Plans submitted to retrofit 1970s Camden office deemed ‘unlettable’

Haptic Architects has lodged plans to refurbish and extend a 1970s office building in Camden with an energy performance so poor that it is currently “unlettable”.

The proposals for Battle Bridge House at 300 Gray’s Inn Road aim to bring the block’s EPC rating up from G, the lowest possible score for energy performance, to A, the highest.

Designed for developer Beltane and building owner Topland, the scheme will retain the existing three and eight-storey block’s superstructure while installing a new facade and topping both elements of the building with two new storeys.

It will create around 4,300 sq m of office space, an increase of around 600 sq m from the current building, along with seven new homes.

The site is located within the Bloomsbury Conservation area, around 500m South of King’s Cross Station, and is being billed as part of Camden’s growing Knowledge Quarter of tech and bioscience industries.

Haptic described the scheme as an opportunity to turn the “tired, deteriorating and out of date” building into one which can be “celebrated”.

“The EPC rating is ‘G’, making it unlettable, due to the poor façade,” the practice said. “Its appearance within the conservation area is detrimental, and the internal office space is far from the quality expected within the growing Knowledge Quarter.

“However the building sits within a rich, vibrant location, and provides an opportunity to transform the current building, and give it a new lease of life.”

The project team includes project manager Colliers, planning consultant Gerald Eve, cost consultant Exigiere, MEP engineer GDM Partnership, transport consultant Caneparo, structural engineer Elliott Wood and landscape architect BBUK.