Green Light For Huge West End Scheme Amid Oxford Street Transformation
Berkeley Estate Asset Management and KPF have been given the go-ahead for one of the West End’s largest transformation projects.
Westminster City Council’s Strategic Planning Committee has unanimously resolved to grant planning permission at 33 Cavendish Square, the former BHS and University of the Arts London College of Fashion site, paving the way for a scheme featuring office space and flagship retail units.
Located on Oxford Street on an island site one block west of Oxford Circus, the development will deliver circa 800K SF of Grade-A office space, with a 15K SF double-height reception, plus nearly 23K SF of terraces. There will be around 102K SF of retail space with more than 900 feet of retail frontage.
About 38K SF will be allocated for cultural and creative activities, including a new auditorium and flexible event venues for conferences, product launches and fashion shows, alongside studios and workspaces.
The office space is targeting BREEAM Excellent, with aspirations for Outstanding, according to the development partners. The building will be fully electric, net-zero aligned and will have more than 1,000 cycle parking spaces. More than half of the existing structure will be retained.
Works are expected to commence in 2029, with completion of the development anticipated in 2033.
“This development will be a distinctive expression of everything that makes the West End exceptional: world-class retail on one of the globe’s most iconic shopping streets, cultural spaces designed to host events from major product launches to conferences, and contemporary workspaces,” KPF principal John Bushell said in a statement.
“This is a thoroughly modern building, designed to resonate with the best of the large buildings along Oxford Street,” he added.
Oxford Street is going through major redevelopment, especially of former department store sites, including proposals for extensive pedestrianisation of the western half of the street.
The building at 376-384 Oxford Street, previously occupied by C&A and Gap, is being refurbished by developer/manager Redevco with the aim of delivering a net-zero carbon office building while retaining retail on the basement, ground and first floors.
Developer Publica Properties is investing about £132M to convert the large art deco former House of Fraser store at 318 Oxford Street into a 250K SF mixed-use complex comprising offices, retail and a rooftop restaurant, plus a 30K SF gym and wellness club by Third Space. The developers aim to complete the redevelopment by mid-2026, with Third Space scheduled to open by 2027.
The former Debenhams flagship at 334–340 Oxford Street is being redeveloped as The M Building, with about 52,500 SF of flagship retail space across double-height floors, plus circa 280K SF of Grade-A office space and terraces totalling approximately 13K SF.
One of the first major occupiers is BDO, which has signed a long-term lease for about 200K SF of the office space and is planning to relocate its UK headquarters to The M Building by autumn 2027.
And after a contentious planning battle, late last year Marks & Spencer finally won planning permission to redevelop its Marble Arch flagship store and offices.
