More noise and disruption from demolition and building work could be heading for the northern end of Fitzrovia West if plans for the redevelopment of a college to deliver luxury apartments get the go ahead.
The Building Crafts College has been at 153 Great Titchfield Street since 1893, when as the Trades Training Schools it took over the West London School of Art building which had been constructed in 1879.
During the Second World War, over 3,000 servicemen were trained as carpenters, blacksmiths and sheet-metal workers at the site. After the war it trained apprentices for the construction industry and was known as the Building Crafts Training School.
The current three-storey building was constructed in 1970, and a stone laid in 1969 commemorates the rebuilding of the school for the Worshipful Company of Carpenters.
The College vacated the building in 2001 and moved to larger premises in Stratford, East London. From 2003 it was used as an educational branch of art dealers Christies. Currently the building is part of Regent College London who plan to move to another site.
“The existing site at 153 Great Titchfield Street includes a 1969-70 concrete building that is no longer fit for modern educational use and cannot be viably adapted,” states a spokesperson for the project development team.
Plans are now being put forward for 22 apartments on the site complete with a reception on the ground floor in a building rising eight storeys above ground level and higher than the buildings either side.
The homes will be well beyond the reach of the average building crafts worker and no social housing or other “affordable” accommodation is being considered for the site.
“Affordable housing is being explored through off-site provision or a financial contribution, in line with policy and viability considerations,” states the consultation website.
Planning policy does, however, prioritise affordable housing to be on site and only delivered off-site or by a payment in lieu if the applicant can demonstrate that delivery on-site is not practical.
Ahead of submitting a planning application to Westminster City Council, there will be a public exhibition over one afternoon where local people can find out more about the project, and for the applicant to fulfil the “statement of community involvement” required by the planning process.
The public relations is being handled by Concilio who have distributed a leaflet about the project. As yet they have named neither the developer nor the architect for the scheme on the consultation website.
Public exhibition for the redevelopment of 153 Great Titchfield Street from 3.30pm to 7pm, Thursday 4 June 2026 at All Souls Clubhouse, 141 Cleveland Street, London W1T 6QG.
Please support The Fitzrovia News. Consider helping us cover our costs by visiting our secure payment page.
Discover more from The Fitzrovia News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
