Historic England has awarded Grade II listed status to the IBM Building on the South Bank, SE1, potentially jeopardising plans to extend and modernise the early 1980s building.
The organisation said it had listed the building because of its “distinctive exterior character and form, with balanced horizontal planes, and expressive ground-floor treatment that demonstrates its private, commercial function in a public-focused place”.
Historic England added that its distinctive character contrasts with, but also respects, the neighbouring Grade II* listed National Theatre, which was also designed by eminent English architect Sir Denys Lasdun.
The IBM Building was Lasdun’s last major work. He was commissioned by IBM in 1977 to create a 300,000 sq ft property for 1,000 staff, including demonstration and conference suites, data processing libraries, catering facilities and 25 car-parking spaces at 76-78 Upper Ground.
It has been home to IBM since, although in 1999 the tech giant signed a £60m-plus sale-and-leaseback deal with Landsec, which was understood to have seen IBM agree to pay a rent of around £20 per sq ft over a 15-year tenure.
Landsec subsequently sold the freehold of the three-acre site to UK & European Land in 2003 for £74.5m. In 2006 it sold the property to Lord Sugar’s Amsprop for £115m.
It is currently owned by the Dubai-based Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group, which acquired the property from Amsprop in 2013 for £120m.
AHMM submitted plans to revamp the property in February on behalf of Al Gurg.
In the plans, AHMM said the existing building was dated and did “not meet modern-day occupier requirements”.
The proposals would add more than 200,000 sq ft of space to the property, increasing it to just under 538,000 sq ft.
A spokesperson, for Wolfe Commercial Properties Southbank, which is owned by Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group, said: “We remain confident that we will be able to sensitively restore and modernise this 1980s building.
“Fundamentally, our proposals are based on the respectful adaptation of the existing building, creating significant improvements to its setting within the conservation area and upgrading the building to create flexible workspace and to make it more sustainable.
“We remain committed to our proposals which will deliver space for additional jobs, create an enhanced pedestrian experience for visitors to the South Bank and unlock huge economic benefits for Lambeth. We will be discussing with Lambeth Council and Historic England the most appropriate manner in which to bring forward these proposals, which are widely supported.”
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