Two storeys to be added to existing 1990s Sheppard Robson-designed building
Westminster council has approved plans by Foster & Partners to redevelop a 1990s building on St James’s Square in central London.
Designed for Hong Kong-based Super Expert Investments Limited, the 1 St James’s Square scheme will overhaul the site’s existing Sheppard Robson-designed building while retaining 50% of its structure.
The scheme will replace the six-storey building’s frontages with new Portland stone facades and add two storeys with green outdoor terrace space.
The application was originally submitted in 2023 but underwent amendments earlier this year including changes to the facade, massing and landscape design.
Foster & Partners head of studio Luke Fox said the scheme was “preventing the building from becoming a stranded asset”.
The new building will contain 11,000sq m of high-end office space across 10 floors, including basement levels, with services to be all-electric and powered by air-source heat pumps.
The project team includes WSP as project manager, structural engineer and multi-disciplinary consultant for roles including services, sustainability, transport, townscape and fire.
The team also includes RLB on costs, DP9 on planning, Feilden & Mawson on heritage, Arup on accessibility, Eckersley O’Callaghan on facades, Hoare Lea on lighting and Kanda on public relations.
Fosters is also drawing up plans for a London headquarters building at 11-12 St James’s Square for the company behind a huge science research facility in Oxford.
Multi-disciplinary science institute the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), which was set up by US billionaire Larry Ellison, is helping to mastermind a £300m science research facility in the university city that has been designed by Fosters and is being built by Laing O’Rourke.
Building understands several firms are looking at the job. The deal is believed to be worth around £120m with a winner due before Christmas.
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