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Drivers, beware. More parts of central London could be pedestrianised under proposals from Westminster Council and the Crown Estate.
The road between Piccadilly Circus and St James’s Park could be transformed into a massive public plaza and vehicles could be banned from Regent Street St James’s, Waterloo Place and the south side of Piccadilly Circus. If the proposals are enacted, the pedestrianisation of certain roads would lead to more than 35,000 square metres of new public space, equivalent to more than five football pitches, created in the West End.
Currently, Regent Street St James’s is for northbound road traffic, while its neighbour, Haymarket, is for southbound road traffic. The plans would see vehicles banned from Regent Street St James and Haymarket converted into two-way traffic. Waterloo Place, just south of Pall Mall, could also be pedestrianised. The plaza is home to a number of statues and memorials, including the Florence Nightingale statue, the Guards Crimean War Memorial and the Duke of York column.
Regent Street would have its pavements widened and see cycle lanes installed, made possible by the removal of the island in the middle of the road.
The grand plan was first announced in 2025, but at the end of January 2026 the Crown Estate announced it would continue with the proposals following a positive public response. The final designs by Allies and Morrison architects are due to be revealed in summer 2026, with work expected to begin in 2029.
Councillor 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.’
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