Westminster Council Halts Formosa Street Pedestrianisation Plans

Westminster Council has halted plans to pedestrianise Formosa Street in Little Venice, a decision that has drawn disappointment from local residents. The council stated that concerns over the project's costs and anticipated reductions in government funding have led to the pause.

Resident Disappointment Over Project Delay

John Gregson, a resident who initiated a petition two years ago advocating for the removal of cars from Formosa Street, described himself as "concerned and disappointed." He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that the scheme had garnered widespread local support and was intended to create an attractive community asset, a 'village square' free from traffic.

Mr Gregson's petition, which received 365 signatures, led to a formal consultation. In February 2026, a former Cabinet Member for Streets approved moving forward with a feasibility design, and the project was added to the Capital Programme in April with an initial budget of £900,000. Detailed designs and implementation were yet to be approved.

Council Cites Financial Concerns

Following the May elections and the Conservative group regaining control of the council, all major public realm projects funded by the local authority were subjected to a review. Councillor Tim Mitchell, Cabinet Member for City Management, informed Mr Gregson via email that the scheme had been paused. He noted that not all potential options had been put forward and highlighted expected cuts to the council’s Government grants, estimated at around £100 million under the Fair Funding reforms.

Councillor Mitchell wrote, "Therefore, because of the capital and revenue costs of the proposals, I have halted the scheme, as expenditure of circa £1m is simply not affordable at this time." He suggested that a trial closure would be more sensible than committing large sums of money, proposing that the council's Public Realm team use a previous temporary Covid-19 scheme as a basis for revised proposals, with a trial planned for summer 2027.

Mr Gregson contested the council's reasoning, stating that the public consultation had shown overwhelming support for full pedestrianisation and that the claim of insufficient options being considered was unfounded. He also described the council's reference to reduced government funding as "disingenuous and misleading" and viewed the trial suggestion as a tactic to delay the decision.

Councillor Mitchell confirmed that the scheme for Formosa Street is under review, along with many other council-funded public realm projects. He stated that a number of options are being considered, including a possible trial closure next summer, and that design options are being reviewed with local councillors, with community consultation to follow.