Here is a summary of the building project that will house the future Regent Street (London) Apple retail store, as obtained from several Web sources. The building is the first along Regent Street to be refurbished in a complete renovation program. The structure is considered "historic" by British law, and is subject to the country's Britain's "Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas Act 1990," which would seem to rule out Apple's common stainless steel prototype store.

Size: 11,000 sqm / 118,404 square feet
Developer: Stanhope PLC

A planning application has been submitted for the refurbishment of 229-247 Regent Street (original centre block by G.D. Martin (1898), wings added by D.J. Davis with Yates, Cook and Darbyshire, (c.1922-3). The small shops at the ground floor level and the cramped offices above are seen as no longer viable and the new plans involve gutting and comprehensively reconfiguring the interior behind the retained original façade. The Crown Estate, the landowner and developer is to refurbish and rebuild 229-247 Regent Street with 10,683 sq m (115,000 sq ft) of high specification office space around an atrium on the upper floors and 5,388 sq m (58,000 sq ft) retail and leisure space divided into three large, modern shops fronting Regent Street (Apple will occupy the center-most space facing Regent Street). Also included is residential accommodation in 10 units, including a new building at 20-21 Princes Street and refurbishment at 6-7 Hanover Street.

By now you are probably completely sick of shopping, or maybe you are just getting into the swing of things with the sales. Just in case you can’t get enough, I thought it would be a good idea to give you an architectural glimpse of the changing world of London’s shopping Mecca. Yes, Regent Street, Selfridges and Liberty of London are all in the process of getting a facelift. Image is, after all, everything.

Completed in 1825, John Nash originally planned Regent Street as a link between Regents Park and Carlton House in 1811. Then, in the 1920’s and 30’s the area was comprehensively redeveloped. Regent Street is now under the unified ownership of the Crown Estate who has been entrusted to maintain it. After 80 years, and with the expiry of many of the leases due, the owners see an opportunity for a selective modernisation programme. They feel that it is their responsibility and in the long-term interest of the area to ensure that the street remains among the premier retail and business locations of the world. Yet increasingly, larger scaled international stores who are seeking to establish themselves precisely in this location find the size of the premises available unsuitably small. It is becoming apparent that the shallow frontages of many of the properties are having a negative impact upon the quality of retailers represented.

The current proposals for 229-247 Regent Street, the first scheme to be implemented in the refurbishment and updating programme, show clearly the complexities involved. Here the small shops at ground floor level and the cramped offices above are seen as no longer viable and the new plans involve gutting and comprehensively reconfiguring the interior behind the retained original façade. We have given a tentative approval to the major portion of the scheme. In this instance it appears that nothing of interest remains within the Grade II listed structure. Still a lingering concern remains for the principal of façade retention as a general policy of conservation and we will ensure that each building be assessed on its individual merits.