Bloomsbury Quarter Construction: May 2026 Phase Two Update
Dear Neighbour,
With Phase One of the Sicilian Avenue redevelopment having completed last year, comprising 21 Southampton Row and Vernon & Sicilian, the premises are being marketed as prime office and retail spaces. The first retail and office tenants have moved in, with others to follow 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
With completion of the main construction works on Phase Two due this summer, significant progress continues to be made across the site:
Overall status: Works continue to progress well across Phase Two, with strong momentum across the main building, façade, porticos, basement, roof and internal fit out
New entrances: All new entrances have now been installed within the main building. The project team is continuing works to restore the timber façades at ground level, helping bring these areas back to their former glory
Façade works: Scaffolding has now been removed from Vernon Place and Southampton Row. Hoarding remains in place while the team completes the remaining façade works at ground level. A final clean of the ground and first floor façade will take place ahead of completion
Portico works: Works to the southern portico are now nearly complete, with scaffolding also removed from this area. Works will now begin on the northern portico
Sicilian Avenue: The southern end of Sicilian Avenue is now more accessible, with three retail units let and two currently trading on the Phase One side of the avenue.
Pavement and building lighting: Pavement lights have now been completed at the southern portico and along the southern end of the avenue outside the Phase One retail units. The team will continue with the remaining pavement lights and will shortly begin installing high-level building lighting
Office fit out: Fit-out works continue to progress across the building. In several areas, ceilings are now being closed following completion of the services installation. Lighting has also begun to be installed across the floors
Washrooms: Final fittings are now being installed in the washrooms. Remaining works include final decorations, mirror installations and a final clean
Vertical transport: Following removal of the hoist and completion of infill works to the floors, the main route for transporting materials and people up the building is now passenger lift two
Roof works: Works on the roof are now complete, with only the residential condensers to be switched out and final snagging items to be completed
Basement works: In the basement, the shower areas are progressing well. Services are nearly complete in these areas and throughout the wider basement, with other basement spaces continuing in line with the programme
Stair cores and finishes: Plastering is now complete within the stair cores. The team is progressing flooring works and refurbishing the historic terrazzo on the grand staircase.
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