The Singaporean family-owned business Hoi Hup Realty has today secured a resolution to grant planning consent from the City of London Corporation for ‘High Holborn’, a major office-led regeneration of a 1.4-acre island site comprising three buildings at 322 High Holborn, Holborn Gate and 44 Southampton Buildings.
The High Holborn project has been spearheaded by international construction and property consultancy Gleeds, serving as Development Lead, working alongside Make Architects, Savills as leasing advisors, and Newmark as planning consultants.
The transformational scheme is at a location adjacent to Chancery Lane underground station and within five minutes of Farringdon Station and the Elizabeth Line. Seen as the western gateway for future development, the project represents one of the most significant new office consents in the Square Mile. Hoi Hup spent four years assembling the site through a series of strategic acquisitions, totalling c. 250,000 sq ft of underperforming office space.
The newly consented scheme will deliver over 370,000 sq ft of new Grade A workspace. Designed for modern occupiers, the building will also include a new cultural venue, the ‘Holborn Dome’, a public pocket park at Southampton Buildings, and enhanced ground-floor amenity and permeability. The development is targeting BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ and EPC ‘A’, utilising smart systems and low-carbon materials throughout. Terraces, wellness spaces, and flexible floorplates respond directly to the evolving needs of global occupiers and their workforce.
Wong Swee Chun, Chairman, Hoi Hup Realty, commented: "This milestone is the result of extensive consultation and collaboration and we’re incredibly grateful to the City of London Corporation for enabling our maiden scheme to take this positive step forward today. With our global expertise, we are confident this scheme will become a benchmark for quality, sustainability and community contribution in Central London. The Midtown location has great potential, and we are proud to be investing here."
Chairman of the City of London Planning and Transportation Committee, Tom Sleigh, said: “This is exactly the kind of scheme we want to see more of in the Square Mile - best-in-class office space that keeps London globally competitive, while also delivering public spaces that everyone can enjoy. Supporting the primary business function of the City through meeting this huge level of demand for office space is critical, but I’m particularly pleased by the retention of sections of the Knights Templar, a brilliant way to connect the new venue with the history of the site.”
Robin Brodie Cooper, Partner at Gleeds and past President of the British Council for Offices, said: “Having worked on many high-profile projects in the City of London over the years, Gleeds are delighted to have played a major role in guiding our Singaporean client Hoi Hup to a successful planning consent on their High Holborn scheme. We look forward to now delivering this first class office building designed by Make Architects to form a prominent western Gateway into the City of London.”
Ken Shuttleworth, Founder and Director, Make Architects, said: “We're thrilled to receive planning for this fantastic scheme in the City, which reimagines an under-served island site as a best-in-class workplace with a bespoke cultural venue at its heart. It’s been a pleasure working with Hoi Hup to design the building to ambitious sustainability targets and build on the site’s history to transform it into a hub of cultural engagement. The development will be a valuable asset for workers, residents and visitors alike – the next step in the City of London’s strategic repositioning of the Square Mile as a world-leading leisure destination.” Felix Rabeneck, Real Estate Advisor and Leasing Agent at Savills added: “We are delighted that the project has achieved this significant milestone on the road to delivering a new world class headquarters building in this highly prominent Midtown location.”