Mayfair and Belgravia are two of London’s most high-profile districts. Their prominence means that decisions about their future carry weight locally for residents, and for London’s reputation as a global city. 

Grosvenor GBI, the steward of these historic estates, commissioned BOP Consulting to help develop a placemaking strategy that covered cultural assets and investment recommendations that would embed culture more deeply into the fabric of Mayfair and Belgravia. The aim was to use culture as a driver of quality of life, commercial vitality, and long-term distinctiveness in one of the capital’s most recognisable landscapes. 

We developed a framework to map the cultural and heritage assets across the estates, using pioneering artificial intelligence to build a database of more than 5,000 cultural assets. 

We then developed a strategy that leveraged the estates’ heritage, institutions, and public spaces, identifying areas for new initiatives and investment. Alongside this, we prepared feasibility studies and business plans for selected assets to ensure proposals were viable and aligned with both community benefit and commercial considerations. 

The resulting strategy not only equips Grosvenor GBI with a robust framework for decision-making and investment but also helps secure the long-term vitality of Mayfair and Belgravia serving as an example to other historic districts.