City & Country Strategic Update – Oct 2025
L&G House is a Grade II* listed building, denoting its status as a particularly important structure of more than special interest — a designation held by fewer than 6% of listed buildings nationally. L&G House holds significant historic value as a distinguished example of a greenfield corporate campus from the 1980s, designed by a pioneering interdisciplinary practice. Architecturally, it is notable for its innovative Post-Modernist style, blending abstracted classicism with high-quality traditional materials and experimental high-tech elements. Its intact condition enhances its heritage significance. St Monica’s is a locally listed heritage asset, with attractive external elevations and detailing.
The site served as Legal & General’s head office until its closure in December 2017. The office use for the site is still the current and last use. We appreciate that this use is not one that residents would like to see resurrected due to the impact on highways. In 2020, a planning consent for 280 residential care units was granted for the site; however, while this scheme was implemented, it was not put into use, and the site has remained vacant.
City & Country completed its purchase of the site in October 2025. We have had fairly in-depth discussions with Historic England and received pre-application advice from them. We have also had discussions with Reigate & Barnstead, as well as spoken at the KRA AGM.
From these discussions, City & Country now intends to submit a revised application in early 2026 to vary the existing 2020 care consent. The proposed scheme will include a mix of care accommodation, private residential apartments, a private members’ sports club, and a limited amount of office space. The approved building footprint, scale, and appearance within the landscape will remain largely unchanged, as the current design is considered well-resolved. Internal layouts of both the listed and new buildings will be reviewed to optimise functionality, which is likely to result in a small increase in overall dwelling numbers, but with traffic numbers still dramatically down from the historic office use. The land to the Northeast of L&G House will remain as a landscape area with the public footpath routes retained.
To maintain site security during the planning phase, fencing has been installed while ensuring uninterrupted access to public footpaths. City & Country remains committed to preserving the integrity of the building and grounds. City & Country has a track record of transforming very large historic and listed buildings and creating extensions to existing communities that carefully respect and work within the historic environment. Both 1840 and King Edward VII Estate are current examples that can be viewed on our website www.cityandcountry.co.uk
We will continue to engage with the Kingswood Residents via a public consultation event and through the KRA, Estate Companies such as KNEL, CHLRF and the KVCA throughout the process. We look forward to meeting residents and discussing the proposals as they develop.
City & Country October 2025