AXA IM Alts acquired the Dolphin Square estate on behalf of its clients in September 2020.
The estate management company has been re-named Dolphin Square Operator Ltd (DSQ) and is a UK registered company. The day-to-day management and operation of the estate continues very much as usual.
The Restoration Programme is assessing every aspect of Dolphin Square, such as the use of space and energy, as well as the demands and expectation of London living in the 21st Century. To ensure we appropriately and responsibly assess every aspect, our surveys and inspections span the length and breadth of the entire estate and gardens.
All those visiting Dolphin Square will follow strict Covid testing procedures – and most importantly, appreciate and respect that the estate and apartments are home to our residents and always mindful of this whilst carrying out any works required.
Previous plans for the partial demolition and rebuild of Dolphin Square will not be taken forward. The works to the utilities, services and windows will however require planning consent and our application to Westminster Council was submitted in late December 2021. Once registered, the details of the planning proposals will be publicly available on the City of Westminster’s website and we look forward to keeping our residents and neighbours updated on progress.
September 2021 saw us mark an important milestone with the successful relocation of all Duncan House residents into their new temporary accommodation within the estate. Our dedicated moves team was on hand to help every step of the way, working hard to make the process as smooth as it possibly could be. We’re keen to learn from this first round of resident relocations, so that we can ease the process even further next time and so we’re engaging with our Duncan House residents, now settled in their new homes, to gather feedback on their experiences.
With Duncan House now empty, October 2021 saw the start of the building ‘strip out’ phase. Our specialist contractor is now carefully and safely removing all the interior fittings and fixtures and inner workings of Duncan House, before disposing of everything in an environmentally sustainable way. This critical enabling work, scheduled to last for approximately 3 months, involves the hand extraction of outmoded mechanical services, radiators and electrical wiring and data cabling to make way for new state-of-the-art eco-friendly systems.
Furthermore, in line with our strict environmental targets, 98% of all material being removed from Duncan House will be recycled, with zero waste going to landfill. Furniture will be redistributed and reused around the estate or donated to various charities.
| House | Estimated start | Estimated completion |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | ||
| Duncan | October 2021 | Late 2023 |
| Rodney apartments | May 2022 | Mid 2024 |
| Rodney reception | May 2022 | Mid 2024 |
| Beatty | Late 2022 | Mid 2024 |
| Phase 2 | ||
| Keyes | Late 2023 | Late 2024 |
| Hood | Late 2023 | Late 2024 |
| Collingwood | Late 2024 | Mid/late 2025 |
| Frobisher | Mid 2025 | Mid 2026 |
| Grenville | Early 2026 | Early 2027 |
| Drake | Early 2026 | Early 2027 |
| Phase 3 | ||
| Howard | Late 2026 | Late 2027 |
| Nelson | Mid 2027 | Mid 2028 |
| Hawkins | Early 2028 | Late 2028 |
| Raleigh | Early 2028 | Late 2028 |
House
Refurbishment
Complete
in 2028
