Welcome to the consultation website for the refurbishment of 2 Waterhouse Square
Soft strip works taking place on site
Soft strip works are now taking place within the existing office building at 2 Waterhouse Square until 3 May 2024. During this phase, no permanent construction works will be undertaken but the building will be stripped out of internal services and contents which will involve some movement of skip-based vehicles to and from the site. Works undertaken during this soft-strip phase are outside of the scope covered by the planning application currently being assessed by Camden Council.
The works will take place on the basis of core working hours of 8am – 6pm Monday to Friday, and 8am – 1pm on Saturdays. Works are not currently planned outside of these hours however, if these are required for any reason, an application will be made to Camden Council in advance and local residents will be informed.
If you encounter any disturbance during this time please get in touch on 2waterhousesquare@londoncommunications.co.uk
M&G Real Estate, the owner of the site, and Development Manager CO-RE, are pleased to bring forward proposals to comprehensively refurbish and extend 2 Waterhouse Square. On this website, you will be able to view our proposals, learn more about the existing site and share your thoughts.
Currently, 2 Waterhouse sits vacant and unused. Our proposals are not only to provide new office spaces in line with modern standards, but also to improve how it interacts with the other buildings on the square through sensitive design. This will also improve accessibility to neighbouring streets and nearby landmarks such as Leather Lane Market by providing new entrances through Greville Street.
Potential view of how 2 Waterhouse Square could look from Greville Street.
PLANNING APPLICATION VALIDATED
We are pleased to let you know that our planning application for 2 Waterhouse Square has been submitted and validated by Camden Council, and has been uploaded on the council’s planning portal.
You can submit a comment by visiting the Council’s planning portal at: accountforms.camden.gov.uk/planning-search and searching the reference numbers 2023/3419/P and 2023/3420/L. You’ll also be able to find all of the drawings and information we submitted here.
Thank you to everyone who has provided feedback to date. If you have any questions, please let us know here.
You can also see all the information presented to date here and view our recent newsletter here.
Our proposals seek to
Preserve the building’s historic commercial use by refurbishing and extending the building, providing exceptional, flexible office spaces built up to modern standards. This can only be achieved through a single storey extension, which will be sensitively designed to minimise the impact to views from passers-by and neighbours to the site.
Provide space that compliments and supports the Leather Lane Market traders
Future proof the building and ensure it meets the highest sustainability standards possible.
Consider the historic nature of the area through exceptional design, creating a building that better interacts with the rest of Waterhouse Square and Brookes Market, and sits more sensitively within its wider setting.
Provide community spaces that everyone can enjoy, such as a new café or restaurant.
Improve public spaces and accessibility to neighbouring streets and nearby landmarks such as Leather Lane Market by providing new entrances through Greville Street and improving the courtyard areas that the buildings overlook.
About the site
Overview of the site, including the outline for 2 Waterhouse Square (red), and the rest of the Waterhouse Square Estate (blue)
About 2 Waterhouse Square
Waterhouse Square is located on the A40 Holborn, near Chancery Lane Station, and consists of three buildings. It is a Grade II listed landmark building in the heart of Holborn that takes its name from its original designer, Alfred Waterhouse. It sits within the Hatton Garden conservation area which is characterised by a network of small streets, active retail frontages and a strong urban character. It is in close walking distance to the newly opened Elizabeth Line at Farringdon station, and next door to Camden’s oldest street market as well as London’s best-know shopping destination for jewellery, contributing to its reputation as a desirable and unique office location in the capital.
The Prudential Assurance Company limited has been a proud owner of the buildings for over a century and has seen it through a number of changes to ensure it’s kept up-to-date with modern business requirements. Most significantly, the building was expanded in 1993 to create 2 Waterhouse Square, providing more office space to help meet an ever-growing demand.
The Waterhouse Square Estate, comprising 2 Waterhouse Square (green) and 1-3 Waterhouse Square (red and purple)
History of the site
The site was first developed as Furnival Inn in c.1383 when William de Furnival, leased a boarding facility to Clerks of Chancery, who prepared writs for the King’s Courts. By the 15th century it had become a preparatory school for students wishing to be called to the bar by the Inns of Court. It stayed like this until 1818 when it was demolished, having previously survived the Great Fire of London.
In 1828, the building was rebuilt as apartments and was designed by the architect Thomas Hosmer Sheperd, where Charles Dickens stayed briefly as he was writing the Pickwick Papers. It was redeveloped again, in 1879, as the headquarters of the Prudential Assurance and in 1889, the Furnival’s was demolished.
The building was bought by Prudential Assurance Company in 1888, and was designed by Alfred Waterhouse, who had also designed the Natural History Museum. In the 1930s the building was renovated by the Architect E.M. Joseph, and in 1972 the building was granted Grade II* listed status.
The current building
Currently, 2 Waterhouse Square does not meet modern standards, and is vacant and unused, resulting in wasted office space.
We see this as a real opportunity to comprehensively refurbish and extend the building by one storey to bring it up to modern standards and provide a significant boost to the local economy, which we hope will benefit local people and traders in the area.
Current view of 2 Waterhouse Square
About us
M&G Real Estate
Ever since Prudential was founded as a loans and life assurance company in 1848, we have sought to democratise wealth by helping as many people as possible gain access to our products. M&G Investments was established in 1931 with a similar mission to make the benefits of long-term savings more widely available, introducing the first mutual fund to the UK.
Prudential UK & Europe and M&G came together in 2017 and listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2019 as M&G plc, creating a new leader in savings and investments. Our purpose is to help people manage and grow their savings and investments, responsibly.
CO-RE
We are central London developers specialising in large-scale complex assets. Working with clients across the sector, our profound insight into the occupier mindset informs every project. We work collaboratively, champion great design and deliver value for the long term.
Orms
We create an architecture that seeks to elevate the human experience through insight, collaboration, and design integrity. We bring meaningful solutions to urban life, creating modern structures of clarity, beauty, and rigour, delivering a real and positive impact on people’s lives.
Contact us
If you have any questions for the team please get in touch through one of the following ways and a member of the team will respond to you.
0800 307 7969
