Hopes are high in Camberwell that regeneration work will begin as scheduled this year, as part of the £ 1.5 million allocated to the area by the Greater London Authority’s Good Growth Fund.

The funding, which was granted in March 2020, is meant to improve parts of Camberwell identified by residents. Planned improvements include work on the local station, landscaping on Camberwell Station Road and creating space for local businesses in the empty railway arches.

Plans have been approved by Southwark Council after multiple consultations with residents, investors, developers and agencies such as TfL.

Both underpasses on Camberwell Station Road will be enhanced and illuminated, pavements widened to improve pedestrian access and trees planted along the sidewalks to improve air quality.

The regeneration money comes from the Good Growth Fund, which was set up to mitigate the pandemic’s economic impact on parts of London. The Fund is London mayor Sadiq Khan’s £ 70 million regeneration programme for the British capital. Officials say the programme will safeguard or create more than 2,000 jobs and help more than 5,000 businesses.

The project is being financed through funding bids by London Economic Action Partnership, which includes local authorities, entrepreneurs and businesses. Nearly 138 regeneration projects across London are in the works.

Khan has said: “Through my Good Growth Fund and Crowdfund London programme we’re supporting thousands of businesses and helping more Londoners make a difference to their local areas across the city.”

The regeneration of areas like Camberwell is considered crucial for London, with the mayor stressing that “London’s local communities are sources of tremendous innovation and creativity.”