Plans have been submitted to refurbish and upgrade the office space above Charing Cross Station, currently serving as the London base for PricewaterhouseCooper (PWC). The existing structure at 1 Embankment Place is deemed outdated and failing to deliver the standard of office space required to entice future tenants.
Application details
The application, submitted by real estate firm Bridgemont with Westminster City Council, aims to revamp the site to deliver 35,000 square metres of Grade A space via an extensive retrofit. The building, completed in 1991 and designed by architect Sir Terry Farrell, is a distinct block in the heart of Westminster.
Planning documents state that if approved, the development would adopt a sustainable approach, with 90 per cent of the structure and most of its façade retained. Bridgemont is also seeking permission for wider area works, including an upgrade of Villiers Street, improved pedestrian links from the Embankment into the City, and a better collection of retail and leisure outlets.
Design and community impact
The designs by Hopkins Architects feature additions such as new rooftop pavilions at levels eight and 10. On street-level improvements, documents state: “The design strategy seeks to restore Embankment Place to its full urban potential. New retail units with curved glazed facades and improved lighting make both sides of the covered street more active and transparent, inviting pedestrians to linger and enjoy the experience of this new ‘urban galleria’.”
Documents also detail challenges, describing “the flight to quality” by tenants with high expectations. “The successful transformation of One Embankment Place is critical to secure the building’s future and ensure that it does not find itself classified as a ‘secondary building’ or become an ‘outdated asset’ in the near future,” they read.
Stakeholder reactions
Mark Wenlock, Principal at Bridgemont, said: “This submission reflects what people told us mattered most throughout consultation – a more inviting Villiers Street, better pedestrian connectivity and a higher-quality ground floor experience.”
Mike Taylor, Principal at Hopkins, added the site is a “historically rich and particularly complicated piece of London that’s undergone great change over the centuries”. He continued: “We are grateful to everyone who assisted us to understand the challenges and guided the design process particularly the community stakeholders and Sir Terry Farrell’s son Max who ensured the proposals respected the building’s character but also responded to Terry’s vision for London to continually evolve and improve.”
