Regent Street, Haymarket and Piccadilly Circus plans progress to next stage following positive public response

Westminster City Council, in partnership with The Crown Estate, has formally recommended that the Regent Street, Haymarket and Piccadilly Circus public realm programme progresses to the next stage of design, following a public consultation held last summer.

Around 5,000 people shared their views during the second round of engagement, making it the largest response to any public realm project in Westminster to date.

The proposals include making Regent Street St James’s, Waterloo Place and the south side of Piccadilly Circus traffic-free, creating more than 35,000 square metres of new public space in the heart of the capital. Wider improvements to junctions, pavements and drainage across Regent Street and the surrounding area would enhance the experience for residents, workers, drivers, cyclists, bus passengers and the millions of people who visit the West End each year.

The programme is also expected to support local businesses and the 94,000 jobs they generate, helping to secure the long-term vitality of this important economic hub in central London.

Feedback was gathered through an online survey and 31 in-person events. Results showed strong support for improving pedestrian access, alongside early proposals to improve cycling provision. Overall, 60% of respondents supported the proposals, rising to 62% for increasing pedestrian space at Piccadilly Circus.

The design is being led by Allies and Morrison, the London-based architecture and urban design practice, and has been shaped by feedback from the public. A final set of public realm designs will be presented for consultation in summer 2026, giving residents, workers, visitors and partners a further opportunity to comment.

Following this consultation, and subject to funding, the Council’s Cabinet will decide in autumn 2026 whether to progress with the scheme. If approved, the majority of costs would be paid by the private sector not the Council. Construction is expected to begin in early 2029.

Cllr Geoff Barraclough, Westminster City Council Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development, said: “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform major parts of London’s West End. The proposals would create more than five football pitches’ worth of new public space for the 160 million people who work, shop and visit the area each year.

This plan would improve traffic flow, reduce congestion, provide wider pavements and safer crossings, support cycling, and introduce more trees and places to sit and spend time. We’re really encouraged by the positive response so far and look forward to developing the detailed designs ahead of a full public consultation this summer.”

Kristy Lansdown, Managing Director for Development at The Crown Estate said: “Cities such as London are currently facing global challenges – from the climate crisis to increased economic competition – that we need to tackle head on. Transforming the heart of the West End gives us a huge opportunity to do just that, creating a green, accessible and inclusive place that delivers on both the local and global stage.

“We must act now and work together to transform our public realm, creating a destination that works for all those that use it. We’ve seen strong levels of support so far as we continue to consult with all those that live in, work in, and visit the area. While we start the new year looking back at a successful engagement programme, our focus is now on the design phase and delivering a world-class destination that best serves this great city.”