Green light for St James’s office scheme

BentallGreenOak has received planning approval from Westminster City Council for a refurbishment and extension of 78 St James’s Street, SW1. Designed by Squire & Partners, the scheme will turn the former London headquarters of HSBC’s Private Bank into a 110,000 sq ft property providing floorplates of up to 18,500 sq ft. It will feature a new rooftop pavilion extension and external terrace, while the Grade II listed front section will be retained and refurbished to provide amenities including a wellness suite, delicatessen and business lounge. A flexible multi-function room will also offer a range of activities, from yoga and pilates to town hall meetings. The scheme is slated to complete in 2021 and will be rated BREEAM Excellent and Wired Score Platinum. Alexander Morris, development director at BGO, said: “78 St James’s Street will be delivered into a core West End market where there has been little speculative development of late, particularly of buildings with large floorplates. “This will provide unrivalled amenities and an office environment in a truly unique and characterful setting, which surpasses the needs of the modern office occupier.” JLL and BNP Paribas Real Estate are retained leasing advisers for BGO on the scheme. To send feedback, e-mail louise.dransfield@egi.co.uk or tweet @DransfieldL or @estatesgazette