Islington Council approves demolition of Edward Rudolf House
The decision follows a Planning Inspectorate appeal that labelled the vacant former Children’s Society headquarters an unmistakable eyesore and clears the way for a new development on the Clerkenwell site.
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Islington Council gave formal consent on 10 September 2026 for Royal UK Properties III Ltd to demolish the former Children’s Society headquarters, now called Edward Rudolf House, and to construct a new building on the Clerkenwell site. The decision ends a six‑year planning dispute and follows a Planning Inspectorate appeal that labelled the vacant structure an “unmistakable eyesore”. Demolition crews have already begun work, according to council reports.
Background
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The two‑storey Edward Rudolf House was renamed after the founder of the Children’s Society when the charity moved its national headquarters there in 1986. The charity sold the property for £17 million in 2019 because the building required extensive repairs, and it has remained empty since that sale. The site sits on a block of streets in Clerkenwell that includes several Grade‑II‑listed buildings, making any new development subject to close scrutiny.
Planning dispute
Islington Council rejected an initial proposal in 2020 that would have erected a five‑storey office block, citing concerns over loss of light, impact on neighbouring listed properties and an “incongruous” design. The Planning Inspectorate backed the council’s concerns in 2021, warning that the rebuild would harm the local character. After the developer submitted revised, lower‑rise designs in 2023, the council failed to reach a decision within the statutory period, prompting a non‑determination appeal. The Inspectorate granted that appeal in October 2024, describing the existing building as an “unmistakable eyesore” and calling the updated plans “striking and sympathetic”.
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Current status
The latest council planning committee meeting on 10 September 2026 considered the developer’s further revisions, which removed an earlier affordable‑workspace component due to financial constraints. Committee Chair Toby North said he was “loathe to see” the loss of the historic building but noted that the Inspectorate’s 2024 decision meant the council could not robustly reject the scheme again.
“I am loathe to see the loss,” Toby North said.
Toby North, committee chair
What residents can do next
With demolition already under way, residents cannot object to the demolition itself, but they may comment on the design of the replacement building during the council’s post‑demolition design review, which is scheduled for early 2027. The council will publish consultation documents on its website and invite written submissions. Residents who wish to raise concerns about the new building’s height, massing or impact on light should submit comments before the consultation deadline, which the council will announce in a forthcoming notice.
Questions this report answers
+When did Islington Council give consent for demolition?
Islington Council granted consent on 10 September 2026 for the demolition of Edward Rudolf House. The decision follows a Planning Inspectorate appeal and clears the way for a new development on the Clerkenwell site.
+What did the Planning Inspectorate say about the building?
In October 2024 the Planning Inspectorate described the vacant former Children’s Society headquarters as an “unmistakable eyesore”. It granted a non‑determination appeal, supporting the developer’s revised, lower‑rise designs as “striking and sympathetic”.
+Is demolition already happening?
Council reports confirm that demolition of the existing Edward Rudolf House is already underway. Work began shortly after the planning committee approved the scheme on 10 September 2026.
+How can local residents influence the new building?
Residents can submit comments during the council’s post‑demolition design review, scheduled for early 2027. The council will publish consultation documents online and set a deadline for written submissions, allowing residents to raise concerns about height, massing or light.
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