out Crime team, and transport stakeholders. Their feedback has been instrumental in refining the plans to reflect the community’s needs and aspirations, which are identified as:

  • Spaces that support independent and local businesses, helping to animate and brighten public areas

  • More greenery and biodiversity to enhance climate resilience, including new planting and trees

  • Opportunities for new public artworks that reflect the character of the area

  • Improved lighting to increase visibility and help people feel safer

  • Clearer signage to guide people to transport links, cultural destinations, and local landmarks

  • New street furniture, including outdoor seating, to encourage people to spend time and connect

To learn more about the council’s engagement with the local community and key stakeholders, please see the Engagement Reports linked on this page.


What's changing?

✅ Better layout – Increased pavement widths and space for pedestrians to enhance safety and accessibility.

✅ Improved Appearance – New high quality materials to improve appearance and connection to High Street and St James Station

✅ Increasing green space – Planting including new trees to create a healthier, greener space, which has greater biodiversity and more climate resilient.

✅ New lighting and improved CCTV - Improving visibility and overview of the area to create safer public space.

✅ Clearer signage – Helping to direct residents and visitors to transport hubs, cultural attractions, and points of interest to make the space more inclusive and accessible.

✅ Upgraded street furniture – New benches and perch points to create more places for people to sit, improved cycle parking and informal play.

✅ Opportunities for artwork – New artwork inspired by the local area and created with the help of the local community.


What to expect?

🔹Construction works are underway and expected to complete in Spring 2026

🔹Works will take place in phases to minimise disruption

🔹All businesses will remain open as usual

🔹Regular updates will be provided


Completed segments

St James Underpass and Jazz Yard

In 2024, Artist Agwa, in partnership with Bud Studio, delivered a mural designed to champion St James street market traders and businesses playing on the site's geography as an entrance to the high street. The artwork will highlights the High Street as one of the St James streets best assets whilst simultaneously adding to Walthamstow’s wider art scene.

Artist Agwa and Bud Studio mural (delivered in 2024), October 2025The artwork was the first phase of the St James underpass and Jazz Yard improvements. In September 2025, the second phase was completed, which includes :

  • New street and underpass lighting
  • soft landscaping
  • Sustainable Urban Drainage (SUDs) plant beds
  • Renewed highway drainage system (gullies and pipework)
  • Refurbished underpass and UKPN sub station
  • New bollards


Jazz Yard SUDs plant bed, September 2025St James underpass, September 2025


Upcoming segments

Courtenay Place bus terminal


Courtenay Place and St James Street Station, May 2025.

The above image demonstrates Courtenay Place before works commenced. You can check the progress of this segment in the timeline section of this page.


St James Street Station entrance

Artist’s impression of the proposed improvement works outside St James Street Overground Station. Image credit: Feix & Merlin


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

About St James Quarter

St James Quarter is a key regeneration area in Walthamstow, encompassing Courtenay Place, the Transport for London (TfL) bus station, and St James Street Overground Station. Over recent years, the area has seen significant transformation, including the delivery of new homes and the establishment of Crate St James on the site of a former council car park.

Following in-person discussions with local businesses and residents, Waltham Forest Council has designated St James as an Economic Impact Zone (EIZ). This initiative aims to stimulate economic growth through targeted improvements such as enhanced signage, the introduction of pavement licences to reduce costs for businesses using outdoor space along the High Street, and the delivery of new public artworks and events. You can find more details on our St James EIZ page.

As part of this wider regeneration effort, the council is also delivering public space improvements around St James Street Station and Courtenay Place, including the footpath to Brunner Road. These enhancements will make the area safer, more inclusive, accessible, and environmentally friendly, benefiting residents, businesses, and visitors alike.

Funded by the UK Government, this project forms part of the Walthamstow: Culture for All programme. The first phase will focus on landscape improvements, including new paving, lighting, seating, in-ground planting, and public art installations designed to reflect and celebrate the character of the area.

In addition, opportunities to open some of the railway arches near St James Station are currently under review. For updates and further information, please visit our St James Railway Arches page.


What are the benefits?

Delivered through the Walthamstow: Culture for All programme, this initiative supports the council’s mission to build a thriving local economy, create safer and greener neighbourhoods, and ensure that every part of the borough, including the distinctive and valued St James area, can flourish.

The enhanced public spaces will offer better, safer connections between St James Street Overground Station, the St James bus station, and the High Street. Drawing inspiration from the area’s rich heritage including the St James Street Conservation Area and the Heritage Lottery Funded shopfront and outdoor space improvements, the proposals include new paving, planting, lighting, and public artworks. These changes aim to improve the look and feel of the area while making it more inclusive and welcoming for everyone.

The proposals have been shaped through extensive consultation throughout 2024 with local residents, businesses, Waltham Forest Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) advisory panel, Met Police Design Out Crime team, and transport stakeholders. Their feedback has been instrumental in refining the plans to reflect the community’s needs and aspirations, which are identified as:

  • Spaces that support independent and local businesses, helping to animate and brighten public areas

  • More greenery and biodiversity to enhance climate resilience, including new planting and trees

  • Opportunities for new public artworks that reflect the character of the area

  • Improved lighting to increase visibility and help people feel safer

  • Clearer signage to guide people to transport links, cultural destinations, and local landmarks

  • New street furniture, including outdoor seating, to encourage people to spend time and connect

To learn more about the council’s engagement with the local community and key stakeholders, please see the Engagement Reports linked on this page.


What's changing?

✅ Better layout – Increased pavement widths and space for pedestrians to enhance safety and accessibility.

✅ Improved Appearance – New high quality materials to improve appearance and connection to High Street and St James Station

✅ Increasing green space – Planting including new trees to create a healthier, greener space, which has greater biodiversity and more climate resilient.

✅ New lighting and improved CCTV - Improving visibility and overview of the area to create safer public space.

✅ Clearer signage – Helping to direct residents and visitors to transport hubs, cultural attractions, and points of interest to make the space more inclusive and accessible.

✅ Upgraded street furniture – New benches and perch points to create more places for people to sit, improved cycle parking and informal play.

✅ Opportunities for artwork – New artwork inspired by the local area and created with the help of the local community.


What to expect?

🔹Construction works are underway and expected to complete in Spring 2026

🔹Works will take place in phases to minimise disruption

🔹All businesses will remain open as usual

🔹Regular updates will be provided


Completed segments

St James Underpass and Jazz Yard

In 2024, Artist Agwa, in partnership with Bud Studio, delivered a mural designed to champion St James street market traders and businesses playing on the site's geography as an entrance to the high street. The artwork will highlights the High Street as one of the St James streets best assets whilst simultaneously adding to Walthamstow’s wider art scene.

Artist Agwa and Bud Studio mural (delivered in 2024), October 2025The artwork was the first phase of the St James underpass and Jazz Yard improvements. In September 2025, the second phase was completed, which includes :

  • New street and underpass lighting
  • soft landscaping
  • Sustainable Urban Drainage (SUDs) plant beds
  • Renewed highway drainage system (gullies and pipework)
  • Refurbished underpass and UKPN sub station
  • New bollards


Jazz Yard SUDs plant bed, September 2025St James underpass, September 2025


Upcoming segments

Courtenay Place bus terminal


Courtenay Place and St James Street Station, May 2025.

The above image demonstrates Courtenay Place before works commenced. You can check the progress of this segment in the timeline section of this page.


St James Street Station entrance

Artist’s impression of the proposed improvement works outside St James Street Overground Station. Image credit: Feix & Merlin


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