Sloane Street, London

Sloane Street, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC), is a world-renowned shopping destination lined with flagship stores, luxury hotels, and Georgian architecture. Its regeneration, led by Cadogan in partnership with RBKC, sought to reaffirm the street’s global prestige while enhancing the quality of life for residents.

As a long-term supplier to RBKC, Urbis Schréder was commissioned by lighting design consultancy LAPD to deliver a bespoke lighting scheme for the 1km stretch of public realm. This would require collaboration with The Kensington Society - an amenity society for all of Kensington - to help provide a solution that reflects the street’s unique identity and community values.
 

Placemaking through light for residents and visitors

Every detail of the project was carefully designed to enhance the pedestrian experience and reaffirm Sloane Street’s status as a premier shopping destination. At the same time, the scheme celebrates the street’s heritage and creates a safer, more welcoming environment for everyone who uses the space.

Our CARLTON lanterns were chosen for their timeless heritage style. Large CARLTONs provide the right lighting levels required for vehicles along the road, while small CARLTONs, mounted lower on the columns, deliver warm, comfortable illumination for pedestrians.

The lower lanterns were fitted with custom LED light sources from Pudsey Diamond, paired with a 2700K colour temperature, to deliver a low-glare, people-friendly light that enhances safety, accessibility, and the overall atmosphere for shoppers, visitors, and residents.

Craftsmanship Meets Heritage

Beyond performance, the scheme celebrates craftsmanship. Cadogan’s vision was inspired by the nearby Holy Trinity Church and its Arts and Crafts heritage. In collaboration with LAPD, John McAslan Architects, and Bethan Griffiths of Topp & Co., a metalwork artist specialising in blacksmith-made ironwork, to produce the final column design. Bespoke cast embellishments were created — from top finials and pedestrian brackets to mid-column details and base accents — giving each column a distinctive finish rooted in its surroundings.

Sustainable Lighting for Safer Nights

Sustainability was at the heart of the design. The LED technology reduces energy consumption and the warmer colour temperatures are considered more environmentally friendly, supporting RBKC’s greening strategy, while the horticultural driven design also promotes biodiversity. By significantly reducing light spill into homes and nearby green spaces, the solution balances safety with environmental care. The result: a safer night-time environment for both residents and wildlife, encouraging vibrant evening activity on Sloane Street.

A tailored finish that reflects collaboration and community

FM Conway were contracted to deliver the complex installation on behalf of Cadogan and RBKC. Columns were adapted for crossings, signage, and seasonal decorations, ensuring flexibility for the space. To support traffic management, some lighting points were supplied with Belisha beacons for crossings or dual. The columns themselves were a mix of root-mounted, flanged with offset plates, and reduced roots to suit the specific installation requirements, as managed by Urbis Schréder’s complex projects team. And some columns are also equipped to accommodate banners or Christmas decorations.

After more than a decade of planning and public consultation, the transformation of Sloane Street is complete. The tailored lighting solution stands as a testament to collaboration, placemaking, and sustainability — reinforcing the borough’s identity as both a global luxury destination and a thriving community hub.

Urbis Schréder is proud to have contributed to this landmark project alongside LAPD, Cadogan, and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.