Busking Consultations
Changes to the busking and street entertainment Public Space Protection Orders (PSPO)
We want to hear your feedback and views on the changes to the busking and street entertainment Public Space Protection Orders (PSPO), detailed below.
Please complete the survey by Friday 8 January 2021.
In July 2019 PSPOs were introduced in certain areas of Kensington and Chelsea to address the detrimental impact some performances where having on residents and local businesses. The PSPOs have reduced busking complaints by 54% in the first three months (July to Oct 2019) and between July and February by 15.5%, compared to the same period in 2018/19.
A six-month review of the PSPOs was undertaken to review the effectiveness of the PSPOs and to identify if any variations are required to deal with displacement and remaining high impact areas.
The key decision report below sets out the findings of the six-month review and the details the resulting proposed variations to the PSPOs, and the supporting evidence for each variation.
The proposed variations to the red zone (Zone 1) PSPO include one new zone outside Sloane Square Underground Station – Map 1 .
- Map 1 – Outside Sloane Square Underground Station
The remaining proposed variations involve removing some areas from the purple zone (Zone 2) PSPO and adding them to the red zone (Zone 1) PSPO at the following locations:
- Map 2 and 2A – Around Harrods, to include all the shop frontages up to 63 Brompton Road and extended along half of Basil Street from Hans Crescent.
- Map 3 and 3A – The stretch of Exhibition Road from the Science Museum up to Imperial College Road which was previously included within the purple zone.
- Map 4 and 4A – The area outside High Street Kensington Underground Station up to Derry Street and part of Wright’s Lane.
The purple zone (Zone 2) PSPO variation proposals include incorporating the following new locations:
- Map 5 – Outside Gloucester Road Underground Station from Cromwell Road to Courtfield Road.
- Map 2 and 2A – From 63 Brompton Road, to Knightsbridge Underground Station at the junction with Sloane Street
- Map 1 – Sloane Square and the junctions of King’s Road, Symons Street, Sloane Street and Lower Sloane Street (apart from the area outside the underground station that is proposed as a restricted area within the red zone)
- Map 4 and 4A – High Street Kensington from Campden Hill Road to Kensington Church Street and on both sides of Kensington High Street from Derry Street to Young Street.
- Map 2 and 2A – Hans Crescent, Harrods and Knightsbridge Station
Map 2 showing the existing variations to the PSPOs
Map 2A showing the proposed variations to the PSPOs
- Map 3 and 3A – South Kensington Exhibition Road and the extension of the PSPO
Map 3 showing the existing variations to the PSPOs
Map 3A showing the proposed variations to the PSPOs
- Map 4 and 4A – Kensington High Street and the extension of the PSPO
Map 4 showing the existing variations to the PSPOs
Map 4A showing the proposed variations to the PSPOs
- Map 5 – Outside Gloucester Road Underground Station
2018 Busking Consultation
In the summer of 2018, we undertook a consultation exercise to better understand residents’ and other key stakeholders' views on busking and possible options on regulating it. We received over 400 responses, with almost 70% supporting the introduction of a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) to help control busking and street entertainment, and restore the balance between busking and the living and working conditions of the local community.
Another public consultation was held from 6 May 2019 to 7 June 2019 to get the views on the draft Busking and Street Entertainment Policy and proposed use of Public Space Protection Orders (or PSPOs). We promoted the survey to residents’ associations, local businesses and organisations representing street entertainers and buskers in the Royal Borough. 204 surveys were returned: 42% of respondents were from business or workers within the borough; 41% from residents; 13% from visitors; and 10% from street entertainers/buskers. The most comments received (52) supported the Busking and Street Entertainment Policy and introduction of the PSPOs, followed by 44 comments in favour of controlling amplification. 25 comments were received against the proposed PSPOs.