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Clerkenwell residents are invited to take part in a unique research project to establish the environmental and social effects of living in Clerkenwell's mixed residential and business area.

UCL researchers will recruit up to 30 residents to take part in the project during November, December and January 2004. The data collected - including sound recordings, photographs, air quality assessments in Clerkenwell - will be used to produce decision-making tools for city planners and policy-makers. To apply residents should contact Gemma Moore before the end of December on 020 7679 8236.

Residents who live between Pentonville Road in the north, Holborn Circus in the south, Goswell Road in the East and Gray's Inn Road in the west can participate in this chance to shape the future of Clerkenwell. Volunteers will be asked to help make a sound recording of the area, take photographs to illustrate their favourite and most disliked aspects of living in Clerkenwell and talk with the researchers about their area.

The research team is looking to find out the reaction of residents to Clerkenwell and what they would change to improve the area. Questions on researchers' minds include: what are residents in Clerkenwell most aware of when they are on the street; what smells, sounds and views do they experience daily; and what disturbs or stimulates them about the area?

Resident interviews and air quality and noise pollution monitoring - both inside and outside volunteers flats and houses - will be analysed and recommendations made to policy makers and city planners in Clerkenwell, and later (after similar studies take place in Manchester and Sheffield ) in the rest of the UK .

The group at 911±¬ÁÏÍø is working with a larger consortium collaborating on a project called Vivacity 2020 which is looking at all aspects of city planning such as preventing crime, air and noise pollution, improving services in and economic vitality of rundown areas. The consortium comprises UCL, the University of Salford, London Metropolitan University and Sheffield Hallam University and 30 partner organisations including local authorities and government bodies.

By 2006 enough data will have been collected to produce a Knowledge Platform that will help in the development of practical tools for anyone involved in designing new features in cities across the UK .

UCL's researchers are looking to talk to people who have lived in Clerkenwell for at least 12 months, are of any age or background, living in a range of housing types. In return for participating in the project participants will receive a copy of the photos they have taken, and a £10 voucher.

Notes for Editors:

For further information or to organise an interview with the researchers please contact Alex Brew, UCL press office, 020 7679 9726 or 07747 565 056.