Ahead of its 300^th 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 new elements including:

• 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. 

James Raynor, CEO, Grosvenor Property UK “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.”

Heather Topel, Director, Grosvenor Property UK added: “Grosvenor Square is a local landmark but over time it’s been under-used and under-valued. These stunning designs strike the right balance between heritage protection, the need to tackle the climate emergency and create a more welcoming, modern public space.

“Almost 7,000 people were involved in the design process and we’d like to thank the community for embracing the project and for their input. This process was conducted across multiple lockdowns and COVID restrictions, and the huge positive response we had only served to highlight the importance of this space and the benefits of its transformation.”

In line with its sustainability commitments, Grosvenor will deliver and operate the scheme as carbon neutral from day one. Through a highly sustainable design and management plan, embodied and operational carbon will be minimised, with any remaining emissions offset through verified schemes. 

Factoring in the significant increase in planting and revitalised soils, additional carbon will also be removed and stored within the square, helping reduce Mayfair’s climate footprint in the long term.  

The design was created for Grosvenor by architects Tonkin Liu in conjunction with horticulturalist Nigel Dunnett, ecologist Gary Grant and heritage expert Cordula Zeidler. Architects BDP have been newly appointed to take forward the next detailed designs for the project.