LONDON — Following a grand-scale refurbishment that took two years and cost 46 million pounds, Sloane Street is ready for its close-up.
The street, which stretches for one kilometer, or a more than half a mile, and links Sloane Square with Knightsbridge, was always lovely. But it wasn’t particularly walkable, with zooming traffic, no place to sit and not nearly enough green.
Cadogan, the longtime landowners, worked with the local Kensington and Chelsea Council on the project. They slowed down the traffic, widened the sidewalks and added more green spaces, street furniture and lighting to create a warmer, more welcoming atmosphere for locals, visitors and tourists alike.
Hugh Seaborn, chief executive officer of Cadogan, said the project marks a new era for the street, which had not been refurbished for nearly 250 years. It was originally commissioned by the 1st Earl Cadogan in the 18th century, when horse carriages were carting shoppers to and fro.
The Saint Laurent store on Sloane Street in London.
Kris Piotrowski
Although the neighborhood may be swanky, and the street lined with luxury stores, Seaborn said every effort has been made to “democratize” the area, with more outdoor seating, golden Yorkshire stone pavements carved with street names and much more green.
The street is already home to newly refurbished or expanded stores for brands, and there is more to come. Dior, Valentino, Temperley, Brunello Cucinelli, Bottega Veneta and Saint Laurent have all recently opened, or expanded their premises, on the street.
The design and fragrance brand L’Objet will open its only U.K. store on Sloane Street this week, while Zimmermann is set to open in the spring. Walpole, the British luxury industry organization, opened its town house headquarters a few steps from Sloane Street last year.
Cadogan has also partnered with hospitality groups Belmond, Beaverbrook, Jean-Louis Costes and Iconic Luxury Hotels to manage properties on the street, or nearby. New restaurants include Cantinetta Antinori; Jason Atherton’s Three Darlings, and David Yeo’s Azzurra, which specializes in Italian seafood.
The golden-hued Yorkshire stone on Sloane Street.
Kris Piotrowski
Seaborn described the new street as “global yet local” and said he hoped that people would want to dwell in — and appreciate — the space.
John McAslan, chair of John McAslan and Partners, which was in charge of the transformation, said Sloane Street’s “generous width and architectural asymmetry allowed us to craft a grand boulevard with a dynamic, people-centric vision.”
He said the green infrastructure “and a horticulturally driven design enrich biodiversity and ensure a lasting environmental legacy. The result is a dramatically elevated public realm now rivaling the grandeur of Avenue Montaigne in Paris and Via Condotti in Rome.”
Seaborn said Cadogan and its partners were so invested in the design of the street that they visited the Yorkshire quarries so they could source their desired shade of honey-hued stone. The stone was eventually cut from a new seam in the quarry to ensure uniformity for the full length of the street.
The street also features silver-gray granite and bespoke brass studs that demarcate reconfigured parking and loading bays. Handmade granite planters act as a physical buffer between traffic and pedestrians, and also serve as seating, according to Cadogan.
Dior’s supersized store on Sloane Street, which opened in 2023.
Kris Piotrowski
The lighting was inspired by Holy Trinity Church, near Sloane Square, which is known as a temple to Arts & Crafts design, and by local architectural styles ranging from Georgian to Dutch to midcentury modern.
State of the art LED lighting technology is meant to reduce energy consumption while creating a safer night-time environment for residents and pedestrians.
Cadogan added that “significant new infrastructure has been installed to improve and future-proof digital connectivity for the whole neighborhood.”
Multiple Chelsea Flower Show winner Andy Sturgeon has created a multilayered “greening scheme,” introducing more than 100 new trees. He has also introduced new flowers, shrubs and drought-resistant plants in a “royal” color palette of maroons, reds, purples and blues.
A rendering of the newly refurbished Sloane Street from 2023.
John McAslan + Partners
The plants are meant to offer year-round color and texture to the streetscape.
The unveiling will give a boost to London, which is facing challenging times under the new Labour government.
Many high net worth residents have fled to places such as Italy and Dubai ahead of onerous new taxes set to take effect later this year, while business have put the brakes on hiring due to higher takes that will kick in later this spring.
Retailers and brands continue to lobby for the reinstatement of tax-free shopping, which was canceled under the former government. The move has driven luxury shoppers to Paris and Milan, damaging high-end sales in the U.K.
