13
December
2022
|
12:23
Europe/London

Plans to enhance Ibex House and create new cultural learning centre approved

The City of London Corporation’s Planning Applications Sub-Committee today (13 December) unanimously approved plans to alter and extend 42-47 Minories, which will lift the building from Grade B to Grade A quality office accommodation.

The Ibex House scheme will lead to the creation of a new cultural learning and exhibition centre at ground level and a new public café.

It also includes retention, internal expansion and external refurbishment of an existing public house – ‘The Peacock’ – that will see its size increase from 227 square metres to 563 square metres.

Public realm enhancements will be delivered around the site, including the introduction of a raised table on Portsoken Street, upgrades to the northern wall of Portsoken Street Garden and footpath widening works on Haydon Street.

A total of 333 long stay and 53 short stay cycle parking space are planned, which is a significant improvement on the existing 89 cycle spaces provided.

The scheme responds appropriately to Circular Economy Principles through the retention of the existing building and would achieve a BREEAM ‘very good’ rating, rising to a targeted BREEAM ‘excellent’ rating through improvements in the detailed design.

Chairman of the Planning Applications Sub-Committee at the City of London Corporation, Shravan Joshi, said:

“This scheme is another vote of confidence in the City office market. It will support the flight to quality that we are seeing in the Square Mile by adding to our stock of high-quality, flexible and sustainable offices.

“The plans offer a sensitive and discrete refurbishment of Ibex House, while also creating new spaces and supporting the vitality of the surrounding area.

“I welcome the efforts to embed sustainability at the heart of this redevelopment, including by encouraging active travel through cycling.”

Notes to editors

About the City of London Corporation

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally-successful UK – www.cityoflondon.gov.uk