Burns + Nice reveals plans for Leicester Square
- Published: 10 January 2008 11:31
- Author: Richard Vaughan
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- Last Updated: 10 January 2008 12:46
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Urban designer Burns + Nice has unveiled its proposals for the revamp of central London's world-famous Leicester Square.
The £18.5 million scheme was is backed by stakeholders Westminster Council and business district alliance Heart of London, which will be stumping up £15 million between them. The other £3.5 million will come from Transport for London.
Burns + Nice saw off the likes of Gustafson Porter, Robert Meier and Gillespies to win the project, and according to the practice, one of the key aspects of the new designs is a 200m-long, white granite 'ribbon' seat that frames the garden.
Practice director Marie Burns said: 'We will also be redesigning the side streets as well as the square. One of our main priorities was improving the connections between other squares, such as the route via the back of the National Gallery to Trafalgar Square.'
The work, which is scheduled to being in March, will be phased over three years to avoid serious disruption to businesses around the square.
Westminster Council said a major aspect to take into account was that the square hosts 50 film premieres every year, which must continue to take place.
Council leader Simon Milton said: 'Leicester Square has been the home of popular entertainment for more than two centuries, and these plans will ensure it will continue to do so.
'The number of people that cross this square every year is greater than the population of North America, so the redesigned square must be able to last. It is usually a very transient place, we want people to sit and linger here.'
