UCL takes 40,000 sq ft at Maple House in Tottenham Court Road redevelopment

University College London (UCL) has taken a 10-year lease on 40,000 sq ft of office space at Maple House, strengthening its relationship with investor and developer Lazari. The deal, one of the largest lettings in Bloomsbury and Fitzrovia this year, adds to the university’s extensive estate, which spans 6.5 million sq ft and makes it the single biggest occupier in Bloomsbury. The lease covers three floors within Maple House, part of Lazari’s Tottenham Court Road estate, which is undergoing a £55 million redevelopment. Originally designed in the 1970s by Richard Seifert, the granite-clad brutalist block is being modernised to deliver 110,000 sq ft of workspace across seven floors alongside residential, leisure and retail uses. A one-acre communal garden at first floor level, containing more than 90 trees, will form the centrepiece of the scheme.

Completion of the redevelopment is expected in late 2026, when amenities will include an 8th floor hospitality space, a 4,000 sq ft club room and roof terrace, and upgraded end-of-journey facilities. A further 30,000 sq ft of office space is scheduled to become available in early 2026.

The UCL space will be delivered as a turnkey fit out by Team Projects, which previously worked on space for professional services firm Xeinadin in the building. Lazari has used a similar approach for large-scale lettings in London, including headquarters projects for Diageo, CBRE and Forsters. Its turnkey concept aims to reduce waste by reusing furniture and fittings where possible.

A UCL spokesperson said the university values Tottenham Court Road as part of its Bloomsbury estate and welcomed Lazari’s role in delivering new space: “We are a major developer in our own right, but sometimes we appreciate having a partner make the investment and do the legwork for us.”

Adrian Crooks, Lazari’s head of leasing, said UCL’s role in Bloomsbury underlines its importance to the regeneration of Tottenham Court Road. He described the area as a street with significant potential above retail frontages, where modern buildings are being repositioned for contemporary occupiers.

Lazari’s partners on the Maple House redevelopment include Gibson Thornley Architects, landscape architects Studio ONB and StudioMorey, which has designed the reception and upper-floor hospitality spaces.