KAJIMA GETS GREEN LIGHT FOR SUSTAINABLE BOUTIQUE OFFICE REFURBISHMENT IN THE HEART OF FITZROVIA

Kajima has been granted planning permission by Westminster City Council for the partial refurbishment and extension of Orwell House in the heart of Fitzrovia. Working with Gibson Thornley architects and sustainability experts Max Fordham, Kajima's Workspaces team plans to transform the 28,600 sq ft building into best-in-class workspaces spanning 35,500 sq ft.

The planning decision for Orwell House endorses Kajima's commitment to developing innovative buildings in line with best practices in construction technologies, minimising the loss of embodied carbon and whole-life consumption.

Approximately 70 percent of the existing floor space will be retained to reduce embodied carbon. At the same time, the new build extension will utilise circular economy principles by incorporating reclaimed steel where possible to support structural interventions and reusing materials on site.

Kajima's office portfolio in London includes 77 Coleman Street in the City of London, which won the Best City of London refurbishment award in 2022. The Orwell House refurbishment is due to be completed in 2025.

Tim James, Investment Director at Kajima, said: "We are excited about the ambitious refurbishment and extension proposals at Orwell House, which will result in a truly outstanding office development in one of Central London's most dynamic sub-markets.

“This is a great example of how we can seek to adapt older, inefficient buildings to meet the evolving requirements of local, national and global occupiers whilst rigorously interrogating construction and supply chain principles to ensure we meet our ambitious sustainability targets. We are confident that Orwell House will become an exemplary building, providing best-in-class workspace for its occupiers, and we look forward to seeing our vision come to fruition.