Major London green partnership set to expand
Wild West End, a unique partnership promoting the creation of more green space in London, has today announced that a new partner and new business improvement district (BID) has joined, expanding the programme’s reach across central London.
Capco, one of the largest listed property companies in central London and owner of the landmark Covent Garden estate, becomes the eighth partner. New West End Company, a business partnership representing 600 businesses across 80 streets across Bond Street, Oxford Street, Regent Street & in Mayfair, is the ninth BID to join.
Marking a significant step forward for Wild West End, the new partner and BID will continue to improve the physical and environmental quality of central London, giving people greater access to nature and encouraging wildlife back into the capital.
Both will work collaboratively with the existing partners (The Crown Estate, The Howard de Walden Estate, Grosvenor Britain & Ireland, Shaftesbury, The Portman Estate, Great Portland Estates, The Church Commissioners for England) and BIDs (Baker Street Quarter Partnership, Central District Alliance, The Fitzrovia Partnership, Heart of London Business Alliance, Harley Street Area Partnership, The Northbank BID, Victoria BID, Victoria Westminster BID and Whitehall BID) to identify gaps in central London’s green corridor. Through strategic mapping, the partnership will target projects to support improved green space connectivity, enhance biodiversity, and to connect Londoners with nature.
A partnership between property owners, Wild West End aims to create more green space in London. Since its formation six years ago, Wild West End has successfully installed over 4,217m2 of green space across its buildings, including over 100 green roofs, 21 green walls, 5 allotments and hundreds of bee friendly planters.
Global engineering and consultancy firm Arup will continue to facilitate and provide technical guidance to the partnership, monitoring environmental net gain and exploring collaborative opportunities to enhance central London’s green corridors. The strategic direction of Wild West End is informed by London Wildlife Trust and the Greater London Authority, who ensure the direction aligns with initiatives such as the London Environment Strategy.
Wild West End updated Partnership Map (2022)
Michelle McGrath, Executive Director, Capco said:
“We are delighted to be joining Wild West End, an important initiative for Central London which aligns with our own priorities of responsible stewardship and delivering positive sustainable outcomes for our stakeholders. Covent Garden has a strong track record of encouraging biodiversity through an extensive estate wide greening programme, and delivering improved air quality through pedestrianisation, and we look forward to working collaboratively with partners for a greener London.”
Will Dyson, Head of Sustainability & Urban Infrastructure at New West End Company said:
“We are delighted to join the Wild West End Partnership to ensure that the West End continues to lead the way in enhancing green spaces in the heart of London. London’s West End is shaping its Sustainability Action Plan as it works toward better air quality, and enhanced greening not only contributes toward this, but greatly benefits those who live and work in our district.”
Matt Smith, Head of Sustainability at Shaftesbury said:
“The Wild West End partnership is built on the principle that by working together to share best practice and connect green spaces we can more effectively increase biodiversity across the West End and promote the benefit it brings to people’s health and wellbeing. We are delighted to welcome two of our neighbours and key West End partners, Capco and NWEC, and look forward to working collectively as the Wild West End continues to go from strength to strength.”
Partners:
The Crown Estate
Shaftesbury
The Howard de Walden Estate Great Portland Estates
The Portman Estate
Grosvenor Britain and Ireland
Church Commissioners for England
Capital and Counties (Capco)
Business Improvement Districts:
Baker Street Quarter Partnership
The Fitzrovia Partnership
Heart of London Business Alliance
Harley Street Medical Area Partnership
Midtown BID
The Northbank BID
Victoria BID
Victoria Westminster BID
New West End Company
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