Planning approved for £200m redevelopment of landmark Berkeley Square office building

11 November - Westminster City Council has granted planning approval to transform Lansdowne House, a landmark building on historic Berkeley Square’s southern end, into a new high-quality, sustainable, commercial building, providing a major boost for the Central London office market.

Led by developer CO—RE and designed by Stirling Prize-winning architect AHMM, the proposals for the redevelopment include 10 storeys comprising 225,000 sq ft of premium office space. On the ground floor will be 14,000 sq ft of retail and restaurants, with units in Lansdowne Row purposely sized to attract smaller local retailers, serving the needs of residents and local workers.

As part of the new proposals, considerable upgrades will be made to the currently narrow and constricted public realm around the site by revitalising pedestrianised areas and providing more public space, thereby reinstating the site’s natural connection to Berkeley Square.

Openable windows that provide more fresh air and much higher floor to ceiling heights that maximise daylight will have a positive impact on the wellbeing of its users whilst enabling the building to adapt to a changing climate.

Redevelopment will also mean new amenities required by modern occupiers can be introduced, including an outdoor rooftop terrace that incorporates greening and biodiversity, and balconies on every floor overlooking Berkeley Square. In the basement there will be 480 cycle spaces with associated showers, lockers and changing facilities.

David Ainsworth, chief executive of CO—RE, said:

“This is a huge boost and a major investment for Mayfair, central London and the city’s office market. Our proposals for Lansdowne House will restore the building’s relationship with the square whilst achieving the highest possible standards for design and sustainability. Having worked closely with local stakeholders and local community, we’re delighted to have secured planning for what will be a new landmark for Berkeley Square.”

The planning approval follows two years of consultation and conversations with the local authority, key stakeholder groups and nearby residents. This included a public exhibition, held earlier this year before lockdown measures were introduced, which was visited by over 200 people from the local area.