Atenor has secured planning permission for a deep retrofit of the 1950s–1960s office building at 10 New Bridge Street near Blackfriars Station. The approved plans replace a 2023 consent and align with the City of London Corporation’s focus on sustainable refurbishment and reduced carbon impacts across major commercial projects.

The scheme will retain around 72–73% of the existing structural frame to reduce embodied carbon while increasing the building’s total floorspace to approximately 77,500 sq ft of modern office accommodation. This approach supports the City’s growing emphasis on retrofit‑led development strategies that avoid full demolition.

Designed by HOK, the reworked proposal follows a fabric‑first approach to energy performance. The updated design targets BREEAM Excellent as a minimum, with the ambition to achieve BREEAM Outstanding. The massing has been revised from the previously consented eight‑storey structure to a taller nine‑to‑eleven‑storey form, enabling greater workspace capacity within a constrained, heritage‑sensitive plot.

The development includes four landscaped external terraces, providing enhanced workplace wellbeing features. A 162 sq m south‑facing public roof terrace will open outside office hours, offering elevated views towards St Bride’s, St Paul’s Cathedral and key City landmarks. Biophilic elements and WELL‑aligned workplace standards form a central part of the internal design strategy.

Significant public realm improvements also form part of the approved plans. A new pedestrian route will connect Bridewell Place and Bride Lane, improving movement around the site. The ground floor will re‑provide and upgrade the existing public house and introduce a juice bar or café, alongside an active double‑height office lobby with a living green wall. Public art on Bridewell Passage, new planting and a pocket park at the Bridewell Place corner further enhance the local streetscape.

Atenor’s revised application followed a full viability assessment, responding to rising construction and financing costs associated with the earlier consent. The new approval provides a more deliverable route forward while delivering high‑quality workspace, improved public access and a stronger sustainability performance.