- Demolition works have begun on the St Giles Quarter masterplan site in the West End, clearing a vacant Travelodge, NCP car park and derelict buildings to make way for a major regeneration
- Designed by DSDHA and brought forward by Simten and BC Partners, the scheme develops 220,000 sq ft including some prime office and retail floorspace, enough workspace to accommodate over 1,400 jobs in the heart of the West End, as well as residential accommodation
- The masterplan is led by One Museum Street, a 19-storey office tower to be the first new high-rise office building in the West End in over 50 years
- The scheme includes three additional blocks with retail space and 44 homes, as well as new public realm and a retail arcade linking Covent Garden and Bloomsbury.
Demolition has begun on St Giles Quarter. The site, also known as Museum Street, is a 0.53 ha freehold site within one of London’s most exciting West End districts close to Tottenham Court Road. The completed development will be known as St Giles Quarter and incorporates the One Museum Street workspace building as well as three low-rise residential blocks. The development’s name reflects the site’s position in the historic St Giles area.
Camden Council’s planning committee resolved to approve plans to redevelop the vacant site in November 2023, which currently comprises an empty Travelodge, NCP car park and derelict residential and commercial buildings. The demolition marks the implementation of the planning permission to redevelop the site, alongside the refurbishment and restoration of several buildings along West Central Street, including listed buildings.
Brought forward by developer Simten and investor BC Partners, the masterplan will deliver 220,000 sq ft (NIA) of mixed-use floorspace across four self-contained buildings. At the heart of St Giles Quarter is the One Museum Street tower, which will be the West End’s first new-build office tower in over 50 years. One Museum Street will deliver nearly 180,000 sq ft of Grade-A office and retail floorspace across 19 storeys – providing workspace for around 1,400 people.
Situated at the junction of Soho, Covent Garden, and Bloomsbury, tenants will have an array of state-of-the-art amenities and shops to visit, great transport connections such as the Elizabeth line, and spectacular 360° unobstructed views across central London, including the nearby British Museum.
The design has embedded sustainability and wellness throughout the development, fostering a positive work environment which meets the evolving needs of today’s workforce, promoting long-term satisfaction and retention. The scheme will target BREEAM ‘Outstanding’, WELL ‘Platinum’, Nabers 5* rating and Net Zero Carbon in operation. The basement of the existing Travelodge will be retained, representing a recycling of around 25% of the embodied carbon of the existing building.
In addition to One Museum Street, St Giles Quarter will feature three additional self-contained blocks located on Vine Lane (a newly created pedestrianised passage linking New Oxford Street and High Holborn), West Central Street and High Holborn, which will provide a variety of retail spaces as well as 44 new homes, including 25 affordable. The local community and visitors will also benefit from new and improved public routes around the site, including a retail pedestrianised arcade on Vine Lane connecting Covent Garden with Bloomsbury.
Laurian Douin, Partner at BC Partners, said:
“The start of works on-site represents a major step forward in delivering the St Giles Quarter masterplan. In a climate where many projects have stalled due to economic uncertainty, this milestone demonstrates our confidence in the West End’s long-term potential and our commitment to delivering future-ready, sustainable spaces. We’re proud to be shaping a place that will support over 1,400 jobs and strengthen the West End’s role as a dynamic, inclusive destination.”
Eleanor Wright, Development Associate at Simten, comments:
“We are excited to begin work on the West End’s first high-rise office building in over 50 years. The design of St Giles Quarter is a response to the evolving demands of the modern workplace and the growth of the district, where sustainability, wellbeing and urban integration are paramount. These principles have been embedded throughout the scheme, creating a building that not only delivers user-focused, high-quality workspace but also contributes meaningfully to the public realm. By introducing new public routes and a retail arcade that links Covent Garden and Bloomsbury, we’re enhancing connectivity and encouraging footfall through previously underused spaces.”
Demolition works are being undertaken by John F Hunt, with the masterplan practical completion scheduled for late 2028.
