The Crown Estate, Regent Street
Client: The Crown Estate
Role: RIBA Client Adviser and Competitions Adviser
S. Williams Architects was appointed by The Crown Estate as RIBA Client Adviser to support the strategic development of the public realm within their prestigious Central London portfolio, focusing on the iconic Regent Street.
As custodians of a £14 billion UK real estate portfolio, The Crown Estate manages some of the country’s most dynamic urban destinations—from landmark locations in London’s West End to vibrant community hubs nationwide. Committed to the public good, all profits are returned to the Treasury, contributing £2.7 billion over the past decade to support national priorities.
Driven by long-term thinking and a strong set of values, The Crown Estate is focused on enhancing the performance and resilience of its assets. Their approach is rooted in creating outstanding places that are sustainable, adaptable, and welcoming—crafted in collaboration with customers, communities, and professional partners.
In alignment with this vision, Sarah Williams worked closely with the senior leadership team to explore future-facing public realm strategies for Regent Street. Her role involved helping to shape a comprehensive brief that would lay the groundwork for a potential high-profile design competition, aligned with The Crown Estate’s ambitions for the next 10 to 30 years.
Urban design specialists Publica were engaged to lead the strategic design direction, including the development of the 'park to park' concept—an initiative aimed at enhancing connectivity, public experience, and environmental quality along one of London’s most celebrated streets.
Sarah also led a RIBA competition for Regents Street windows on behalf of The Crown Estate, where smaller practices were invited to provide window designs for some key retail outlets. Through a collaborative and thoughtful process, these projects reflects The Crown Estate’s commitment to shaping places that not only meet today’s needs but inspire future generations.
