Castleforge announces that it has successfully secured a c. €136.8m senior loan facility from Cheyne Capital (Cheyne), the global alternative investment manager, and affiliates of Apollo to support its landmark redevelopment of London’s 1 Golden Lane, a prime office scheme in the City of London, expected to be completed in Q1 2026.
Acquired by Castleforge in November 2021, 1 Golden Lane—to be known as ‘UNO’—is situated between the historic Barbican and Golden Lane estates within the Square Mile and will offer around c. 11,148m2 of high-quality, Grade A commercial space within four minutes of the Elizabeth Line at Farringdon Station.
The development is a Grade II listed site and was designed by Sidney Smith, the original architect of Tate Britain. Its heritage features will be retained throughout construction, including the original elements of the façade, which date back to 1896.
Midgard has been appointed as the main contractor to oversee the c. €71.4m construction project. The works will include a pioneering reuse of over 20 tonnes of original steel from the site and will deliver c. 650m2 of terraces, c. 371m2 of communal workspaces and an additional three levels.
Preliminary works, including the reclaiming of existing steel, have already been completed, with the main works having commenced in August 2024.
UNO will retain 95% of the existing building and places sustainability at the core of the development. The development is targeted to achieve BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ and will offer integrated urban greening designed by Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medallist, Andy Sturgeon.
The site’s central London location and outstanding sustainability credentials are consistent with Castleforge’s commitment to delivering Grade-A office space, fit for ambitious occupiers. Castleforge will be launching the marketing suite later in 2024 for potential occupiers to explore leasing opportunities with the site.
Castleforge believes that there is a significant under-supply of this calibre of offices in central London, which it is looking to rectify with this development and its other landmark redevelopment of 75 London Wall, Deutsche Bank’s former London headquarters, acquired in 2023.
Michael Kovacs, Founding Partner of Castleforge, said: “High-profile firms need best-in-class office environments, especially at a time when employees are now either in the office full-time or hybrid working and require exceptional sustainability certifications to keep pace with ESG commitments. UNO will provide office spaces fit for blue chip occupiers looking for a new central London headquarters and highlights our commitment to investing in London’s sustainable office market.”
Andreas Dimitriou at Cheyne Real Estate commented: "The demand for premium office space in central London remains strong, particularly for properties that combine high-quality facilities with expansive green space. Castleforge has a proven track record of executing ambitious, innovative, and sustainability-led developments in the UK and Europe. We are thrilled to be partnering with the team again, alongside Apollo, to create a best-in-class workspace with the highest ESG standards at its core.
Ben Eppley, Partner and Head of European RE Credit at Apollo, said: “We are pleased to join Cheyne in supporting the team at Castleforge on 1 Golden Lane, a Grade II listed site that will be thoughtfully and sustainably redeveloped to meet continued demand for high-quality office space.”
Lakefield Capital acted as a financing broker on the transaction.
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