The original part of the building, with the address 1–9 Melton Street, was constructed in 1906–08 as the headquarters of the London, Edinburgh and Glasgow Assurance Company to a design by Arthur Beresford Pite.

[2] The building continued to be the headquarters of the NAAS until approved societies were abolished under the terms of the National Insurance Act 1946.

From 1948 it was owned by the government, and subsequently served a number of purposes, including being a local office of the Department of Health and Social Security*.

[1] The original building, facing Melton Street, is in four storeys with an attic and basement, the ground floor being rusticated.

It is in Greek Revival style, the main front being decorated with a type of Ionic column derived from those at the Temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae.