The Soho Neighbourhood Forum has launched a street heritage study in collaboration with urban designers Publica and urban design specialist, and Soho resident, Bahar Durmaz-Drinkwater.
Launched in September 2024, the heritage audit will document the location and historic details of heritage objects that contribute to Soho’s unique character. The notable architectural history of the area is well-documented, but what’s missing is the more intangible heritage assets, like the long-established independent businesses, and objects such as street furniture, facade features, signage and surfaces.
The findings will be compiled into a permanent digital map of Soho’s historical landscape. The digital map, along with a database of all unlisted external heritage features, will be accessible to the public, on the Neighbourhood Forum’s website from January 2025. www.planforsoho.org
Through thorough fieldwork, visual documentation of heritage features will be captured. This will be followed by the creation of a database, using information from the Westminster and Metropolitan archives to describe and categorise each heritage feature.
The study was initiated in response to growing concern at the amount of heritage assets disappearing as Soho’s visual landscape continues to evolve. The aim is to raise awareness and appreciation for Soho’s distinctive visual identity, while providing valuable information to Westminster Council for future planning decisions.
The loss of unique heritage elements in Soho could reduce its appeal to visitors, leading to a decline in foot traffic to local businesses. This drop-in activity may result in periods of lower revenue, potentially causing some businesses to close. With the Soho Heritage Audit, business owners will have access to a rich source of inspiration and historical data, encouraging the reuse, refurbishment, and celebration of heritage assets, which may boost retail activity and increase awareness of what Soho has to offer. For developers, the audit will serve as an invaluable tool in understanding the historical context of sites they are planning to develop.
Community engagement is central to the project’s success. Over the coming months residents, visitors, schools, and local businesses will be invited to share their views on what they consider Soho’s heritage and what elements are most significant to the community. As well as raising an awareness of the project, the audit encourages people to actively participate and send pictures of assets that they think should be included in the project.
The Neighbourhood Forum is calling on the public to help identify heritage features by sharing their knowledge, experiences, memories through various engagement tools such social media – DM @planforsoho or tag @soho_heritage_study on Instagram, or fill in the form on https://www.planforsoho.org/
There is also a project-specific email for people to send in images, entry ideas, and general thoughts on the heritage of Soho: SohoHeritageAudit@publica.co.
