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Welput tries again with City of London office tower plans

News

Tim Burke

18 March 2024

Offices

City core, London

Welput has brought forward fresh plans for a City of London office tower rejected two years ago for overshadowing the neighbouring Bevis Marks synagogue.

The BentallGreenOak-owned fund wants to knock down Bury House at 31 Bury Street, EC3, and partially demolish the nearby Holland House and Renown House, then build a nine-storey block at Holland House, six-storey block at Renown House and 44-storey tower at Bury House.

Welput had previously planned for the new Bury House to be a 48-storey project, and had the scheme recommended for approval in 2022, but the City of London Corporation’s planning committee rejected it over concerns around the synagogue as well as the effect on views of the Tower of London.

Since then, Welput has consolidated its holdings around the site, buying Holland House and then Renown House.

At the time, then-managing director for Welput, Ker Gilchrist, described the refusal as “a disappointing outcome”, telling EG: “But we have a very long-term plan for all of our assets. I do not think that [abandoning the scheme] will be the case. We must pause for breath, take an orderly look at the options that are in front of us – and there are options – then work out what is best.” Gilchrist left his role earlier this year.

A planning statement from DP9 said the new proposals, which will include 366,000 sq ft of office space, have been lodged following “close engagement with representatives of Bevis Marks Synagogue” in which Welput has “sought to address the reason for refusal in terms of reducing such impacts principally through a reduction in the height and slimming of the top of the tower component of the proposed development, made possible by the introduction of Holland House and Renown into the scheme”.

The new scheme’s office space would focus on smaller floorplates “in order to appeal to businesses which do not have requirements for larger floorplates and those that do not have an interest in taking space as part of a co-working or serviced offices development”, the planning statement said.

Holland House Hub, meanwhile will include publicly accessible space across three floors, providing flexible community, multi-faith, cultural and education areas.

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Bury House, EC3

Welput has brought forward fresh plans for a City of London office tower rejected two years ago for overshadowing the neighbouring Bevis Marks synagogue. The BentallGreenOak-owned fund wants to knock down Bury House at 31 Bury Street, EC3, and partially demolish the nearby Holland House and Renown House, then build a nine-storey block at Holland House, six-storey block at Renown House and 44-storey tower at Bury House. Welput had previously planned for the new Bury House to be a 48-storey project, and had the scheme recommended for approval in 2022, but the City of London Corporation’s planning committee rejected it over concerns around the synagogue as well as the effect on views of the Tower of London. Since then, Welput has consolidated its holdings around the site, buying Holland House and then Renown House. At the time, then-managing director for Welput, Ker Gilchrist, described the refusal as “a disappointing outcome”, telling EG: “But we have a very long-term plan for all of our assets. I do not think that [abandoning the scheme] will be the case. We must pause for breath, take an orderly look at the options that are in front of us – and there are options – then work out what is best.” Gilchrist left his role earlier this year. A planning statement from DP9 said the new proposals, which will include 366,000 sq ft of office space, have been lodged following “close engagement with representatives of Bevis Marks Synagogue” in which Welput has “sought to address the reason for refusal in terms of reducing such impacts principally through a reduction in the height and slimming of the top of the tower component of the proposed development, made possible by the introduction of Holland House and Renown into the scheme”. The new scheme’s office space would focus on smaller floorplates “in order to appeal to businesses which do not have requirements for larger floorplates and those that do not have an interest in taking space as part of a co-working or serviced offices development”, the planning statement said. Holland House Hub, meanwhile will include publicly accessible space across three floors, providing flexible community, multi-faith, cultural and education areas.