1970s-built scheme at 171 Victoria Street will be turned into 200,000sq ft of new office space

Sisk has been confirmed as main contractor for a scheme to overhaul a 1970s block in London’s Victoria that used to be the headquarters of oil giant BP and was most recently the head office of retailer John Lewis.

Last summer, Building revealed Sisk had beaten remaining rival Wates for the £110m scheme with a pitch from McLaren having dropped out earlier in the process.

Westminster council gave the job at 171 Victoria Street unanimous approval last July with the work being carried out for Motcomb Estates, part of Kirkglade Limited which is owned by Reuben Brothers, the private equity and property firm run by the eponymous siblings.

171 Victoria Street CGI

The revamped scheme is due to finish at the end of next year

The job has been drawn up by architect TP Bennett. Others working on the deal include cost consultant Core Five, services firm GDM and structures consultant London Structures Lab.

It will feature 200,000sq ft of office space with retail on the ground floor.

The work will involve extending and retaining the building which was built between 1970 and 1975 and in proposals submitted to the council, the architect said “we will seek to retain the maximum existing structure and external cladding elements possible to reduce embodied carbon”. Other features include green roofs and cycle parking facilities.

The work will reuse and recycle all the steelwork, concrete and 500 stainless steel window frames and the glazed units.

Work is scheduled to complete at the end of next year.

171 existing

How the building at 171 Victoria Street looked

John Lewis left the 15-storey building in September 2024 for a new address in Pimlico.

Meanwhile, three firms sent in bids earlier this month for a scheme on the same street which will involve redeveloping two buildings at 10-20 Victoria Street.

Drawn up by Piercy & Co for Meadow Partners, a real estate investment manager based in London and New York, the plans cover 10-18 Victoria Street and a second building at 20 Victoria Street.

Mace, Bovis and Bam are pricing the job, worth upwards of £150m, ahead of a winner being appointed later this year.

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