General Projects and Valeo Capital have lodged plans to redevelop a 1970s London office block next to Chancery Lane tube station.
The pair say the proposals for 14 Gray’s Inn Road, WC1, will bring forward a “state-of-the-art workspace”, increasing its floorspace by more than three-quarters to 165,000 sq ft.
The Buckley Gray Yeoman-designed plans are expected to keep more than 80% of the existing structure, saving 42,240 tonnes of material, equivalent to 4,462 tonnes of embodied carbon.
The building will be powered entirely by fossil-free energy and net-zero in operation, targeting BREEAM Outstanding and NABERs 5.5*.
The development, near the Hatton Garden jewellery district, will include affordable workspace for local jewellery makers, including workshops and event space for jewellers’ markets and fairs.
General Projects has also agreed a multi-year partnership with St Alban’s Primary School to teach students about the construction industry, showcasing the progress on an annual basis.
General Projects chief executive Jacob Loftus said: “Our proposals maximise the potential of this tired 1970s building, aligning with our retrofit-first vision for sustainable projects that benefit people and the planet. This project demonstrates our continued commitment and passion for projects that champion reuse and regenerative materials – such as mass timber – to reduce our environmental impact and pursue even better industry benchmarks.”
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