Plans by Lazari Investments to redevelop the former Fenwick’s department store on New Bond Street, W1, as an office-led scheme are set to get the go ahead.
Planners at Westminster City Council have recommended the plans for approval when they go to committee on 2 April.
The Foster + Partners-designed plans propose a retrofit of the buildings at 15-17 Brook Street and 53-63 New Bond Street, W1.
The Fenwick family sold the historic buildings, where the department store has operated from for 130 years, to Lazari for £428m in December 2022.
The new plans include the part-redevelopment of the existing buildings, which would add five upper floors plus roof terraces, increasing the floorspace by 38%.
As part of the redevelopment, the new 10-storey building would provide around 50,504 sq ft of retail space, a significant reduction on the current 132,310 sq ft.
Office space would increase from 24,617 sq ft to 175,043 sq ft, with a separate atrium on entry, accessible via Brook Street.
If approved, the proposal will need to get sign off from the mayor of London.
The Greater London Authority has already raised concerns over the proposals, saying they do not yet comply with the London Plan. Its particular concerns are over the “jacking up” of the façade of the property, harm to the Mayfair conservation area and nearby heritage assets and issues around sustainable development.
Historic England has also objected to the application, saying the site might be home to prehistoric and Civil War archaeology.
Lazari has said it will target BREEAM Outstanding for the office space and BREEAM Excellent for the retail. It will also seek LEED Platinum and WELL Building certification.
Images © Foster + Partners
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