Black Lion House, Whitechapel High Road

Client: Resolution Property Ltd
Location: London
Discipline(s):

GL Hearn’s Strategic Communications team advised Resolution Property Ltd to deliver a programme of political engagement and neighbour consultation in relation to its planning application to refurbish and extend Black Lion House on Whitechapel High Road. The proposals included the refurbishment of a vacant building to deliver new office development. The scheme included a 3 storey roof-top extension resulting in an uplift in area of approximately 2,500sqm Gross Internal Area (GIA) and a new pavilion building at the rear with approximately 1,103 sqm GIA of new office space. The proposals also included a complete overhaul of the external appearance of the building.

Key challenges

The site itself is constrained by its close proximity to existing residents adjacent to the courtyard where the new one storey pavilion is proposed.

These residents objected to a previous application on the site by a different developer due to concerns over daylight/ sunlight and impact on their properties.

Given the immediate neighbours’ active interest in the site and their ability to mobilise easily, we devised a programme of engagement focused on securing political support whilst managing local expectations.

Results

Despite the application being referable to the Greater London Authority, the application was granted under delegated powers.

The decision to determine the application under delegated powers followed strong support for the application from local councillors.