New owners of a building on Charlotte Street have announced plans to redevelop the site for housing and faith-based charities. It will mean that yet another building on the street faces demolition and rebuilding in a neighbourhood blighted by construction works.
“The building would include a double-level basement. The basement and ground floor would provide office accommodation, including housing a collaboration hub for London faith based charities. The upper floors would be for residential use”, says a statement on behalf of the owners.
The site is a modern office block and was until recently occupied by BBC Studios & Post Production (BBC S&PP).
In January 2013, BBC S&PP moved some of its post-production services to Charlotte Street from Television Centre in west London, which closed for redevelopment after the BBC sold it in 2012. The decision to leave the Charlotte Street facility follows a review that was due to take place in 2014, but was brought forward because of financial and operational reasons. Building work planned for 2014 in an adjacent property also affected the decision to move out, reported the BBC’s Ariel magazine.
The neighbouring building (formerly the Margaret Pyke Centre) on the corner of Tottenham Street and Charlotte Street was demolished earlier this year and is currently being redeveloped by Derwent London for housing and offices.
Local residents and businesses will not welcome the demolition of another building as there are several building sites working nearby. The Saatchi & Saatchi building, also on Charlotte Street, is due to be demolished next year. There is also planning permission passed for construction work on two other buildings on the corner of Charlotte Street and Tottenham Street.
An exhibition of the plans will be held on site at 77-79 Charlotte Street, from 4pm to 8pm on Tuesday 14 October 2014. More details here.