Westminster City Council has approved a major development on Soho Square, which includes the former home of 20th Century Fox. The scheme, submitted by Royal London UK Real Estate Fund, was given the green light at a Planning Sub-Committee on Tuesday, October 27.
Scheme Details and Buildings
The development will cover almost 9,000 square metres and comprise four buildings, including new office space, retail space, and an archway onto Soho Square. The main eight-storey building will consist of what is now 31-32 Soho Square and 65-66 Frith Street, retaining and restoring the neo-Georgian front elevation of 31–32 Soho Square up to the fourth floor.
Two further buildings, 22-25 Dean Street and 10 Chapone Place, will be refurbished as part of the development. Residential flats already located in one of the existing buildings will also form part of the new scheme.
Public Space and Amenities
An enclosed service yard at Chapone Place will become a new landscaped public courtyard, with a new archway entrance on Soho Square forming a pedestrian route to Dean Street. The scheme will also provide 150 long-stay cycle spaces, seven of which will be for residents, and an affordable workspace for the community at the Dean Street building.
Overall, the scheme will deliver a net expansion of 2,477 square metres of internal space.
Opposition and Conditions
The Soho Society opposed the creation of the archway onto Soho Square, arguing that it should be protected as a space for “rest and recreation.” The society also said the archway would disrupt the symmetry of the green space.
Tim Lord, Chair of the Soho Society, said: “The purpose and role of Soho Square is respite. Soho Square is a protected square under the London Squares Preservation Act 1931, limited to garden, rest and recreation use. City Plan 24D says the function of Soho Square is a green space and it will be protected and enhanced and its scale and setting protected.”
Residents of Townsend House asked for the applicant to include acoustic glazing for their rear windows and to look into installing heat pumps for them. This was added to the application as an informative.
Alistair Martin, from Simten Developments, said: “At its heart, this application is about giving a long, underused part of Soho a sustainable future, one that represents the very best of Soho. Our aim has therefore been to find the right balance for this site, one that reflects the best of the past, whilst giving these buildings the best chance of a successful long-term future.”
