Streetscaping schemes
Bute Street
Bute Street in South Kensington is a focal point in Courtfield ward, offering places for people to meet, drink, dine and shop. It is also home to a farmers’ market every Saturday.
Trial pedestrianisation of the street during the pandemic revitalised the area and helped to save existing local businesses and attract new businesses. Following that it was suggested, in combination with making the road closure permanent, the council might improve the street’s public areas to make the most of the additional space available and to add more greenery.
Where we are now
The scheme has been approved and construction was completed in March 2024.
- Bute Street: project background
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How we got here
During the pandemic the council made several temporary interventions to support businesses, encourage people to meet outdoors safely and to support active travel. One scheme was the temporary closure of Bute Street.
In 2021, the council set up a working group made up of local representatives to look at all the issues. They developed proposals for a permanent scheme, which would :
- close the road to through traffic
- create a continuous level footway and carriageway paved in natural stone
- add planting, new seating and space for alfresco dining
It would also continue to support the Saturday farmers’ market.
Consultation with residents and businesses in Bute Street and the surrounding area followed, with 88% of those responding in support of the proposals. In response to comments during the consultation, the scheme has been amended to include a drinking water fountain and to increase the number of market stalls to 21.
Draycott Avenue
Draycott Avenue is part of the Brompton Cross District Centre. We have identified an opportunity for this area to act as a focal point for the neighbourhood and local community. We have put together proposals to create a neighbourhood centre, to enhance the quality of the public realm, and to support commercial and everyday activities.
Where we are now
The scheme has been approved and construction commenced in September 2024 and was completed in March 2025.
- Draycott Avenue: project background
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Draycott Avenue Proposed Improvements
We asked
We asked for your views on proposals to improve the northern end of Draycott Avenue, between its junctions with Walton Street and Ixworth Place. The scheme would involve closing a section of the carriageway to through traffic to prioritise access for pedestrians and cyclists and to provide increased public amenities including street trees, lighting, and flexible space for events and markets.
The key features of the proposed scheme were:
- closure of the northern section of Draycott Avenue to through traffic with access permitted only for refuse collection and for the emergency services, and with limited access for deliveries at certain times. Full access for pedestrians and cyclists would be maintained
- a continuous level footway and raised carriageway in natural stone paving at the junction of Draycott Avenue and Donne Place.
- improved crossing points to improve pedestrian access at Ixworth Place and Ives Street
- reduced vehicle parking, including the loss of three pay-by-phone bays and two residents’ bays. This is additional to the two residents’ bays and two pay by phone bays suspended to accommodate outdoor dining as part of Covid-19 relief measures
- new seating and cycle parking stands
- additional street tree and mixed herbaceous planting to improve air quality and biodiversity
- incorporation of sustainable drainage systems, where possible, to intercept stormwater runoff and to reduce any potential for flooding in periods of heavy rain
- spill out spaces for cafes and restaurants to cater for outdoor eating and drinking
- space to accommodate periodic events and markets
You said
We received 55 completed questionnaires. Of these 85% supported the scheme. Thirty questionnaires also included comments on various elements of the scheme and we also received three separate emails commenting on the proposals.
The majority of comments were offering general support for the scheme but there were some concerns about the possibility of increased congestion on Ixworth Place and increased pressure on parking. There were also two requests for a drinking fountain and a request for secure bike parking hangars.
We did
In response to the concerns the loss of parking spaces we have reviewed the proposals and have identified the potential to add an additional residents’ parking space by relocating the motorcycle parking bay. As a result, there will only be an overall loss of two residents’ parking spaces. Although we are unable to accommodate secure bike hangers, we have added a drinking fountain to the proposed scheme.
We will now be embarking on detailed design of the revised scheme and the legal agreements with Tribeca for funding the work and for ongoing maintenance of the planting, the street furniture and the drinking fountain. Subject to this being completed, we are aiming to start work in Autumn 2024.
Overview
The Local Plan (2019) has included the northern section of Draycott Avenue as part of the Brompton Cross District Centre and we have identified an opportunity for this area to act as a focal point for the neighbourhood and local community.
We have therefore put together proposals to create a neighbourhood centre, to enhance the quality of the public realm, and to support commercial and everyday activities.
What are the proposals?
During the last few weeks, we have been developing a proposal to improve the northern end of Draycott Avenue (between its junctions with Walton Street and Ixworth Place) to create an attractive area for local residents, businesses and visitors. The scheme would involve closing a section of the carriageway to through traffic to prioritise access for pedestrians and cyclists and to provide increased public amenities including street trees, lighting, and flexible space for events and markets.
We have listened carefully to issues raised by local businesses and feel that we have a scheme that addresses their concerns and requirements. Before taking the proposals any further we would now like to hear if the local community would like us to implement the scheme.
The main features of the proposed scheme, illustrated in this booklet, are:
- the northern section of Draycott Avenue will be closed to through traffic with access permitted only for refuse collection and for the emergency services. Full access for pedestrians and cyclists will be maintained and access will be permitted for deliveries at certain times
- a continuous level footway and raised carriageway in natural stone paving at the junction of Draycott Avenue and Donne Place
- improved crossing points to improve pedestrian access at Ixworth Place and Ives Street
- reduced vehicle parking, including the loss of three pay-by-phone bays and two residents’ bays. This excludes the suspended bays given over to outdoor dining as part of Covid-19 relief measures
- new seating and cycle parking stands
- additional street tree and mixed herbaceous planting to improve air quality and biodiversity
- incorporation of sustainable drainage systems, where possible, to intercept stormwater runoff and to reduce any potential for flooding in periods of heavy rain
- spill out spaces for cafes and restaurants to cater for outdoor eating and drinking
- space to accommodate periodic events and markets
Your participation in this consultation is voluntary. Should you choose to respond, information about how your data will be processed can be found at the bottom of the questionnaire at the end of this booklet.
This survey will ran for a period of six weeks, closing on Sunday 9 June.
Information from this document can be made available in alternative formats and different languages upon request using the contact details in the 'Contact' section of this page.
Hollywood Road
Hollywood Road, with its community restaurants and pubs is an example of an area which is well loved by residents and should rightly be a place of beauty to enjoy. However, the environment could be enhanced by adding more greenery and reducing traffic speeds to create a greater sense of space.
Where we are now
The scheme has been approved and construction was completed in June 2024.
- Hollywood Road: project background
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How we got here
In 2020, several restaurants and pubs on Hollywood Road were licensed for additional outdoor dining on the highway and this has subsequently encouraged more of a café culture in the area. We also received requests to make Fawcett Street one-way to tackle the problem of oncoming vehicles, being unable to pass one another.
With input from Redcliffe ward councillors, we developed proposals to improve the streetscape by adding more greenery and reducing traffic speeds to create a greater sense of place. The scheme would also ban the left turn from Hollywood Road into Fawcett Street, effectively removing westbound traffic from Fawcett Street between its junctions with Oakfield Street and Hollywood Road. Two-way cycling on Hollywood Road and cycle access to Fawcett Street would be retained.
In 2023, we consulted the local community on these proposals and received support from 79 of those who responded. In response to comments during the consultation, the scheme was amended to add a second informal crossing point and to include improvements at the Cathcart Road junction.
Kensington Park Road
During the COVID19 pandemic, the section of Kensington Park Road between Elgin Crescent and Blenheim Crescent became known for outdoor dining. We are now making permanent changes to this section of street to continue supporting local businesses, to make it a more attractive place in which to spend time, in line with the Council’s ambitions to create more amazing spaces in a borough that is greener, safer and fairer for everyone.
In 2023, the Council consulted on streetscape improvements to the section of Kensington Park Road, to understand whether there was support for its proposals and identify any changes that should be made.
Where we are now
In May 2025, after consideration of all responses to the consultation, the Council made an Executive Decision to implement the scheme with some amendments: a) to remove the proposed seating outside Notting Hill Community Church, b) to consider any impacts of the recent decision to open up the street to southbound traffic following statutory consultation may have on the original design of the scheme (4.4). c) to consider what more could be done to mitigate flood risk within the existing physical parameters of the scheme.
Works are due to start in Autumn 2025.
Improvements we are making:
- wider footways to give more space to pedestrians, and to facilitate ‘al fresco’ dining areas
- narrowed junctions at each end, to reinforce the existing restrictions on vehicle movements (to complement the camera enforcement due to be introduced shortly)
- continuous, level footways, including over the junction with Kensington Park Mews to give pedestrians priority. The carriageway will be raised by 60mm to footway levels with demarcation and a slight kerb to identify parking and loading bays
- conversion of the mini-roundabout at the junction with Blenheim Crescent to a priority ‘give-way’ junction.
- new dropped kerbs and tactile paving introduced at the northern ends of this section of Kensington Park Road, for pedestrians travelling further north on Kensington Park Road, or east and west on Blenheim Crescent
- raised planter beds with trees and greenery, with some incorporating seating
- improvements in front of Notting Hill Community Church, with improved green infrastructure, seating and water bottle refilling fountain to create a place for people to meet and relax
- cycle parking stands provided at four locations: two at the southern end; one to the north of Kensington Park Mews; and one at the northern end.
- new short sections of marked cycle lane at each junction to assist contra-flow cyclists
- Kensington Park Road: project background
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How we got here
One hundred and twenty-seven responses were received to the consultation in 2023. Seventy-five per cent of respondents supported the proposals in full or in part, 24% objected to the proposals and one per cent had no opinion.
Sloane Square
Sloane Square sits to the south of Sloane Street, connecting Chelsea and Knightsbridge. Featuring major shops, restaurants, bars and cultural venues, it is a destination for residents and tourists alike, all year round. As a busy location, pavements can become crowded and pedestrians cross the bustling square, either to reach al fresco dining on the middle or as a thoroughfare to reach the public transport network.
Cadogan are funding improvements to the pedestrian experience on the square, with the Council delivering the works. The scheme will:
- widen pavements at busy pedestrian locations
- realign pedestrian crossings
- reduce street clutter
- reuse materials from the recent transformation of Sloane Street
- ensure traffic flow is not impacted
Where we are now
The scheme will be implemented in sections from 1 April 2025 and will be completed before the end of the year. Changes have been made to the design to account for consultation feedback, including:
- additional loadings bays have been included outside Peter Jones.
- changes to kerb lines and build outs have been made to address concerns about traffic flow.
- the bus stop to the south side of the square has been moved two metres to improve alignment for buses turning right
Road closures
31 March 2025 to 27 October 2025 | Closure at its junction with Symons Street | Alternative route for via Cadogan Gardens and Kings Road |
4 August 2025 to 1 September 2025 |
Sloane Street northbound only | Alternative route via Cliveden Place, Eaton Gate, Belgrave Place, Pont Street and Sloane Street southbound |
Changes to the 360 bus route
Transport for London has advised that during the closure of Symons Street, route 360 towards Elephant & Castle will have to divert at South Kensington from Cromwell Place via Onslow Square, Sydney Place, Fulham Road, Sydney Street and Kings Road, rejoining it’s normal routing at Sloane Square. Buses towards Royal Albert Hall will not be affected.
This means Draycott Place and Sloane Avenue will only be served by buses heading towards South Kensington. Passengers in Draycott Place and Sloane Avenue who wish to board route 360 should go to Stop E outside Peter Jones, Stop HV in Onslow Square or Stop HW in Sydney Street.