Plans to restructure and improve Sloane Street, one of the busiest roads in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, have been in the making for a long time now but they finally seem to be being realised as residents of the borough were invited to visit an exhibition held at 129 Sloane Street at the end of January, where members of the project team detailed the proposal.
The proposal, put forward by the Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and Cadogan Estates, will attempt to make Sloane Street a greener, more pedestrian friendly area and reduce congestion.
Sloane Street, an almost 1km long main road that connects Knightsbridge in the north and Sloane Square in the south, is currently dominated by four lanes of traffic with quite narrow pavements in the central residential area and there are few trees and greenery, making the street appear cluttered and tired looking. In fact, most residents agree that Sloane Street is in need of refreshing and were able to put forward any of their ideas at a consultation in July 2016.
The proposal is already in its second stage, with plans to introduce landscaped areas with trees and seasonal planting to create a better environment and enhance the apperance of Sloane Street. Moreover, the proposal also plans to reduce vehicle dominance on the street by widening pavements and narrowing the width of the road, whilst making it easier and safer for pedestrians to cross the road. Finally, the council also plans to introduce street furniture to create a more attractive setting and enhance the street by providing better street lighting and improving security.
This proposal would not only have benefits for local residents but also for wider local communities and visitors and if all residents agree with this proposal, Sloane Street could be facing some restructuring very soon.
By Giorgia Merighi
Francis Holland School
