The landscape-led transformation of Sloane Street represents the most significant reshaping of this historic London thoroughfare in nearly 250 years. Commissioned by the landowner Cadogan in partnership with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, the project set out to redefine a traffic-dominated route stretching for one kilometre between Knightsbridge and Sloane Square as a welcoming, green and climate-responsive boulevard.
Client: Cadogan Estates
Dates: 2015—2023
Architect and Landscape Architect:
John McAslan + Partners
Consultants
WSP
LAPD Consultants Ltd
Space Syntax
General Contractor:
FM Conway
Awards
Winner
Special Mention
Finalist
Beauty and sustainability
A comprehensive planting strategy introduced 105 new trees, including tilia, amelanchier, and osmanthus, selected for their tolerance of harsh urban conditions, and for long-term canopy growth.
More than 60 granite planters support climate-resilient shrubs and perennials, extending greenery along the length of the street and creating visual continuity with nearby private gardens. Plant species were selected for year-round visual appeal – with flowers, fruit or sculptural branches for each season – as well as to support wildlife, improve air quality and contribute to stormwater management.
Together, these measures deliver a 17 per cent increase in Urban Greening Factor and a 175 per cent biodiversity net gain. Tree canopy cover has increased by 51 per cent, while pollution removal is estimated to rise by 33 per cent, with further gains as planting matures.
Making the place
Material choices reinforce both durability and a coherent identity. Pavements are formed from warm honey-coloured Yorkstone, while silver-grey granite and bespoke brass studs define ownership boundaries, parking bays and servicing zones with clarity and restraint. Custom-designed dual-height lighting columns with energy-efficient LED fixtures integrate functional and ambient lighting, improving safety, legibility and environmental impact. Subtle horticultural motifs reference the area’s Arts & Crafts heritage.
Less visible but equally transformative was the coordination of complex below-ground conditions. Historic coal vaults, densely-packed utilities installations, and new digital infrastructure were carefully rearranged and integrated in order to minimise future disruption, safeguarding the integrity of the streetscape.
Commerce and community
The reinvention of the street balances local needs with the expectations of a street whose attractions draw people from across the city and around the world. Providing quieter, greener spaces for residents and visitors has delivered significant economic benefits. Early assessment saw increased footfall and dwell times, as visitors enjoy a leisurely promenade. Major fashion brands including Valentino and Dior have been drawn to the street, while others have expanded stores or reinvested in their premises, with a consequent uplift in employment. Diversification of social and cultural activities following the transformation includes a new destination partnership with the Frieze London art fair.
Landscape design is the key to the measurable environmental, social, and economic returns delivered by the project. By prioritising people, embracing ecology, and grounding change in careful craft and long-term thinking, the scheme shows how the public realm can create healthier, more resilient, and socially generous cities.
