A bizarre and dangerously slanted pavement in West Hampstead, which has been compared to a ski jump and caused problems for over a year, is finally set to be levelled. The resolution comes after a protracted blame game between the local council and the developers behind a nearby £120 million apartment complex.
A Hazardous Slope Sparks Public Outcry
The problematic pavement sits outside the Five Guys restaurant on West End Lane, adjacent to the recently completed West Hampstead Central development. Since hoardings were removed in October 2024, residents have reported the ramp-like walkway is particularly treacherous for the elderly, people with mobility issues, and parents with pushchairs.
Local Labour councillor Sharon Hardwick told the Local Democracy Reporting Service her inbox had been flooded with complaints. "If you're unsteady on your feet or have got a pushchair you really have to navigate it," she said. The situation became so concerning that large wooden planters were installed to warn pedestrians, a move that only accentuated the absurd angle.
The Blame Game: Developers vs. Council
Camden Council, as the highway authority, states the firms behind the development—Astir Living and A2 Dominion—carried out unauthorised works, resulting in the unacceptable slope. A council spokesperson asserted the developers should take accountability and that the authority expects to be reimbursed for the repair costs.
However, the developers have squarely blamed the council. Chris Ives of A2Dominion claimed that with council agreement, their partner Astir had only temporarily reinstated the pavement pending the council's permanent plans, which were delayed. An Astir Living spokesperson said they had paid £67,000 towards highway works in 2020 as part of a Section 106 agreement and accused the council of "prolonged inaction" and failing to respond to repeated communications.
Repair Works Scheduled to Begin
Despite the ongoing dispute, Camden Council has confirmed that repair works will commence. BT Openreach will first spend a week lowering an underground telecoms chamber, after which council teams will level and resurface the pavement. The entire project is expected to be finished by mid-February, with some traffic delays anticipated.
Councillor Hardwick expressed relief, stating, "There is now a light at the end of this particular tunnel." She emphasised that the situation, which saw developers "spectacularly fail" to follow their own plans, should never have been allowed to happen in the first place.
