Written on 10 August 2020 by Giles Cook in Property News
Plans have been submitted to Westminster Council for a mixed development, bringing housing, shops, restaurants and a 31-bedroom hotel to Mayfair.
Hopkins Architects, backed by the Duke of Westminster’s property company, Grosvenor, are behind the plans, which would create 14,000m² of office space and 5,000m² of shops and restaurants.
The development is proposed for the ‘South Molton Triangle’ – between South Molton Street and Davies Street, taking in adjacent side streets and neglected buildings. It would be opposite the Elizabeth Line’s new Bond Street West station.
Located in a historic area of central London, the scheme proposes rebuilding or retaining the facades of heritage buildings to match their original designs. The boutique hotel would be created out of four Grade II-listed town houses on Brook Street. A row of Georgian office buildings on South Molton Street would be converted into private and affordable homes. Proposals for new public spaces include transforming Davies Mews into an al fresco dining area.
The application is being considered at a time when central London is suffering from the impact of the coronavirus crisis, which has brought reduced footfall from office workers and tourists.
But according to Grosvenor, the scheme is a display of confidence in the future of the West End and could support 700 new jobs and attract an estimated spend of £6 million per year.
Thomasin Renshaw, director of development at Grosvenor Britain & Ireland, said: “These designs put pedestrians first in a sustainable scheme that preserves what’s great about Mayfair while bringing the jobs and investment London now needs to see.”
Subject to planning permission, construction would start in 2022 and finish in 2026.
Read more about this story in the Evening Standard Homes & Property and Architects Journal.