Legal & General has won planning consent for the redevelopment of the vacant St Giles Court building in central London, to the south-east of the iconic Centrepoint tower

Camden Council last night resolved to grant planning permission for the Renzo Piano-designed, mixed-use development, which will provide 380,000 sq ft (35,303 sq m) of offices, 30,000 sq ft (2,787 sq m) of shops and restaurants and a mix of 109 private and affordable flats.

The scheme will create new routes across the site and a public courtyard surrounded by the retail and restaurant units, which will help to reinstate St Giles High Street and, it is hoped, bring vitality back into the area.

‘We have been working with Camden Council and the local community in St Giles for over three years to create a scheme that will be a catalyst to the area’s regeneration,’ said Simon Wilkes, head of development at L&G.

‘There will be major changes to pedestrian routes between Covent Garden and the British Museum and the scheme will assist with the continuing campaign against drug abuse and crime in the area.’

Legal & General expects to begin demolishing the existing building at the end of this year. Completion of the scheme is scheduled for 2009.

Stanhope is the development manager; Moseley & Webb is the planning consultant.