Green light for Grade II Sicilian Avenue refurb
The London Borough of Camden has given the go-ahead for a refurbishment of Sicilian Avenue to deliver retail and office space.
The site is sits on the west side of Southampton Row with Sicilian Avenue to the north and
Bloomsbury Square to the northwest. It consists of 3 buildings: Sicilian House, Vernon House, and no. 21 Southampton Row. The Grade II buildings were constructed between 1905 and 1910 and were altered during the 1970s.
The proposals for ‘Bloomsbury Quarter’, submitted by Tristan Capital Partners-managed fund CCP 5, will look to create 17,000 sq ft of retail space. This will be supplemented by a number of amenities and end-of-journey facilities.
55,000 sq ft of office space at Vernon & Sicilian House and 21 Southampton Row will also be developed.
The original proposals included the construction of a roof terrace, however these have been scrapped after consultation, along with plans to amalgamate three small retail units into one larger space.
Tristan Capital is working alongside Knight Frank to deliver the proposals.
In a letter to the London Borough of Camden’s planning services, Nick Belsten, executive director at consultancy Hgh, said the scheme offers the potential to secure a long-term sustainable use for the buildings.
The development is targeting BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating, and looks to reduce the CO2 emissions of the site by around 31% due to sustainability and energy enhancements.
James Brodie, managing director at Tristan Capital Partners, said: “This next stage for Sicilian Avenue, Vernon & Sicilian House and 21 Southampton Row marks a significant milestone signifying the importance of Bloomsbury Quarter as a leading mixed-use destination for London. As an up-and-coming part of London, rich with cultural heritage and filled with potential, Bloomsbury presents opportunities for occupiers looking for centrally located, ESG-certified prime workspace and amenity provision.”
Alchemy Asset Management is the development manager for Bloomsbury Quarter, with P-THREE and CBRE acting as retail agents.