Grosvenor launches 'South Molton Triangle' consultation

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Jul 18, 2018

One of London’s biggest landlords is aiming to breathe new life into what it calls the South Molton Triangle and that could have major implications for retail with a likely spread of prime retail space into more streets in the heart of the West End and Mayfair.

The area covers “an important corner of” Grosvenor’s Mayfair estate bounded by Davies Street, Brook Street and South Molton Street.

Grosvenor, which is controlled by the family of the Duke of Westminster, owns vast swathes of the West End and in particular want to open up Davies Mews, a street running through the triangle’s centre and currently used largely for deliveries.

Its plans, which it was at pains to point out will not mean any change to the longstanding Grays Antiques Centre, come as Grosvenor sees “significant potential” to increase the height and density of buildings in the triangle.

It also feels that its ideas will help to absorb some of the additional pedestrians who will be brought into the area via Bond Street tube station once the new Elizabeth tube line opens later this year.

Initial plans are being worked on by the architectural practice of Sir Michael Hopkins and it’s clear that those plans are still at a very early stage so we should expect no building work to happen in the short term.

Simon Harding-Roots, Grosvenor’s executive director, said: “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.”

More consultations will happen in the autumn before a planning application is submitted to Westminster City Council, the local authority that is also working on its own proposals to transform nearby Oxford Street after the cancellation of the long-awaited pedestrianisation plan.