A total of around 35,000 sq ft of new office space, along with 56 new homes and 4,500 sq ft of other commercial space, will be delivered by the redevelopment effort at 80 Charlotte Street and 65 Whitfield Street in Fitzrovia.
The site is currently occupied by a building famous for its association with the advertising company Saatchi & Saatchi, while Charlotte Street as a whole has long been renowned as a hub for British marketing companies.
The prominent and historic nature of the site has made planning application developments controversial in London and the mayor’s office took over the process when plans were rejected by Camden Council in May 2011.
“The capital’s adland, centred around Charlotte Street, has developed an international reputation for creativity and I have no doubt that its redevelopment can only be good news for both the West End and the wider London economy,” Mayor Johnson said on announcing the scheme had been given the go ahead.
“I can find no reason to refuse permission and am of the firm view that this ambitious and important redevelopment should go ahead,” he said.
Under the terms of the newly-agreed office building proposals, developers will be obliged to construct a certain number of affordable houses and make a £1.6 million contribution to the Crossrail transport improvement scheme.
In other West London office news, the department store group Debenhams recently signed up for 145,000 square feet of space to be developed at Regent’s Place in NW1.
Editor’s notes: In September 2011, developers Derwent London were granted permission to redevelop 80 Charlotte Street and incumbent tenants Saatchi & Saatchi moved into another of the developer’s properties – 40 Chancery Lane.
Derwent also redeveloped 65 Whitfield Street as part of the same project and this scheme was named Asta House. Completed in 2020, the residential-led scheme comprises 20 private apartments and 2 penthouses together with 14 affordable units.