Project in London’s EC1 will include office, retail and private residential space

Refurbishment specialist Derwent London has been granted planning permission for a £105m redevelopment project at City Road Estate, in London’s EC1.

The 289,000ft² (26,800m²) site faces onto Old Street roundabout, and the planning consent includes a significant contribution for off-site affordable housing.

Plans for the development were drawn up by architects Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, and will comprise 271,000ft² (25,200m²) of offices, 10,000ft² (900m²) of retail space and 8,000ft² (700m²) of private residential accommodation.

A 16-storey office building will form the centrepiece, and will incorporate Derwent’s White Collar Factory concept, which uses concrete-slab cooling and generous floor-to-ceiling heights to make buildings more economically and environmentally sustainable.

The proposals also include a mixture of new and refurbished five and six storey buildings, which will provide studio office space and dual-aspect retail accommodation.   

John Burns, Chief Executive at Derwent London, said: “We are delighted to have won this major planning consent, which follows closely on the heels of our recent planning success at 80 Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia W1. 

“The proposed City Road Estate scheme, incorporating our White Collar Factory concept, will be an exciting new project for the Group at this up-and-coming location that is proving highly appealing to the technology and media sectors.”

Derwent’s previous landmark schemes include Angel Building in Islington, London, which was shortlisted for the RIBA Stirling Prizeand won the Design Excellence Award at the Regeneration and Renewal Awards 2011.

Topics