PNF in business for five more years!
Created in 2016, the Forum has been re-designated by Westminster Council for a further 5 years starting in March 2026.
This means that the Forum will be able to input into planning decisions and to produce further planning policies that have effect in the Pimlico Neighbourhood Area.
Our priorities for the next five years are likely to be the development of the Queen Mother Sports Centre block, protection of open public space and ensuring that new housing fits in with the Neighbourhood Plan. We also want to ensure that the planned revisions to Westminster’s City Plan reflect the priorities that have been established for our area.
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)
