Aldar-owned company London Square has acquired the magnificent Grade II* listed County Hall in affluent Kingston-Upon-Thames, south-west London.
This latest acquisition will allow London Square to showcase its outstanding expertise in restoring and converting a listed building. The handsome County Hall, built in the classical style, will be transformed into a premium development, creating a new chapter for a landmark in the heart of one of South-west London’s most desirable districts, a short walk from the Thames and Kingston town centre.
The 5.2-acre site, the former main headquarters for Surrey County Council, comprises the main listed County Hall and a range of other buildings and courtyard areas. It was originally purchased in 2021 by RER London. Planning permission is already in place for the refurbishment, restoration and extension of the County Hall to provide 292 homes, a mix of 256 private and 36 affordable, plus 4,408 sqm of commercial space.
Adam Lawrence, London Square’s chief executive officer, said:
“County Hall Kingston is an impressive landmark which has stood empty for many years. We are delighted to have been chosen to bring new life to this beautiful building. Once restored and converted into elegant homes, County Hall Kingston will become a unique offering for those looking to make this sought-after Royal borough their home. Our transformation of The Star and Garter Building at the top of Richmond Hill was multi-award winning, setting new standards for the restoration of listed residences in the area. We look forward to reviving an architectural masterpiece that will take pride of place in The Royal Borough of Kingston.”
London Square’s award-winning restoration and conversion projects include the former Branston Pickle Factory and tannery at London Square Bermondsey and London Square Spitalfields, a collection of homes set around the restored Grade II listed Toynbee Hall in East London.
The town centre in the Royal Borough of Kingston, located seven miles from Heathrow and 12 miles from central London, is one of the biggest shopping and food destinations in London. It attracts people from neighbouring Richmond, Wimbledon, Esher, and Walton-on-Thames. The historic town has riverside walks and boating and is close to the 1,000 acres of Royal Bushy Park and Hampton Court Palace, home of Henry VIII.
Over £1.5 billion has been committed to new developments in Kingston in the past two years, including a £32 million refurbishment of the area surrounding the train station. Unilever is to consolidate its head office into a new 276,000 sq ft global HQ in Kingston, bringing 2,000 new jobs.
Kingston station is within a 15-minute walk from County Hall. Services into London Waterloo take around 29 minutes, and services from nearby Surbiton take under 20 minutes. The M25 and the A3 are nearby, providing fast access to central London, Heathrow, and Gatwick airports.
The town has top-ranked educational facilities, with highly rated schools at every level, including high-performing grammar and independent schools at the secondary level. Kingston University London has over 20,000 students and is ranked a top-five university in London in 21 subjects (2023 Guardian University Guide).
London Square has achieved outstanding growth this year, with a renewed focus on prime development sites. The former Surrey County Hall site is its ninth acquisition following on from the purchase of Westminster Tower, opposite the Houses of Parliament, Tite Street in Chelsea, as well as Vauxhall and Brook Green, Woolwich, Stratford Cross, Willesden and leafy Twickenham in zones 2 & 3, delivering over 2,000 new homes across
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