About Walthamstow

Walthamstow is the borough’s largest town centre, a vibrant urban centre that boasts a diverse community, excellent public transport links to central London and a number of historic buildings. Walthamstow is at the heart of the borough, both geographically and economically, and provides homes, employment, retail, services and leisure opportunities for large numbers of people. It is the borough's main commercial centre, driving the economy and attracting visitors, and has been identified as a key growth area for the borough.
  
Walthamstow has over 500 existing shops, including in 17&Central shopping centre, along the High Street, Hoe Street and St James Street. The High Street is also home to one of the country’s longest street markets, with over 350 pitches, stretching from the Town Square to St James Street and serving the diverse community that lives in or visits Walthamstow. 
  
Walthamstow has seen some exciting changes over the last few years. Key sites developed include council scheme such as The Scene, a complex with Empire cinema, restaurants and new homes and Central Parade with Today Bread café, on-site bakery and business incubator units, Crate St James creative enterprise hub on a former car park site and purchase and refurbishment of the former EMD Granada Cinema, which is currently under construction and due to re-open as a 950-seater comedy, theatre and music venue and cultural hub managed by Soho Theatre. In addition, the council have invested in improving public spaces and shop fronts at both ends of the High Street and along Hoe Street, including the St James Street conservation area with Heritage Lottery Funding support to improve 50 shopfronts and streetscape improvements.  Further council-led improvements to the public realm in Walthamstow Town Centre are due for completion in Spring 2023.  
  
Future investment in Walthamstow includes the regeneration and development of key council-owned sites including Central Parade, Central House, Juniper House and Chestnuts House. The council have also committed to facilitating development of proposals and delivery plans for key third party owned sites, which include The Mall and St James Quarter.  
  
The Walthamstow Town Centre Area Action Plan (AAP) is an important planning policy document for the future of the town centre and shaping its development. This includes the potential for 2,000 new homes, the 90,000 sq ft. Mall extension and a mix of leisure, community and business space.  

Walthamstow Night-time Enterprise Zone (NTEZ)

In December 2019 Walthamstow Night-time Enterprise Zone (NTEZ) was launched with support from the GLA, with a series of exciting free events taking place along the High Street.  An exciting partnership between with local artists and businesses who hosted activities in their premises during the evening and into the night was curated by Artillery, Walthamstow-based arts development organisation.   The success of the High Street ADVENTures event was built on with a fantastic second event on 4th December 2021 and launch of the business toolkit which supports businesses with the practicalities of opening later into the evening.