Public consultation begins on Allies and Morrison’s West End public realm proposals

Westminster City Council and The Crown Estate have launched a public consultation on Allies and Morrison’s plans to reshape the public realm across Regent Street, Haymarket and Piccadilly Circus, with proposals now open to community and stakeholder feedback through a series of engagement events.

The consultation focuses on a long-term public realm masterplan that seeks to make some of London’s busiest central streets more accessible, pedestrian-friendly and climate-resilient. The designs propose reclaiming space from vehicles, reconfiguring crossings, introducing new planting and seating, and creating a network of traffic-free and reduced traffic routes across the area.

More than 35,000m² of public space are included in the proposals, which set out ten “transformative moves” across key locations. These include the pedestrianisation of Regent Street St James’s (the southern section of Regent Street below Picadilly Circus) and parts of Coventry Street, a proposed new civic space at Waterloo Place equivalent in scale to Piccadilly Circus, and improved public realm connections to Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square and St James’s Park.

Allies and Morrison, appointed to lead the masterplan following a design competition held in 2024, has developed the proposals in collaboration with local stakeholders. 

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The proposed masterplan

Source: Crown Estate / Westminster City Council

Proposals for Piccadilly Circus include: 1. Rebalanced space for people: Closing vehicle access to Regent Street St James’s and Coventry Street, enabling a tripling of usable public space. 2. Reconfigured crossings: Introducing a simpler and safer configuration of pedestrian crossings. 3. World-class public realm: Amplifying the Circus’s iconic status and creating an exceptional backdrop for public life to thrive. 4. Places to dwell: Introducing street furniture and planting to create places to pause from its dynamic environment. 5. A restored Eros: Exploring bringing the fountain back to life as the heart of Piccadilly Circus. 6. Transport interchange: Improving the arrival experience to the Circus, whether by underground, bus, cycle or on foot.

Source: Crown Estate / Westminster City Council

Proposals for Regent Street St James's 1. Proposed new public realm: Unlocking traffic-free streets and spaces through proposed changes to: 1.a Regent Street St James's: From Piccadilly Circus to Waterloo Place. A set piece streetscape connecting Piccadilly Circus to St James’s Park. 1.b Charles II Street: From Haymarket to St James’s Square, creating a street with managed servicing access. 1.c Waterloo Place: Removing traffic and parking to create a space almost 6000sqm in scale - broadly equivalent to Piccadilly Circus. 3. Haymarket: Upgrading the streetscape and converting Haymarket from one-way to two-way traffic movement to unlock projects 1a-1c. 4. Jermyn Street: Minimise traffic crossing Regent Street St James’s from Jermyn Street with potential timed access restrictions while retaining servicing access.

Source: Crown Estate / Westminster City Council

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Community workshops and stakeholder sessions will run through July and early August, including dedicated sessions on movement, cycling and local business needs. An advisory panel has also been established, including resident groups and businesses.

According to the project’s consultation materials, the aim is to create “inclusive and greener public spaces and streets that offer different moments along the way to excite and surprise”. The design is intended to support the area’s long-term role as a commercial, cultural and tourist destination.

Meanwhile, Allies and Morrison has also announced a new round of senior promotions, with Louise Mansfield appointed as partner.

A long-standing member of the practice, Mansfield has worked across research, planning, urban design and community engagement over the past 21 years. Others promoted to director include Matthew Traub and Ciaran Garrick.