Investment in Tavistock Square

25 June 2012

Tavistock Square has been transformed following over £500,000 investment by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and Transport for London.

The square remains a pedestrian area but now has porphyry paving and a new Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) tree. To the north there is a raised table, crossing Basing Street, making a clearer link between the square and the park opposite and improving access to Westbourne Park Underground station.

The arts and craft market helps to sustain the vitality of the square and the six dedicated arts and crafts market stall spaces all now have electric power supplies.

Commenting on the improvements to Tavistock Square, Councillor Nick Paget-Brown, Deputy Leader of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, said: "It is great to see the improvements to this key staging point on Portobello Road. We have been working hard to improve North Kensington and provide residents and visitors with an improved streetscape.

"I think that everyone who comes to the square will be pleased with what they see and it is worth noting that it now feels more part of its surrounding area. Its relationship with Tavistock Gardens is much better and I hope it will mean more people will come to the square and Tavistock Gardens."

The works followed consultation with residents of the area and requests from Colville Area Forum.

New lighting was also installed in the square and matches the existing Portobello Road lighting. New festoon lighting has also been placed in the two largest trees in the square.

A new circular bench has been placed around one of the trees, nearest Portobello Road and informal seating has been placed at each end of the square in the form of spherical bollards.

Two new shrub planters with lavender, rosemary and Mesembryanthemums and new tree surrounds around the base of all the trees have also been installed.