Edge Awards £150m Shaftesbury Avenue Office Revamp to Sir Robert McAlpine

Sir Robert McAlpine has secured a major construction contract worth around £150 million to redevelop a landmark office building on Shaftesbury Avenue in London. The project, led by Dutch developer Edge and its joint venture partner Mitsubishi Estate, marks McAlpine’s third collaboration with the developer in the capital.

The deal, managed through Luxembourg-based VREF Shaftesbury Avenue, was finalised after McAlpine beat rival contractor Bovis to the prestigious design-and-build project. The scheme is set to modernise an existing brick-clad office block originally built in the early 1980s, which has been vacant above the ground floor for several years.

Sustainability and Modern Design at the Core

The redevelopment, designed by architect DSDHA, reflects a growing focus on sustainability and adaptive reuse in London’s commercial property market. Edge and Mitsubishi have shifted away from previous high-rise proposals in favour of a low-carbon refurbishment that prioritises environmental performance and user wellbeing.

Key updates to the design include:

• A new light-filled atrium to enhance natural ventilation and daylight.

• A widened pedestrian route through the site to improve accessibility.

• Retention of existing floor slabs to reduce embodied carbon emissions.

The revised scheme follows a new planning application submitted in late 2024, after Edge and Mitsubishi acquired the site from Almacantar in 2023. The previous owner had gained approval for a separate tower development that was never started.

Retained Project Team and Construction Timeline

Edge and Mitsubishi retained several key members from the previous design team to ensure project continuity. The project’s professional lineup includes:

• Gardiner & Theobald – Cost Consultant

• AKT II – Structural and Civil Engineer

• Gerald Eve – Planning Consultant

• GIA – Daylight Consultant

• Waterman – Transport and Environmental Services

Sweco has joined as the MEP engineer, replacing Long & Partners, while D2E continues as lift consultant.

According to Waterman’s draft construction management plan, site enabling and demolition works are due to start this month, with overall completion expected by summer 2028.

Edge and McAlpine Strengthen London Partnership

This Shaftesbury Avenue project follows McAlpine’s successful delivery of two other major schemes for Edge:

• The £250m London Bridge Tower, nearing completion.

• The £200m Edge Liverpool Street office development, awarded earlier this year.

Both projects reinforce the shared focus between the firms on energy-efficient construction and smart building design, aligning with the growing demand for environmentally conscious workplaces.

Competitive Market Momentum

Although Bovis missed out on this latest contract, the firm remains active in the commercial and public construction markets. It recently secured a £237m British Army redevelopment in the East Midlands, a £330m office scheme at 60 Gracechurch Street, and a £60m refurbishment at Portman Square.

McAlpine’s appointment by Edge highlights the company’s reputation for managing complex refurbishment projects and delivering high-value sustainable construction in central London.