Last week, Iceni Projects (planning and transport) secured a resolution to grant planning consent on behalf of Landid to develop an 80,000 sq. ft. office in Putney, London.

The currently vacant 40,000 sq. ft. office building will be transformed into a ‘design-led’ and ‘user-focused’ urban workplace.  Flexible public retail space will front onto Wandsworth Park, whilst amenities to occupy the extended five storey building will include cycle and shower facilities, on-site yoga lessons and a number of cafes – ensuring the workspace will be both convenient and characterful.

Landid’s commercial scheme stands apart from the wave of office-to-residential conversions currently perceived to be sweeping the capital. Concerns have been raised by a number of London’s boroughs that surplus use of Permitted Development Rights (PDR) regulation could jeopardise the amount of adequate employment space available. Iceni reported recently that the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea has applied for a non-immediate Article 4 direction which would see the light industrial to dwelling houses permitted development right (which came into force on 01^st October) removed, following concerns that the Borough’s economy could be negatively impacted.

Putney itself has already lost a significant amount of commercial space through PDR regulation – somewhat unsurprising given housing continues to (rightly) top the national agenda. However, and especially in the context of Theresa May’s Brexit announcement earlier this week, inventive commercial schemes like Landid’s is to be welcomed by places like Putney and the city more widely. To future proof, whilst playing to London’s creative spirit, is both sensible and innovative planning.