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London’s next development cycle is now well underway with some 30 office schemes starting in the last six months, amounting to 510,962 sq m (5.5m sq ft) of new space coming on-stream.
Skyscrapers are topical again, and in this CityOffices newswire we look in detail at the unprecedented ‘clutch’ of new office towers (defined as 20+ storeys) nearing completion, underway and planned.
The last development cycle saw completion of the 37,160 sq m (398,000 sq ft), 34-storey Broadgate tower, EC2, now largely fully let; the 38,740 sq m (417,000 sq ft) 36-storey 125 Old Broad Street, EC2 has only 5,000 sq ft still available; the 55,091 sq m (593,000 sq ft), 36-storey Ropemaker Place, EC2, which is fully let; and the 25-storey, 30,750 sq m (331,000 sq ft) Drapers Gardens scheme in Throgmorton Avenue, EC2, which was pre-let.
All the above towers are in the City of London and interestingly there were no skyscrapers completed in Canary Wharf in the last cycle, or, less unusually, in the West End, Midtown or fringe. The almost-complete 59,921 sq m (645,000 sq ft), 46-storey Heron Tower in Bishopsgate, EC2, will end the tower building activity for the 2006-2011 property cycle.
The next cycle will see completion of the 75,901 sq m (817,000 sq ft), 80-storey, Shard, SE1 in 2012; the 63-storey, 111,482 sq m (1.2m sq ft) Pinnacle, EC2, in 2013; the 37-storey, 79,895 sq m (860,000 sq ft) 20 Fenchurch Street, EC3 (Walkie Talkie) and 47-storey, 67,075 sq m (722,000 sq ft) Leadenhall Building (Cheesegrater) both in 2014.
Schemes which are not yet under construction and may be completed in the next cycle are the 40-storey, 71,534 sq m (770,000 sq ft) 100 Bishopsgate, EC3, where a 2011 start is envisaged; the 22-storey, 27,870 sq m (300,000 sq ft), 60-70 St Mary Axe, EC3 (Can of Spam); and the 21-storey 93,440 sq m (1m sq ft) Aldgate Place, E1.
Elsewhere, a possible 20-storey plus scheme is being designed for Elizabeth House, and a 31-storey scheme for Kings Reach House, both in SE1. At Canary Wharf, the 2m sq ft redevelopment of Heron Quays is planned to include a 33-storey tower and there are still outstanding proposals for a 43-storey part office tower at Crossharbour; a 43-storey tower at Millharbour; and a 63-storey tower at the site formerly known as Columbus Tower in E14. In the West End, plans for the Victoria Interchange include a tower of up to 20-storeys.
The question is how successful are these new towers likely to be? The Gherkin (30 St Mary Axe) in EC3, has rapidly became a London icon, but 10-years ago, post 9/11, it was very slow to let, with over 50% still vacant on completion. Other high-rise buildings such as Centrepoint in the West End and 1 Canada Square at Canary Wharf were slow to let in the early days. Despite these examples developers seem keener than ever to build towers.
In total some 315,868 sq m (3.4m sq ft) of office space is under construction in five office towers, but still available, with a further 260,126 sq m (2.8m sq ft) in towers that could start in 2011 or 2012. These are big numbers, however, to put it in context, the City of London saw lettings of new unoccupied office space of 260,126 sq m (2.8m sq ft) in 2010, so a single year’s take-up could almost fill them. The five towers will be completed over a four-year period, during which they will currently face limited competition from newly completed, large, low-rise schemes in the City.
Experience from completed towers such as Broadgate Tower, 125 Old Broad Street and Ropemaker Place shows that the majority of lettings tend to be signed-up after the development has been completed. In general, only a small proportion of a tower’s floorspace is pre-let before completion. However, the experience of the recent letting of 17,744 sq m (191,000 sq ft) to Aon at the Leadenhall Building may indicate a more active pre-let market than previously for the new London towers.
An analysis of the occupiers of recently completed towers shows that the major share (51%) is taken-up by financial services with professional services (including law), in second place (23%). With the just two sectors accounting for 74% of deals done it is no wonder that these are the main targets for developers and their agents.
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An unusual ‘bulge’ of lease expiry and breaks due in the period 2013-15 has partly contributed to developers enthusiasm in starting new schemes in the last few months; and in-turn this has led to developers with refurbishment schemes to also leap into competitive starts to achieve completion before the towers come on-stream.
The future of the next generation of towers will depend on attitude of the 200 medium to large office occupiers in the City of London now actively looking for space, or with lease expiries due in the next four years. If occupiers show the same enthusiasm for high-rise working as those firms moving in the previous office cycle, then the new towers coming to the London skyline will succeed. it will just take a little time.
Andy King
Director
CityOffices.net
- (20-05-2011)
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The construction of Formation’s "Aldgate East”, at 1 Commercial Street and 101-110 Whitechapel High Street, London E1, has stopped. The building has reached concrete frame stage up to 11 storeys but its future is now being decided by administrators Ernst & Young. The development is planned as a 22 storey tower with about 8,640 sq m (93,000 sq ft) of office space, 217 residential units, and 1,068 sq m (11,500 sq ft) of retail space. The Formation Group, the sports talent manager, is understood to have raised a £93m loan for the land and building work from Heritable, part of Landesbanki, the failed Icelandic bank. As part of the deal Formation agreed to underwrite £11.6m of the loan, which now becomes a liability. Completion was planned for May 2010. - (18-12-2008)
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The Beetham Organization is thought to be about to submit plans for a 92,920 sq m (1m sq ft) office and retail scheme on a 1.3ha (3.2 acre) site that includes Bain Dawes House and Latham House, 16 Minories, London, EC3, and Aldgate bus station. The scheme involves three office buildings with 3,251 sq m (35,000 sq ft) of retail space. The first phase of the development could start in March 2007, subject to planning permission. The tallest building is 22 storeys and the 12 storey block could be first and developed as a speculative building. - (06-07-2006)
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Tishman Speyer Properties has gained planning permission from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets for the £100m redevelopment of the Marsh Centre at Aldgate, London E1. The part 7-storey, part 16-storey, 'Aldgate Union' scheme, designed by Wilkinson Ayre architects, will provide around 87,001 sq m (936,485 sq ft) to replace the existing 30,000 sq m (322,926 sq ft) building. Tishman Speyer Properties is advised by Jones Lang Lasalle. - (10-02-2002)
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Minerva, the property developer, is said to be about to submit a new planning application for its St Botolph's House site in Aldgate, London EC3. Minerva already has planning permission for a 14-storey 'groundscraper' development of about 48,473 sq m (525,000 sq ft) but is now looking to build a 36-storey skyscraper, with a net lettable area of around 1.1 million sq ft. Floorplates will be about 2,972 sq m (32,000 sq ft) each. The scheme will also include 1,765 sq m (19,000 sq ft) of retail space and a roof top restaurant. Nicholas Grimshaw has designed the building, which will be 516 ft high, making it slightly lower than Tower 42. - (09-09-2001)
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Minerva, the property company, is thought to have obtained vacant possession of its development site at St Botolph's in London E1. The site situated on the Aldgate roundabout, and includes St Botolph's House, Ambassador House, 138-139 Houndsditch and 2 White Kennett Street. Minerva is understood to have just bought out the interest of the Consignia, previously known as the Post Office, and is now said to be likely to start construction of its 48,473 sq m (525,000 sq ft) 'groundscraper' in December 2001. The architect for the scheme is Nicholas Grimshaw & Partners. - (18-06-2001)
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