A major grant will see a new public square and “pop-up test restaurant” for food entrepreneurs.

Almost £1 million was awarded to Harrow Council by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan as part of the mayor’s Good Growth Fund.

The money will go towards the creation of a public space in Lyon Road and an adjacent pop-up test eatery at the former Cumberland Hotel site.

The £485,000 in capital funding from the Greater London Authority is to be matched by private sector funding.

Tendering of contracts begins next month (April) and the development's completion date is expected to be 2020.

Deputy leader of Harrow Council, Cllr Keith Ferry, said: “Harrow town centre is on the rise. Business is booming. New businesses, restaurants and cafes are coming in – and this investment will give Harrow’s budding food entrepreneurs a chance to test their ideas on shoppers like me, before taking the plunge.

“Building a better Harrow isn’t just about revitalising our borough with homes for Harrow people. It’s about extra public space. It’s about shops and offices – and places to eat and have fun. We’re proud to be winning cash with our plans to support that.”

The funding allocated to Harrow Council will be put towards events, markets and outdoor seating in Lyon Road, and the creation of a pop-up test restaurant with an industrial kitchen will provide opportunities to small businesses to scale up their enterprises.

Pod kiosks on the square will have multi-functional uses from food and retail, to exhibition space.

Harrow’s bid was one of 27 projects across the capital to be successful. Over 200 stakeholders and partners in the borough helped to develop Harrow’s Good Growth Fund bid.

Jules Pipe, Deputy Mayor for planning, regeneration and skills, said: “This project is a great example of how we can work with local communities on projects in a way that will help ensure the benefits are felt by all.”

The Cumberland Hotel, in Palmerston Road, is being redeveloped by social housing provider Origin Housing.