Unveiling the design of one of London’s largest timber development projects,
Foster + Partners has unveiled the design of a new mixed-use development at the northern end of Main Street in central London.
The building is located on Queensway, opposite the popular Whitley department store,
which is also being transformed by Foster + Partners as part of a larger redevelopment scheme.
The project was named The William, after William Whiteley, founder of the famous Whiteleys company.
It includes six floors of office space, retail and 32 new homes, 11 of which will be affordable.
The William’s is built from cross-timbered timber, a sustainable construction method.
It is inspired by its environment while maintaining the existing reforestation program on Queensway,
which will see the addition of large-scale planting throughout the London high street .
This represents Foster + Partners’ first timber office building in the UK.
The project is part of a major redevelopment of Queensway aimed at improving
and building up the high street offering as a destination for shopping, dining, business and travel.
Planning permission has been obtained by European property investment manager MARK in partnership
with Finchatton and General Projects.
The structure replaces a post-war building that was in poor condition.
