Amendments to West Central Street block and planning resubmission

In response to Historic England listing two of the buildings within the West Central Street block, we have updated our proposals to retain these buildings and protect heritage features across the block, while still providing 50% of the new housing as affordable. These changes have now been submitted as part of a new planning application, the details of which are set out below. You can view and comment on the new application by visiting the Camden planning portal here and searching for the reference number 2023/2510/P.

In March 2023, following a review of the heritage status of a number of buildings on the West Central Street site, Historic England determined to upgrade the status of two groups of buildings – 10-12 Museum St and 35-37 New Oxford Street – to Grade II listing. The location of these buildings is shown on the map of the West Central Street block on the right.

The recently listed buildings within the block were already recognised as positive contributors to the Bloomsbury conservation area which has been reflected in the designs submitted in the planning application for One Museum Street in June 2021 and updated in September 2022 (Ref: 2021/2954/P).

However the listing decision upgrades the heritage status of these buildings. Following the designation, we have undertaken further detailed investigations into the existing buildings’ fabric and structure in order to identify and better understand the elements of heritage interest.

With input from our specialist heritage team The Townscape Consultancy and alongside Camden planning officers, we have developed updated design proposals for the West Central Street block to reflect the listing and the insights gained through the surveys and research. The updated proposals seek to ensure that elements of heritage interest are preserved and incorporated into high quality and accessible new homes where possible and practical. These changes have been submitted in a new planning application alongside the wider proposals for One Museum Street including the new workspace, Vine Lane and High Holborn buildings.

Key:

  1. 16a West Central Street
  2. 16b West Central Street
  3. 18 West Central Street
  4. 10-12 Museum Street
    (Grade II listed)
  5. 35-37 New Oxford Street
    (Grade II listed)
  6. 39-41 New Oxford Street

Our amendments

The key design changes we are making to reflect the listing are:

  • Removal of the mansard roof extension to 35 and 37 New Oxford Street and the roof extension to 10-12 Museum Street and retention and repair of existing roofs.
  • Retention and sensitive refurbishment of 10 Museum Street, the best-preserved building in the urban block, as a townhouse.
  • Reinstatement of the plan form of 35 and 37 New Oxford Street and refurbishment as town houses.
  • Retention of the remaining historic structure of 11-12 Museum Street and conversion from existing studios to 1 bedroom flats.
  • Demolition of the closet wing of 10 Museum Street and the 1990’s extension to 11-12 Museum Street to enable the creation of an entrance to the shared courtyard.
  • Amendments to the design proposals for the wider West Central Street block in response to the above changes including reducing the height the proposals adjacent to 10 Museum Street.
  • Undertaking an initial study into elements of the demolished buildings that could be retained and repurposed in the new proposals (More information is available here).

You can view a set of exhibition boards which explain the changes in more detail here.

The proposals viewed from Museum Street looking West with the West Central Street block on the right. The previous proposals are shown in the image on the left and the amended scheme on the right. The images shows the reduction in height of 10-12 Museum Street and the element of 16a-18 West Central Street closest to 10 Museum Street.

The proposals viewed from St George’s Church on Bloomsbury Way, with the previous proposals on the left and the amended scheme on the right. The image shows the reduction in height of 10-12 Museum Street and 35-41 New Oxford Street.

Impact of the changes

While the design updates do result in a reduction in overall residential floorspace, we have worked hard to maintain the proportion of affordable housing. The revised application will now deliver 44 homes, of which 19 will be affordable (11 low cost rent and 8 intermediate rent). The previous application proposed 48 new and replacement homes of which 18 were affordable).

Overall the proposals maintain the proportion of the replacement housing that is affordable at 50.1% by habitable room (51% in the previous submission).

    The proposed courtyard for residents in the West Central Street block

    Our specialist heritage team The Townscape Consultancy have also done further research and surveys to better understand the buildings. The approach to the listed buildings has been one of low intervention, removing the unsympathetic additions and preserving the decorative features of special interest. You can find out more about this and the features preserved on board 3 of our exhibition boards here.

    Next steps

    We have now submitted these updated proposals to Camden Council as part of a new planning application, alongside an application for Listed Building Consent for the relevant buildings. The new planning application will incorporate the wider proposals for One Museum Street within the previous application (Ref: 2021/2954/P) including the new workspace, Vine Lane and High Holborn buildings.

    You can view and comment on the new application by visiting Camden’s planning portal here and searching the reference number 2023/2510/P.

    If you would like to meet with a member of the project team to discuss the plans please further get in touch via email on onemuseumstreet@londoncommunications.co.uk or call 0800 307 7975

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