A site shaped by history, now ready for renewal.
We're developing plans for a new living-led scheme at St Clare House, with a community space at Writers House. Tell us what you think.
Our proposals have developed since our first exhibition in June. They include redeveloping St Clare House into a new living-led scheme, and bringing Writers House back into use as a community space.
A living-led scheme that helps meet the City of London's identified need for new homes, with high-quality accommodation for those who live and work in the City.
We want to refurbish this vacant Victorian warehouse and bring it back into use as a community space. We have developed plans based on what the local community said they would like to see Writers House be used for.
An active, publicly-accessible ground floor with new pedestrian routes through the site — reinstating the historic Sheppy Yard route from east to west.
A new urban garden in the heart of the site — somewhere for residents, workers and visitors to dwell.
We have now held both public exhibitions. Take a look at the boards from either event.
St Clare House and Writers House are situated on the historic Minories, at the eastern boundary of the City of London — a short walk from Aldgate, Tower Hill and Tower Gateway stations.
St Clare House sits on the historic Minories, at the eastern boundary of the City of London. The area was once home to the medieval Abbey of the Minoresses of St. Clare — from which the street name comes. The neighbourhood was badly damaged during The Blitz, but Writers House survived.
We've taken the name Sheppy Yard from the historic route which used to run through the site in line with our desire to open up the site to the local community.
Minories — Today
Writers House
Inside St Clare House — Today
St Clare House is a post-war office building. Its low ceiling heights and inefficient floorplans no longer meet the needs of modern workplaces or today's environmental standards.
Redevelopment is the opportunity to deliver new homes the City needs, bring Writers House back into community use, and open up the publicly-accessible ground floor and gardens the area lacks today.
Tap each marker to see what the ground floor and public spaces could include. These proposals have developed since June, and your feedback will help shape what is delivered.
Tap the markers to explore
Tap any numbered marker on the plan to see what that part of the ground floor could include.
A future community space designed with local voices at its heart. Writers House has been vacant for over a decade — our vision is to bring it back into use as a dedicated space for the local community.
A shared space for cooking, eating and gathering, where neighbours, residents and groups can meet over a meal.
Flexible space for events and community activities, alongside an archaeological exhibition celebrating the rich history of the site.
Low-cost desks and rooms for local makers, freelancers and small organisations — a place to work, build, and stay rooted in the area.
These are starting points, not final decisions. Tell us what you think →
Our second public exhibition took place on 2 and 5 September 2026. Thank you to everyone who came and shared their views.
Missed the exhibition? Every board from both events is on this website to browse at your own pace.
View the boards →Our survey closed on 18 September 2026. Thank you to everyone who took part.
View the exhibition boards →Get in touch directly with any specific questions or comments about the proposals.
hello@sheppy-yard.co.uk →Couldn't make it? Every board from both exhibitions is available to view on this website.
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Initial design concepts for Sheppy Yard
Launch consultation website and host first community exhibition
Community feedback and develop designs
Hold second community exhibition for feedback on developed designs
Review feedback and continue design development
Submit planning application to the City of London
Sheppy Yard is being brought forward by HUB, working with Orms architects, landscape architects Macgregor Smith and planning consultancy DP9.
We are a progressive developer creating places for communities to thrive. With experience across Build to Rent and co-living, we build relationships before buildings, leaving places better while reducing our environmental impact across the UK.
We're Orms. We believe architecture must be ultrapractical – deeply functional and forever generous. We're an architecture practice with over 40 years' experience based in central London. We design places for living, working and mixing — democratic spaces that put people at the heart.
We go beyond ordinary landscape architecture to create spaces that tell stories. We bring over 30 years of knowledge, expertise and insight to award-winning projects that make a positive difference for people and nature.
We are an independent planning consultancy established in 2004. Based in London, we advise on complex planning, development and regeneration projects.
