In May 2023 Native Land was granted planning permission to refurbish the vacant former RNIB building at 105 Judd Street and deliver new life science labs and office space to help meet demand for Knowledge Quarter space.
These plans are ongoing, with work now underway to bring Bloomsbury’s first commercial office building back to life with a careful restoration and two storey extension.
A potential tenant
In exciting news for Camden and the Knowledge Quarter, LifeArc, a British medical research charity, is in discussions with Native Land to take on the occupation of the entire building. Now that we have clarity on the future tenant, there are some minor adjustments needed to accommodate the tenant and provide the right space for their requirements.
Changes to the existing consent
To make these changes to the building, we will need to submit a Section 73 application to Camden Council to amend the planning permission that we have received. Read on to find out more about the adjustments we are proposing to accommodate the company as part of a Section 73 application to Camden.
To learn more, you can view the newsletter here that we sent to local residents or scroll down.
Thank you to those who attended. If you couldn’t make it, you can view the materials below.
A Section 73 application allows for the variation of conditions for the current permission from this site. When Camden Council approved the application in 2023, several conditions were attached to the permission. By submitting a Section 73 application, we can look to vary these conditions to amend the scheme and make changes.
The proposed changes will ensure that the building is suitable for the tenant to occupy and make full use of the building for future life science research.
To accommodate the potential tenant within the building we need to make several changes to the existing planning consent. These changes include:
- An increased external plant to meet the needs of the tenant
- Additional plant accommodated within the building
- Slight extension of the plant enclosure from 440sqm to 595sqm on the roof to accommodate the tenant’s laboratory research
- New flues, extending 3 metres above the plant enclosure at roof level
- Extension to the existing substation in the basement of the building
- New louvres at Lower Ground, Ground and First Floor
- Extension of the stair core on the southwest of the building on Thanet Street to comply with London Fire Brigade and provide additional means of escape from the upper floors
- Extension of a bridge over the lightwell on Thanet Steet to meet additional servicing requirements
- Extension of the goods lifts to First and Second floors to facilitate lab deliveries
The below images show the updated views of the building with these changes designed into the building.
Judd Street looking south
Judd Street looking north
Thanet Street looking north
Judd Street elevation
About 105 Judd Street
105 Judd Street is a four-storey building located within the Bloomsbury Conservation Area. It has previously been used as a commercial office building, and was home to the RNIB which has recently vacated for a more suitable, modern building which better suits its requirements.
Unusually, it was built in two phases. The first section, built between 1900 and 1910, is the L-shape section on the north and west of the site and the second, facing southeast onto Judd Street, was built between 1922 and 1946.
The building presents a highly decorative style on its east elevation and north east corner with a simpler, more residential scale and character to the west and north west – in keeping with its immediate neighbours and context.
The site benefits from excellent public transport links and is a short distance to a number of underground stations and also national rail connections to the wider UK and mainland Europe.
Existing building and current condition
Both inside and out it is need of refurbishment, with the previous tenants adapting it to suit their needs and requirements. We see this project as a real opportunity to undo some of the previous rudimental adaptations done to the building and ensure that it is fit for the future.
Bloomsbury’s Conservation Area
105 Judd Street is situated in the Bloomsbury Conservation Area, just south of St Pancras station and Euston Road.
The site is highlighted as a ‘Bloomsbury Positive Building’ on the Bloomsbury Conservation Area Townscape Appraisal map.
History of the site
105 Judd Street started life as one of London’s first purpose-built office blocks. The building’s first tenant was the Salvation Army which in 1911 moved from their previous headquarters on Fortress Road in Kentish Town and located their trading operations there for nearly 90 years before moving on Tiverton Street. They were replaced a couple of years later by the National Institute of the Blind who have been there since.
Low carbon
We intend to exceed carbon targets by retaining the building, thereby minimising disruption during construction.
SUPPORT THE KNOWLEDGE QUARTER
Respond to the lack of space in the King’s Cross estate and demand for Life- Science laboratory space in the heart of the Knowledge Quarter.
Retain and Reuse
One of the first purpose built office buildings in London could now come one of the first in the Knowledge Quarter to be refurbished to accommodate life science tenants.
Improved Streetscape
Vision to open the ground floor to the public with a cafe along with activation of the building onto Judd Street and Hastings Street and improvements to the public realm.
Restore a historic building
Offering a once in a lifetime opportunity to refurbish a building that has been home to charity tenants for over a century
Laboratory enabled space
And provide a roof extension – an attractive addition to a Bloomsbury building.
Native Land
Native Land is a development company that is experienced at delivering residential and mixed-use developments with a resolute focus on quality and great design.
Our developments draw on the local context, using the right materials and scale to ensure they are sensitive to their context and are authentic.
We are committed to delivering a development of the highest quality and consider engagement and consultation as essential to this process.
Stiff + Trevillion
Stiff + Trevillion is a well-established West London practice with a strong reputation for elegant and sophisticated architecture.
Collaboration is at the heart of the practice’s ethos. From the development of the brief with the client, to the delivery of the project with the design team, we work together.