Grosvenor unveils new 20-year plan to modernise its London estate

Grosvenor Square
Grosvenor Square has been in public hands since the end of the Second World War Credit: Alamy

Historic property company Grosvenor is to reclaim ownership of Grosvenor Square and roll out free wifi as it sets out plans to upgrade its London estate over the next 20 years.

The new strategy comes just over six months after the sixth Duke of Westminster, Gerald Grosvenor, died aged 64, handing the title to his son, Hugh. The Duke of Westminster is the company’s chairman.

Grosvenor’s London holdings span some of the capital’s most desirable address, and the company will today set out how it aims to adapt its estate to appeal to more people.

This will include the company being given back responsibility for managing Grosvenor Square, which since 1946 has been run by public body Royal Parks, along with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Elizabeth Street
Grosvenor owns vast swathes of London's West End Credit: Grosvenor

The Grosvenor family designed the original square in the 1720s, when it was used by local residents. During the Second World War, the square and surrounding area was severely damaged, and after the war ended it was handed over to the Government’s Ministry of Works to make it a public space.

It is now perhaps best known as the home of the US Embassy, but the Americans are set to relocate to a new building in Nine Elms, on the south bank of the River Thames, later this year. The existing embassy will be turned into a luxury hotel by developer Qatari Diar, the property arm of the Qatari Investment Authority sovereign wealth fund.

Grosvenor plans to invest in the square, which is larger than Trafalgar Square, asking the public for ideas about how to improve the green space.

The company, which can trace its roots back to the 17th century, will also invest in one of London's largest upgrades in broadband, wifi and mobile connections on a single estate.

The new network will allow residents and businesses access new superfast and ultrafast broadband, and pilot a free public wifi service later this year.

Craig McWilliam, chief executive of Grosvenor Britain & Ireland, said: “The big challenges facing London today require that the estate responds. We want Mayfair and Belgravia to be more flexible, more open and more appealing to all. They need to work harder for London if they're to flourish.”

London mayor Sadiq Khan said he welcomed steps being taken to “upgrade the estate and ensure it is fit for future generations of Londoners and visitors”.

 

License this content