A new town square, more cycling and fewer cars on the road are among suggestions put forward for the future of Mill Hill.

The recommendations were put together by a team of 11 postgraduate regional and urban planning students from the London School of Economics (LSE), in a report on planning challenges for The Mill Hill Neighbourhood Forum.

The forum, which was formed last year, oversees planning matters in Mill Hill to make sure new developments meet the area’s needs, and has been tasked with writing the area’s Neighbourhood Development Plan.

Mill Hill is predicted to see a population growth of 41 per cent from 2011 to 2041, according to the group.

In its report, the students recommend creating a central town square on The Broadway, which would reinforce “Mill Hill’s sense of place and identity”, and provide space for concerts, film screenings, markets and other events.

The proposal would include removing up to ten parking spaces, although they suggest a more ambitious project would be to consider the demolition of buildings to free up more space.

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The proposed central town square. Credit: Google maps

Another suggestion is for a ‘green wall’, a wall covered in vegetation, to be installed at Mill Hill Broadway station, to counter its “dark and uninviting atmosphere” for passengers.

The report also says business owners “seem to lack unity”, and calls for more partnerships, which would improve the area, especially with issues such as rubbish in the streets.

Reducing car use is also highlighted as a priority, with the report recommending encouraging car sharing, walking and cycling. It points out that car ownership in Mill Hill, at 80 per cent, is “significantly higher”, compared to 58.4 per cent in London and 71.3 per cent in Barnet.

Parking problems are also noted, and the report suggests introducing free parking periods along The Broadway at off-peak times to boost trade – with the loss of revenue compensated by increased parking costs in Bunns Lane car park.

Although the report’s authors support the Mill Hill Neighbourhood Forum’s plans for a multi-storey car park on Bunns Lane, they also recommend keeping parking at Mill Hill Broadway.

The report also calls for step-free access at Mill Hill East Tube station, and for more direct trains to and from central London outside peak hours.

The authors also write that “Mill Hill has an unknown and underexploited potential in terms of sports and outdoor spaces”, and calls for green belt land to be used more to brand the area as a “sports and outdoor leisure hub”.

John Gillett, chairman of Mill Hill Neighbourhood Forum, said: “We accept that change is inevitable and we want to encourage the right changes with distinctive, high quality properties, that sit well in their surroundings, and bring the local amenities that improve the way we all live, work and play.

“We believe that new technologies can enable change and we are alive to the possible solutions such advances can bring.”

Alan Mace, Assistant Professor of Urban Planning Studies at the LSE, said: “The Mill Hill Forum faces challenges found in many parts of outer London. These include poorly performing high streets, loss of places of employment, the need for more housing and the role of the car.

“The report’s value will be in provoking further discussion as the Forum continues its task of developing the Mill Hill Neighbourhood Plan.”