Core Five confirms St Giles Quarter main contract executed with Bovis in Bloomsbury

Cost consultant Core Five has said the main contract for St Giles Quarter in Bloomsbury has been formally executed, with the contract procured with Bovis through a negotiated open-book approach for developer Simten.

Core Five said it is providing pre- and post-contract cost consultancy services on behalf of Simten for 44 homes, made up of 25 private sale units and 19 affordable homes, across a mix of new-build and Grade II listed refurbishment works.

The contract was procured with Bovis "through a collaborative negotiated open-book approach", the consultancy said, adding that the wider scheme also takes in commercial space, retail and enhanced public realm.

The contractor's position

Bovis said on 23 October 2026 that it had moved into the main construction phase for client Simten after completing pre-construction, and that it had been providing pre-construction services on the scheme since August 2025. Completion is expected in June 2029, according to the contractor.

David Cadiot, CEO of Bovis, said: "We have been working closely with Simten and the wider project team through the pre-construction phase". He said the early collaboration had given the team a strong platform to move into delivery.

Mike Rayner, Director at Simten, said: "We look forward to working alongside our investors, Bovis and the wider project team as construction begins".

The scheme

According to Bovis, St Giles Quarter includes One Museum Street, a 19-storey stepped office tower of about 170,000 sq ft close to the British Museum. The contractor said the building has a series of landscaped and biodiverse terraces and is targeting BREEAM Outstanding, the highest rating under the Building Research Establishment's environmental assessment method.

Alongside the 44 homes, Bovis said 16 new shops, restaurants and cafés will be created together with public realm improvements. The developer's project site says the scheme provides office space for more than 1,600 workers and that the 19 affordable homes range from one to five bedrooms.

Architect DSDHA describes the One Museum Street masterplan as a public realm-led plan for a new mixed-use neighbourhood comprising four individual schemes. The residential element includes two newly built six-storey buildings at High Holborn and Vine Lane, and West Central Street, a part new-build, part retrofitted early Victorian block providing houses including affordable homes. The practice says the scheme creates new pedestrian connections between the British Museum and High Holborn.

Numbers 10-12 Museum Street and 35-37 New Oxford Street were listed in 2023 and are being retained and refurbished, according to the developer's site.

The project team

DSDHA's project team listing names Core Five as a quantity surveyor on the scheme alongside Alinea, with Gardiner & Theobald listed as project manager and Veretec as executive architect. Core Five's own announcement describes its appointment in terms of the 44-home element rather than the full masterplan.

Homes by tenure	Number
Private sale	25
Affordable	19

The developer's site says the Museum Street development is being brought forward by Simten with investors BC Partners.

Planning history

The developer's timeline lists a planning submission in June 2023, a committee hearing in November 2023 and the start of a Construction Working Group in July 2024.

The same timeline had anticipated demolition starting on site in winter 2025. Bovis now puts completion of the scheme at June 2029.