Planning submitted for a major new office development on High Holborn

Hoi Hup Realty, a leading Singaporean developer, has submitted a planning application to the City of London for a cutting-edge office development on High Holborn. Situated on a prime 1.4-acre island site, the development is strategically located adjacent to Chancery Lane Underground Station and just a five-minute walk from Farringdon Station.

Over the past five years, Hoi Hup has carefully assembled the site, acquiring 322 High Holborn and 44 Southampton in 2018, followed by the off-market purchase of Holborn Gate in 2022. Together, these three multi-let properties offer approximately 250,000 sq. ft. (NIA) of space.

Gillespies is delivering the landscape design for the new development, working in partnership with Make Architects, Savills (development advisor and leasing agent), Gleeds (project managers) and Gerald Eve (planning consultants). The development will involve demolishing the existing buildings and creating a landmark office-led development.

The new development will deliver approximately 370,000 sq. ft. (NIA) of premium office accommodation, complete with expansive terraces providing sweeping views of Central London, alongside a vibrant new retail offering that will enhance the area’s vibrancy and transform this part of High Holborn. The scheme will replace the existing Grade B office spaces with a state-of-the-art building that targets outstanding ESG credentials, including BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ and an EPC rating of ‘A’.

Beyond office space, the development will improve the surrounding public realm, with a new public park at Southampton Building, as well as enhanced ground-level activation, including a multi-use auditorium and cultural spaces accessible from the street. The public realm improvements will promote local biodiversity through the thoughtful integration of planting and wildlife habitats, playing a pivotal role in the regeneration of the area, fostering a dynamic, sustainable, and vibrant urban environment.

Image by Secchi Smith/Make Architects