Major plans submitted for the square formerly known as NoHo
Middlesex Hospital site - View from corner of Nassau Street, with the retained facade, and Mortimer Street
Sheppard Robson and Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands hope for better luck than Make
Sheppard Robson and Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands have submitted plans for one of the biggest developments in central London, the former Middlesex Hospital site in Fitzrovia.
If it wins planning from Westminster council, work will start on site immediately and could be completed by 2014, said the joint developers Exemplar Properties, Aviva Investors and Icelandic bank Kaupthing.
The 1.2ha site has a chequered history. It was once part-owned by the Candy brothers who hired Make to draw up a 60,000sq m scheme, dubbed NoHo Square because it is north of Soho. It failed to win planning and Kaupthing entered administration.
The new scheme, which has dropped the name, is also less bulky and contains more public space, said Clive Bush of Exemplar.
“We have also ensured the design reflects and respects the existing architecture of Fitzrovia and retains the existing facade along Nassau Street,” he said.
It includes 237 private and 54 onsite affordable homes, 20,000 sq m of offices in two buildings and 2,000 sq m of shops and restaurants.
There will also be a new public square set around the former hospital’s listed chapel - currently standing sentinel in the middle of the cleared site. The chapel itself will be run by a community trust. Space is also provided for a new primary care facility and an educational facility for nearby All Souls Primary School.
Alex Lifschutz, director at Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands, said: “The new scheme for the former Middlesex Hospital site takes as its starting point the rich Edwardian context, drawing inspiration from the residential and light industrial buildings of this part of Fitzrovia.
“The architecture is carefully responsive to the surroundings in form, material and detail, while providing modern amenity.
“At the heart of the development, a new large public space forms the setting for the glorious grade II listed chapel, a community building set among trees and surrounded by residences of character and quality.”
Related Articles
- Sheppard Robson and Lifschutz win planning for troubled Middlesex Hospital site
3 February 2012
- Sheppard Robson's NoHo Square threatened by lack of affordable housing
1 February 2012
- Sheppard Robson takes over at 'NoHo Square'
13 December 2010
- Allies & Morrison set to take over design of Noho Square development
23 March 2009
- Make going nowhere with Noho
07 November 2008
- Candy buys Noho Square development from Icelandic bank
10 October 2008
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Readers' comments (6)
"We have also ensured the design reflects and respects the existing architecture of Fitzrovia"...
I know there are some horrible 60s office blocks in Charlotte Street, but why 'reflect' them? The right hand side elevation above looks like a low-rent office that's awaiting comprehensive redevelopment! Nothing like the best bits of Fitzrovia.
And whats with the bits of Barbican stuck on the top? The Barbican wasn't in Fitzrovia last time I looked.
The architect's report is all too typical of the insincere, tedious rhetoric that passes for "description" and "motivation". The project is tedious and adds nothing of significance to this part of London.
No project could ever really be viewed as insignificant - as it will affect at least one person in some way. Rather harsh comment there from tommaso46
It would be good to see the other two elevations where facades haven't been retained.
I think I can guess what the other 2 facades look like.