Hanover Square and Gardens: Transforming a historic square into a pedestrian paradise

Tucked away behind the busy shopping destination of Oxford Street in central London lies a 300-year-old public square that has recently undergone a transformation to improve accessibility and encourage people to the area.

The opening of the new Elizabeth Line underground station at Bond Street provided Westminster City Council with a catalyst to undertake a sensitive upgrade of the historic square. Their key goals were to increase pedestrian footfall and enhance the commercial and retail performance of businesses in the surrounding West End.

The transformation of Hanover Square and Gardens was completed in 2023, creating a place that respects its historic integrity, while responding to the contemporary needs of people. A green oasis for workers, residents and visitors.

The square was created in Georgian London

1710s 1710s

Consultation found 89% of respondents were supportive of the project

89% 89%

bulbs were planted, with 1,600 shrubs and 15 new trees

8,000 8,000

Location

London, United Kingdom

Client

Westminster City Council | Portland Estates | New West End Company

Project Status

Completed

Turning a vision of place into a practical reality

WSP led the design and project management of the scheme, building on an early concept design vision developed by Publica and Todd Longstaffe-Gowan.

To bring this vision to reality, WSP assembled a multidisciplinary team including landscape architects and specialists from transport, ecology, drainage and civil engineering.

Access and movement within and across the square was redesigned by our team to prioritise pedestrians and cyclists. This improves safety, air quality and the way people experience the urban realm. Our transport engineers reconfigured the roads to reduce road space and increase the amount of space for pedestrians, including the side of the square closest to the new Elizabeth Line station.

Sustainability was a key driver and the team sourced footway materials from within the UK. All mature London Plane trees were retained, and to improve biodiversity, new trees, shrubs and flower bulbs were planted.

Inclusive design principles were also key. We worked with specialists Withernay Consultants to ensure the design incorporated the latest UK inclusive design principles, this included pavement finishes, access routes and all level changes.

Securing community buy-in for development

WSP’s stakeholder engagement specialists worked openly with the client and key stakeholders. This included business group the New West End Company and local residents to listen and capture feedback throughout the design process. The plans received 89% support in consultation.

The community consultations reinforced the importance of protecting and highlighting key cultural and historical assets. This included retaining the London plane trees within the design and placing historic assets like the statue of 18th-century Prime Minister William Pitt, at a key access point to the square.

With a focus on retaining heritage assets, the historic orbital path in the Gardens was retained and the Grade II listed Cabmen Shelter was restored to its pre-1900 appearance. Cast-iron railings surrounding the park were also replaced to the same design and specification as those originally used within the park.

Bringing nature back

Planting includes 15 new trees, 1,600 shrubs and 8,000 bulbs to improve biodiversity
Plane trees retained but their elevation raised to improve visibility and light

Sustainability and circular principles

Footway materials were all sourced from within the UK including Yorkshire Paving
Reclaimed granite was used in the scheme from the Thames Tideway Tunnel project