Policy information sourced from Fitzrovia Area Action Plan

Bedford Square Character Area

Bedford Square is a virtually intact Georgian square fronted by terraced townhouses forming a single formal composition. The central circular garden is in private ownership. Access is available to local residents and businesses subject to payment of an annual fee. The garden is also hired out for events.

Buildings fronting the square are neo-classical terraced townhouses with a strong uniformity of proportions and scale. All buildings fronting the squares are listed. They are predominantly in office or educational use with occupiers including publishers, colleges and legal firms.

Although Bedford Square is included within the Fitzrovia Area Action Plan boundary, this character area is regarded as part of Bloomsbury.

Bedford Avenue

The red-brick Bedford Court Mansions (6 storeys) line the entire length of Bedford Avenue. There is a noticeable difference in scale between these mansion blocks and the 2 storey Edwardian mews on the north side of Bedford Avenue.

Morwell Street

Morwell Street is a relatively narrow, quiet street fronted mostly by two- to four-storey development of variable quality and age. A number of buildings on the western side have garages and servicing. The eastern side is within the Conservation Area and has many buildings which contribute positively.

Gower Mews

Gower Mews retains much of its essential mews character, being a narrow, single surface fronted by small scale 2-3 storey mews buildings with garages.

Character Area Principles

The Council will negotiate with owner The Bedford Estate to seek increased public access to Bedford Square Gardens.

The Council will resist introduction of a cluttering of street furniture in the public area surrounding Bedford Square Gardens, but will explore opportunities for the installation of additional seating provided it will not harm the Square’s heritage assets and their settings. The addition of seating will require further investigation including prioritisation against other proposals, identification of funding, consultation with key stakeholders and wider public consultation.

Public realm opportunities

In this character area we do not propose to take forward any public realm opportunities identified by the Fitzrovia Open Space and Public Realm Study.

For more information please see the Area Action Plan