As part of the construction work to expand the City of London Police’s Eastern Base at Middlesex Street Estate, it is a planning requirement to maintain the ‘active frontages’ of the former shop fronts at units 8-20 Gravel Lane. This means that we must keep the new shopfronts visually interesting and an asset to the public realm around them. These display windows are now installed and ready to fill – this is where you come in!

In September 2026, following the renovation and repurposing of the retail units along Gravel Lane, the revamped shop fronts will be available to install community artwork. The Gravel Lane shop fronts are intended to create a visible, community-led cultural presence along Gravel Lane, celebrating local identity, creativity, and heritage. By activating vacant shop fronts as a rotating display space, the project aims to strengthen the character of the street, support local artists and groups, and contribute to a safer, more welcoming public realm.