Consented scheme
Aug 2024
Consented scheme
Aug 2024
The consented scheme was approved by Westminster City Council through a Section 73 application in August 2024. The ambition for Grosvenor Square Garden remains the same – to transform the square into a world-class public green space that delivers on the Community Priorities.
The ambition for Grosvenor Square Garden remains the same – to transform the square into a world-class public green space that delivers on the Community Priorities.
Overview of approved minor amendments
Overall, the minor amendments seek to:
- Respond to feedback including from WCC’s Tree Officer and the Met Police Designing Out Crime Officer
- Simplify the design to make it easier to deliver
- Reduce potential impact on trees
- Increase the feeling of safety by improving sightlines
- Retain, and where possible, improve community and environmental benefits
- Reduce embodied carbon
The approved approved amendment have no impact on the:
- Listed building consent
- Play space allocation
- Operational and event strategies
This online exhibition is split into 7 sections that give more detail on the approved minor amendments and relating benefits.
Public benefits and heritage features
The approved amendments retain the various public benefits achieved through the consented scheme, including:
- Increased biodiversity, 2 acres of habitat rich planting and 26 more trees
- An education building with a kiosk for learning
- Improved air quality and new wetlands
- Public WCs and play areas for children
- Public art plinths and drinking water fountains
- Seating and comfortable spaces to enjoy
- New path routes to enjoy the garden
- Enhanced management, security and maintenance
- Extended opening hoursReinstated and enhanced heritage features. Hover over the buttons on the plan below to see the heritage features are celebrated through the redesign
Retain the boundary hedge
The majority of the existing boundary hedge would be retained, rather than introducing a new railing around the whole garden. Entrances would be enhanced and widened by replacing some of the hedge with woodland planting and a new railing to match.
- Improve visibility and sightlines
- Enhanced biodiversity
- Reduce embodied carbon
- Less excavation around tree roots
- No impact on adjacent highways
Left: Indicative sketch of consented scheme
Right: Indicative sketch of approved hedge and entrance
Retain the southern gates
The gates at the southern entrance would be retained and refurbished. Whilst unlisted, these ‘Diplomatic Gates’ are part of Grosvenor Square’s heritage.
- Re-use existing materials
- Retain heritage feature
- No impact on adjacent highway pavement
Photo of southern gates today
Left: Indicative sketch of consented scheme
Right: Indicative sketch of proposed southern entrance
Amend building layouts
The building designs have evolved to an oval shape to use space more efficiently, whilst reducing the amount of overhanging roof in response to feedback received from the Designing Out Crime officer.
- Relocated entrances to enhance relationship between the buildings and the garden
- Reduce risk of rough sleeping
- Reduce impact on tree roots
- Simplified construction
- More efficient building layouts
- Improved accessibility
Plan of consented building layouts
Plan of proposed building layouts
Indicative elevation of consented buildings from southern gates
Indicative elevation of proposed buildings from southern gates
Simplify the design
Remove the mounds
Mounds originally approved in the social ovals, play areas, and woodland path of the Shaded Garden would be removed, and the central oval would also be made level.
- Improved visibility
- Reduce impact on tree roots
- Reduced materials and carbon saving
- Maintain the N/S axis between the FDR and Eagle Squadrons
- Memorials across the central oval
Diagram to show improved sight lines by removing mounds in the Shaded Garden
Left: Indicative sketch of consented scheme with the rill
Right: Indicative sketch without the rill
Remove the rill, swales and waterfall canopies
The grass on the central oval would extend to where the rill was approved. The waterfall canopies would be replaced with plinths for public art. This artwork would require separate planning consent.
- Reduce impact on tree roots
- Remove a trip hazard
- Improve accessibility
- Simplify construction and maintenance
- Allow for natural rainwater drainage
Additional approved amendment
More grassy areas
Inner social ovals closest to the Open Garden would be grass rather than hard surfacing.
- More open lawn to sit on in the shade
- Less excavation around tree roots
- Simplified construction and maintenance
- Improved permeability and water drainage
Plan showing social ovals approved to be grass in dark green; light green indicates planted areas.
Indicative sketch of modular benching
Use freestanding benches
Use freestanding benches rather than ones that are screwed into the ground, including wheelchair and pushchair friendly zones to create a more inclusive environment.
- Minimise excavation
- Reduce impact on tree roots
- Enable breaks for existing tree locations
- More accessible design
Fewer level changes between planting & paths
A more level surface has beenachieved by using softer surface materials, fewer material layers and less-intensive foundations.
- Reduce impact on tree roots
- Remove trip hazards
- Simplified construction and maintenance
- Improve accessibility
- Reduce carbon
- Improved path hierarchy
- Improved water drainage
Plan to show path types in approved amendment
Please get in touch
if you have any questions.
What happens next?
We expect to begin works on the consented scheme in 2025 and anticipate works to complete in 2026.
