FACELIFT FOR HISTORIC BEDFORD SQUARE GETS UNDERWAY

23 January 2006

One of central London’s historic Georgian squares is set to have its former beauty and historical value restored, as an improvement project starts this week (23 January).

Camden Council is carrying out the work to improve Bedford Square’s street layout, pavements and lighting as well as restoring its original geometrical design. The project will cost £740,000 - funded by the council, English Heritage, Bedford Estates and The Crown Estate - and will be completed in May.

Bedford Square is a unique square in the heart of Bloomsbury, surrounded by buildings whose facades have been carefully maintained in their original Georgian style. However the streets have not fared as well, because a 1970s system to build out the paving with concrete to reduce the volume and speed of traffic and control parking, changed the original design. The square’s pavements also now need repairing.

The improvements will include:

• Recreating the original geometric design of the square by realigning the road so it runs parallel to the buildings.
• Adding a wide, bound-gravel area around the central garden, which can be used by pedestrians and will keep traffic speeds down
• Putting new seats, in keeping with the style of the square, in this gravel area and re-arranging the ‘street furniture’ to allow more space on the footpaths and reduce the clutter caused by signs.
• Repaving the asphalt footpaths on the north, south and west sides of the square with York stone, which is high quality paving, to make the street look more attractive
• Refurbishing and repainting the historic lamp columns whilst adding in contemporary white lighting. This will help improve safety in the square and discourage drug dealing in the square, a concern raised by residents and businesses.
• Providing additional parking spaces for disabled drivers, motorcycles and residents, and relocating parking for bicycles with new stands.

Local residents and businesses were consulted about the proposed changes at the end of 2005, with almost two thirds of respondents in favour of the improvements and more than 70 per cent supporting the new parking arrangements.

Cllr John Thane, Executive Member for Environment, Camden Council, said:

“Bedford Square is the last architecturally intact square that we have left in London and this important redesign work will restore its original layout. This project will help re-establish Bloomsbury’s identity as a historically important and attractive area of London. It is one of many Camden Council projects to deliver good quality design, architecture and improvements to our streets and public areas.”

Philip Davies, Planning & Development Director (South) at English Heritage said:

“London’s garden squares are one of its most admired and distinctive elements. They are a crucially important part of what makes London unique. If London is to continue to thrive as a great world city and Olympic venue, then it is vital that we invest more in the improvement of our great public spaces.

Bedford Square is the only intact Georgian square surviving in London. Sadly, in the 1970s concrete build-outs severed the carefully composed relationship between the garden, the carriageways and the surrounding buildings, and the character of this nationally important set piece declined.

Thanks to this partnership, Bedford Square will be reinstated much more closely to its original layout. As part of its London Garden Squares Campaign, English Heritage has offered £257,000 towards transforming the square. This will deliver huge social, economic and environmental benefits, as well as visual ones, to this neglected part of central London”.

Camden Council has recently restored other public open spaces in the Bloomsbury area, with the support of English Heritage, combining the original, traditional designs of Sir Humphrey Repton with meeting modern needs. Russell Square gardens was restored to its former glory in 2002, and Bloomsbury Square’s landscaping and layout were transformed in 2003.

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