“Designing the Magic Carpet” at Nutford Place is an engagement-led project testing ideas and building community ownership to support the site’s long-term transformation.

“Designing the Magic Carpet” at Nutford Place was an engagement-led activation project delivered by Westminster City Council’s Place Shaping team in partnership with The Portman Estate. It is the only publicly accessible space along Edgware Road and plays an important role in the High Street and surrounding community, including Hampden Gurney Primary School.

Despite its strategic location, it has historically been underused, with challenges including anti-social behaviour, poor environmental quality, limited dwell space and safety concerns.

As part of the Westminster City Council Paddington–Bayswater High Street Programme, the project adopts a phased, place based approach to deliver long-term transformation, using temporary activation to test ideas, build community ownership and to address the site challenges.