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St Johns Wood High Street renewal

Context Office worked with the St John’s Wood Society, WSP, FM Conway and Westminster City Council to enhance the streetscape of St John’s Wood High Street. This is an active neighbourhood centre, with retail, food and drink businesses, close to historic green spaces and part of a conservation area.

During the Covid-19 pandemic temporary measures were made to increase pedestrian space and areas for al-fresco dining on the street. We were brought in to review the highways design for more permanent changes, to suggest enhancements that could be delivered within a tight budget, time-scales and build-ability parameters. We looked at the character of the street and surrounding conservation area, meeting with local traders and residents to understand their wishes and concerns about potential changes.

Our design work included repositioned pedestrian crossings, rationalisation of street lighting, adding natural stone features to bring material quality and warmth, a new style of timber bench and restoration of shop forecourts, in order to maximise the useability of new widened footways. We found locations for eighteen new street trees, collaborating with the on-site team to inspect trial holes and ensure feasibility. We worked pragmatically with council officers, project managers, engineers and contractors on stone selection, trees and furniture. We also worked with the area’s amenity society to begin looking at better connections to the local park. Construction was completed in 2024.

Client: St John’s Wood Society and Westminster City Council
Team: with WSP, FM Conway
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St Johns Wood High Street renewal

Context Office worked with the St John’s Wood Society, WSP, FM Conway and Westminster City Council to enhance the streetscape of St John’s Wood High Street. This is an active neighbourhood centre, with retail, food and drink businesses, close to historic green spaces and part of a conservation area.

During the Covid-19 pandemic temporary measures were made to increase pedestrian space and areas for al-fresco dining on the street. We were brought in to review the highways design for more permanent changes, to suggest enhancements that could be delivered within a tight budget, time-scales and build-ability parameters. We looked at the character of the street and surrounding conservation area, meeting with local traders and residents to understand their wishes and concerns about potential changes.

Our design work included repositioned pedestrian crossings, rationalisation of street lighting, adding natural stone features to bring material quality and warmth, a new style of timber bench and restoration of shop forecourts, in order to maximise the useability of new widened footways. We found locations for eighteen new street trees, collaborating with the on-site team to inspect trial holes and ensure feasibility. We worked pragmatically with council officers, project managers, engineers and contractors on stone selection, trees and furniture. We also worked with the area’s amenity society to begin looking at better connections to the local park. Construction was completed in 2024.

Client: St John’s Wood Society and Westminster City Council
Team: with WSP, FM Conway