New shops and homes to help transform the West End’s ‘South Molton Triangle’

A Mayfair block covering one and a half acres near Bond Street is to have a huge makeover to help make the West End’s most exclusive district more welcoming to ordinary Londoners.

New shops, homes and offices are planned for an area known as the “South Molton Triangle” behind the pedestrianised designer shopping street that is bounded by Brook Street, South Molton Lane and Davies Street.

Landowners Grosvenor are due to start consultations with residents and workers from tomorrow about their ideas for redeveloping the site.

Grosvenor, owned by the Duke of Westminster’s family, also want to open up Davies Mews, the street running through the triangle, which is mainly used for deliveries. The redevelopment would not affect the Grade II listed Grays Antiques Centre.

Grosvenor believes there is “significant potential” to increase the height and density of buildings in the triangle, which includes a number of Georgian facades. It also feels that the arrival of the Elizabeth line will bring large numbers of extra pedestrians who need to be “absorbed” by the streets around Bond Street Tube station.

The architectural practice of Sir Michael Hopkins, the firm behind the Wellcome Trust building in Euston Road and Portcullis House opposite Parliament, will draw up initial plans.

Simon Harding-Roots, Grosvenor’s executive director, said: “Our proposals are at a very early stage and we want to encourage feedback on how new investment could best serve the community above and beyond the opportunity to better manage increased pedestrian numbers. It is important to us that local voices are incorporated into the planning submission we will ultimately make.

“The West End is currently ill-equipped to cope with the levels of pedestrian traffic we already see every day, let alone the arrival of thousands of extra visitors expected from the Elizabeth line . Many of Mayfair’s pavements are too narrow, routes were built for a different era and, perhaps counter-intuitively, there are not enough services for those living in and visiting the area.

"We recognise the potential of the South Molton Triangle to address a number of the issues the local community faces. By proposing new investment here, we will be able to better protect and enhance the character and simple enjoyment of living and working in one of the most desirable places in London and the West End.”

Grosvenor hopes to hold more consultations in the autumn before submitting a planning application with Westminster council next spring.