Bloomsbury Quarter Construction: March 2026 Phase Two Update

Dear Neighbour,

With Phase One of the Sicilian Avenue redevelopment having been completed last year, comprising 21 Southampton Row and Vernon & Sicilian, the premises are being marketed as prime office and retail spaces. The first retail tenants have moved in, with others to follow soon, whilst the first office tenants are also moving in soon. Phase Two of the project at 31 Southampton Row commenced in May 2025 and is advancing well, with project completion due this summer.

Phase Two Construction Update

Construction continues to progress on Phase Two, with key activities advancing across the site as follows:

Overall status: Works continue to progress well across the site, with good momentum maintained and key milestones being achieved in multiple areas

Office fit out: Raised access floors and new ceilings are now installed across all office floors, with first fix services progressing throughout. Tiling has started in the WCs

Retail units: Across the retail units, most of the waterproofing, screeding and plastering is now complete. Shopfront refurbishment will take place later in the programme once the scaffold has been removed

Utilities: Utilities are being brought into the building for both the office and retail spaces

Safety and enabling works: Asbestos remains safely managed, with Level 4 materials encapsulated and basement services isolated. The UK Power Networks service head removal is scheduled to take place this week

Structural progress: Structural works continue to advance, with remaining steelwork at Level 5 ongoing and opening up works now complete

Lift installation: Lift installation is progressing to programme, with one lift due to be operational by 24 April and set to become the primary vertical transport route

Basement and ground floor: Basement works are nearing completion. Retail Units 1 and 5 are substantially complete and ready for snagging. The cycle store, shower room and tank room continue to progress through first fix and finishing stages. At ground floor, mechanical and electrical installations are advancing, and fire rated ceilings have been completed

Upper floors: At Levels 1 to 4, partitions are complete, with mechanical and electrical works and plastering continuing across these levels

Level 5, residential and roof works: At Level 5, core structural and layout works are in place, with fire protection now underway and public health installations commenced. The top floor residential flats are also being refurbished. Roof works are progressing well and will soon be complete, with the warm roof, plant installation and slate roofing largely complete, alongside ongoing ductwork and scaffold removal

Façade and finishing: Façade repairs are now all but complete, including window restoration, masonry repairs and decorative finishes, and scaffold removal has started

Forward look: Continued focus over the coming weeks will be on lift commissioning, progressing Level 5 and fire protection works, maintaining momentum across the mechanical and electrical and façade packages, and advancing the external works along Sicilian Avenue and Vernon Place

External works: Works on Sicilian Avenue are progressing well. Once the hoist and associated ramp have been removed, StructureTone will reduce the hoarding to re-open more of the avenue, although this is not expected until the end of May. Pavement lighting is being installed on both sides of the avenue and repairs to the porticos at either end are also underway.The southern portico is currently scaffolded and will be completed first. The northern portico on Vernon Place will be scaffolded later and is due to be completed by early August, marking the end of the works.

You can see the latest images from construction below.

‍Construction Meetings

Due to low attendance, we have discontinued quarterly meetings; to request a progress briefing, please contact the team by emailing hello@bloomsburyquarterconstruction.co.uk  or call 0800 772 0475.

General Working Hours:

In line with Camden Council policy, our normal working hours are:

·        Monday to Friday, 8am – 6pm

·        Saturday, 8am – 1pm

·        No works will be undertaken on Sundays or public holidays.

Emergency Contact Details:

·        Jim Tipple, Project Director: 0752 218 5666

We will be distributing monthly newsletters by email and providing regular updates on our website: www.bloomsburyquarterconstruction.co.uk. We recommend that you subscribe to our project emails to stay updated and to receive invitations to upcoming construction meetings.

Should you have any questions or require additional information, please don't hesitate to get in touch by calling our freephone number: 0800 772 0475 or email us at hello@bloomsburyquarterconstruction.co.uk.

Best wishes,

Bloomsbury Quarter Construction Team