Local groups slam plan to pull down iconic Angel office block and pillory its ‘dull’ replacement

The existing office block. Photograph: Derwent London

An iconic office block at “one of the most prominent development sites” near Angel underground station could be knocked down – despite critics claiming its replacement is “dull”.

Real estate company Tishman Speyer wants to demolish part of the 1991 building, complete with bell tower designed by Rock Townsend, at Angel Square and replace it with offices, shops and a new pub space.

Tishman Speyer paid £86.5m for the site in 2021 and the company’s European head, Bernard Penaud, said it planned a “significant refurbishment” as part of its strategy to create “premium quality” offices.

The site includes part of the public entrance to Angel underground station, which will not be affected.

Islington Council’s planning officer said the current building is “visually distinctive, if contextually incongruous” and has a “somewhat hostile” interaction with the public areas at street level.

The plan was criticised by the Twentieth Century group, which lamented the loss of a “notable postmodern office building”.

The Angel Association said: “The proposal is dull and not designed to enhance this important site.”

What the new development could look like. Image: AHMM

It said the site at the junction of Torrens Street and Islington High Street is “one of the most prominent development sites in Islington”.

The amenity group said the key site “deserves a building of strong character and appropriate scale to reflect this significant context”.

The pub will remain and there will be a cafe that customers can reach through the main entrance.

The Angel Association said it feared “what should be a long length of busy, animated high street simply becomes largely a dead frontage”.

Architects Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) said the new building will create a new entrance at street level with a cafe or shop and is “designed to be a visible and desirable space, offering an active and engaged street presence, as opposed to the existing condition where a light-well and steep steps disconnect the building from its surrounding public realm”.

It also said “the proposed design seeks to significantly improve the relationship of the building to the public realm, providing wider pavements, active ground floor elevations and a high-quality, desirable use of internal space to enliven and enrich the gateway to Angel”.

The council report said the scheme “would positively contribute to the commercial character of Angel and support the strategic priority of the Central Activities Zone to maximise delivery of office floorspace where appropriate”.

The report by the planning department recommends approving the plan.