Real estate firm Bridgemont has submitted plans to Westminster City Council for a major refurbishment of 1 Embankment Place, the office building above Charing Cross Station that currently serves as PricewaterhouseCooper's (PWC) London headquarters. The project aims to deliver 35,000 square metres of Grade A office space through an extensive retrofit, addressing what planning documents describe as an 'outdated' asset that struggles to attract modern tenants.
Retrofit strategy and design
The building, completed in 1991 and designed by architect Sir Terry Farrell, is a distinctive block in the heart of Westminster. Bridgemont's proposals, designed by Hopkins Architects, include new rooftop pavilions at levels eight and ten, along with significant street-level improvements. The plans emphasize sustainability, with 90 per cent of the existing structure and most of the façade retained.
According to planning documents, the design strategy aims to 'restore Embankment Place to its full urban potential.' New retail units with curved glazed facades and improved lighting will make the covered street more active and transparent, creating an 'urban galleria' that invites pedestrians to linger. The dated heavy stone entablature will be removed, revealing and restoring the original Victorian bridge structure.
Addressing the 'flight to quality'
The application responds to what documents describe as 'the flight to quality' among office tenants. 'The successful transformation of One Embankment Place is critical to secure the building's future and ensure that it does not find itself classified as a 'secondary building' or become an 'outdated asset' in the near future,' the documents state. 'As occupier demand becomes more concentrated on best-in-class assets, secondary buildings experience growing challenges in attracting and retaining tenants. This can trigger a self-reinforcing cycle of decline and the creation of an 'outdated asset'.'
The wider area improvements include an upgrade of Villiers Street, better pedestrian links from the Embankment into the City, and an enhanced collection of retail and leisure outlets.
Stakeholder input and community engagement
Mark Wenlock, Principal at Bridgemont, said: 'This submission reflects what people told us mattered most throughout consultation – a more inviting Villiers Street, better pedestrian connectivity and a higher-quality ground floor experience. The proposals set out 1 Embankment Place as one of Westminster's most significant retrofit opportunities, transforming a critical gateway site into a high‑quality commercial, retail and cultural destination that better connects the West End with the South Bank.'
Mike Taylor, Principal at Hopkins, added: 'We are grateful to everyone who assisted us to understand the challenges and guided the design process particularly the community stakeholders and Sir Terry Farrell's son Max who ensured the proposals respected the building's character but also responded to Terry's vision for London to continually evolve and improve.'
Next steps
The application is now under review by Westminster City Council. If approved, the retrofit would mark a significant investment in one of London's most prominent gateway sites, bridging the West End and the South Bank.
