Notting Hill Gate Local Action Plan Feedback

We asked for feedback on a set of principles to steer the making of an action plan for improving Notting Hill Gate, and invited respondents to share project ideas they thought could make a difference in the area. The questionnaire also offered an opportunity for anyone living or working locally to join a community working group and help to develop the action plan.

The Notting Hill Gate action plan will list projects identified and detailed with the community. Projects must be deliverable, impactful, and well maintained. They can be short, medium or long term, permanent or temporary, large or small – depending on the community’s appetite. Action plans are not policy documents or legislation, but a continuously updated framework for enhancing the high street.

The online survey opened on 7 September 2022 and closed on 15 January 2023.

The key findings are summarised below:

• We received 98 responses to the survey.
  • The majority of respondents (84 per cent) identified themselves as residents in the Notting Hill Gate area, 78 per cent are over 35 years old and 72 per cent from a White background.
• The priorities which received the highest number of ‘agree’ and ‘strongly agree’ were:
  1. More green spaces and planting (85 votes)
  2. Better air quality (82 votes)
  3. More pedestrian friendly, particularly for people with reduced mobility (81 votes); Find ways to attract residents and visitors to support local businesses (81 votes)
• The most contentious priority is to make the area “more cycle friendly”, with which 20 per cent of responses disagree or strongly disagree.
• We received approximately 192 ideas for improving the high street.
  • The ideas were categorised into themes. Considered together, the top seven themes call for a more pedestrian-centric high street at the expense of cars and traffic.
  • The top two themes capture ideas on “improving pedestrian experience/safety” and “cycle lane”. These are closely followed by “more greening and planting” and “reduce / slow traffic”, then “cleaner streets” and “widen pavement”. Completing the top seven is “more/safer crossings and junctions”. 
• The top five locations for improvements, each with five mentions or more, were:
  1. Notting Hill Gate (all along)
  2. Outside Waterstones and Newcombe House
  3. Pembridge Road
  4. Tube station entrance/ exit and surrounding area
  5. Kensington Church Street

• Other locations mentioned include Pembridge Gardens, Astley House, Hillgate Village, McDonalds, and outside Boots / Tesco.

Results from this survey informed the community working group about key themes to address, desired improvements and target locations for interventions.

The community working group is made up of residents, ward councillors, local businesses and cultural organisations, as well as Council officers. They have been meeting since November 2022 to shape and influence the development of the action plan.

As of May 2023, the group is refining a list of viable projects to improve the high street. By summer 2023, a draft version of the action plan should be available for consultation.   

You can follow our progress and find out more on the Council's website.

You can find the full survey report below.

If you have any queries, please contact the project team at GrowthandDeliveryTeam@rbkc.gov.uk or call 020 7361 3012.