Hanover Square

It was a great pleasure to collaborate with Publica and others on the reinstatement of one of London’s earliest and most distinguished - and until recently unappreciated - scenographic gestures. The 400m long north-south, gently descending vista – formed c.1720 and stretching from Cavendish Square in the north to Conduit Street in the south – is a rare example of French or Italian civic planning used to great effect to link two of the West End’s then newest squares with the open countryside to the north.

The imminent arrival of the Elizabeth Line precipitated the revitalisation of Hanover Square and its environs. The newly-formed eastern ticket hall of Bond Street Station now opens directly into the square, increasing significantly the number of people moving daily through and around the central garden and its surrounding streets. Pedestrian space within the precinct has been increased, traffic re-routed, the lighting, paving, street furniture, signage and cycling infrastructure have also been improved. The central garden has also been dramatically transformed: a large lawn has been formed at its centre, a perimeter path laid out around it, and new planting, gates and contemporary art have been introduced. The garden is now also enclosed by new stout iron railings and more atmospherically illuminated by lanterns and strings of festive lighting.

Westminster City Council (WCC) adopted the concept design in 2016 and convened a project board made up of WCC, Great Portland Estates (GPE), Transport for London (TfL), Crossrail, the Crown Estate, Clivedale/Indiabulls, Fenwick, New West End Company (NWEC), Historic England, and other neighbouring landowners and developers.