Stakeholder Engagement Report

News

5 November 2024

Working with Allies & Morrison, we reached out to people who live, work, study and visit South Kensington to understand the challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss that we are facing in our neighbourhood.

Join our forthcoming webinar on the 10 December to hear from placemaking consultants, Allies & Morrison about their findings.

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South Kensington is one of the most well-known places in London, with over 20m visitors per year, 10,000 people who work here, 20,000 or so students and around 40,000 residents.  This place has to meet a lot of different needs – all of which are now under threat from a rapidly changing climate. 

The GLA’s Climate Resilience Review has made it very clear that London is facing significant challenges as a result of climate change, including excess heat, drought, storms, surface water flooding, wildfires and subsidence.   

Increasing our neighbourhood’s resilience to these threats is critical, and any successful interventions will require a collective approach that is built on trust and consensus. 

 

Testing the ground 

In Spring/Summer 2024, we commissioned Placemaking Consultancy, Allies & Morrison, to conduct an extensive stakeholder engagement exercise in South Kensington. We wanted to reach people with a long-term vested interest in the neighbourhood and hear their views on how to make the area greener, more biodiverse and more climate-resilient.   

The aim of this work was to build a more nuanced and holistic understanding of the neighbourhood through the eyes of the people who live, work and study here. It is intended to be a starting point from which to explore neighbourhood priorities and lead to new collaborations for the long-term stewardship of this internationally renowned cultural district in the face of a rapidly changing climate. 

 

Methodology  

Through a range of engagement activities, we were able to reach about 20,000 people locally, with a real focus on those living, working or studying in South Kensington.  Our methods included:

  • online content
  • a market stall in the street
  • an online survey
  • on-street discussions
  • a leaflet-drop
  • a 2-day stand at the Great Exhibition Road Festival
  • online discussion sessions
  • interviews
  • walking tours
  • an in-person ‘walkshop’

 

Findings: 

  • 97% of respondents to the online survey are concerned about the loss of nature and wildlife, and about the threats of climate change.   
  • 92% of respondents felt Local Governments have responsibility to take action on climate change and biodiversity loss.  
  • 77% thought the Exhibition Road Cultural Group institutions also have a responsibility to take action.

The priorities that emerged were: 

    Along with the six themes above, a total of 38 project ideas were suggested by stakeholders.

    These ideas offer a cohesive, community-backed launch-pad from which to explore collaborations which can, bit by bit, help us to transform South Kensington into a greener, safer and more climate-resilient neighbourhood. 

    The full report and appendices can be downloaded below: