James Court at Ilona Rose House, London Borough of Westminster for Soho Estates, with MATT Architecture and Townshend Landscape Architects.

The design of James Court dedicates 689 sq m of the private site to open pedestrian public space, prompting the closure of 532 sq m of Manette Street to vehicles, nearly doubling the pedestrian area to 1,221 sq m. Located near Tottenham Court Road Elizabeth Line Station, the development includes James Court and Ilona Rose House, offering modern office spaces and co-working environments. Affordable apartments for the Soho Housing Association provide homes for lower-paid hospitality and entertainment workers in Soho.

Who is on the project? 

Architect - MATT Architecture

Landscape Architect - Townshend Landscape Architects

Planning Consultant - Gerald Eve

Townscape Consultancy – The Townscape Consultancy

Development Manager - DML

Cost Consultant - DML

Structural Engineer - Tier Consult

MEP Engineer - Thornton Reynolds

Façade Consultant – Thornton Tomasetti

Describe the social and environmental context of this project, its neighbourhood and people. What is the purpose of the building? How does this building make an impact in its community?

Ilona Rose House is the name for a comprehensive redevelopment project comprising approximately 1 acre of Soho, one of London’s most diverse, creative and dynamic neighbourhoods. It includes redevelopment of the old Foyles bookshop site, extending from the Tottenham Court Road Opportunity Area on Charing Cross Road, bordering Camden, to listed buildings on Greek Street, in the heart of Westminster’s Soho Conservation Area. The project includes the creation of James Court, a new pedestrian place linking Manette Street with Greek Street, which is also home to 3 restaurants, 2 cocktail bars, a nightclub, new art studios and a gallery, along with 8 new affordable social rented apartments. The design developed in parallel with the arrival of the Stirling Prize winning Elizabeth Line nearby at Tottenham Court Road and responds to the enormous uplift of passenger movements there each day, to provide much needed and improved public realm. A notable feature of the design is that 22% of the private site (689sqm) is given over to open pedestrian public space. The design of this catalysed the stopping up of 70% (532sqm) of Manette Street to vehicles, nearly doubling the size of the pedestrian public space provided overall by the project to 1,221sqm. Approximately a 3rd of an acre of new pedestrian ground floor space within 200m of Tottenham Court Road Elizabeth Line Station.

What makes this place thrive? How does the community come together? What makes this a great place to live, work, play, visit or learn?

James Court in Soho is a hidden gem that has become a thriving place for residents, workers and visitors alike. While the new public space benefits from the footfall provided by the Elizabeth Line, the client’s bold decision to create a bespoke new home for Warner Bros’ European Post Production Headquarters, over 3 floors of the wider development’s basement, has kept a key creative industry player in Soho which has in turn revitalised an associated ecosystem of entertainment creatives and retained them locally, what sets James Court apart is its balance of functionality and charm reflecting Soho’s mix of residential, commercial, and creative uses, supporting a diverse and dynamic community. Proximity to Soho’s entertainment venues and the enhanced connectivity of the Elizabeth Line ensures that James Court is both well-connected and culturally rich. For workers, James Court and the wider Ilona Rose House development offers a blend of modern office spaces and co-working environments, catering to freelancers and companies alike, while the rented apartments for the Soho Housing Association provide affordable dwellings in the heart of Soho for lower paid hospitality and entertainment workers. The mix of businesses and residents reflects Soho’s creative legacy, with media, tech, and design firms calling the area home. James Court is thoughtfully designed with planting, seating, and art installations that encourage enquiry, interaction and relaxation. The project is now being extended to improve the public realm around the charitable House of St Barnabas, and its listed Chapel adjacent to Manette Street.

Please share any data or evidence about the social, economic and environmental performance of this place, or any relevant figures such as footfall, visitors, engagement metrics, residents, etc. 

James Court and its environs provide nearly a third of an acre of new public realm, adapting the previously closed site to the new reality of a sustained uplift in pedestrians spilling out of the Elizabeth Line nearby. As a new space carved out of the city, James Court provides a forum for Soho’s diverse, creative and dynamic population framed by uses reflecting the breadth of that population, from affordable housing to nightclubs and post-production studios. The strategic decision to house Warner Bros’ European Post Production Headquarters within James Court has anchored a major creative industry player in Soho. This has revitalised the local entertainment ecosystem, attracting associated businesses, and aligns with policies promoting economic growth and cultural preservation. The site’s proximity to the Elizabeth Line at Tottenham Court Road station enhances connectivity, increasing footfall and accessibility to James Court and Manette Street which are conceived as new pedestrian spaces in direct response to this. The cantilevered front of the building enables vehicle deliveries to occur on Charing Cross Road and the building also includes a 2 storey bike ramp down which occupants can cycle directly to secure parking and shower facilities within the building. The project is designed to promote public transport use, alongside cycling and walking which reduces reliance on private transport and its associated climate impacts. Moreover the building is designed for the long term, for the owner’s grandchildren’s grandchildren, with the naturally lit, column free design focused on energy efficiency, resilience and adaptability.