Regent Street faces Europe-inspired overhaul for pedestrians
- What do you consider the Regent Street plans? Please e-mail: [email protected]
London‘s Regent Street is about to endure a significant overhaul over the approaching years that may see site visitors diminished to offer extra space for cyclists and pedestrians.
Westminster City Council stated it’s taking inspiration from cycling-friendly European cities equivalent to Copenhagen, Amsterdam and Seville as plans are put collectively.
The council and the Crown Estate additionally hope to improve Piccadilly Circus, Haymarket and components of Pall Mall as a part of the ‘Regent Street Public Realm Vision’ mission.
Planners desire a ‘new inexperienced hyperlink by means of the center of the West End’ to attach St James’s Park to Regent’s Park, reimagining architect John Nash’s ‘park-to-park’ imaginative and prescient set out in 1811 below the patronage of the Prince Regent, later King George IV.
They are additionally taking inspiration from the pedestrian pleasant designs of the Champs-Élysées in Paris, La Diagonal in Barcelona and Mariahilfer Strasse in Vienna.
What do you consider the Regent Street plans? Please e-mail: [email protected]
London’s Regent Street (pictured on December 21 final 12 months) is about to have a significant overhaul
A view of an empty Regent Street in Central London in the course of the Boxing Day gross sales final month
Regent Street will see site visitors diminished to offer extra space for cyclists and pedestrians
The council additionally desires the plans to assist revitalise the West End which has turn out to be blighted in recent times by cheesy American-style candy retailers and memento shops.
Paul Dimoldenberg, council cupboard member for metropolis administration and air high quality, instructed the Evening Standard: ‘The Regent Street Public Realm Vision report represents a dedication to a extra vibrant, sustainable and inclusive city surroundings.
‘We’ve labored extensively with members of the general public to form a imaginative and prescient that’s primarily based on what they wish to see.’
Simon Harding-Roots from the Crown Estate added: ‘This report brings us a step nearer to realising our collective ambitions for this historic avenue.’
Plans for the primary spherical of funding – which will probably be cut up between the council and the Crown Estate – had been permitted on Monday, and designs will probably be offered subsequent 12 months.
PARIS: Champs-Elysees is alleged by planners to be greater than twice as extensive as Regent Street
BARCELONA: La Diagonal in Barcelona is among the many main streets being studied for inspiration
It comes amid plans for Oxford Street to additionally get a significant facelift from this autumn with plans to inject £100million into pedestrian entry, greenery and higher lighting.
Work on the mission, which is a joint effort between the council and New West End Company, is anticipated to complete in spring 2026.
The council additionally launched a £10million scheme to enhance the realm by permitting small enterprise homeowners to open shops lease free and decrease enterprise charges by 70 per cent.
And it has launched a crackdown on sweet shops which seems be working after it was revealed final October that the quantity blighting the highway had dropped by a 3rd in a 12 months to 21 from a peak of 30.
The council has seized £1million value of unlawful and counterfeit items from sweet shops and memento retailers on Oxford Street since operations started in late 2021.
The space has turn out to be hit by crime and homelessness in recent times having fallen into disrepair with empty retailers, littered streets and dwindling numbers of holiday makers.
Last August, West End shops had been compelled to decrease their shutters and lock prospects inside after giant teams of primarily younger males and teenagers responded to a name on TikTok to affix a ‘Oxford Circus JD theft’.
M&S operations director Sacha Berendji additionally stated in August that the realm had as soon as been ‘the jewel in London’s buying crown’ however was now little greater than ’empty retailers, littered streets and fewer guests’.
VIENNA: Mariahilfer Strasse can be cited as an inspiration for its promenade and locations to sit down
Last July, Brian Duffy, the chief government of main British retailer Watches of Switzerland, branded Oxford Street a ‘nationwide embarrassment’.
And final April, Marks & Spencer boss Stuart Machin stated London was dropping its aggressive edge to rival cities. Mr Machin blamed a authorities transfer to axe VAT-free buying and a ‘proliferation of cheesy sweet shops’.
Topshop’s flagship retailer close to Oxford Circus station closed in early 2021 after the demise of Sir Philip Green’s Arcadia retail empire.
House of Fraser’s division retailer additionally shut up store in January 2022 after greater than a century on the location.
But some large names are transferring into the realm – Ikea will open up on the former Topshop web site whereas HMV reopened its previous flagship retailer on Oxford Street after a four-year absence final 12 months.
What do you consider the Regent Street plans? Please e-mail: [email protected]
