Square Mile to soften its edges with revamp as cultural quarter

THE Square Mile is set to become a new cultural quarter under plans to turn the City into an artistic destination to rival South Kensington or the South Bank.

A key part of the Culture Mile scheme, backed by the City of London Corporation, will transform Beech Street, which resembles a tunnel running through the Barbican, into a more open route with shops and better pedestrian access. Also central to the plan is the new Museum of London at West Smithfield and the proposed concert hall, which could be built on the museum’s old home at London Wall.

Cleaner air and improved access for cyclists and pedestrians are also on the agenda. The scheme, set to be realised over the next few years, is backed by organisations including the Barbican Centre, the Museum of London and the London Symphony Orchestra.

The managing director of the Barbican, Sir Nicholas Kenyon, said the area, between Farringdon and Moorgate, was “not welcoming enough” for visitors at the moment.

He said: “There is 2,000 years of history in this area from the Roman wall to contemporary modern buildings — and what is going to transform it is the arrival of the Crossrail Elizabeth Line, which will put an extra 1.5 million people within 45 minutes of central London.

“If you look at the public realm improvements in places like Exhibition Road and the connections between the museums, that has made a difference and that is what we aspire to.”

The first steps include a series of popup exhibitions in the area and a community garden near the Barbican — part of an attempt to combat pollution.

The City of London Corporation’s policy chairman Catherine McGuinness said: “We are redefining the City of London, so that the Square Mile becomes known and admired as much for being a world-class cultural destination, as for its position as a leading glo- bal financial centre. Culture has been at its heart for centuries, alongside commerce, and now more than ever, arts and culture are vital to the UK economy and our position in the world.

“As one of the country’s largest funders of cultural activities, we stand firmly behind Culture Mile. There is no doubt that Culture Mile will transform the area and in the face of Brexit send a signal to the world that London is — and will always be — a welcoming, open and resolutely internationalist city.”