Work to transform a corner of the Oxford Street District into a cultural destination has commenced with the Soho Photography Quarter.
The quarter is the first permanent element of the council’s £150 million plans to transform Oxford Street and the surrounding area to get underway.
The project will see Ramillies Street, Ramillies Place, Hills Place and a small section of Great Marlborough Street transformed into a ‘Gateway to Soho’, acting as an open-air gallery space for the public with an annual programme of light projections and large-scale art lining the streets introducing a sense of vibrancy and spectacle to the area.
Additional seating, greening and a multi-layered public arts programme will encourage people to enjoy the area and its unique character.
Debbie Jackson, executive director of growth, planning and housing at Westminster City Council said: “Our vision for the Oxford Street District sets out to reinvent the nation’s high street.
“We want people to enjoy the time they spend in Oxford Street, to discover new and interesting experiences around every corner. The Photography Quarter will turn this relatively unknown part of our city into a canvas for creatives to surprise and delight visitors from across the globe.”