Charing Cross office block to gain 35,000 sq m retrofit

A real estate firm has submitted plans to refurbish the office block above Charing Cross Station. The application, filed by Bridgemont with Westminster City Council, proposes a retrofit of 1 Embankment Place to create 35,000 square metres of Grade A office space.

The building, designed by architect Sir Terry Farrell and completed in 1991, is currently occupied by PricewaterhouseCoopers. Planning documents describe it as outdated and struggling to attract new tenants.

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Sustainable retrofit with street-level upgrades

Bridgemont’s plans would retain 90% of the existing structure and most of the façade. The scheme includes new rooftop pavilions on levels eight and ten, designed by Hopkins Architects.

At street level, the proposals aim to improve Villiers Street with new retail units, curved glazed facades, and better lighting. The design would remove the existing stone entablature to reveal and restore the original Victorian bridge structure beneath.

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Planning documents state the changes would create an "urban galleria" intended to encourage pedestrians to linger. The upgrades are also meant to strengthen pedestrian links between the Embankment and the City.

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.

Mark Wenlock, Principal at Bridgemont

Why the building needs refurbishment

Planning documents warn that without refurbishment, 1 Embankment Place risks becoming a "secondary building" or an "outdated asset". The documents describe a "flight to quality" among tenants, who increasingly favour modern, high-specification office space.

Bridgemont said the transformation is critical to secure the building’s future. The firm added that secondary buildings face growing challenges in attracting and retaining tenants, which can lead to a cycle of decline.

What happens next

Westminster City Council will now review the application. No date has been set for a decision. Residents and stakeholders can view the plans on the council’s public notice portal.