We’re excited to announce that the enabling works have begun with Redhammer on site at the redevelopment of 45 Beech Street, Barbican; a project that will transform an existing office building into 174 co-living units.
At Circle, we have been appointed as Project Managers, Employer’s Agent, Quantity Surveyors, and Carbon Managers for this transformative scheme. Our role includes providing cost and carbon management support throughout the design stages. We’ve led lifecycle carbon studies, tracked carbon movements, and presented carbon calculations to the City of London, helping to shape and support the planning process.
Sustainable co-living redevelopment
Hub’s redevelopment of Murray House at 45 Beech Street will see the building retrofitted and extended to deliver 174 private rental co-living units. These will be complemented by a range of shared amenities, including communal kitchens, dining and workspaces, cycle storage, and servicing facilities. Located in a dense urban setting near the Barbican Estate and bordered by residential buildings such as Bridgewater House and Bryer Court, the site is ideally suited for co-living. Enhancements to the landscaping and public realm will further activate the area as a cultural and community-focused destination in the City of London. The scheme prioritises reuse of the existing structure, aiming to minimise embodied carbon and align with the GLA’s Aspirational A1–A5 targets through careful material selection and efficient massing.
Co-living is emerging as a sustainable and flexible housing model, offering more affordable options through shared amenities, predictable living costs, and adaptable tenancy lengths. The Beech Street development is targeting leading environmental credentials, including BREEAM Excellent, EPC A, and Fitwel 2-Star Certification. It’s already achieved a 34% reduction in embodied carbon compared to equivalent new-builds, thanks to its retrofit-first strategy. Design features such as natural ventilation, water-saving systems, urban greening, and biodiversity improvements further strengthen the scheme’s sustainability credentials. The building will also be future-ready, with the ability to connect to a nearby district heating network.
What’s Next?
The team is currently progressing with Redhammer, working in close collaboration with our client Hub, AHMM (Architects), HUB (Developer), Whitby Wood (Structures and Civils), G&H (MEP Engineers), and East (Landscape Architects). The next major milestone will be be the appointment of the main contractor and commencement of the soft strip works.
We’re excited to be moving forward on-site at Beech Street, a project that aims to deliver a highly sustainable, community-focused development in one of London’s most iconic neighbourhoods.
Discover more about Beech street
From Carbon Management and Quantity Surveying to Residential expertise, we offer a comprehensive range of services, all designed with sustainability at their core, ensuring your project meets its goals for a smarter, more efficient future. Get in touch to learn more.
