Grosvenor has confirmed private equity investor Oakley Capital as the sole occupier of its 26,500 sq ft Holbein Gardens, London’s leading net zero workplace.  

Oakley Capital, a pan-European private equity group with longstanding ties to Chelsea will be occupying the building from early next year. The group has signed a green lease and the all-electric building will be powered by renewable energy. 

Holbein Gardens is a redevelopment and one storey extension of a 1980s office building near Sloane Square, setting a new benchmark for sustainable workplaces and Grosvenor’s first net zero office development. The project centres on retaining the existing four-storey structure, innovative re-use of materials and the introduction of extensive greening.    

Designed by Barr Gazetas, it is the first scheme to apply Grosvenor’s Sustainable Development Brief, which is based on best practice from current certification schemes and Grosvenor’s sustainability targets.  

All contractors and advisors on the project have been challenged to help Grosvenor deliver against its goals of net zero carbon, zero waste and a significant biodiversity gain. 

As a result, the development of Holbein Gardens saved 59 tonnes of carbon by retaining the façade, the equivalent of 557 return flights from London to Amsterdam, reused 13.5 tonnes of steel, trialled a range of other low embodied carbon products and diverted 99.5% of strip out waste from landfill.  

Greening across 11% of the building’s internal area, a 700 sq ft communal roof garden, and two green walls will help to achieve a c200% biodiversity net gain.  

The in-use energy efficiency of the all-electric scheme will be enhanced through effective lighting and mechanical equipment, on-site renewable energy generation, saving nearly 500kg CO2 per annum, the equivalent to the carbon footprint of 5,893 plastic bottles, blue roofs and sustainable urban drainage systems. 

Holbein Gardens has achieved BREEAM Outstanding, Nabers 4.5* certification and is targeting an EPC A rating. 

Anna Bond, Executive Director of Development, Grosvenor said: “Transforming an outdated office building into one of London’s most sustainable office developments has been a hugely rewarding challenge. It’s fantastic to now be able to look to the next stage of its journey.  

We're seeing strong demand for highly sustainable, wellbeing-led space as companies prioritise workplaces that can support their staff and customers as well as their business and sustainability aims.” 

Knight Frank and Hedge Real Estate acted for Grosvenor. NCM Projects and Newmark acted for Oakley Capital. The rents are not disclosed.