Sellar wins planning for Camden offices

Sellar has won planning consent for the redevelopment of Grand Union House in Camden, NW1. Following a unanimous decision by Camden Council, the Shard developer will extensively refurbish and redevelop the six-storey building on Kentish Town Road to provide 70,000 sq ft of “a new type of workspace for Camden”. Sellar said the space would be centred around sustainability and wellbeing, able to respond to changes in work styles and requirements that have been accelerated by Covid. Chief executive James Sellar said: “Prior to the pandemic, businesses of all shapes and sizes understood the important role well-designed and high-quality, sustainable workplaces played in their ability to attract talent and promote productivity and collaboration. Post Covid, this is now absolutely essential and requires a complete culture shift in building design to prioritise employee health and wellbeing. Grand Union House embodies this design priority by placing greater emphasis on innovative design, fresh air, mixed-mode ventilation systems, open spaces, as well as landscaping, trees and gardens inside and out.” The plans by 6a architects will reuse the existing building, retaining its concrete structure to minimise waste and lock in embodied CO2. Sellar added: “A key focus for us has been the substantial carbon saving we can make in the construction of Grand Union House by retrofitting the existing building rather than knocking it down and starting from scratch.” However, spaces will be doubled in height, with winter gardens rising through the building. The project will also deliver six new apartments in a four-storey residential building, providing affordable homes on site. Grand Union House forms part of the so-called Grimshaw Campus, and was originally intended for light industrial. The campus, which includes the now-listed Sainsbury’s on Camden Road, was designed by architect Sir Nicholas Grimshaw in the 1980s. Sellar said 6a’s design would reference the “high-tech” architecture of the original campus. Tom Emerson of 6a architects said: “Our design takes a holistic approach to making workspace for the post-Covid city, addressing wellbeing, ecology and biodiversity by ensuring access to landscape, daylight and fresh air. The project will also bring about a transformation of the surrounding public realm through extensive planting that will enhance the local environment for pedestrians and cyclists. By integrating workspace interiors, architecture and urban landscaping, the proposals will create a new social and ecological place.” Construction is expected to start in Q2 2022, with completion scheduled for Q4 2023.   To send feedback, e-mail piers.wehner@eg.co.uk or tweet @PiersWehner or @EGPropertyNews Image from Sellar/6a architects