14 Jan 2013, 5:12 pm
The £95m redevelopment will create 13,541 square feet of retail space on the lower floors fronting Oxford Street, which is one of Westminster City Council's designated primary shopping frontages. The plans also entail 33,487 square feet of office accommodation to the upper floors accessed from Hanover Square, which currently consists of office accommodation with some cafes and restaurants at ground floor level.
Aviva intends to demolish all existing buildings on the site. The Hanover Square and Oxford Street buildings are currently separated with a landlocked courtyard. The proposed development will span the two sites, including three floors of retail space accessible from Oxford Street, while the office accommodation with an entrance on Hanover Square will be from the first to the seventh floor. The plans also include a sixth floor roof terrace.
The existing buildings on Oxford Street consist of two ground floor retail outlets, both with basement storage with ancillary accommodation and vacant office space from first to fourth floor. The existing office building on Hanover Square consists of ground floor office reception and office accommodation from the first to eighth floors.
If the plans are approved, Aviva expect works to begin in 2013, with the development to be completed in 2015.
