French Place

As project management lead, the client engaged Jackson Coles from the outset of Stage 1 to manage and develop the planning and design strategies for this ambitious and complex scheme. The site comprises two separate existing buildings of different character and typology, located within the South Shoreditch Conservation Area (SSCA). The buildings are both considered to be positive contributors to the SSCA, and therefore their redevelopment presents a significant challenge on the grounds of heritage and conservation.

The project brief is to deliver a singular building comprising 60,000 ft² NIA of Grade A office with ground floor retail. The building is set to be our client’s flagship portfolio asset, providing a unique product with innovative and resilient architecture, and inspiring sustainability credentials such as BREEAM Outstanding, NABERS 5-star rating and WELL Platinum.

The existing site is fraught with inherent development challenges – the north of the site is adjoined by a mixed-use, 5-storey occupied property; Shoreditch High Street is to the east which is a TFL red route; the Kingsland viaduct / TFL overground line encloses the west; and the narrow pedestrian street of French Place is to the south. These bordering factors mean that third party legal matters and development constraints have been carefully controlled and diligently managed from the outset.