Approval granted for £200m Lansdowne House refresh

The Sultan of Brunei’s plans to redevelop Lansdowne House at Berkeley Square, W1, has received planning consent from Westminster City Council. The £200m scheme, which is led by developer CO-RE, will provide 225,000 sq ft of office space across 10 storeys and 14,000 sq ft of retail and restaurants on the ground floor. It is designed by architect AHMM, with the aim of achieving BREEAM “outstanding” and WELL “platinum” ratings. The shop spaces in Lansdowne Row will be “purposely sized” to attract smaller local retailers. As part of the new proposals, upgrades will be made to the narrow public realm around the site by providing more public space. There is also scope for new amenities, including balconies and an outdoor rooftop terrace. The scheme will also feature 480 cycle spaces with showers, lockers and changing facilities. The proposals include “more generous” floor plates and a new “centralised core” so that the building can be adapted in future without the need for demolition. Construction is expected to start in the second half of 2022 and to finish in 2026.  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 while achieving the highest possible standards for design and sustainability.”   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 more than 200 people from the local area. Gerald Eve advised on planning matters. To send feedback, e-mail pui-guan.man@egi.co.uk or tweet @PuiGuanM or @estatesgazette Image courtesy of PR