Our long-standing professional relationship with Shaftesbury PLC

Who is Shaftesbury PLC?

Founded over 30 years ago, Shaftesbury PLC is a British real estate investment trust which invests exclusively in the heart of London’s West End. They own c600 buildings in Carnaby, Seven Dials, Chinatown, east and west Covent Garden, Soho and Fitzrovia.

Why does Shaftesbury invest in the West End?

It is estimated there 200 million visits annually to the West End, it is a favourite destination for Londoners and people who live in southern England and a world-class visitor attraction for overseas visitors. There is also a large local working population particularly for media and creative businesses.

What is Prime Meridian’s involvement with Shaftesbury?

Prime Meridian has provided Architectural and Structural design services to Shaftesbury for over 25 years. We have now worked with Shaftesbury on 120 individual projects, including buildings in Beak Street, Marshall Street, Newburgh Street, Ganton Street and not forgetting the iconic Carnaby Street. Helping Shaftesbury to deliver their long-term corporate objective, that of making a positive and long-lasting contribution to London’s West End.

It is difficult to single out individual projects. However, we have showcased the following projects based on the technical issues and locational challenges, all of which were overcome to arrive at the final design.

Corner of Poland Street and D’arblay Street
Final outcome is a restaurant at ground level and combination of office and residential above. The project involved the temporary support of the two facades, whilst the existing floors and roof were removed and replaced with new structure – a procedure known as façade retention. This allowed better ceiling heights and floors designed for modern office use.

Berwick Street
Change of use from office to residential. Natural light to the top floor living space was increased by introducing a glass panel in the roof which can slide across to allow access to a roof terrace.

Marshall Street
Conversion and change of use from office to residential on the upper floors, which involved combining two buildings to minimise circulation space.

Lexington Street
Conversion and extension of the upper floor to form high quality apartments, with a boutique fashion outlet on the ground and basement.

We look forward to the next project and many projects from Shaftesbury, building on the last of 25 years of experience of listening to and understanding their needs. And, no matter the complexities, we will continue design and deliver innovative solutions, in line with ever changing consumer trends and occupier requirements of this large and versatile real estate.