Landsec eyes 2024 start on £225m Bankside office plan

Landsec has said it is looking to start its scheme given planning last week to replace a 1980s office building on the banks of the river Thames by the middle of next year.

Red Lion Court is next to the former Financial Times headquarters in Bankside which is also slated for redevelopment.

The scheme, drawn up by BIG, still has to get final approval from London's mayor but the developer said it is "targeting an earliest possible start on site of the first half of 2024" ahead of completion in 2027.

No official value of the construction contract has been given but it is thought to be between £200m and £225m.

A Landsec spokesperson said: "We're still in the early stages of procurement and have not finalised a timetable at this stage. The tender list is yet to be confirmed and will be subject to a pre-qualification process in line with our group procurement strategy – taking into account sustainability credentials, D&I [diveristy and inclusion] strategies as well as technical capabilities."

Landsec, which bought the red-brick office complex in 2005, wants to build 230,000 ft of workspace along with retail and new public space. These will include a north-south pedestrian route between Red Lion Court and the former FT building, One Southwark Bridge Road.

Others working on the scheme include cost consultant Gardiner & Theobald, project manager CPC, M&E engineer Hilson Moran, structural engineer AKT II and sustainability engineer Arup.

 Source; Buildings