Sloane Square Improvements Public Consultation

Sloane Square Improvement Scheme

A public consultation carried out by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea PRESENT DAY SLOANE SQUARE THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE OF SLOANE SQUARE - STAGE ONE

Sloane Square has always been a crossroads, a busy, vibrant place to pass through or linger in. It is home not only to many In the short term, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea plans to implement a scheme designed to enhance the residents but also to the Royal Court Theatre and fashionable shops and restaurants that attract many visitors to the area. Until current area and make it more amenable to all users, without dramatically changing the current traffic flows in the Square. The well into the twentieth century, the main road ran through the heart of the square, connecting the King's Road to Cliveden scheme will involve improvements to the traffic management and to the public space. Any improvements will be in line with Place. The current gyratory layout was installed in the 1930s. Sloane Square is an important transport hub, with the Royal Borough's streetscape principles, which include the use of high quality materials, while minimising street clutter. Underground, taxi and bus services catering for residents and businesses in Chelsea, Belgravia, Knightsbridge, Battersea and These principles have been adopted for the award-winning Kensington High Street Enhancement Scheme. beyond.

The area is a popular shopping and entertainment district, dominated by the exciting modernist architecture of Peter Jones, and is the gateway to the shops of the King's Road. Currently there are three large developments being progressed in the area: at Peter Jones, Cadogan Mansions and the Duke of York's Headquarters. These schemes are expected to result in a significant increase in the number of people using Sloane Square.

However, the Square is already congested by vehicular traffic and its full potential appeal for pedestrians is not being realised. Narrow footways cause pedestrian congestion in the busiest areas; inadequate pedestrian crossing facilities discourage people from accessing the central space; and the noise of passing vehicles detracts from the ambience of the Square.

Stage 1 looking west towards Peter Jones

Traffic management improvements

A comprehensive assessment of traffic and pedestrian movements in the area has been carried out and changes are proposed to simplify road junctions and make movement easier for pedestrians. The scheme will involve the widening of existing footways around the Square. The effect of these measures will be two-fold: to reduce pedestrian congestion caused by narrow footways; and to improve the balance between pedestrian and vehicle by giving unused carriageway back to pedestrians.

Wider footways will be provided on all sides of the Square, in particular outside the Royal Court Theatre and Peter Jones.

Widened footways will also decrease crossing distances for pedestrians, making it easier and safer to cross the streets.

The following improvements to pedestrian facilities are proposed for the Square:

! Simplify the existing zebra crossings at the junction of Sloane Square and Sloane Street to make it easier for pedestrians to cross and to reduce delay to vehicles;

! Convert the staggered crossing in the King's Road to a straight-across crossing to reduce pedestrian delays;

! Enlarge and reposition the zebra crossing in Cliveden Place to increase the capacity of the crossing; and

! Provide a new zebra crossing outside the Royal Court Theatre to improve access to the central space.

These traffic management proposals will greatly improve pedestrian passage through the Square whilst also improving traffic Stage 1 looking south-west across the Square flow in the area. The proposals will not divert traffic into the surrounding residential areas. PRESENT DAY SLOANE SQUARE THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE OF SLOANE SQUARE - STAGE ONE

Stage 1 looking west towards Peter Jones

Traffic management improvements

Wider footways will be provided on all sides of the Square, in particular outside the Royal Court Theatre and Peter Jones.

Widened footways will also decrease crossing distances for pedestrians, making it easier and safer to cross the streets.

The following improvements to pedestrian facilities are proposed for the Square:

! Simplify the existing zebra crossings at the junction of Sloane Square and Sloane Street to make it easier for pedestrians to cross and to reduce delay to vehicles;

! Convert the staggered crossing in the King's Road to a straight-across crossing to reduce pedestrian delays;

! Enlarge and reposition the zebra crossing in Cliveden Place to increase the capacity of the crossing; and

! Provide a new zebra crossing outside the Royal Court Theatre to improve access to the central space.

The existing public space is laid out as a traditional London square, with the unique feature that it is paved, rather than grassed. However, unlike most London squares, it suffers from an exceptionally heavy volume of traffic and is perceived by some as being an unattractive island cut off from the surrounding buildings, to which it could be better connected. If the central space were easier of access from the surrounding pedestrian areas and had a more appealing layout, it would be better utilised. At the moment, it is used primarily as a through route for pedestrians rather than as a gathering and socialising area. Therefore the scheme will include the regeneration of the open space to create an environment for local people and visitors alike to gather and enjoy the atmosphere of this charming London square.

The landscape design for Sloane Square will bring life back to the central island by improving access, increasing the amount of seating and creating shelter from noise and traffic. The possible introduction of a café structure linked to the Royal Court Theatre at the east end of the Square would also generate activity and a focus for the space.

The war memorial and fountain will be retained in their current positions towards the east and west ends of the Square. Strips of simple flowering shrubs will be planted beneath the existing plane trees, high enough to filter the noise and views of the traffic circling the island, but low enough not to compromise security or block views across the Square. The statue of Sir Hans Sloane will be moved slightly further west to the end of the space, and framed with low hedges and seating, creating a more intimate space at the west end of the square, but improving the visibility of the statue from the King's Road.

Option 1a - keeping the existing road layout and improving pedestrian facilities and the appearance of the Square.

Stage 1 looking towards the station

Option 1b - closing Holbein Place, enabling a feature to be located in this area as well as improving pedestrian facilities and the appearance of the Square. HOLBEIN PLACE

An alternative option under stage one would be to close Holbein Place to traffic to improve the pedestrian environment outside the Underground station. Under this option, the war memorial or another feature could be relocated to make a focal point outside the station, which would provide more space at the eastern end of the island for a larger café structure. T

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Option 1a - keeping the existing road layout and improving pedestrian facilities and the appearance of the Square. T

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Option 1b - closing Holbein Place, enabling a feature to be located in this area as well as improving pedestrian facilities and the appearance of the Square.

Legend Existing pavement Zebra crossing Bus stop Hans Sloane Statue New pavement Signalled crossing Road closure New ground level planting Taxi rank Proposed public seating CREATING A WORLD CLASS SQUARE - STAGE TWO

The Mayor of London has included Sloane Square amongst the first ten pilot projects in his public spaces programme for London and wishes to work with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to improve the quality of the Square. This initiative follows on from the implementation of the World Square created through a radical redesign of Trafalgar Square. The Council recognises that as London grows, the strains placed on our existing infrastructure will increase. The central part of Sloane Square is cut off from pedestrian circulation by traffic on all sides. Can we better link the Square to the surrounding areas and thereby improve its quality and attract more public users?

For these reasons, there could be advantages in adopting a radical approach, similar to a World Square. The Council would like to get your views on how the Square should look in the future. Does the existing arrangement need a major rethink?

Two possible schemes are shown on the next page. Both schemes would involve changes to the traffic arrangements and the closure of one or more streets leading off the Square. Option 2(a) echoes a return to the crossroads layout of the past and would create two large public spaces at the east and west sides of the Square. Option 2(b) would create one large public space connected on the east and south sides of the Square but would not create any more space outside Peter Jones.

It is important to note that the viability of any future scheme will depend on numerous factors, not least of which will be resolving public transport interchange issues and reducing the traffic levels. The current traffic flow can be managed by the existing gyratory system but a significantly altered road arrangement may not be able to cope so well. If, in the future, traffic flows in the Square can be reduced without transferring traffic to surrounding residential roads, then the Council plans to re- evaluate traffic conditions with a view to assessing more radical options. Further consultations would be carried out at that time. Option 2a - a return to the original crossroads system creating two large public spaces.

To minimise wasted work and materials, great care would be taken to ensure that any changes made in stage one could be easily converted to a more radical change if desired. Nonetheless, it may be that you would prefer to see the Council move directly to one of these more radical options, if that is technically feasible. In that case we would not carry out Stage One. The questionnaire invites you to express your views on this.

Option 2b - a modified Square connected to the footpath on the eastern side.

Stage 2 option one looking towards the Royal Court Theatre

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Option 2a - a return to the original crossroads system creating two large public spaces. T

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E H S OL W PL BE O E S AC IN L N N E A E O D L R S A G Option 2b - a modified Square connected to the footpath on the eastern side.

Legend Existing pavement Zebra crossing Bus stop Hans Sloane Statue New pavement Signalled crossing Road closure New ground level planting Taxi rank Proposed public seating WE NEED YOUR HELP Sloane Square Improvements Public Consultation

Please fill in ONE questionnaire for each household or business. It is important that you give us your full address Please complete the questionnaire, detach it from this leaflet and send it so we can carry out a full analysis of local views. Freepost (no stamp required) to our consultants by Thursday 17 April 2003. Name and address

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? Are you a The possible changes to Sloane Square outlined in this leaflet are only proposals at this stage. Your views will be included in a report to the responsible Council Cabinet Member, who will carefully consider your comments before deciding how best to Resident Business Other Please specify proceed.

If it is decided to go ahead with these proposals or similar changes, they will be developed in greater detail. This will include Stage One carefully considering the design of the public space and the type of materials and street furniture to use. Should it be decided to progress to stage two - the more radical change to the Square, further consultation will be carried out. In the short term how would you like to see Sloane Square changed?

Option 1a - keep the existing road layout and improve pedestrian facilities and the appearance of the Square

PUBLIC FORUM Option 1b - close Holbein Place (which involves moving the war memorial) as well as improving pedestrian facilities and the appearance of the Square Lord Rogers of Riverside and Councillor Daniel Moylan will be speaking about the future of Sloane Square at a public meeting to be held on Wednesday 2 April at the 5th Floor Restaurant of Peter Jones. Option 1c - do not change the Square

Doors open at 7pm for exhibition viewing, first speaker at 7.30pm, meeting will finish at 9pm. Stage Two ALL WELCOME but for security reasons we would ask you to inform us in advance if you wish to attend. To be included on the guest list please telephone Shirley Long on 0207 361 3238. Do you agree or disagree with a more radical change to the Square in the future? Strongly Neither agree Strongly Agree Disagree agree nor disagree disagree

EXHIBITION If you agree that there should be a more radical change to the Square in the future, which of the two options would you prefer? An exhibition of the proposals including large size plans, landscaping details and artists’ Option 2a - a return to the original crossroads system creating two large public spaces impressions will be held at the new Duke of York Headquarters Development in King’s Road at the following times :- Option 2b - a modified square connected to the footpath on the eastern side Thursday 3 April 2pm - 8pm Friday 4 April 10am - 2pm Saturday 5 April 10am - 2pm Monday 6 April 10am - 4pm If it were technically and financially possible for the Council to move directly to implementing Stage Two, would you favour doing so? Please try to come along to see the plans and discuss your views. The exhibition will be Ye s No Only if there were no traffic staffed at all times by Council officers who will be available to deal with any queries relating diversion to neighbouring roads to the project.

Comments

Should you wish to discuss the proposals further, please contact Cameron Scott on telephone number 020 7361 2688 or email to [email protected] WE NEED YOUR HELP Sloane Square Improvements Public Consultation

Option 1a - keep the existing road layout and improve pedestrian facilities and the appearance of the Square

Comments

Should you wish to discuss the proposals further, please contact Cameron Scott on telephone number 020 7361 2688 or email to [email protected] BUSINESS REPLY SERVICE Licence No LON21371

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