New riverside office development in the works for Nine Elms

Property developer Ballymore has been granted planning permission for a new 13-storey riverside office building at its landmark development, Embassy Gardens.

The development, named EG:HQ, will provide 217,000 sq ft of ‘flexible, contemporary space’ in zone 1 Nine Elms, in addition to 18,000 sq ft of outdoor amenity space which will include 9,000 sq ft communal terrace and several private open-air terraces.

It follows the recent collection of two-bedroom apartments that were released by EcoWorld and Ballymore earlier this year.

EG:HQ will be at the heart of a regeneration zone that features a mix of developments already built, nearing completion or set to start soon.

Along with its redevelopment of Battersea Power Station, Nine Elms is set to have 20,000 new homes, 25,000 new jobs (post construction), new and improved transport links, new public spaces, new green space, and new schools and health centres.

The EG:HQ building will comprise 5,000 sq ft of ground floor retail and restaurant space, alongside 330 cycle spaces and a cycle workshop to encourage sustainable travel to the commercial area.

Designed by architects Morris+Company, the development’s layout will maximise large open floor space to accommodate adaptable, flexible office spaces in central London.

EG:HQ will also be equipped with six large terraces, each specifically tailored for various uses, from yoga classes to outdoor meetings and breakout spaces. The terraces will have views over the River Thames and will encourage outdoor working, socialising and events throughout the year.

Set to be complete in 2022, the building will be neighbours to publishing agents Penguin Random House and illustrated reference publisher DK – both of which will move into One Embassy Gardens in 2020. It will also be a stone’s throw away from the new US Embassy and will join tech leader Apple and the ‘New’ New Covent Garden Market.

With Nine Elms fast establishing itself as a new commercial district for London, EG:HQ aims to capitalise on the lifestyle appeal of the area, which has recently enjoyed a huge influx of shops, cafes, bars and restaurants – including the newly-launched Darby’s restaurant by chef Robin Gill and The Alchemist which will open at the end of 2019.

The London Travel Zone One office will be a 10-minute walk from Vauxhall National Rail and Victoria Line stations, with the highly-anticipated Northern Line extension – which will see two new stations open at Nine Elms and nearby Battersea Power Station – due to open in 2021.

These plans are set to dramatically reduce commuter time for those travelling from central London and further afield, while a proposed new footbridge will further boost connectivity to the transforming area along with two new passenger piers.

What’s more, the development is in close proximity to the local heliport, which is just a six-minute flight from Biggin Hill Airport. Meanwhile, Gatwick, Heathrow and London City airports are all under 35 minutes away – further cementing Embassy Gardens’ reputation as a global commercial hub.

John Mulryan, group managing director at Ballymore, comments: “We’re very happy with the Council’s decision to grant permission to develop EG:HQ at Embassy Gardens.”

“The design of the building really considers what people want in a contemporary office today, including huge outdoor areas, lots of retail space and a genuinely adaptable office environment. It’s set to be a great addition to London and will attract some of the most exciting businesses to join our community at Embassy Gardens.”

This new development forms part of one of London’s regeneration area, which is slowly but surely being transformed into its own mini community.