Newson’s Yard
Good things come to those who wait.
Newson’s Yard certainly aligns with that sentiment. This is a scheme I Project Managed from 2017 to 2020. In that period we changed design team members, redesigned the internal layouts, submitted planning amendments, secured site VP and procured the works. The scheme had been a ‘thing’ looong before 2017 when I got involved and since I moved on to other work at Grosvenor it has been under construction, safe in the hands of expert builders Knight Harwood.
On 2nd November I attended the press launch and despite gloomy skies above, Newson’s Yard was looking incredible - finally, after all those years the vision has been achieved. I think this takes the award of the project where the CGI’s are almost impossible to pick apart from the finished product!
The redevelopment houses five new retail units and two food and beverage spaces, surrounding a central double height courtyard.
I want to mention a couple of key Grosvenor team members. Firstly Emma Rogers (Development Manager) who has patiently led the scheme for many, many years, and secondly to Jane Macdiarmid (Belgravia Retail Director) who has been integral to shaping the vision for Newson’s Yard and the wider Pimlico Road design district. Congratulations to both of you!
At the breakfast launch it was great to hear Suzanne Trocme (Editor at Large of Wallpaper* magazine) talk about the history of the former 1840-built timber yard.
Architect Mike Stiff (Stiff and Trevillion) told us how the glass roof of the timber yard was almost cathedral-like and was central to the vision of how the space would be used in the future. The space is now accessed through two gates between Pimlico Road shops, which draw you into the airy, double-ended central arcade. It’s bathed in light and acts as a communal hall for the design community in the Yard, with retail spaces and eating places arranged either side.
Mike also told us how they kept the original brick, setting the tone for design community focused on originality, quality and sustainability. In case you are wondering, the numbers on the retained brick piers are for measuring lengths of timber!
Also on the panel were Nina Campbell, Martin Brudnizki (founder of And Objects) who have taken two of the retail units. 80 guests joined the event including top design and interior press, key community stakeholders and tenants from Pimlico Road.
Very well done to everyone involved in this fantastic new addition to Pimlico Road.