The City of London has been given the go-ahead for plans to deliver a new ‘Justice Quarter’ which will see the creation of an 18-courtroom facility and new headquarters for the police
Designed by Eric Parry Architects, the ‘Justice Quarter’ scheme will deliver modern facilities to meet contemporary litigation and law enforcement requirements.
Within the masterplan will be:
- The flagship City of London Law Courts, with its main entrance on Fleet Street
- The new police headquarters for the City of London Police
- A commercial development to the south of the site
- A larger and much more usable and accessible public space at Salisbury Square
- New east-west links through the site to create a truly permeable place.
Known as ‘The Salisbury Square Development’, it is designed to last for at least 125 years and will help to re-establish this part of the Square Mile.
Upon completion, it is expected that it will support 2,500 jobs, of which 400 will be newly created across a range of sectors.
The new City of London Law Courts will be the flagship for Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service and the Ministry of Justice, containing Crown, Magistrates, County and Civil Courts all in a single building.
This new court replaces the ageing Mayor’s and City of London Court, the City of London Magistrates’ Court and will also contain eight Crown courtrooms.
The 18-courtroom facility will bring modern ways of working to the justice system, using technology to prioritise the safety and integrity of the legal process.
Through reclaiming materials from the existing building, reducing energy demand through well-insulated facades, and the creation of an all-electric heating system, the development will also help support the City of London to meet its targets to achieve net zero across the Square Mile by 2040.
‘A world-leading judicial centre’
Policy chair at the City of London Corporation, Catherine McGuinness, said: “As a lawyer myself, I know first-hand that the Square Mile is home to a unique cluster of legal expertise and services.
“Maintaining this position as a world-leading judicial centre is essential as we drive our economic recovery forward and build back better from the pandemic.
“The Salisbury Square development will create a new civic hub, housing a state-of-the-art court and a new City of London Police headquarters.
“This project will reinforce the Square Mile’s reputation as a place to do business by ensuring we are able to adapt to the changing demands placed on the justice system.
“It will also create new public spaces and have a transformative impact on Fleet Street, really enhancing one of the City’s most well-known thoroughfares and making it a more exciting place for people to explore.”
Founder of Eric Parry Architects, Eric Parry, added: “The adage that ‘the whole is greater than the sum of the parts’ fits well the challenge of the Salisbury Square Development, because three new individual buildings are bound together in a civic ensemble with the surrounding city.
“This new development is a commendable long-term investment in buildings and public space that will benefit Londoners and provide facilities that are befitting of the City of London’s leading role within the legal and law enforcement professions, both in the UK and globally.”
