Powis Square

Powis Square path and ball court works closure : Some footpaths and the ballcourt area at Powis Square will be closed from Monday 2 September 2004 until the end of September 2024 while refurbishment works are undertaken. We apologise for any inconvenience caused. Please note the play area will remain open.

About Powis Square

Powis Square is a small open square containing a free hard play area and children’s play area.

Address

Powis Square W11

Opening times

7.30am until dusk (September to March)
8am until 8pm (April to August)

Please note: this is for a trial period of two years starting in April 2023 and will be reviewed after year one.

Improvements updates 2023/24

August 2024

February: drinking water fountain and irrigation point were installed.
end February to early April: information circulated to residents on types of ball court surfacing and recommendation.
May:
- new drinking water fountain connected by Thames Water.
- ballcourt surfacing quotations obtained.
June: new memorial bench installed and plaque for sculpture.
July: new entrance gate installed.
September: path works, ball court resurfacing works and fencing for new dog area will commence.
September/October: planting works to eastern and western boundaries.

December 2023

January: new children’s play area opened to the public.
January to February: summer opening and closing times and dog access consultation, took place.
February to March: new planting added along the play area boundary on the west side of the square.
April: consultation results, circulated and revised summer opening and closing times of 8am to 8pm implemented.
May: testing and research into different sports surfaces and levels of sound reduction, that might be achieved in relation to the basketball bounce.
June: works ordered for the removal of the four remaining light columns, which do not work.
September: removal of the four remaining lighting columns completed.
November: history signage installed and one new memorial bench.
Winter:
- remaining planting along the eastern and western boundaries and installation of two memorial benches.
- installation of the new drinking water fountain and irrigation point.

Please note: Ballcourt works and new dog access area on the west side of the square will need to be progressed at the same time. Further consultation will need to be planned to discuss the different surfacing options, prior to the works being tendered. We are working with ward councillors and community engagement in terms of how to take this forward.

Summer opening and closing times and dogs access consultation

View more information about the consultation results and you said, we did information.

Powis Square improvements 2022

The Council is currently working with the Powis Square Steering Group and residents to co-design improvements to Powis Square. The works will cover three key areas. A new play area, improvements to the ballcourt including measures to help mitigate the sound and planting and landscaping works to the central area of the square.

Play Area

The first phase of the improvements will be the children’s play area. The play area design, focused on the results of the consultation conducted in 2021, which included input from 81 children who use the space. The play area work was put out to an open tender and was evaluated by residents, Eibe were selected as the winning supplier. The new design has been created considering feedback received and the new equipment will remain in the footprint of the current play area.

The amended play area design was voted on by Powis Square Steering Group in August 2022, and the final design was agreed, except for the table tennis table which will be determined once the new play area has been installed. The designs for the new play area are below.

The construction of the new play area will commence on site on Monday 31st October and is expected to take around 8 weeks to install.

Ball Court Area

The ballcourt area will be upgraded as part of this project and the improvements will look at ways to reduce noise to neighbouring properties.
The improvement works will include:

New surfacing to help reduce the sound of the ball bouncing
One basketball hoop only
New backboard and net to help reduce the sound
Planting along the boundary fence lines

The ball court group will shortly be working on the design brief for the ball court improvements which will then be put out to tender.

Landscaping

The central area and the boundaries around the square will be planted and new seating added. The Indian Princes Sculpture will remain, and new interpretation signage will also be installed explaining the history of the square. The landscaping group will begin work soon on the design brief for this area.

Previous consultations

History of Powis Square

In the mid-19th century, after the WII area settled down to more conventional building, the planning was entrusted to Thomas Allom.

He leased the land to W.K. Jenkins, whose roots in the Welsh Marches are remembered in the name Powis Square. This was named after Powis Castle, a medieval military stronghold in Wales.

In the 1960s there was a series of ‘break-ins’ and a march on the Town Hall by mothers and children. This lead Kensington and Chelsea to buy the square in 1968.

Map

Contact us

Contact RBKC Parks Team

Last updated: 27 August 2024

On this page