A follow up on two possible developments in Pimlico
Following a discussion between the Council and the Steering Group, the members of the Forum, joined by representatives of the Pimlico FREDA (Federation of Resident Associations), had a lively and very helpful meeting about the future of the block containing the Queen Mother Sports Centre on 14 January.
The discussion was introduced and structured by members Chiara Schina and Fabrizio Primavera of SP Architecture Workshop that the Steering Group would like to thank for their help and support to the PNF. See the slides of their presentation about the Pimlico Neighbourhood Plan and relevant policies here and the minutes of the meeting and the points made here.
The PNF wrote on 7 February to Cllr Ellie Ormsby, Westminster Cabinet Member leading on the Council’s new housing schemes, summarising the meeting’s views and re-iterating the need to maintain the Sussex Street playground. The letter is here.
Subsequently, the Council Cabinet has decided to progress two proposals:
- A mixed public space and housing scheme on the Sussex Street playground site a the preferred option, but with other options still forming “part of [Westminster’s] ongoing assessment and consultation as the project develops. .. there is a commitment to further engage and consult on the options being progressed to the next stage of development”. We understand that the preferred option at this stage is that approximately 50% of the site is public space.
- For the Queen Mother Sports Centre block, the preferred option is a mixed sports centre and housing scheme (involving demolition and replacement of the sports centre with a modern facility). This might potentially include the Wilton Road frontage opposite Sainsbury’s, but requires further financial analysis before more work can be done on the option. As we understand matters, it would require external subsidy for the replacement sports centre, or to enable the affordable housing to be provided alongside market housing.
The Cabinet meeting papers can be found on the Council’s website with the paper about the Queen Mother Sports Centre here.
A trial reopening
Sussex Street Playground, the walled area between Alderney St. and Winchester St, occupies a WW2 bombsite. It is owned by Westminster Council, but in recent years it has been let for use by children of a local private school.
However, from 6 December 2025, the Sussex Street Playground will be open to any children and accompanying adults every Saturday from 10am to 2pm, with the hope to extend the hours and days going forward. It will also open every day from 10am to 2pm the week of the 29 December. The playground will be staffed and it is also covered by CCTV.
This is an initiative of a group of local parents and the Eaton Square Prep School based in Eccleston Square as a trial to gauge the potential demand to increase access to the playground.
Click to enlarge
Westminster City Council (WCC) has set out ideas for Lupus Street proposing improvements at specific locations
While improvement of the public realm around the central area of Warwick Way and Churton Street is well underway 5 years after it was first proposed, WCC has now launched an initiative to develop a Strategy for unlocking the potential of Lupus Street. From Vauxhall Bridge Road to Claverton Street, Lupus Street is in the Pimlico Neighbourhood Area, and is an important asset shared with the Churchill Gardens Forum from Claverton Street to Grosvenor Rd opposite Battersea Power Station. This area has had little public investment in recent years and has rather been left behind in the Council’s thinking until now.
WCC’s consultation lasts until 28 November 2025.
The plans are not set in stone and because there is a lot of detail to be got right, not least the effect of road users on residents, it deserves a full input from the community. We have been asked to publicise this consultation. You can:
1. View an exhibition:
- indoor at the Pimlico Library (grounfloor, open Mon-Fri 9.30am to 8pm, Sat 9.30am to 5pm, Sun 1.30pm to 5 pm);
- outdoor display on the “piazza” at the junction of Winchester Street and Charlwood Street; or
- online here
2. Join one of three drop-in sessions with the Council teams for you to ask questions and share feedback on the design objectives and proposed improvements for Lupus Street:
- Monday 10 November: 16:30-18:30 at Pimlico Library (ground floor)
- Wednesday 19 November: 16:30-18:30 at Pimlico Library (ground floor)
- Tuesday 25 November: 16:30-18:30 at Rampayne Street Community Hub
3. Respond to a 5 minutes survey.
The 2025 AGM of the PNF took place on the 2nd July 2025 at St Saviours Hall. All PNF members (plus guests from neighbouring Forums or residents’ associations) were invited.
The meeting was well attended and heard about the Forum’s work of the last year as well as adopting a revised constitution.
Here are the draft minutes of the meeting and the papers which were previously made available to Forum members:
- Agenda
- Minutes of the 24th October 2023 AGM and Minutes of the 23 July 2024 AGM
- 2025 Annual Report
- Accounts for the year ended 30th April 2025
- Forum’s revised Constitution (adopted at the meeting)
Westminster City Council is currently holding two consultations that will affect Pimlico. All are invited to take part.
Public realm strategy
This is a formal consultation, open until the 18 November 2024, on a new Public Realm Guidance “Supplementary Planning Document” (SPD). The Forum will be responding in line with the Pimlico Neighbourhood Plan, but you can find all the information and documents here.
Representations can be made using the website, by email to planningpolicy@westminster.gov.uk or in writing to: City Planning Policy, Innovation and Change, Westminster City Council, 17th Floor, 64 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QP. If being sent by email or in writing, representations should be clearly labelled ‘Public Realm SPD – response to consultation’.
Waste disposal
Westminster City Council is also seeking input to its waste policy until the 17 November 2024 for businesses and 28 November 2024 for residents. You can find all the informations and documents here. We know that waste, recycling and clean streets affect every one of us across the city daily and Westminster encourages as many of you as possible to respond. By completing this survey, you’ll have the chance to enter a prize draw to win one of three £50 Love2Shop vouchers!
All PNF members (plus guests from neighbouring Forums or residents’ associations) were invited on the 23rd July 2024 at St Saviours Hall for the AGM
The meeting was lively and well attended.
Here are the draft minutes of the meeting and the papers which were previously made available to Forum members:
- Agenda
- Minutes of the 24th October 2023 AGM
- 2024 Annual Report
- Accounts for the year ended 30th April 2024
- Forum’s Constitution
The Forum is holding its Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 23 July 2024 at 7.30pm at St Saviours Church Hall in St George’s Square
We will be sending the full agenda and papers for the meeting later. In order for us to make suitable arrangements, could those expecting to attend please let us know by email? Thank you!
Only members of the Forum can vote at the AGM. Those subscribers who live, work or represent a business in the Pimlico Area are welcome to become members.
Click to enlarge Image from the City Plan Partial Review (Consultation)
Westminster City Council is undertaking a partial review of the City Plan and this has reached the consultation stage
The review is looking at 3 specific topics: Affordable Housing, Retrofit First and “Site Allocations” which has policies for sites proposed for future development which have been suggested by the relevant land owners.
Crucially for Pimlico (and Churchill Gardens) there is a proposed site allocation for “Grosvenor Sidings”: two plots of railway land between Ebury Bridge and the Thames on either side of the tracks which run over the river. The two plots lie entirely in the Pimlico Neighbourhood Area.
The Council’s consultation is here: https://www.westminster.gov.uk/planning-building-control-and-environmental-regulations/planning-policy/city-plan-partial-review. Warning: there are many very large documents. The most relevant documents for Grosvenor Sidings are:
- Regulation 19 City Plan (Chapter 11, page 71-76);
- Grosvenor Sidings Design Review Panel Report;
- Site Allocations Heritage Impacts Assessments report and
- Integrated Impacts Assessment document (including Appendix VIII and Appendix IX)
The consultation period concludes on 25 April 2024 and the Council’s “Regulation 19 consultation portal“ can be accessed on: https://cityplanpartialreview.commonplace.is/
The Steering Group is working on a consultation response from Pimlico Neighbourhood Forum to ensure that if a development proposal comes forward, it should respect policies in the Pimlico Neighbourhood Plan — especially those policies regarding height of new buildings, and the effect on the protected views out of Pimlico and Peabody Avenue Conservation Areas. Development also needs to integrate well with existing adjacent uses in Pimlico and to provide public realm, as the Plan specifies for major developments.
A “Pimlico Strategic Group” has been set up by Westminster City Council. This is about the services that the Council and its partners deliver and how they can join up and do things better.
Pimlico Neighbourhood Forum has been invited to join the Group with several other local organisations. It isn’t entirely clear what the focus of the group will be, but the initial process is as follows
The Council has set up a website and is holding some meetings to find out about what matters to people in Pimlico (Pimlico South and Pimlico North wards):
- Queen Mother Sports Centre on 7th March, 6–8pm. You can register for this HERE.
- Bessborough Centre on the 12th March, 12:30am to 1:30pm. Register HERE.
As you can see, the deadline for this part of the exercise is very short – up to 15th March.
Please give any feedback directly on their website https://pimlicocommunityconversations.commonplace.is/ There is a map that you can click on to make comments about an area or spot and a short questionnaire.
The Forum will put forward views and information based on the work done for the Pimlico Neighbourhood Plan, but we also encourage members to respond to the Council’s initiative.
All PNF members (plus guests from neighbouring Forums or residents’ associations) were invited on the 24 October 2023 at St Saviours Hall for the AGM
After the success of the referendum approving the Pimlico Neighbourhood Plan in September 2022, It was a lively and positive meeeting focussing on the way forward with Westminster City Council about current issues.
Here are the draft minutes of the meeting and the papers which were previously made available to Forum members:
- Agenda
- Minutes of the 5th October 2021 AGM
- 2023 Annual Report
- 2022-2023 Accounts
