Camden Council’s planning committee has given Prudential the go ahead to begin its plans to refurbish its Holborn office.
The repurposing plan will start with 2 Waterhouse Square, EC1, and will eventually encompass the entire Waterhouse Square estate.
The insurance company lodged proposals in early 2023 for the site, which detailed intentions for an internal refurbishment of the vacant office building, plus partial demolition and extension. Once completed, the new site will also include a new café. Co-Re is the development manager.
The application was recommended for approval and part heard at a committee meeting on 14 December, where the decision was deferred until further detail could be provided, including further assessment of the potential impact on the neighbouring Leather Lane Market to the east.
Significant focus was given to the construction management plan at the site, which was an ongoing source of debate from the previous meeting, with councillors raising concerns about how Prudential planned to engage with residents through its proposed construction working group and how it would “mitigate any potential further friction with the local community”.
Following the initial meeting in December, discussions were held about the mixed-use housing provision, the use of ground-floor spaces, the public consultation process and the future construction management plans.
Prudential, which has occupied the site for more than a century, describes itself as “long-term custodian” of Waterhouse Square.
Image © Orms Designers and Architects
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