Plans to break up the former Dickins & Jones department store on London’s Regent Street, W1, into seven shops and 100,000 sq ft of offices have won planning consent.
Developers Delancey Estates and Shearer Property Group and freeholder Crown Estate satisfied the council that there was not the demand for a single department store as a suitable replacement to Dickins & Jones.
However, Westminster City Council insisted the new development include a rooftop restaurant which would serve as a destination in itself, and also that the buildings retained a single identity.
The developers had previously submitted proposals for eight flats in the redevelopment of the 1920s building, but these had to be dropped to provide space for the restaurant.
The new shops will total 140,000 sq ft, down from the 280,000 sq ft of retail space previously occupied by Dickins & Jones.
A Section 106 payment of almost £8.5m, for affordable housing in Westminster, has been agreed in return for the new office use on the site.
There was previously no office space in the building.
Following last Thursday’s planning meeting (19/10/06) Cllr Robert Davis, Cabinet Member for Planning, said: “The loss of Dickins & Jones in this prime shopping location was regrettable, but we must seize the opportunity to adapt and continue to build on the great brand of the West End and all it has to offer.
“This is a massive site and we have been anxious to retain as much retail space as possible, so the seven shops that replace Dickins & Jones will be grand in scale.
“But as a council we will continue to protect department stores wherever possible.”
Laura Ashley, All Saints, Russell & Bromley and Nokia are all due to open stores in the new development.
References: EGi News 23/10/06
