London’s West End gets go-ahead for its largest development of 2020

A £500m investment, designed to transform a swathe of narrow neglected side-streets and buildings at the heart of London’s West End, has been given the go-ahead by Westminster City Council.

Connecting Mayfair to Oxford Street, it is hoped that the two-acre South Molton Triangle development will breathe new life into the area opposite the new Bond Street West Station - providing 204,000sq ft of sustainable Grade A office space and 67,500sq ft of shops, restaurants and cafes, plus a hotel and homes.

Developer Grosvenor Britain & Ireland said it hoped that the redevelopment would help the West End recover from the impact of COVID-19, by attracting an estimated £6m of spend per year.

Executive director of development Anna Bond said: “If you look closely at this neighbourhood today, it’s an area crying out for world-class public realm and sustainable office space, designed in a way that’s enticing to employers and workers in a post-pandemic world.

“The South Molton Triangle will re-make this part of Mayfair and help central London get back on its feet. 

Director of development Thomasin Renshaw added: “Our investment in the South Molton Triangle is a major vote of confidence in the West End at a defining moment for the capital’s economy.

“It will deliver much of what is needed so badly - new jobs and a boost to the economy, through the sensitive and sustainable transformation of a historic area.”

The development has been designed to “celebrate the character of the Mayfair Conservation Area,” by retaining and adapting historic buildings for contemporary use and balancing retrofit with sustainable new build.

The Triangle’s new buildings will also produce 37% less carbon than ones built to current UK standards.  

Servicing will only be by electric vehicles, reducing on street pollution and traffic around the pedestrian friendly scheme.