The online Action Planning Stakeholder Roundtable Workshops engaged over thirty stakeholders and residents, including representatives from Tower Hamlets and Hackney Councils, housing associations and developers, and numerous community organisations. 

Over four sessions, stakeholders discussed the strategy and action recommendations from the initial engagements with local and strategic stakeholders and explored the four low-carbon themes and collectively delved into ways to take previous workshop ideas forward, discussing how and when projects could be funded and delivered, as well as exploring opportunities for collaboration. 

The workshops brought together stakeholder representatives together with residents who engaged in the thematic workshops to start collectively building an action plan for Poplar. 

Workshop 1: Air Quality & 

Active Travel 

Workshop Summary Overview 

The workshop started with the facilitator sharing a presentation on the project and the previous Air Quality and Active Travel workshop and its key findings. 

Thirteen participants joined the workshop, including representatives from Sustrans, Friends of the Earth, Fair Energy Campaign, University of East London, Hubbub, Council of London Borough of Tower Hamlets, Poplar HARCA and a couple of local residents who had attended the previous community thematic workshops. 

For the activity, the participants were divided into two smaller groups, as this was a larger group, who were then separated into breakout rooms. Google Jamboards were then shared with the groups. 

The first Jamboard presented the question, “What projects are you working on that are addressing the following issues?” with the following points: 

• Air & Noise Pollution from road corridors & construction sites (i.e the A12) 

• Walkability of streets and local safety + wayfinding 

• Tackling High Car Ownership 

• Education & Awareness Raising of Air Quality Issues 

• Creating safer cycling routes & uptake of cycling 

• Local EV charging points needed.29 

This allowed the participants to introduce themselves and share the projects that they were currently working on. 

The second Jamboard showed a list of 17 current project ideas grouped under three main categories, projects to: promote Active Travel and reduce car emissions, improve air quality, and promote sustainable vehicle use. The stakeholders were asked how these projects could be delivered and if any relevant precedents of similar projects existed. 

Workshop 2: Green Spaces &

Local Growing

Workshop Summary Overview

The workshop started with the facilitator sharing a presentation on the project and the previous Green Spaces & Food Growing workshop and its key findings.

The workshop had a total of 13 participants, with representatives from Women’s Environmental Network, Food Store, Hubbub, Friends of Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, University of East London, Clarion Group, St William, Poplar HARCA, Tower Hamlets and Hackney Councils and residents. 

For the activity, as this was a larger group, it was divided into two smaller groups, which were then separated into breakout rooms. Google Jamboards were then shared with the groups.

The first Jamboard presented the question, “What projects are you working on that are addressing the following issues?” with the following points:

•  Some areas of Poplar require more greening

•  Underused green spaces

•  More access to allotments and community gardens

•  Introduce food growing to children and young people, e.g. in schools

•  Some parks are in need of improvements, e.g. adding play spaces, more bins and/or benches

•  A lack of biodiversity (more wildflowers, fruit trees/plants)

This provided the participants with an opportunity to introduce themselves and the projects that they were currently working on.

The second Jamboard showed a list of 12 current project ideas grouped under four main categories, projects for general greening; greener routes; landscape improvements; and food growing and food education. The stakeholders were then asked how the projects could be delivered and who could be involved.

Workshop 3: Homes & Energy

Workshop Summary Overview

The workshop started with the facilitator sharing a presentation on the project, the previous Homes & Energy workshop, and its key findings.

The workshop had 8 participants, with representatives from Friends of the Earth, Fair Energy Campaign, University of East London, Arup, LLDC, Poplar HARCA, London Borough of Tower Hamlets Council and a local resident.

For the activity, Google Jamboards were shared with the group. The first Jamboard presented the question – “What projects are you working on that are addressing the following issues?”:

• Buildings issues are affecting some residents’ comfort and health
• DIY retrofit improvements
• Renters lack control over energy efficiency in homes 
• Lack of knowledge of energy efficiency measures and home comfort in the neighbourhood 
• Addressing local fuel poverty, affordability and cost of living 
• Retrofit improvements to (mixed-tenure) flat blocks and getting buy-in from everyone
• Develop community energy initiatives.

This provided the participants with an opportunity to introduce themselves and the projects that they were currently working on.

The second Jamboard showed a list of 12 current project ideas grouped under four main categories, projects for energy advice; retrofit/home energy efficiency; and energy projects. 

The stakeholders were then asked how these projects could be delivered and if there were any relevant precedents of similar projects.

Workshop 4: Resources & Waste Reduction

Workshop Summary Overview

Once again, the workshop began with the facilitator sharing a presentation on the project and the theme and key findings. 

The workshop had a total of 7 participants, with representatives from System Design and Strategy, London College of Fashion, Hackney Wick & Fish Island Community Development Trust, London Borough of Tower Hamlets and a local resident from the previous workshops. 

Google Jamboards were shared with the group, and the first Jamboard asked, “What projects are you working on that are addressing the following issues?” with the following points:

•  Circular economy: re-use and re-distribute resources locally to avoid waste

•  Behavioural change – reduce waste, reuse

•  Composting bins and sites

•  Tool sharing

•  Food waste

•  Plastic waste reduction

•  Water conservation

•  Energy conservation e.g., street lighting

This provided the participants with an opportunity to introduce themselves and the projects that they were currently working on.

The second Jamboard showed a list of 11 current project ideas grouped under four main categories, projects on the circular economy, conscious consumption and behaviour change (shopping responsibly), reducing waste and carbon emissions, and resources projects.  The stakeholders were then asked how these projects could be delivered and if there were any relevant precedents of similar projects.