Grosvenor Gets The Green Light
Our gardens are the soul of our city, bringing people closer to each other and closer to nature
Across the oval Open Garden of flowering lawns, a pair of Waterfall Canopies for all visitors to “see, hear, and touch water” directing rainwater for storage and reuse, to trickle along the oval perimeter rill. Click the photo to watch the animation
Ahead of its 300th anniversary, the transformation of grade II listed Grosvenor Square has been unanimously given the green light by Westminster City Council. Grosvenor expects to begin work on London’s second largest garden square in early 2024, turning it into an extraordinary urban garden with ground-breaking environmental credentials. The reimagined 6 acre garden will celebrate and preserve the square’s historic features and introduce a shaded garden containing biodiverse planting, a central open garden re-instating the original 1720s oval design, Waterfall canopies, wetlands and channels capturing and storing rainwater for re-use, Play spaces and an education building. The redesign will drive a Biodiversity Net Gain of 15.5%, with a 5-fold increase in the number of plant species and 24 more trees increasing habitats for wildlife and improving air quality and access to nature in the West End. Since winning the competition in 2020, working closely with a committed team including horticulturalist Nigel Dunnett, ecologist Gary Grant and heritage expert Cordula Zeidler, we are delighted to have reached this milestone, Architects BDP have been newly appointed to take forward the next detailed designs for the project.
“The pandemic underscored the lack of high-quality green space in central London that makes room for both people and nature. This incredible project will deliver much of what is needed so badly – creating an exceptional environment for everyone who lives in, or comes to, the area. Alongside our broader £1.4 billion development pipeline and stretching sustainability goals, Grosvenor Square’s redesign is a fantastic example of our commitment to supporting the success of the West End and the benefits of a long-term outlook.” - James Raynor, CEO, Grosvenor Property UK