T
he backers of London’s personal model of the New York Excessive Line are set to launch a £35 million fundraising marketing campaign to pay for the bold undertaking.
The scheme, which might see a 3 quarter mile stretch of disused railway viaducts was a linear park above Camden, is now shifting into its subsequent part after designers had been appointed final week.
The charity behind the proposal awarded the contract to a consortium led by New York based mostly James Nook Discipline Operations, the agency behind the unique Excessive Line in Manhattan, in addition to South Park on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
The north London model would stretch from Camden Gardens near Camden City underground station to York Method close to Kings Cross.
Sooner or later there can also be an possibility to increase it additional into Islington.
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The chief government of the Camden Highline charity, Simon Pitkeathley, mentioned the route, which might accommodate as much as 2.5 million customers a 12 months, could be funded by a mixture of public sector and belief grants, donations from rich people and company sponsorship, which might embody naming rights.
Mr Pitkeathley mentioned: ”We’re stating that course of now and have already had a surprisingly good response. It’s a kind of initiatives that has caught individuals’s imaginations.”
He additionally mentioned he hoped for the backing of a excessive profile Londoner to boost consciousness in the identical manner that Joanna Lumley was an cheerleader for the finally ill-fated Backyard Bridge.
He mentioned: ”We might love somebody to help it in that manner,” and mentioned he wish to have Ricky Gervais on board.
The comic lives in Camden and as soon as mentioned one in all his “proudest moments” was being requested to headline a fundraiser for the New York Excessive Line, including that “I want I might do one thing related in London.”
A wider part of the route at Camden Street station is also employed out as an occasion and exhibition house to assist cowl the estimated £1 million a 12 months upkeep prices.
The Camden Highline would in all probability be in-built three sections every costing round £12 million.
A full planning utility will likely be lodged with Camden council in direction of the top of the 12 months with the work accomplished by 2024.
The Highline could be open free to all throughout regular “park hours” however shut at evening.
