welcome - One Chapel Place

Welcome to One Chapel Place

Existing building

One Chapel Place is located between Vere Street and Chapel Place, just off Oxford Street. It comprises two buildings, an east and a west building that reach five storeys and provide 35,000 sq ft of commercial space.

The east building was developed in the 1920s whilst the west building was completed in 1983. They were amalgamated into one building as part of a major redevelopment in the 1980s.

Since then the building has undergone some refurbishments and was extended and extensively remodelled in 2011. There has been no significant investment into One Chapel Place following the 2011 remodelling.

The buildings are not listed but are within the Harley Street Conservation Area and opposite the Grade 1 listed St Peter’s Church.

1980’s south-west corner from Vere Street

1980’s north-west corner from Vere Street

1920’s north-east corner from Chapel Place

1920’s east elevation from Chapel Place

The need for change

One Chapel Place has several obstacles that affect its longevity and limit its positive contribution to the local area. These include:

Poor quality office environment

In comparison to the needs of modern office workers, One Chapel Place offers poor quality office accommodation. The floor-to-floor heights are substandard, natural light and views out are poor. There is a lack of quality amenity space and end of journey facilities. The existing building will struggle to attract occupiers when the current tenants leave in 2028.

Insular building

The existing One Chapel Place is an architecturally compromised building which does not engage well with it’s surroundings. Part of the ground floor is elevated from street level and the presence of a lightwell along a significant length of the façade creates an inactive frontage which is exacerbated by tinted windows and internally oriented office space.

Significant investment required

When the current tenants leave in 2028 the existing building will not be fit for purpose. A significant proportion of the 1920’s structural frame will need to be repaired, all the mechanical, electrical and plumbing and all the windows and roof finishes will need to be replaced. Significant investment will be needed to make the existing building lettable and this is likely to be uneconomical.

Inferior public realm

Bin storage and TfL bike stations dominate the immediate public realm. There are no green or inviting places for workers, visitors or residents to explore or somewhere that celebrates St Peter’s Church. The unloved state of the public realm invites anti-social behaviour.

Inadequate relationship with St Peter’s Church

The clashing architectural styles and accretions from other buildings on Vere Street detract from the setting of the Grade 1 Listed St Peter’s Church. The opportunity to provide a coherent backdrop to the Church and enhancements to its setting has been missed.

A changing landscape

The Oxford Street District is undergoing a period of significant change

Re-Energised Urban Context

The extent of change is particularly apparent around the immediate vicinity of One Chapel Place which is now surrounded by a number of re-developments either recently receiving planning permission, currently under construction or recently completed. These schemes have re-purposed outdated buildings to deliver additional office space, refreshed retail, food and beverage and a transformative urban and architectural environment to the area.

Densification

Within the local area the building heights are generally five storeys. However, the former House of Fraser and Debenhams department stores, which are both under construction having recently had planning applications approved, will see the height of their buildings increase to 10 storeys. Henrietta House to the north of One Chapel Place has also recently completed its major refurbishment which saw the building increase to eight storeys.

Pockets of Amenity Space

There is very little green space near One Chapel Place. Cavendish Square is the largest open space, sitting 400m to the northeast, but the area largely suffers from a lack of good amenity space for workers, visitors, or residents. Although some outdoor rooftop spaces exist along Oxford Street these are often private.

Harley Street Conservation Area

One Chapel Place sits at the southern edge of the Harley Street Conservation Area. The Conservation Area appraisal assessed the existing building as being part “negative”, part “neutral” and part “unlisted building of merit”.

St Peter’s Church

St Peter’s Church is a Grade I listed building designed by celebrated architect James Gibbs.

Built in 1721-24, it is seen as a local landmark. Its setting is of an enclosed nature: the Church on an island within a larger square of larger scale. As a landmark of a smaller and more compact character, it is of interest for its age and architectural composition, rather than any visual prominence.

Throughout its existence the setting of the Church has changed substantially. However, there are some consistent features including the surrounding road layout and the use of shorter range, semi-glimpsed views to appreciate St Peter’s Church rather than long vistas. This approach is seen in the original plans for the Cavendish Harley estate, although these plans were never realised.

In its more recent past, the Church was converted in 1980 for part office use for the London Institute of Contemporary Christianity (LICC) – which remains the current use.

St Peter’s Church has been a key influence for the project team working on proposals for the future of One Chapel Place. Respecting its heritage whilst enhancing the setting of the Church is a fundamental part of the proposals.

To read more about how this has influenced our design process please click here.