Through engagement with the community and stakeholders including Historic England we’ve recognised that the developing designs shared last Autumn removed too much of the existing 20th century fabric. We are therefore proposing to retain and improve the existing fountains and reflect the North – South path that leads to the Roosevelt memorial.

We’ve also been carefully thinking about how to design around existing memorials. Within the gardens, historical structures such as the listed statue of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the listed Eagle Squadrons Memorial as well as the 9/11 Memorial Garden and Treaty of Paris inscription – neither of which are listed – are to be retained.

The entrances at each corner are the gateway to the Square. We want each of them to have a special quality to signify the entrance so it feels special when you arrive.

To help achieve this we are proposing a floating pergola at each corner, which can be seen from the surrounding streets. These would be:

1. Made from timber

2. Integrated with lighting spires to help create a safe environment and be beautifully lit after dark

3. Decorated with plants so that visitors are greeted by wonderful scents and sounds of nature.

Around the edge of the Square would be a Shaded Garden with a meandering path that allows you to be immersed in nature. Along the paths would be a number of social ovals for people to meet and spend time.

We want to ensure these spaces are attractive, safe places to spend time and have been thinking about how different areas might be used based on factors such as their location and how much sun they receive. Let us know how you’d like to use them here.

The Shaded Garden provides an opportunity to introduce new ground cover, shrubs and treesto transform sterile lawns into a wider variety of habitats in the Square. Low mounds within the Shaded Garden, rising to 80cm such as the one shown in this sketch, would help to vary the height of this planting creating unique routes through the foliage and a more natural woodland experience.

In the centre of the Square would be the Open Garden, which will offer the open space that we know people value, whilst also referencing the historic aims to highlight its historic significance as the first Oval Square in London.

We are proposing to introduce a gradual mound that rises into the centre of the Open Garden, reaching 1.2m at its highest point to preserve the sightlines across the Square. This is designed to create a space for people to spend time resting, reading or socialising, as opposed to the Square becoming a shortcut between neighbouring streets. The paths around the Open Garden are therefore designed to encourage people to walk around the grass, rather than cut across it.

Water is an important part of the designs. We see it as both a resource and an opportunity to improve experience and wellbeing of people that use the Square.

Water will allow the structures in the Square to come alive with sound, texture, and movement. Located at the western side where the path meets the Open Garden, the two waterfall canopies would fill with water and bring the Square alive with sounds whilst the spaces below can be used for seating and shelter from the rain (or sun!). By collecting water at a height and encouraging it to travel down the canopy structure, as well as introducing an active pump system, the cascading water will create a sensory experience.

We know how important wetland habitats are for supporting wildlife, so are incorporating a wetland pond at the western end of the Open Garden. We are also creating swales (similar to a shallow channel or ridge) throughout the Shaded Garden which will catch surface run offand support different species of plants.

Nestled under two large trees are the two buildings proposed at the south of the Square, close to the entrance.

These would provide amenities for people spending time here including a WC, which we know are currently lacking in the area. There would also be a small kiosk, similar to those provided by Royal Parks in places like Green Park and Hyde Park which sell drinks and snacks.

As well as a WC and kiosk there would be a Gardener’s Area and Education Space for activities and workshops that embrace the opportunity the redesign provides to learn about the environment

In the social ovals within the Shaded Garden there will be a range of seats and table formations such as a long oval table or small oval platforms. The central oval bench made of high-quality stone that surrounds the Open Garden would more than double the number of seats that are currently available.

We have listened to your concerns about security andare proposing to incorporate subtle but effective lighting across the Square.

This would include:

1. Low level lighting across the Shaded Garden, meaning a walk through after dark would be a beautiful and safe experience.
2. A series of lighting spires across the Square varyingin height, with the tallest ones proposed at the cornerentrances and next to larger trees.
3. Uplighters next to each of the heritage memorials so that they can be enjoyed after dark.

We received clear feedback that people wanted to see something more overtly playful in the Square. We’ve been working with play experts and natural play designers Davies White Ltd to help us work with children and families and explore different ways that play could be included.

Most people preferred play space to be stitched across the Square at various places in and around the social ovals in the Shaded Garden. Here we would:

“Embracing the educational opportunity” that the redesign of Grosvenor Square provides was identified as a Community Priority early in the process. Many of you recognised the potential for this environmentally-led design, in the heart of the West End, to provide educational benefit to local schools and communities.