Southern Grove secures permission for £40m office development in North Shoreditch
Developer Southern Grove has secured permission for a £40m sustainable office development on the banks of the Regent’s Canal.
The Tiller Building, in Orsman Rd, will consist of 40,000 sq ft of premium office space with incredible views over the canal to the rear, replacing two derelict buildings.
North Shoreditch is seeing booming demand for office space, as high rents in central Shoreditch, to the south, push companies towards the tranquility of the canal — a trend known as ‘Shoreditch sprawl’.
The scheme has gone through a number of design changes intended to make the most of the beautiful views available of the waterway and towards the city, following feedback from the London Borough of Hackney, Canal River Trust and local residents.
Outside space has been provided on every floor of the building’s six storeys, giving workers every opportunity to maximimise enjoyment of one of the most important environmental features coursing through central London. This includes an expansive terrace on the top providing uninterrupted views towards the City of London.
An intimate cafe will be situated at the entrance to the building, 10% of its floor area will be allocated to ‘affordable’ office space and the scheme will provide 106 cycle spaces on site.
Intensifying commercial investment in the area is marking it out as the natural successor to central Shoreditch, a fashionable London hub that has witnessed a dramatic transformation in the past 15 years.
The prime site — a former factory — will be very attractive to commuters, being only a mile from the City and just a five-minute walk from Haggerston railway station. It also offers ample nearby outside space, situated a stone’s throw from the popular Kingsmead Basin and moments away from Shoreditch Park.
Tom Slingsby, chief executive of developer Southern Grove, commented: “Design is always important to us but there’s a careful balancing act to accomplish when placing significant developments so close to areas of natural beauty.
“What The Tiller Building offers is an oasis where workers can enter the building in central London but emerge at the rear with a feeling that they’ve been transported to another place, well out of the city and surrounded by water and greenery.
“Views like this are highly prized in London and the building really takes advantage of its location. It’s this beauty which is pulling companies away from central Shoreditch north towards the canal-side avenues, as they seek better value. This ‘Shoreditch Sprawl’ will continue now for years.”
