Bridgemont seeks Westminster approval to retrofit 1 Embankment Place for greener office space
The property manager plans to preserve most of the 1991 tower above Charing Cross Station while cutting its energy use by 70 % and adding a pedestrian link between the West End and the South Bank.
Bridgemont has lodged a planning application with Westminster City Council to remodel 1 Embankment Place, the air‑rights development that sits above Charing Cross Station and has housed PwC’s London headquarters since its completion in 1991.
The accountancy firm will vacate the building in 2030 as part of a move to a new 350,000 sq ft office at One Eden in Canary Wharf. The proposed scheme, shaped after two rounds of public consultation, would retain roughly 90 % of the existing structure designed by Sir Terry Farrell. Max Farrell, the architect’s son, is involved in the redesign to ensure the original aesthetic is respected.
Hopkins Architects, recognised for low‑energy projects, will lead the sustainable overhaul. Their brief includes a 70 % reduction in operational energy consumption and a shift to fully decarbonised, all‑electric services. The plan reflects a broader trend in London’s prime office market, where landlords are retrofitting existing stock rather than demolishing it, driven by tighter carbon regulations and tenant demand for greener premises. Preserving the embodied carbon of the 1991 frame while slashing operational emissions is becoming the default playbook for landlords facing 2030 net‑zero deadlines.
New spaces and public realm
The redevelopment will create about 35,000 sq ft of flexible workspace. It also proposes a new pedestrian gateway that will link the West End with the South Bank, flanked by curated retail, food and beverage outlets.
Mike Taylor, principal at Hopkins, said the application marks "a significant step in delivering the transformational improvements needed to secure its future for generations to come."
Wider context
PwC’s relocation mirrors a wider migration of professional services firms to the former docklands. In July the firm confirmed a commitment to One Eden, a tower currently occupied as Citigroup’s Europe, Middle East and Africa headquarters. Citigroup is using the space as temporary accommodation while it undertakes a £1 bn refurbishment of the adjacent 25 Canada Square. Citigroup’s leadership has warned that rising UK taxes risk pushing financial firms toward rival centres.
If Westminster grants consent, works on the Embankment Place transformation will commence after PwC’s departure, repositioning the riverside asset for the next generation of occupiers. First reported by the source.
