Plans revealed for iconic Heal’s building

General Projects and KKR have unveiled their plans for the redevelopment of the iconic Heal’s building on Tottenham Court Road, W1. KKR, the global investment firm, bought the furniture store and surrounding estate in 2021 from Columbia Threadneedle for £112m. Under the direction of developer General Projects it will be transformed into a mixed-use space, incorporating a new Heal’s store on the lower floors. After the reconfiguration, Heal’s will occupy the entirety of the building’s ground and lower-ground retail space on a 20-year lease. The new fit-out intends to reinstate its street presence as a destination in the West End’s design and furniture district. The upper parts of the former department store will be transformed into contemporary workspaces and rebranded as The Manufactory. The name is a nod to the Grade II* listed building’s industrial heritage, in which Heal’s originally designed and manufactured the furniture it sold downstairs. Jacob Loftus, chief executive and founder of General Projects, said: “While Heal’s will remain the heart of the building, more than 140,000 sq ft of creative-led workspace will be delivered within the eight buildings that make up the estate. “Rebranding the project as The Manufactory reflects our vision to celebrate the rich history and heritage of the building while creating a modern, inspiring new urban campus for businesses seeking innovative space.” He added: “The development is intended to be an exemplar of how adaptive reuse can serve the dual purposes of delivering best-in-class, design-led sustainable buildings while respecting and enhancing iconic heritage assets.” Architectural firm Buckley Gray Yeoman is behind the designs, having worked with Loftus on Technique, the timber-led reinvention of a former gin distillery in Clerkenwell, EC1. A key feature of the redevelopment will be the transformation of Heal’s 200-year-old dispatch area into a new entrance, fronted by a street-level café and bar. This will also open up Alfred Mews to the public, creating a new pedestrian street and public offering to the neighbourhood. Original details, such as the 3.2m high ceilings and the internal street running between the Torrington Place and Alfred Mews entrances, will be restored. Loftus added: “The Heal’s building is an iconic feature in London’s West End. From the very start we were committed to a collaboration with Heal’s to design and deliver an exemplary new store to ensure the brand’s long-term future in the building” The Heal’s building evolved from a furniture factory to become Tottenham Court Road’s landmark department store and one of the West End’s most recognisable buildings, designed by Cecil Brewer and completed in 1917. The redevelopment will target EPC B and BREEAM Very Good – the highest possible ratings for Grade II* listed buildings. Once operational, the development is intended to be 100% powered by renewable resources. Works on the building have already begun, with an initial 35,000 sq ft of office space set to complete in the coming weeks. A further 30,000 sq ft of office space is set to be available in 2023 following the relocation of Heal’s. Heal’s chief executive Hamish Mansbridge said: “Heal’s has been a landmark on Tottenham Court Road for more than 200 years, and is a vital piece of the history of the area. This is an opportunity for us to revitalise our flagship store, reinstating our street presence with a new, contemporary fit-out, and securing an exciting future for the brand in the building in which it was founded.” To send feedback, e-mail piers.wehner@eg.co.uk or tweet @PiersWehner or @EGPropertyNews Images © Buckley Gray Yeoman Explore and compare property in Tottenham Court Road >>