Public Realm & Paving

A comfortable, high-quality street designed for people. 

The public realm proposals focus on creating a coherent, accessible and welcoming street environment that supports movement, social activity and everyday use.

• Introduce a clear street profile inspired by Carnaby Street’s historic layout, with a central movement zone and calmer pavement areas
• Improve drainage, durability and long-term performance of surfaces
• Replace uneven paving with high-quality, accessible surfaces that are safe and comfortable for all users
• Defining key junctions along Carnaby Street with a subtle change in surface material mix
• Introduce additional seating opportunities along the street, creating more places for people to pause, relax and enjoy the surroundings without obstructing key walking routes

Illustrative Purposes Only – Looking East along Broadwick Street

Lighting 

Warm, calm and characterful lighting after dark 

The lighting strategy is based on a detailed audit and review and designed to improve comfort, safety and legibility at night while respecting Carnaby Street’s heritage and residential context.

• Improve street lighting through the installation of heritage-style lanterns incorporating modern, energy-efficient technology to reinforce local character.
• Create a warmer, more welcoming evening environment with reduced glare and improved uniformity
• Explore vertical illuminated signage, a common historic feature within Soho, to add identity and legibility
• Minimise light spill, protecting residential amenity and reducing visual clutter
• Apply lighting selectively to highlight architectural features and support wayfinding, rather than illuminating everything evenly
• Ensure smooth transitions between light levels to improve comfort and accessibility
• Coordinate street lighting, façade lighting, signage and shopfronts as a single, balanced system

Illustrative Purposes Only – Indicative Lighting Images

Greening

More nature, more comfort, more character

A coordinated greening strategy will enhance biodiversity and climate comfort, building on what already works on Carnaby Street.

• Retain or replace existing trees, alongside carefully integrated additional planting, vertical greening, and rooftop climbers to provide shade, seasonal variation, and visual relief.
• Planting and subtle lighting will complement movement through the street, supporting wayfinding while reinforcing Carnaby’s distinctive eclectic character.
• Greening measures will be designed to avoid impeding pedestrian or vehicular movement, maintaining clear and accessible routes.

Illustrative Purposes Only

Wayfinding & Signage

We are at an early stage in developing a wayfinding strategy for Carnaby Street. Work is ongoing, and as part of this engagement, we want to understand how people currently move through the area and where navigation could be clearer.

Alongside wider wayfinding principles, we are exploring the potential for vertical lit signage, as a way of strengthening visibility, character and legibility, particularly at key junctions and gateways, such as the Beak Street junction.

We are continuing to test and refine ideas to make Carnaby Street easier to navigate while reinforcing its distinct identity and connections to surrounding streets, and we would value your feedback to help shape the next stage of design development.

Illustrative Purposes Only – Looking South on Carnaby Street

Public Art & Cultural Programming

Culture and creativity are at the heart of Carnaby Street. We are at an early stage in exploring how the public realm can better reflect this identity, and we are continuing to develop ideas in collaboration with local partners.

Alongside potential new interventions, we are committed to restoring the existing façade artwork at the junction with Broadwick Street, recognising its contribution to the street’s character and history.

We are looking closely at Carnaby’s rich history and cultural legacy to inform how future creative interventions can be meaningful and authentic. As part of this commitment, we have confirmed that we will be progressing with the restoration of the ‘Living Landmark’ Spirit of Soho mural.

The mural has long been part of the community’s identity, and we see its restoration not just as conservation, but as an opportunity to celebrate Carnaby’s cultural story. We will engage local stakeholders to help shape interventions that reinforce the area’s distinctive character.

Cultural Geography of Carnaby