Green & Partners are delighted to announce that they have been appointed as the retail and leisure agents for the landmark Arding & Hobbs department store building on the corner of Lavender Hill and St Johns Road in Clapham Junction, London SW11.
Acquired by specialist commercial developer W.RE in December 2018, the proposed repurposing project of one of London’s oldest department stores received planning permission in November 2020 after extensive consultation with local residents and businesses. Work has already started on site to convert this historic landmark building into a modern mixed-use scheme. When finished, the Grade II listed building will be vital in demonstrating how, with creative solutions, large-scale retail premises such as former department stores can continue to lead the viability of town centres and high streets.
Green & Partners has extensive large-scale retail store experience creating strategic plans for former department stores despite a challenging retail landscape. We have advised on over 20 former department stores across the UK, and this appointment complements our current appointments as agents for the former House of Fraser in Richmond and House of Fraser in Guildford.
Built in 1876, the building once housed the Arding & Hobbs department store across five floors. Working with their consultants, W.RE have sensitively redesigned the iconic Grade II listed building to achieve more modern floor plates and increase the building’s appeal to a broader range of potential occupiers.
The design reuses much of the existing structural and architectural fabric allowing the building to preserve its iconic landmark status and position in the local architectural landscape. However, it will undergo substantial improvements such as an upgraded central core, modernised floorplate layouts and a new two-storey rooftop pavilion set back from the façade with new functional rooftop terraces.
The landmark Arding & Hobbs building will house over 23,000 sq. ft of vibrant retail and leisure space on the ground and lower ground levels. Ground level spaces benefit from active frontages perfect for retail, F&B and other leisure uses – and the extensive lower ground level offers flexible accommodation to address leisure demand.
110,000 sq. ft of cutting-edge open plan Grade A office space will be housed across the upper floors with design detailing that celebrates the building’s unique heritage. Circulation around the building has been improved with the addition of a central atrium with a dedicated reception area and a light filled escalator well.
Adam Bindman, Partner at Green & Partners, said “We are delighted to be appointed as agents for the retail and leisure element of the spectacular Grade II listed Arding & Hobbs building in Clapham Junction. The iconic building was built as a Victorian department store and will be reimagined to create a modern destination with offices, retail and leisure. Working with our clients W.RE and their team, we are advising on the ground and lower ground retail and leisure opportunities to deliver an aspirational mix of occupiers and uses to complement the new offices in this landmark building.”
The Arding & Hobbs project is targeting BREEAM Excellent and has already been shortlisted for three awards: Planning Awards 2021 - Stakeholder engagement category, World Architecture Awards 2021 – Future Commercial Mixed-Use category, and New London Architecture Awards 2021 – Unbuilt category.
To discuss this retail and leisure opportunity further, or if you want to discuss how we can help you with your retail property, please contact Adam Bindman or Matt Beardall.