Laycock community plan

Caledonian Estate basketball court renewal

Approximate cost: £80,000 to £100,000

This project would renew the basketball court at Caledonian Estate. The basketball court is currently is in a poor state. It is currently inaccessible and underused. The proposal would explore options to refurbish the court to bring it back into use, or to repurpose the space into a community garden.

Secure estate cycle storage

Approximate cost: £10,000

This project would deliver bike hangers at Adam’s Place Estate and Starliner Court. It will help residents to store cycles safely, rather than taking up space inside properties or being left in communal areas of buildings, where they can undermine fire safety requirements. The availability of secure cycle storage will also encourage more cycle use, with personal, environmental, health and economic benefits.

Environmental improvements at Starliner Court

Approximate cost: £20,000

This project would provide environmental improvements to the outdoor amenity space at Starliner Court. Improvements may include landscaping works, installation of wooden planters for community growing projects, installation of seating/and or picnic benches, as well as updating the existing play equipment. These works will improve the public realm, increasing residents’ amenity and increasing play opportunities for children.  

Environmental improvements at Papworth Gardens 

Approximate cost: £20,000 to £50,000

This project would provide environmental improvements to the outdoor amenity space at Papworth Gardens. Improvements may include landscaping works, installation of wooden planters for community growing projects, and the installation of seating/and or picnic benches.

Addressing antisocial Behaviour on Westbourne Estate

Approximate cost: TBC

This project would explore options to address antisocial behaviour on the estate through working with residents.

Environmental improvements at Caledonian Estate

Approximate cost: TBC

This project would provide environmental improvements to the outdoor amenity space at Caledonian Estate. Improvements may include landscaping works, installation of wooden planters for community growing projects, and the installation of seating/and or picnic benches.

Environmental improvements on Mersey Estate

Approximate cost: £20,000 to £50,000

This project would provide environmental improvements to the outdoor amenity space at Mersey Estate. Improvements may include landscaping works, installation of wooden planters for community growing projects, installation of seating/and or picnic benches, as well as updating the existing play equipment. Options to address antisocial behaviour on the estate will also be explored. These works will improve the public realm, increasing residents’ amenity and increasing play opportunities for children.

Addressing antisocial behaviour on Lockhart Close

Approximate cost: £20,000 to £120,000

This scheme would explore several options to address concerns over antisocial behaviour and fly tipping on Lockhart Close, including the installation of new LED lighting, reviewing gating arrangements and creating a new lumber point. These changes are expected to improve the safety and appearance of the estate.

Cottage Road Square

Approximate cost: £40,000

This project would explore options for adding casual play equipment in the square on Cottage Road. The aim would be to create a space that is more child-friendly and encourages active play.

Addressing antisocial behaviour on Swan Yard

Approximate cost: £5,000

This scheme would introduce new signage on Swan Yard notifying passersby that the space is residential. The project would also explore options to prevent moped users from accessing Swan Yard from Upper Street via the pedestrian and cycling route.

Paradise Park: Installation of Water Bottle Filling Station

• Our funding: £4,860
• Project in development

This project will install a new water fountain near to the ball court in Paradise Park.

Paradise Park Toilets and Park Keepers Facility

• Our funding: £142,000
• Project in development

This project aims to provide public toilets and a new park keepers’ facility in Paradise Park. 

Light Project Pro International

• Our funding: £30,000
• Project began December 2023

Light Project Pro International is an educational charity based in Islington aims to improve the educational opportunities of local communities, particularly people who are at risk of being socially marginalised. This project is providing financial support to increase management capacity at the centre. 

Westbourne Estate accessibility improvements

• Our funding: £25,000
• Project began July 2024

This project consists of resurfacing improvements, barrier removal, and the installation of way finding signage throughout the estate, including Westbourne Road, MacKenzie Road, Roman Way, and Bride Street.

Caledonian Estate accessibility improvements

• Our funding: £25,000
• Project in development

This project is exploring options to improve pedestrian access between Old Caledonian blocks and Armour Close to provide safe access between the two spaces. Works under this project may include resurfacing the tarmac on Armour Close and replacing the community garden currently in the space.

Laycock Primary gate automation

• Our funding: £5,000
• Project completed December 2025

This funding supported the installation of an automatic opening/closing mechanism for an iron gate at Laycock Primary school to facilitate access and prevent injury when door closes.

Haslam Close lighting and estate improvements

• Our funding: £56,000
• Project completed September 2025

This project has upgraded the lighting at Haslam Close Estate with LED lights to create a safer public realm at night. The funding was also used to support a community gardening project for residents in the estate, including installing planters and a programme of workshops for gardeners to learn new skills.

Westbourne Early Years Centre: metal gate and signage

• Our funding: £5,000
• Project completed April 2025

This project replaced the metal gate and signage at the front of Westbourne Children's Centre to improve the appearance of the centre, making it more inviting for parents and children visiting. The existing sign was also moved to a lower, eye level point so it is clear to visitors and passers-by, to make wayfinding clearer.

Compton Terrace lighting

• Our funding: £12,500
• Project completed August 2025

This scheme installed a lighting column by Compton Gardens green space, to increase lighting levels as a deterrent to ASB in the vicinity.

Colebeck Mews dropped kerbs

• Our funding: £10,000
• Project completed April 2025

This scheme introduced dropped kerbs on Colebeck Mews to support accessibility for residents.

Freightliners City Farm

• Our funding: £10,000
• Project completed December 2024

This project provided support to Freightliners City Farm. The farm is a small community farm with animals and a garden which enables residents to take part in farming and gardening activities. It is an open access space which is free at the point of entry supported by donations, grants and income from farm products and services.

Martin Luther King Adventure Playground: urban garden

• Our funding: £2,340
• Project completed October 2024

This project developed an urban garden consisting of three raised beds at Martin Luther King Adventure Playground for children to participate in and learn about growing vegetables and flowers. The beds are made from oak sleepers and have pathways across for children to work from.

Prospex Youth Club: tech hub

• Our funding: £33,000
• Project completed October 2024

This scheme involved funding a tech hub which aims to address the technological divide by inspiring disadvantaged young people aged 8-21 years to access the same technology opportunities as their peers. The hub provides access to equipment as well as radio, photography, video and podcast-making training to young people in the area.

Job Perks Club

• Our funding: £4,000
• Project completed July 2024

The scheme benefitted young people, families, and the BAME Communities by providing them with training and apprenticeships as well as therapy and mentoring sessions to support their wellbeing and career development. The scheme also improved young people's IT skills and their access to IT facilities by providing the participants with access to Ringcross Centre's IT lab.

Herb garden at Laycock Green

• Our funding: £3,542
• Project completed July 2024

This project created herb garden at Laycock Green with a variety of perennial herbs including rosemary, sage and lemon balm.

Martin Luther King Adventure Playground - Swing

• Our funding: £5,093
• Project completed May 2024

This project installed a ‘tango’ swing for the children who attend Martin Luther King Adventure Playground. The swing allows for two children at a time to swing together enabling the most potential for children to create games. The centre has also received a donation of a new cantilever swing. Children were able to get involved in the assembly of the new swing, learning how to use tools under the supervision of play workers.

New equipment for Islington Boccia Group

• Our funding: £1,200
• Project completed December 2023

This project funded new equipment for Islington Boccia Group based at the Ringcross Community Centre. Boccia is a Paralympic sport which involves athletes throwing, kicking or using a ramp to propel a ball onto the court with the aim of getting closest to a ‘jack’ ball. It is designed specifically for athletes with a disability affecting locomotor function. Islington Boccia Group have adapted the game to also include learning difficulties, sensory difficulties and complex needs athletes The new equipment will allow the group to improve their training and playing skills, enabling them to enter regional Boccia Competitions representing Islington.

Arundel Square Playground

• Our funding: £75,000
• Project completed November 2023

This project replaced and improved the playground at Arundel Square which was in desperate need of renewal. Refurbishment of the playground has improved the public realm, increasing amenity and providing a wider range of outdoor play opportunities for children in the area, especially younger children.

New entrance at Canonbury Primary School

• Our funding: £100,000
• Project completed November 2023

This project has created a new pedestrian entrance at Canonbury Primary School. The project aims to increase road safety and reduce exposure to pollution by moving the entrance away from Canonbury Road. The addition of the entrance has provided a safe space for parents to wait, away from the road, at the start and the end of the day. This has greatly assisted with road safety concerns, and reduced the length of time children stand next to stationery traffic.

Paradise Park: Installation of automatically closing easy gate

• Our funding: £2,300
• Project completed September 2023

This project involved installing a new automatically closing gate at the entrance to Paradise Park on Mackenzie Road. The entrance is located near to Paradise Park Children’s Centre. The new gate will improve safety by preventing the gate from being left open.

Prospex Youth Club: kitchen refurbishment

• Our funding: £15,179
• Project completed September 2023

This project funded a much-needed upgrade to the kitchen at Prospex Youth Centre on the Ringcross Estate. The project has refurbished the kitchen so that it meets professional standards. It has enabled the organisation to tackle food inequality by providing healthy and nutritious food to all of the young people attending Prospex Youth Centre. Young people also have opportunities to try new foods, learn to cook healthy meals, and understand the importance of good nutrition on both physical and mental health.

New building at Martin Luther King Adventure Playground

• Our funding: £175,000
• Project completed Summer 2023

The project replaced the existing, ageing building with a fit for purpose, wind- and water-tight building in tune with the adventure playground, park and proposed home zone entrance to Paradise Park. The works included the demolition and removal of the former building in favour of an ecological/economical building. Priorities include increasing the amount of outdoor play space to accommodate increasing numbers of children attending both in term time and during school holidays.

Pedestrian crossing on Cottage Road

• Our funding: £40,000
• Project completed May 2023

This project delivered a pedestrian zebra crossing on the Cottage Road and Caledonian Road junction at the Waste and Recycling Centre. The purpose of the proposal was to create a safer crossing and more visibility for pedestrians crossing from Cottage Road to Caledonian Road, particularly for those with push chairs and mobility scooters. It also includeded measures to calm traffic and reduce vehicle speeds.

Paradise Park Children’s Centre: sun shade

• Our funding: £5,000
• Project completed February 2023

This project involved installing a sun shade in the children’s play area which will provide a safe space to play during the summer months, maximising time spent outside and providing much needed shade for when the children are sleeping.

Ringcross Community Centre food bank

• Our funding: £30,000
• Project completed November 2022

This scheme converted an old garage into a food storage space; built another cabin to help with preparing and service of food; and renovated the kitchen. A new database and monitoring system for the food bank was also introduced.

Outdoor gym at Laycock Green

• Our funding: £35,300
• Project completed Summer 2022

This project installed an outdoor gym at Laycock Green. The outdoor gym consists of various pieces of equipment for use by the public, as well as appropriate safety surfacing and a bench and a bin. The scheme aims to help boost the health and wellbeing of local residents, both physically and mentally, by providing a free and accessible way to exercise. The project was completed in July 2022. 

Installation of New Bins at Laycock Green

• Our funding: £5,690
• Project completed July 2022

This project funded the installation of new bins in Laycock Green. The new bins have greater capacity and will prevent the overflow of rubbish, improving the appearance and amenity of the park.