In April 2024, Southwark Council gave its approval for the project. In April 2025, the fund will call builders for a tender
On 6 February, Thursday, US real estate giant Hines said it rebranded London’s 18 Blackfriars tower as The Round, a one billion GBPs worth project. The circular hub at the development centre inspired the firm for such a new name. The Round will host year-round events and cultural programmes.
Rendering of The Round’s rooftop (© Eleven)
The project is one of the London’s largest for 2025. The developer will disclose next spring the name of the company that will award with a 100 million construction contract.
Southwark Council authorised the project in April 2024 (see here the press release). Hines said it agreed with the municipality a payment of 74 million for the Community Infrastructure Levy and £12 million as a contribution for 20000 sqms of affordable workspaces.
The project will also include a community café that social enterprises will run, a 300-seat auditorium available for local communities and businesses, children’s play areas, cafes, restaurants, and shops.
The Round’s development includes the construction of a 47-storey office tower and two residential buildings that Foster & Partners designed.
A mix of relatively low-rise office buildings and the Paper Moon Public House previously housed at 18 Blackfriars Road (fka Rennie House, Wakefield House and 19-23 Blackfriars Road). The site was home to Sainsbury’s supermarkets for over a century.
