Henrietta Street Construction Communications

Henrietta Street Public Realm Improvements – Construction

Background

Following the approval of the wider Covent Garden Neighbourhood Traffic Management Scheme (NTM) in March 2023, Henrietta Street was pedestrianised for 20 hours per day (cycling is permitted on Henrietta Street at all times). This created an opportunity to consider highway and public realm improvements to reflect the fundamental change in the street's usage and provide an enhanced pedestrian environment and experience and make the space more accessible. A full public consultation was held in Autumn 2024.

The Scheme

F.M. Conway have been commissioned on behalf of Westminster City Council to undertake public realm improvement works on Henrietta Street. The works include footway and carriageway re-construction along the extents of Henrietta Street including sections on Bedford Street and Southampton Street.  

The works commenced on 15 January 2026 for an estimated 11-month programme – subject to works permits.

The Henrietta Street Public Realm Improvement scheme seeks to upgrade the street broadly in line with the successful improvements in neighbouring King Street which were completed in 2014. Key features of the improvements for Henrietta Street include: 

• Widening the footway and narrowing the carriageway along Henrietta Street. This will improve accessibility and align with the broad design principles for a pedestrianised street.
• Creating a level surface across the street and with the Covent Garden Market Piazza to improve connectivity, especially for those with impaired mobility. 
• Upgrading current street surfacing with high grade materials in the same colour mix as King Street to improve the historical setting of the Market Building and Piazza.  
• Lifting and relaying existing cobbles at the junction with Southampton Street to create a more even surface. Providing a level pathway across the street to link the Market Building with the Henrietta Street southern footway. 
• Improvements to public lighting whilst maintaining the heritage listed gas-lit lamp columns. 
• Supporting local businesses by providing the opportunity for a more flexible and integrated/considered al fresco dining arrangement, subject to separate licensing and approvals. 
• A revised bollard alignment between Henrietta Street and the Market Piazza for improved pedestrian permeability.
• Providing dedicated loading bays. 

Construction Update

The construction works will be delivered in 5 phases, please see the plan below.

The order of the construction phases will maintain the accessibility along the entire length of the road throughout the duration of the project. This has been updated as of July 2026.

Phases:

• Phase 1 (Substantially Complete) – Henrietta Street / Southampton Street Junction – Footway

• Phase 2 (Substantially Complete) – Henrietta Street / Southampton Street Junction – Carriageway

• Phase 3 (Substantially Complete Exc. Bedford Street Junction) – Henrietta Street Southern Footway

• Phase 4/5A (July - August) – Henrietta Street Northern Footway / Henrietta Street Carriageway

• Phase 4/5B (August - September) – Henrietta Street Northern Footway / Henrietta Street Carriageway

• Phase 4/5C (September - November) – Henrietta Street Northern Footway / Henrietta Street Carriageway

In order to undertake the works safely, Henrietta Street will be under a full road closure for the duration of the works. Appropriate diversion routes will be marked on site.

During our works, pedestrian walking routes will always be maintained but routes may be longer as fencing will be in place along the kerb edge.

Pedestrian access to properties will be always maintained. We will work with you when we are working directly in front of any pedestrian access / egress point or residence.

Should there be a significant change to the programme we shall inform you at the earliest opportunity.

We will work Monday to Friday between 8am and 6pm, and if required, on Saturdays, between 8am and 1pm. We do apologise in advance for any inconvenience that these works may cause businesses and residents, we shall endeavour to keep noise disruptions to a minimum. There will be no noisy works between the hours of 12pm – 2:30pm.

Please note: The basement/vault to your property is a separate structure from the public highway and keeping it in a watertight condition is the responsibility of the owner or freeholder. If the vault/basement has not been properly damp proofed and/or tanked it is not secure from water ingress. Please be advised that neither the Service Provider nor the City Council will be responsible for any damage resulting from water ingress in such circumstances.

Henrietta Street will be under a full road closure for the duration of the works.

A summary of the works taking place in 2026, in each phase is provided below:

Phase 1 (January – February) – Henrietta Street/Southampton Street Junction – Footway

Changes include:

• Kerb realignment
• Footway widening
• New paving for footway
• New signage
• New cycle parking

Impacts to servicing and deliveries:

During Phase 1, Henrietta Street will remain open for servicing and deliveries between 7:00 am and 11:00 am. Access from Southampton Street will be closed, with an alternative route provided via Russell Street and Covent Garden.

Phase 2 (February – April) – Henrietta Street/Southampton Street Junction – Carriageway

Changes include:

• New raised table
• Re-lay of historic setts
• New level pathway from Market Building to Henrietta Street southern footway
• New bollards
• New lamp columns

Phase 3 (April – June) – Henrietta Street Southern Footway

Changes include:

• Kerb realignment
• Footway widening
• New paving for footway
• New 12m loading bays
• New lamp column
• New signage
• New cycle parking

Phase 4 (June – September) – Henrietta Street Northern footway

Changes include:

• Kerb realignment
• Footway widening
• New paving for footway
• New 12m loading bays
• New signage
• New cycle parking

Phase 5 (September – November) – Henrietta Street Carriageway

Changes include:

• New flush carriageway
• New granite setts carriageway