Bridgemont has submitted a planning application for the retrofit of 1 Embankment Place, which is located above Charing Cross Station in London.
The air-rights development, which currently serves as the London HQ for PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), will feature 35,000 sq m (circa 377,000 sq ft) of Grade A workspace with food and beverage uses at ground level.
Designed by award-winning Hopkins Architects, the retrofit-led approach will preserve around 90% of the existing structure and most of the building’s façade. Bridgemont is targeting BREEAM Outstanding, NABERS 5* and EPC A ratings for the building.
Max Farrell of the LDN Collective, whose late father Sir Terry Farrell was the building’s original architect, has continued to help guide the proposals for the site, ensuring the original design intent is respected.
Mark Wenlock, principal at Bridgemont, said: “This submission reflects what people told us mattered most throughout consultation – a more inviting Villiers Street, better pedestrian connectivity and a higher quality ground floor experience. The proposals set out 1 Embankment Place as one of Westminster’s most significant retrofit opportunities, transforming a critical gateway site into a high quality commercial, retail and cultural destination that better connects the West End with the South Bank. We are excited to move into the next phase to unlock the full potential of this remarkable site.”
Mike Taylor, principal at Hopkins, added: “Submitting this application is a significant step in delivering the transformational improvements needed to secure its future for generations to come. It’s a historically rich and particularly complicated piece of London that’s undergone great change over the centuries. We are grateful to everyone who assisted us to understand the challenges and guided the design process particularly the community stakeholders and Sir Terry Farrell’s son Max who ensured the proposals respected the building’s character, but also responded to Terry’s vision for London to continually evolve and improve.”
