The wave of office retrofits in London’s Square Mile continues to grow, with City planners recently approving two significant projects. This brings the total number of approved office upgrades in July to four, reflecting a strong demand for modern, energy-efficient workspaces.

Among the newly approved projects is the £250 million renovation of Winchester House at 75 London Wall, formerly Deutsche Bank’s headquarters. The project, which could be a key topic at construction networking events in London, will see three additional floors added to the existing structure, creating a total of 320,000 square feet of office space. The client team includes architect Orms, M&E consultant Hoare Lea, and structural engineers London Structures Lab. Multiplex is a potential contender for the contract, aiming to retain 90% of the existing building while significantly expanding its capacity.

Another approved project is the retrofit of the former Standard Chartered Bank headquarters at 1 Basinghall Avenue, near Moorgate Tube station. This 10-storey building will undergo extensive upgrades, including a new rooftop terrace and significant M&E refitting. Overbury is reportedly in line to manage the 69-month project, designed by Stiff & Trevillion Architects. This project, too, is likely to be of interest at upcoming property construction networking events in the area, given its scale and scope.

The City of London Corporation’s “retrofit-first” policy is a driving force behind these projects, encouraging sustainable development. Shravan Joshi, Chair of the City of London Corporation’s Planning and Transportation Committee, highlighted the city’s leadership in retrofitting: “Attention is always drawn towards the latest large new office developments in the City, but when it comes to retrofitting, the City is leading the way on both policy and delivery, accounting for around half of all major retrofit applications across Greater London.”

Other projects approved this month include St Magnus House on the Thames north riverside path and the refurbishment of 1 Old Jewry. The St Magnus House project, designed by Buckley Gray Yeoman for developer Pegasi, will enhance green terraces and improve the building’s energy performance. Meanwhile, the 1 Old Jewry project by developer Deka Immobilien, designed by Sheppard Robson, will add a new top floor with outdoor terraces, providing 70,000 sq ft of Grade A office space and 5,000 sq ft of retail space.

These developments underscore the Square Mile’s commitment to sustainable business practices and could be prominent topics at infrastructure investment events in the UK.

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