In March, the AJ revealed designs by Hopkins Architects for the overhaul of the central London building, which sits above the railway tracks of Charing Cross Station.

The scheme includes replacing the existing façade on the side of the building facing Villiers Street, installing brick vaults at ground level, and adding new shops along the street, and a glass façade above.

The proposal, first announced in November by London developer Bridgemont, involves modernising office space used by PwC. The accountancy giant has been the riverside building’s sole occupier since its completion in 1991, using it as its London headquarters.

The Twentieth Century Society is taking part in a consultation launched by Historic England after the owner applied for a certificate of immunity from listing (COI).

The heritage group’s campaigns director, Oli Marshall, said the building was conceived as a ‘palace on the river’ and still holds its own among the family of monumental buildings lining the Thames, including the Palace of Westminster, Shell Mex House, the Savoy and Somerset House.

‘Of all the commercial “air-rights” developments above London railway termini, this is undoubtedly the most successful,’ he said, ‘and for a building approaching 40 years old, it has certainly passed the test of time.’

In light of the owner’s application and plans for substantial alterations, Marshall said the time was right for its architectural and historic value to be formally assessed.

‘While the recent listing of the Southbank Centre after 40 years of debate shows that the battle for Brutalism has finally been won, our Postmodern architectural heritage of the 1980s and 90s remains widely undervalued and underappreciated,’ he added.

Other changes proposed by Hopkins include energy efficiency improvements to the 35-year-old building to ‘ensure the building remains attractive to world-leading occupiers and an improved public experience’.

Hopkins said in March that it had been in discussion with the late architect’s son, Max Farrell, a former partner at Farrells, to ensure continuity of the original design through its ‘retrofit-first’ approach.

Max Farrell said at the time that the proposal would ‘preserve the bold spirit of the original design while enhancing it in a way that reflects today’s needs and values’.

The project was announced last year, shortly after Terry Farrell’s death in September at the age of 87. His other works include the MI6 headquarters in Vauxhall and Alban Gate in the City of London, which tp bennett is set to refurbish after securing planning in May 2024.

Hopkins has been approached for comment.

Hopkins proposals for 1 Embankment place (March 2026)

Terry Farrell’s other listed buildings

  • Blackwall Tunnel Vent Shafts, 1967: Grade II (LCC Architects’ Dept)
  • 125 Park Road, Westminster, 1968-70: Grade II (Farrell/Grimshaw Partnership)
  • The Herman Miller Factory, Bath, 1976-77: Grade II (Farrell/Grimshaw Partnership)
  • Cosmic House, Kensington & Chelsea, 1979-85: Grade I
  • Comyn Ching Triangle, Camden, 1983-85: Grade II
  • Henley Royal Regatta HQ, Oxfordshire, 1986: Grade II