Neighbourhoods improvements package approved by Westminster
Westminster City Council has approved a £52 million package of investments focusing on improving neighbourhoods, supporting local businesses, and tackling inequalities as part of the borough’s 2026/27 Budget.
The Budget, agreed at Full Council on 4th March, prioritises “practical projects” that will deliver “visible improvements” for residents and support high streets and community infrastructure, the council said in a press release. It has also approved £6.2 million to support over two dozen community projects in North Paddington that aim to reduce health and social inequalities.
Across the borough’s high streets, £8 million has been allocated to improve key shopping areas in Paddington and Bayswater to create “safer, greener and more accessible spaces that encourage footfall and support local traders.” Pimlico Station and Lupus Street will see £3.8 million invested to deliver “public realm upgrades, improved shopfronts and a new public art programme.”
An additional £34 million will support a “major transformation” of Regent Street, “enhancing public spaces, protecting heritage assets and creating a greener, more inclusive environment for businesses, residents and visitors alike.”
These improvements are designed to revitalise local centres, boost footfall, support local traders and ensure Westminster’s neighbourhoods remain welcoming and vibrant for residents and visitors,” Westminster said.
The council also approved plans to keep the core part of Council Tax frozen for 2026/27, to help locals dealt with cost-of-living pressures. The adult social care precept that funds care for the vulnerable and the elderly will see a “below-inflation” rise of 2%, meaning that Westminster’s share of the bill that Band D payers receive will increase by 20p per week.
The Budget also includes “significant investment in affordable housing” including £160 million allocated to the four new proposed housing projects at the Brunel Estate, Bravington Road, Sussex Steet, and the Queen Mother Sports Centre site. This builds on its plans for 1,5000 affordable family sized homes across the borough as part of the council’s plan to deliver 2,700 homes within the next decade.
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