Work Begins on First High-Rise Office Building in the West End in Five Decades

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17 September 2025

Demolition works have begun on the St Giles Quarter masterplan site, a long-neglected area of the West End.

A vacant Travelodge, NCP car park and derelict buildings will make way for a major regeneration scheme at the junction of Soho, Covent Garden, and Bloomsbury.

The masterplan will deliver 220,000 sq ft (NIA) of mixed-use floorspace across four self-contained buildings. At the heart of the scheme will be the One Museum Street tower, the West End’s first new-build office tower in over 50 years. 

One Museum Street will deliver nearly 180,000 sq ft of Grade-A office and retail floorspace across 19 storeys – providing workspace for around 1,400 people.

Brought forward by developer Simten and investor BC Partners, the scheme will target BREEAM Outstanding, WELL Platinum, Nabers 5* rating and Net Zero Carbon in operation. The basement of the existing Travelodge will be retained, representing a recycling of around 25 per cent of the embodied carbon of the existing building.

A new retail-lined pedestrianised route on Vine Lane will connect Covent Garden with Bloomsbury, and there are plans for 44 new homes, of which 25 will be affordable.

Laurian Douin, Partner at BC Partners, said: “The start of works on-site represents a major step forward in delivering the St Giles Quarter masterplan. In a climate where many projects have stalled due to economic uncertainty, this milestone demonstrates our confidence in the West End’s long-term potential and our commitment to delivering future-ready, sustainable spaces. We’re proud to be shaping a place that will support over 1,400 jobs and strengthen the West End’s role as a dynamic, inclusive destination.”

Eleanor Wright, Development Associate at Simten, added: “We are excited to begin work on the West End’s first high-rise office building in over 50 years. The design of St Giles Quarter is a response to the evolving demands of the modern workplace and the growth of the district, where sustainability, wellbeing and urban integration are paramount. These principles have been embedded throughout the scheme, creating a building that not only delivers user-focused, high-quality workspace but also contributes meaningfully to the public realm. 

“By introducing new public routes and a retail arcade that links Covent Garden and Bloomsbury, we’re enhancing connectivity and encouraging footfall through previously underused spaces.”

Demolition works are being undertaken by John F Hunt, with the masterplan practical completion scheduled for 2028.

Picture: a CGI showing an aerial view of the new masterplan. Image Credit: DSDHA

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 17 September 2025

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