Crown Estates gets go-ahead on Regent Street

Bridget O'Connell 30/07/2010 11:01

The Crown Estate last night received the go-ahead from Westminster council for the regeneration of two blocks on its £1.6bn Regent Street estate and internal alterations to its planned St James’s Gateway project.

The local authority’s planning committee approved plans for a scheme at 169-183 Regent Street, 3 4 New Burlington Street and 2 4 New Burlington Place, and another at 153-167 Regent Street, 12 and 13 16 New Burlington Street and 3 6 New Burlington Mews, W1.

The scheme at 169-183 Regent Street, known as W5, will comprise around 45,000 sq ft of retail and 150,000 sq ft of offices.

A second slightly smaller scheme with 35,000 sq ft of shops and 140,000 sq ft of offices will be developed at 153-167 Regent Street.

Both buildings are designed by architect AHMM and are subject to approval from London mayor, Boris Johnson.

The application also included three residential sites providing 45 flats, including 21 affordable, north of Oxford Street.

A separate application to change the internal layout of the Gateway Project on Piccadilly, SW1, was approved. The circa 150,000 sq ft scheme now has increased office space – now 90,000 sq ft – and one additional flat taking the total to 16 as well as 8,000 sq ft of shops.

Head of the Regent Street portfolio at the Crown Estate, David Shaw, said: “With all our newly developed office space now let and no material retail space available on Regent Street our strategy continues to be to enhance and improve the street for the benefit of visitors as well as all those that live and work in Regent Street”.

Head of development for The Crown Estate, Alastair Smart, said: “We welcome the decision by Westminster City Council as these proposals will regenerate the area and revive these historic buildings in line with the Regent Street brand values of quality, heritage, style and success”.

CB Richard Ellis advised on planning.

bridget.oconnell@estatesgazette.com