Plans have been submitted to refurbish and upgrade the office space above Charing Cross Station currently serving as the London base for PricewaterhouseCooper (PWC).
The existing structure at 1 Embankment Place is deemed to be outdated and failing to deliver the standard of office space required to entice future tenants.
The application, submitted by real estate firm Bridgemont with Westminster City Council, aims to revamp the site to deliver 35,000 square metres of Grade A space via an extensive retrofit of the site.
The building is a distinct block in the heart of Westminster, completed in 1991 and designed by the architect Sir Terry Farrell.
Planning documents state that if approved the development would adopt a sustainable approach, with 90 per cent of the structure and most of its façade to be retained.
Bridgemont is also seeking permission to undertake a series of works to the wider area, including an upgrade of Villiers Street, improving pedestrian links from the Embankment into the City, and offering a better collection of retail and leisure outlets.
The designs by Hopkins Architects feature a series of additions to the existing building such as new rooftop pavilions to be installed at levels eight and 10.
On the street-level improvements planned, documents state: “The design strategy seeks to restore Embankment Place to its full urban potential. New retail units with curved glazed facades and improved lighting make both sides of the covered street more active and transparent, inviting pedestrians to linger and enjoy the experience of this new ‘urban galleria’.
“The dated ‘Embankment Place’ heavy stone entablature is removed, and the original Victorian bridge structure is revealed and restored, creating cohesive [sic] ensemble of structure and architecture that enhances the public realm at this critical urban intersection.”
Documents also detail the perceived challenges to the existing building, describing “the flight to quality” by tenants with high expectations of their office space.
“The successful transformation of One Embankment Place is critical to secure the building’s future and ensure that it does not find itself classified as a ‘secondary building’ or become an ‘outdated asset’ in the near future,” they read.
“As occupier demand becomes more concentrated on best-in-class assets, secondary buildings experience growing challenges in attracting and retaining tenants. This can trigger a self-reinforcing cycle of decline and the creation of an ‘outdated asset’.”
Mark Wenlock, Principal at Bridgemont, said: “This submission reflects what people told us mattered most throughout consultation – a more inviting Villiers Street, better pedestrian connectivity and a higher-quality ground floor experience.
“The proposals set out 1 Embankment Place as one of Westminster’s most significant retrofit opportunities, transforming a critical gateway site into a high‑quality commercial, retail and cultural destination that better connects the West End with the South Bank.
“We are excited to move into the next phase to unlock the full potential of this remarkable site.”
Mike Taylor, Principal at Hopkins, added the site is a “historically rich and particularly complicated piece of London that’s undergone great change over the centuries”.
He continued: “We are grateful to everyone who assisted us to understand the challenges and guided the design process particularly the community stakeholders and Sir Terry Farrell’s son Max who ensured the proposals respected the building’s character but also responded to Terry’s vision for London to continually evolve and improve.”
