Westminster’s Labour-led Council is pressing ahead with major improvements to our high streets in Paddington and Bayswater, making them safer, more welcoming and better for local people, visitors and businesses.
Launched in 2023 with £10 million of investment outside the West End, Westminster’s High Streets Programme is already delivering tangible benefits for traders and residents across the city. In Paddington and Bayswater, the focus is on Praed Street, Craven Road, Queensway, Westbourne Grove, Porchester Road and surrounding areas, ensuring our neighbourhood centres get the support and attention they deserve.
Supporting local shops and small businesses
One of the first projects underway is the Shopfront Improvement Scheme. 14 businesses across Edgware Road, Craven Road, Praed Street and Leinster Terrace are benefitting from design and consultancy support, helping them refresh their shopfronts with new signage, repairs, lighting, awnings and improved accessibility. Grants of up to £15,000 per shopfront are being made available to make these upgrades possible.
This work will not only improve the look and feel of our local shopping streets but also help traders attract new customers and boost revenues. Examples include:
- Marble Arch News (Edgware Road) – a brighter frontage with new fascia, lighting and shutter artwork, giving the newsagent a more welcoming presence on the street.
- Pharmacentre Pharmacy (Edgware Road) – reinstating historic windows and upgrading signage to highlight the area’s heritage while improving visibility.
- EuropafoodXB (Craven Road) – a completely new timber shopfront, traditional awning and lighting to revitalise this much-loved continental food store.
- Barry Bros Security (Praed Street) – fresh signage, decorative repairs and lighting to upgrade the frontage of this long-standing local business.
- The Central Pantry (Leinster Terrace) – improved signage, tiling and repairs to its forecourt, creating a smarter local convenience store.
From independent pharmacies to family-run cafés, the programme is backing the businesses that are the backbone of our communities.
A long-term vision for Praed Street and Queensway
Alongside the shopfront upgrades, the Council has been consulting residents, businesses and visitors on “Place Strategies” for Praed Street and Queensway/Westbourne Grove. These documents will shape the future of these important high streets, with proposals including:
- Greener, safer and more welcoming streets with more space for walking and places to sit
- Support for alfresco dining and local markets
- Public art and cultural spaces that celebrate local identity
- Better crossings, decluttering, and improved cycling links
- A stronger mix of independent shops, health, wellbeing and community facilities
These plans, shaped by community feedback, will guide delivery from 2025 onwards, ensuring changes reflect the needs and ambitions of local people. You can see details on boards posted outside Paddington Cube and at Queensway Public Toilets or on the Council’s website.
Councillor Geoff Barraclough, Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development, said:
“Labour is making good on our promise to put every neighbourhood first. For too long, investment focused only on the West End while places like Paddington and Bayswater were left behind. We are changing that – improving shopfronts, supporting local traders, and working with residents to design high streets that are safe, vibrant and welcoming for everyone.”
Councillor Ellie Orsmby, Lancaster Gate, said:
“Bayswater and Lancaster Gate are communities of small businesses, diverse cultures and historic streets. These improvements will help our high streets thrive, making them greener, safer and better places to spend time.”
Cllr Shamshed Chowdhury, Hyde Park Ward, said:
“From Praed Street to Edgware Road, local people have told us they want high streets that work for them, with safer crossings, better shops and more space to enjoy. This programme is about listening and acting to deliver the change our community deserves.”