The document provides information on proposals to refurbish buildings at 53-55 Frith Street and 8-10 Bateman Street in London. The proposals aim to extensively refurbish the buildings to provide improved office, residential, retail and restaurant space. This will include infilling lightwells to open up floorplans, reconfiguring the basement and ground floors, remodeling residential units, and adding a set back roof extension to provide additional office space. Feedback is sought from the local community on the proposals, which will be submitted for planning permission.

1. WELCOME
PROPOSALS FOR 53-55 FRITH STREET AND 8-10 BATEMAN STREET
Welcome to a public exhibition on the proposals for
53-55 Frith Street and 8-10 Bateman Street. Benesco
Charity Ltd will shortly be submitting a planning application
to Westminster City Council for the refurbishment of
these buildings.
The intention is to extensively refurbish the buildings to
provide improved office, residential, retail and restaurant
accommodation.
We invite you to view the boards on display, which outline our
proposals for the site, and we would be grateful if you could
complete a feedback form to let us know your thoughts on
the scheme.
Members of the development team are on hand to answer
any questions you may have and to provide further
information on the proposals.
EXISTING EXTERIOR
SITE MAP

2. PROPOSALS FOR 53-55 FRITH STREET AND 8-10 BATEMAN STREET
THE ARCHITECT
STUDIO OF DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE
SODA. is a multi-disciplinary architecture studio specialising in bespoke
architectural designs.
Founded in 2010 by principal architects Laura Sanjuan and Russell Potter,
SODA. has established itself as a young and enthusiastic design studio with
a growing reputation for creating beautifully crafted spaces on complex and
complicated sites throughout central London and further afield.
Our diverse portfolio ranges from one-off houses to large-scale commercial
developments, with restaurants, hotels and member’s clubs in between.
We work on new sites and refurbish existing buildings. Our current client list
varies from major landed estates and private property companies to first-time
developers and private individuals.
We consider each and every project on a specific basis and use our expertise
to successfully deliver projects from inception through to completion. Clarity
of vision is paramount to our design approach – always seeking to maximise
visual and experiential impact within the particular constraints of a given
project. We apply our meticulous and passionate outlook to all our projects -
exploring multiple options and listening to our clients’ needs and desires.
DEAN STREET, SOHO WALKER’S COURT, SOHO
KETTNER’S TOWNHOUSE

3. PROPOSALS FOR 53-55 FRITH STREET AND 8-10 BATEMAN STREET
THE SITE
The site occupies a corner position on the junction of Frith Street and
Bateman Street.
The site is located in the Central Activities Zone and the West End Stress
Area, as well as the Soho Conservation Area.
This part of Soho is characterised by a rich mix of uses that cater for
entertainment and a high proportion of creative businesses.
The site today is the result of the gradual amalgamation and infilling of
the rear space between the three main buildings of the corner site.
51-54 Frith Street, built in the 19th Century, is a five-storey building with
a restaurant at ground floor, and offices in the upper floors. The building is
large-scale, with a flat and pitched roof behind the parapet.
55 Frith Street is a mixed-use, four-storey building, and is identified as
an unlisted building of merit, which has been taken into account during the
development of this scheme. The building is a smaller-scale brick building with
many decorative details. The roof is a prominent gable and slated mansard
with dormer windows returning into Bateman Street. The existing entrances
to the flats are located on Bateman Street. There is a retail café at ground
floor with residential above.
8-10 Bateman Street is a four-storey building mostly in office use.
The ground floor has been combined with 55 Frith Street and is part
of the retail café.
EXISTING VIEW OF 55 FRITH STREET
SOHO CONSERVATION AREA MAP MAP SHOWING LISTED BUILDINGS NEARBY
EXISTING VIEW OF 8-10 BATEMAN STREETEXISTING VIEW OF 51-54 FRITH STREET

4. PROPOSALS FOR 53-55 FRITH STREET AND 8-10 BATEMAN STREET
EXISTING LAYOUT
The site is the result of the gradual merging over time of three separate
buildings. As a result, there has never been a clear internal strategy, with the
floorspace interrupted by structure and services resulting in inefficient layouts.
This particularly impacts the Ground Floor where the existing retail and
restaurant units are squeezed into a rabbit warren of connected rooms.
On the upper floors, a lightwell remains to the rear of 55 Bateman Street,
which is full of outdated ducting and servicing equipment. This space is
underutilised and divides the internal office layouts.
Beneath the lightwell at Basement Level there is a whole section of ground
which has never been excavated.
Therefore, the result is an awkward configuration of small spaces on all floors,
which is preventing the realisation of the building’s full potential.
This also means that the asset is underperforming for the Charity.
Basement
First Floor
Second Floor
Ground Floor

5. PROPOSALS FOR 53-55 FRITH STREET AND 8-10 BATEMAN STREET
PROPOSED LAYOUT
The refurbishment of the site would follow these steps:
• Consolidate and reconfigure the Basement and Ground Floor retail and
office entrance space
• Infill the lightwell and provide a new core and supporting structure
• Remodel and improve the residences
• Extend the roof, infilling within existing Roof Level spaces
The introduction of a rational new structural and servicing strategy would
mean any surplus structures could be removed and the lightwell infilled.
This improves flexibility for the building to be subdivided, accommodating
changing tenant requirements.
A roof extension, set back from the edge, will add further office space
in a discreet and respectful manner.
The existing residences will be remodelled and improved during the works.
A new access within the footprint of 8-10 Bateman Street means each of
the three flats will be larger, providing two well-proportioned bedrooms.
Waste and bicycle storage facilities will be introduced in the basement for
the commercial space and in the new residential core, creating a building
that is fit for purpose today.
Basement
First Floor
Second Floor
Ground Floor

6. PROPOSALS FOR 53-55 FRITH STREET AND 8-10 BATEMAN STREET
IMPROVED OFFICE SPACE
EXISTING LIGHTWELLS
The central and rear lightwells, products of the gradual infilling and joining
together of the three buildings, divide the space awkwardly and add little
amenity for office workers.
The central lightwell is underutilised and is currently full of outdated
servicing equipment.
The rear lightwell has poor aspect and presents an opportunity to expand
and open up the internal space.
PROPOSED INFILLED LIGHTWELLS
The proposed section infills the central lightwell and partially infills the rear
lightwell, opening up the floor plan and adding further space.
The small terraces proposed at the rear of the offices at third and fourth
floor add valuable outdoor amenity within the rear lightwell space and will be
detailed to respect the privacy of existing tenants.
Green walls will be the landlord’s responsibility and part of the maintenance
regime will be to ensure they are well tended.
EXISTING CROSS SECTION
PROPOSED CROSS SECTION PROPOSED REAR LIGHTWELL
EXISTING LIGHTWELL

7. PROPOSALS FOR 53-55 FRITH STREET AND 8-10 BATEMAN STREET
IMPROVED RESIDENTIAL
Currently there are three ‘one-and-a-half-
bedroom’ flats in need of investment,
arranged over the first, second and third
floors of 55 Frith Street.
The proposals seek to completely refurbish
these flats, increasing their size by
repositioning the core the west of the existing
party wall.
New refuse and cycle storage will be
provided, and more efficient and desirable
accommodation will be created.
PROPOSED INTERIOR
EXISTING TYPICAL FLOORPLANEXISTING INTERIOR
EXISTING INTERIOR PROPOSED TYPICAL FLOORPLAN

8. PROPOSALS FOR 53-55 FRITH STREET AND 8-10 BATEMAN STREET
EXISTING ROOFTOP
EXISTING ROOF FORM
The existing roofscape is muddled with no single architectural form. It is
asymmetrical along the street frontages, reflecting the different building styles.
Plantrooms, associated services and maintenance access occupy most of
the available roofspace. Some of this development sits close to the Bateman
Street elevation. The equipment is messy and unsightly, and much of it is out
of date and inefficient.
PROPOSED ROOF PLAN
• All extraneous massing and plant equipment at roof level will be removed
• All massing is significantly set back from edges
• Plant equipment is rationalised and screened within the roof enclosure
EXISTING EXTERIOR EXISTING ROOF FORM
EXISTING ROOF PLANT
PROPOSED ROOF PLAN SHOWING PLANT ENCLOSURE

9. PROPOSALS FOR 53-55 FRITH STREET AND 8-10 BATEMAN STREET
PROPOSED ROOFTOP
Without a predominant architectural style, the proposed roof extension
draws from the existing proportions and plot widths of the three buildings
creating a coherent ‘top’ to the site.
The proposed rooftop:
• Is a striking, contemporary design
• Has a strong repetitive rhythm which creates a unified top to the three
buildings across the site, whilst respecting each plot width
• Makes a clear division of top, middle and bottom elevation zones
• The highest point is lower than the existing highest point
• The faceted form provides a recessive profile and soft silhouette
• Improves private views and is significantly more aesthetically pleasing
than the existing
PROPOSED EXTERIOR
EXAMPLE OF ROOF EXTENSION
PROPOSED BATEMAN STREET ELEVATION
EXAMPLE OF ROOF EXTENSION
PROPOSED ROOF EXTENSION

10. PROPOSALS FOR 53-55 FRITH STREET AND 8-10 BATEMAN STREET
SUSTAINABILITY
Our approach to sustainability is a combination of passive
design measures and the use of high efficiency solutions
aimed to achieve comfortable internal environment whilst
minimising energy consumption.
The design will incorporate:
• Enhanced building envelope U values, air tightness and
minimisation of thermal bridging
• Reduction in area of existing external solid wall constructed
elevations
• Use of low energy LED lighting with automatic control
• Use of free cooling/heating via the high COP heat recovery
VRF system
• Provide terrace planting green wall to external terraces

11. PROPOSALS FOR 53-55 FRITH STREET AND 8-10 BATEMAN STREET
CONSTRUCTION LOGISTICS
BATEMAN STREET
FRITHSTREET BATEMAN
STREET
GANTRY AT FIRST
FLOOR LEVEL
TRAVELATOR
TRAVELATOR
GANTRY AT FIRST
FLOOR LEVEL
BATEMAN STREET
FRITHSTREET
BATEMAN
STREET
GANTRY AT FIRST
FLOOR LEVEL
TOWER CR
GANTRY AT FIRST
FLOOR LEVEL
SCAFFOLDING
BBA
TOWER CRANE
BATEMAN STREET
FRITHSTREET
BATEMAN
STREET
GANTRY AT FIRST
FLOOR LEVEL
TRAVELATOR
TRAVELATOR
GANTRY AT FIRST
FLOOR LEVEL
BASEMENT
GROUND
FIRST
SECOND
THIRD
FOURTH
occupied
occupied
occupied
BATEMAN STREET
FRITHSTREET
BATEMAN
STREET
GANTRY AT FIRST
FLOOR LEVEL
TOWER CRANE
GANTRY AT FIRST
FLOOR LEVEL
BASEMENT
GROUND
FIRST
SECOND
THIRD
FOURTH
occupied
occupied
occupied
SCAFFOLDING
BBA
TOWER CRANE
PHASE ONE - PLAN
PHASE TWO - PLAN
PHASE ONE - SECTION
PHASE TWO - SECTION
Construction logistics will fall into two phases:
PHASE 1 - BASEMENT GROUND AND FIRST
• Full width pavement gantry at first floor level on Bateman Street only
• Pavements will remain operational below gantry where possible
• Travellator for spoil removal from basement exiting at first floor level
• Truck access below gantry in Bateman Street
• Activities involve piling via mini pile, demolition using minimum vibration
techniques, and concrete and steel frame construction.
• Steelwork delivered via Hiab lorry onto bogeys off Bateman Street, and
pulleys and hooks suspended from first floor.
PHASE 2 - SECOND FLOOR TO ROOF
• Extend full pavement width gantry at First Floor level onto Frith Street and
erect full height access scaffold for complete perimeter on both streets
• Pavements will remain operational below gantry where possible
• Erect luffing job tower crane in existing lightwell founded on new
foundations from Phase 1
• Deliveries at same position on Bateman Street
• Spoil removed at First Floor level in same location via access below existing
lightwell
• Activities involve demolition, façade retention internally, steel and concrete
frame erection.
Contractors will be required to adhere to the Westminster Considerate
Contractors scheme with fully developed detailed sequence and method
statements provided for all activities.

12. PROPOSALS FOR 53-55 FRITH STREET AND 8-10 BATEMAN STREET
THANK YOU
THANK YOU
Thank you for attending our public exhibition.
We hope that you have found this information
useful. To summarise, our proposals will:
• Improve the retail and restaurant units
at ground and basement levels
• Improve the street frontage
• Refurbish the residential units
• Provide flexible modern office
accommodation
• Rationalise the roof level with a new
office floor
• Be considerate of existing tenants who
may remain in the building whilst works
are carried out
• Introduce operational protocols for the new
restaurant to help respect local amenity
• Introduce a coordinated servicing and
management regime for all tenants to
comply with
NEXT STEPS
Benesco Charity Ltd will shortly be submitting
a planning application to Westminster City
Council to seek permission to redevelop the
site.
It is important that we understand the views
of the local community, we would therefore
be grateful if you could fill in our feedback
form to let us know your thoughts on the
proposals. The form can be left with staff,
or sent to us later using the FREEPOST
address.
If you have any further questions or would like
more information, please contact us at:
E 55frithstreet@fourcommunications.com
T 020 3697 4294
Westminster City Council will also consult
residents, businesses and the local
community as part of the application process.
Westminster’s officers will collate all feedback
received to form part of its report to the
planning committee – any feedback given
here will be passed to Westminster City
Council as part of the application.
PROPOSED ROOF EXTENSION INTERIOR
PROPOSED ROOF FORM