FITZROVIA VIEWS:
GREAT PORTLAND PLAN NEW WEST END SQUARE
“Great Portland Estates’ redevelopment of the Royal Mail sorting office at Rathbone Place just north of Oxford Street is set to give London’s West End one of its first new public squares for more than a century – Rathbone Square. It will be the centrepiece of a 412,000 sq ft development which will create 215,000 sq ft of offices, 162 new homes and 42,500 sq ft of retail.
DERWENT LONDON IS A BIG FAN OF FITZROVIA.
“We have long been committed to Fitzrovia where 37% of our portfolio is located. It is increasingly vibrant and diverse and the arrival of Crossrail will bring a further step change in the evolution of the area.
“The regeneration of 1-2 Stephen Street has already attracted BrandOpus which took a pre-let of the 18,300 sq ft phase 1. Phase 2 with 83,800 sq ft of offices will be completed shortly. The development also includes Tottenham Court Walk, on Tottenham Court Road which are currently being extended to create 40,000 sq ft of new and improved retail units. This will complete in Q2 2015.
“The biggest Derwent London scheme in the area is 80 Charlotte Street which has planning permission for redevelopment to provide 380,000 sq ft of offices and residential units. The building’s current tenant, Publicis Groupe, will vacate following the completion of Derwent London’s new offices for the communications agency in Clerkenwell and Chancery Lane.
“A start for the 80 Charlotte Street project is scheduled for the first half of next year with completion in the second half of 2017.”
Paul Williams Derwent London
“The square will be pivotal to both the development and the wider area, it will be a new garden square within Fitzrovia. We think there is a real need for this level of amenity. It won’t be just a through route; a means of getting from A to B. It’s going to be somewhere that people will actually use. We want it to become a destination where people will meet. This part of London is very short on high quality public space and as such the square will be open to the public during the day and then will close in the late evening so that it is secure for residents and workers.
“There’ll be a mix of retail and restaurants around the square. We want it to feel quite different; to respond to Fitzrovia’s character. We did not want the scheme to feel that it has been imposed on the community, rather we want it to embed into the location and become part of the street scene rather than being alien to it.
“In addition to the square, the office building on its southern side also promises to be a unique offering. It will be accessed through a double height entrance and will provide large floorplates – of around 35,000 sq ft – together with a series of open air terraces.
“We will have terraces on the fourth, fifth and top floors, with one terrace being accessible to all occupiers of the building. This reflects a need being recognised by planners that in addition to residential amenity, there is a growing demand for office space. As such, Rathbone Square will be a scheme of the highest specification, offering premium residences and office units reflective of the overall standard of the development.
“Residential development at Rathbone Square will create 142 new private apartments and 20 intermediate housing units. The new apartments will be finished to the highest of standards.
“Fitzroy Place has been very successful nearby. It’s a great scheme and there is no reason why we shouldn’t be achieving similar results for the residential at Rathbone Square.
“What we are creating at Rathbone Square will be a very special and unique place in the heart of London’s West End that offers large office floorplates, high quality residential and excellent connections.”
Neil Thompson Great Portland Estates
12 020 ISSUE 3 Q4 2014
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