Camden Council Approves Charterhouse Street Commercial Development, Referred to Mayor
A major commercial development at 19 Charterhouse Street has been given the green light by Camden Council's Planning Committee, but will now be referred to the Mayor of London for final direction. The decision was made at a meeting of the Planning Committee on Thursday, 7 August 2025.
The Mayor of London has six weeks to assess whether the development complies with London Plan policies. He then has 14 days to either allow the borough to proceed, direct the borough to refuse the application, or take over the application for further consideration.
The Charterhouse Street project involves the remodelling, refurbishment, and extension of the existing building at 19 Charterhouse Street to create a mixed-use commercial space. The development will include Use Class E commercial space, retail/restaurant facilities, and jewellery workspace, along with landscaped amenity terraces, balconies, and associated highway improvements.
The development aims to add additional commercial floorspace, including affordable jewellery workspace, in accordance with Local Plan policies for economic growth in the Central Activities Zone. The Inclusive Economy Team found the proposal to provide 520 square metres of affordable jewellery workspace at a peppercorn rate acceptable. The plans also include facade alterations, a double-height glazed frontage, and a rooftop pavilion with terraces and landscaping.
While the development is expected to cause 'less than substantial harm' to heritage assets, including the setting and appearance of the Grade II Listed building at 25 – 27 Farringdon Road and the Hatton Garden Conservation Area, the committee determined that these concerns were outweighed by the public benefits of the scheme, such as new employment floorspace, retail facilities, and urban design improvements. The siting of the development has been set back in relation to 25 – 27 Farringdon Road to enable the attributes of the Listed building to be preserved in the streetscenes and the design of the proposals preserve the character of the Conservation Area in the context of the evolution of Farringdon Road and the retail/workshop character of Saffron Hill.
Several objections were raised by neighbouring occupiers, citing concerns such as inadequate consultation, substantial demolition, excessive scale and massing, loss of sunlight and daylight, and harm to heritage assets. However, planning officers addressed these concerns in their report, stating that the development complies with relevant policies and would not unduly affect neighbouring amenity. The Greater London Authority (GLA) also offered broad support for the application, subject to further information on design, transport, and sustainable development.
Specifically, the GLA, through Transport for London (TfL), requested Active Travel Zone (ATZ) improvements and sought clarification on how cyclists and delivery vehicles could safely access the site from Saffron Hill. These concerns will be addressed through travel plans, a Detailed Construction Logistics Plan (CLP), and a Delivery and Servicing Plan, secured via conditions and obligations. The GLA also sought additional information regarding how water consumption targets are to be achieved to demonstrate conformity with London Plan Policy SI5 and requested that mitigation in relation to air quality be secured.
The approval is subject to the finalisation of condition wording and the completion of a Section 106 legal agreement, which will secure various contributions, including:
- A travel plan and associated monitoring contribution of £11,348
- An off-site cycle parking contribution of £4,500
- A car-free development
- An off-site accessible car parking contribution of £4,000
- An electric vehicle charging infrastructure contribution of £20,000
- A Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) review contribution of £30,000
- A Construction Management Plan (CMP) implementation support contribution of £30,513 and CMP Impact Bond of £32,000
- A requirement to form a construction working group with local community representatives
- A Delivery and Servicing Plan
- A highway works contribution of £20,000
- A pedestrian, cycling, and environmental improvements contribution of £350,000, which will fund commitments outlined in the Holborn Vision SDP for the Hatton Garden East area and Camden Transport Strategy (CTS) Safe & Healthy Streets interventions and wider improvements within the Hatton Gardens Area.
- A micromobility improvements contribution of £10,000
- 520 square metres of affordable jewellery workspace at peppercorn rents in perpetuity
- 3 construction apprentices plus a support fee of £5,100
- 3 construction work experience placements
- 20% local recruitment
- Compliance with the Camden Local Procurement Code
- 2 end-use apprenticeships
- A local employment benefits package
- An employment and training contribution of £43,945
- An Energy and Sustainability Strategy including BREEAM certification
- A carbon offset contribution of £113,150
- Retention of architect DSDHA, who was involved with the pre-application and the preparation and submission of the application. Their retention is to be secured within the S106 agreement in the interests of implementing the planning permission expediently in accordance with the approved conditions and S106 obligations.
With the Planning Committee's approval, the application will now be referred to the Mayor of London for direction.
More information about the meeting can be found on the Open Council Network.