‘Iconic’ Central London building to be refurbished and redeveloped into offices

Proposals to redevelop Flitcroft House, 114-116 Charing Cross Road, London, have won planning permission.

The five-storey commercial building, originally completed in 1888, will be refurbished and restored, with a redesigned new core and the addition of two storeys and an urban roof garden, after Camden Council planning officers approved the scheme under delegated powers.

The plans, by Damion Marcus Burrows Architects (DMBA) for developer Estates & Agency Group, will result in a modern, 15,662 sq ft (net internal area) new fossil-fuel free and net zero-ready workspace.

Flitcroft House is one of very few refurbishments in a neighbourhood seeing extensive redevelopment, and a rare example of a building of this size being developed to Grade A standard in the current market. The scheme is sustainable and aims to save 763 tonnes of embodied carbon emissions compared to the alternative of demolition and new build.

DMBA’s proposals follow the principles set out by the Architects’ Journal RetroFirst campaign. This calls for cutting the use of raw materials and energy in the built environment through the adoption of circular economy principles and promotes low-carbon retrofit as the default option.

Savills Earth developed the energy strategy for the building, with the design targeting an energy performance certificate rating of A. Fossil-fuel free with rooftop solar panels, the new office building will be built to be net zero carbon ready, and the façade’s ratio of 60-40 solid-to-glass has been calibrated to reduce the energy spent on cooling.

With a 61.3 sq m new landscaped designed roof garden, Flitcroft House will support employee wellbeing, as will the design’s promotion of abundant natural daylight and provision of cycle parking in the basement. The urban greening planned for the landscaped roof terrace will also support local biodiversity.

Located in the Denmark Street Conservation Area, the original Victorian features of Flitcroft House will be restored, including the gentle removal of white paint to reveal the original brick façade, while the internal layout will be made more efficient, increasing the available floor space.

The ground floor façade will be transformed back to its original 19th Century design, and the two upper floors to be added will sensitively reflect the 19th Century design, including the original arched windows. Additional plans are also underway to make significant improvements to the adjacent Flitcroft Street.

Damion Burrows, managing director of DMBA, commented: “At Flitcroft House, we have a great opportunity to restore and re-present a London icon with its distinctive ‘flatiron’ look. The result will be a rare thing: An office building that combines authentic character with the highest standards of contemporary design, sustainability and wellbeing.”

By Matthew Neville – Senior Correspondent, Bdaily

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