No’s 30-34 Moorgate, City

We acted as the Heritage consultant for the reclad, refurbishment and extension of offices with retail at ground, in Bank conservation area (consent 2016). Instructed to assess the significance of this building to the Conservation Area, our research considered how the historical context of 18th century Moorgate and the rise of an urban settlement based on the development of plots interweaved around a medieval system of lanes and narrow courts is a considerable factor in development. The area’s-built heritage is typified by substantial well modelled stone buildings of unifying neoclassical designs. No's 30 - 34 is an 8-storey grey granite clad building with a two-storey mansard roof at the top level. The 1980's building was noted by Pevsner as looking as if it were a facsimile of "Some office chamber of 1880". Adjacent buildings at No.1 Moorgate Place and No's 36 - 44 Moorgate have high quality decorative elevations which we advised should inspire the selection of design at no's 30 - 34. The proposal to strip the building back to its structural frame and re-clad with Portland stone and bronze coloured windows was supported by our understanding of the immediate heritage and architectural influences. Our assessment of the impact on the setting of adjacent designated assets were an important part of the evaluation process for planning.