JTRE London appoints JRL Group on landmark 220 Blackfriars mixed-use scheme
JTRE London has appointed JRL Group as principal contractor on 220 Blackfriars Road, which is set to become a landmark £400m mixed-use scheme delivered in partnership with Southwark Charities.
JRL Group’s awarded package of works is valued at circa £30m and includes piling, basement box and superstructure delivery. The appointment follows last year’s appointment of EPR Architects, joining the best-in-class delivery team.
The scheme will deliver an exemplar scheme with 22 and 15-storey towers set amongst attractive gardens and landscaping. The 22-storey office building will include over 200,000 sq. ft. of prime office space with spacious balconies and first-rate amenity offerings, whilst the second tower will deliver a new Almshouse with 64 affordable homes for Southwark Charites, plus community centre and gardens. At ground level, a new retail offering for a restaurant or café will create an attractive active frontage.
The appointment comes following a recent Deloitte crane survey which revealed office construction starts in London had fallen by 42% since April 2024, claiming that developers are holding back on schemes following continued economic uncertainty. However, JTRE London and JRL Group have a positive outlook for the office construction market and will push on with construction activity at 220 Blackfriars Road.
“The appointment of JRL Group reflects our commitment to working with best-in-class partners at every stage of development, with JRL having an exceptional track record and a clear understanding of our vision and requirements for 220 Blackfriars. We firmly believe this will be a truly area-defining scheme, combining prime office space, affordable housing and community space. This builds on our strong track record in SE1 and is an example of how the private, public and charity sectors can work together to unlock much needed development.”
Nigel Fleming, Managing Director at JTRE London
“The JRL Group are delighted to have secured such a substantial and impressive project. The scheme fits perfectly with our core capabilities of large diameter piling, bulk excavation, basement box construction, slip forming of cores, with design, supply & installation of post tension slabs, along with crane & hoist hire – all being undertaken as the principal contractor. We look forward to the successful delivery of this development and forging a long-term business relationship with our new client, JTRE London”.
John Reddington, Chairman at JRL Group
The development truly embraces all aspects of ESG, but also leads the way in its Social Impact. The offices will be Net Zero Carbon in operation and is designed to meet WELL Gold Building standards, targeting NABERS 5 to 5.5 rating, as well as targeting Platinum Smart Score and Wired Score; the highest level achievable.
The combined landscape at street level and on the roof terraces will deliver 11,500 sq. ft. of new planting and more than 50 new trees, a Biodiversity Net Gain of 126% and Urban Greening Factor of 0.44 across the whole site, surpassing GLA targets for residential development by 10% and commercial by 46%. The creation of a new London garden square will be enjoyed by residents, tenants and the wider community alike. The almshouses will provide truly affordable residential accommodation with high quality amenity space akin to prime London residential developments.
The acquisition of the long leasehold interest of 220 Blackfriars takes JTRE London’s portfolio to nearly £1bn and continues the company’s rapid growth in the capital in less than five years.
