One of central London’s busiest streets is to get a major glow-up after being condemned as dingy, overcrowded and unwelcoming by tourists and shoppers.
Largely pedestrianised Villiers Street, which runs uphill from Embankment Underground Station to the Strand, is a well known West End entry point for millions of visitors a year heading to Theatreland or Covent Garden.
New as part of a proposed major refurbishment of the neighbouring office building 1 Embankment Place, the route - famed as the location for Gordon’s Wine Bar and Heaven nightclub - is to be opened up, made brighter and more appealing.
A public consultation on the plans drawn up by Marylebone based Hopkins Architects starts tomorrow and runs to 19 April. There is also a two-day public exhibition in the Adam Suite of the Clermont Hotel near Charing Cross station.
The plans were originally designed by the late Sir Terry Farrell and his son Max is still heavily involved in “ensuring the essence of the original design is respected and intelligently adapted for a contemporary city context”.
An initial round of public feedback found concerns “around poor public spaces and the narrow, confined feel” of Villiers Street that will be addressed by “introducing active frontages and a high‑quality public realm”.
According to the proposals “this will transform one of London’s busiest streets into a brighter, more welcoming gateway that preserves Sir Terry Farrell’s original vision for a vibrant ground floor in the modern context”.
There will also be improvements to the arched tunnel under the building and new retail and hospitality outlets as well as better connections to Hungerford pedestrian bridge, which connects the West End to the South Bank.
Mark Wenlock, principal at Brunei owned developers Bridgemont, said: “Through the detailed proposals, we’ve focused on shaping improvements that reflect what people told us mattered most, including a more inviting Villiers Street, better pedestrian connectivity, and a higher-quality ground-floor experience. We’re excited about the opportunity to unlock the potential of this unique site while respecting its legacy and reinforcing its role as a key gateway to the West End.”
Villiers Street is named after George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham and was developed in the 1670s on the site of his former home, York House. It is has footfall of around 3,000 an hour, more than Bond Street and Cheapside.
Other elements of the proposals include a refurbishment of 1 Embankment Place, which was built as “air rights” development above the Network Rail tracks at Charing Cross Station in 1991. The modernised 35,000 sq m building will have new features such as outdoor terraces. Around 90% of the structure and most of the facade will be preserved to reduce the release of embodied carbon.
The building will be all electric and will have 180 photovoltaic panels on the barrel vault roof, reducing operational energy use by 70%.
Mike Taylor, Principal at Hopkins, said: “Our detailed designs build on the principles set out last year but now go further in responding to early consultation feedback, and in strengthening how the building meets the city around it.
“We remain committed to evolving Sir Terry Farrell’s original vision withcare – enhancing 1 Embankment Place’s relationship with Villiers Street, improving daylight and openness, radically overhauling the sustainability performance, and ensuring the building continues to serve commercial occupiers and the public for decades to come.”
