Udenson Caldbeck Associates (UCA) specialise in innovative ideas and solutions to issues, project development and initiation, and ongoing project management.  UCA developed the Oaklands Road Playable Street Project on behalf of Cricklewood Town Team, and successfully bid for funding from the London Borough of Brent’s Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy Fund in 2019.

The project was devised to address long-standing problems associated with the congested environment, air pollution and lack of public space in Cricklewood town centre. It will pedestrianise part of Oaklands Road by closing off vehicular access from the Broadway to Oaklands Mews, removing the current high levels of illegal parking, idling, and the dangerous pedestrian crossing at the junction.

With a strong background in developing partnerships, UCA pulled together a project team, including:

  • Cricklewood Town Team – chairing the project board and activating the site with a calendar of events when complete
  • Brent Council Highways and Infrastructure Service – delivering the civic works and installation of new trees
  • Hellion Trace, an award-winning company specialising in world-class productions that fuse movement and technology together – to provide an interactive art installation called Press Play
  • Airlabs, a leading pioneer in clean air technology – providing a study to understand the local airflow dynamics of the site and determine the best means of intervention, and monitor pollution levels going forward using sensors installed on the site and Cricklewood Broadway.
  • Rainbow Properties – providing a living wall on their new development in Oaklands Road, further greening the area and contributing to pollution reduction.

The new space will be celebrated with a launch event, including the installation of the Press Play art installation. A calendar of site activation events will also be planned by Cricklewood Town Team.