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Dockland application

London Offices – An Olympic Year?

Central London - a Sack Full of Refurbs

Dockland scheme to continue

Major Docklands deal

Grand Designers: Top 10 Architects: Central London Offices 2000 - 2020

Docklands consent

Docklands scheme doubt

Docklands scheme cleared

Docklands scheme redesign

Fresh start at Crossharbour

Docklands application

Docklands tower consent

Docklands tower plan

Docklands start

JP Morgan changes plans

Consent for huge Docklands scheme

Major Docklands letting

Docklands office application

Another Docklands start

Dockland towers application tipped

Docklands start rumoured

Docklands refurbishment

Revised scheme for Docklands

Docklands construction at last

Office construction for E14 site

Wood Wharf appointments

LDA & Kajima granted planning permission

British Waterways progresses E14 Wharf

News International revises plans

Canary vacancy rate rises

63-storey tower for Docklands

Ballymore turns to residential

Lehman Brothers to remain in the City?

Canary Wharf looks to the City

Four new towers for Canary

Residential start for WTC in E14

New mega- office for Docklands

Excel may need more funds

Things to get worse before they get better?

Pembroke start on site

Canary to return £2bn

New Docklands waterfront scheme

Internet firms fuel rental growth

Clifford Chance to take tower at Canary Wharf

Christ Church Court available?

Docklands scheme progress

Canary Wharf Group has bought ownership of the Wood Wharf Limited Partnership from British Waterways and Ballymore Properties. Canary Wharf Group will now have control of design over the 16.8 acre Wood Wharf mixed use development scheme site, which is immediately adjacent to the Canary Wharf. Wood Wharf will comprise 1.25 million square feet of residential development, 200,000 sq ft of retail, 3.1m sq ft of offices and a 200,000 sq ft hotel with a single outline planning consent in May 2009. Detailed consent was subsequently granted for the three office buildings closest to the Canary Wharf estate totalling 1.5m sq ft net in July 2009. - (20-01-2012)

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August take-up rebounds

Central London office take-up in August 2011 reached 802,000 sq ft, according to latest figures from Cityoffices. This total was a modest improvement on the slightly subdued months of June and July, but was underpinned by a 275,000 sq ft letting to EMA in Docklands. Figures refer to deals of 5,000 sq ft and over only. - (29-09-2011)

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Docklands pre-let

The European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA) is to pre-let of 23,226 sq m (250,000 sq ft) at 25 Churchill Square, Canary Wharf, London, E14. The EMEA is expected to occupy the promenade, ground and first nine floors of the 20 storey office in 2014/2015. EMEA is thought to have agreed a rent of £46.50 on a 25 year lease with no breaks starting in January 2015. The agency is reported to have the option of taking an additional four floors of around 2,555 sq m (27,500 sq ft) each. A 37 month rent free period has been agreed which will be used to pay for the building’s fit-out. - (16-09-2011)

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Glasnost - Online Project, Contact & Image Management

Christmas 2010: 22% More Christmas Cheer - Official!

London office deals in 2010 are now 22% up - in terms of space taken - on last Christmas. CityOffices research has identified just over 11.1m sq ft of office deals in central London this year. This is the first rise in deals-done since take-up peaked in 2007. Recent pre-lets to Bloomberg, BNP Paribas and JP Morgan, have helped drive a strong final quarter of this year.

The take-up of Grade A recently constructed or refurbished space also shows a slight increase by 10%. Deals signed on prime space in central London account for 4.2m sq ft in 2010, compared to 3.8m sq ft in 2009.

The City of London has dominated deals this year accounting for 5.1m sq ft, or 46%, of total take-up. The West End saw just 1.8m, or 16%, of deals signed, with the remainder of lettings mainly focused on Docklands and ‘fringe’ locations.

Financial services came back strongly in 2010 and accounted for over 44% of space let. The next best performing sectors are professional services, media, and insurance, which together took 25% of space let.



The late surge in deals this year, and the large amount of space expected to be signed up in early 2011, means that the London fit-out market will be strong in the first half of next year. After that a reduction in available prime office space, and increasing rents, may lead to occupiers pre-letting, or undertaking short-term refurbishment and re-stacking, to await the next ‘wave’ of office buildings due to arrive in 2013.

So it looks like a Merry Christmas for all

Our best wishes for a prosperous 2011

The CityOffices team. - (24-12-2010)

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Top Architects 2000 - 2020

Over the last decade CityOffices.net has monitored office developments in central London. Our knowledge of past and future projects, and the development teams involved, allows us to provide a profile of the key market players.

This analysis of the Top Architects in London is based on office developments completed in the last 10 year and any under construction. The future ‘view’ on projects is based on our research into schemes with planning permission or at the pre planning stage.

The total amount of office space completed in central London over the last 10 years amounts to nearly 6.1m sq m (66m sq ft), with about 372,000 sq m (4m sq ft) currently under construction. This gives an average build rate of 585,280 sq m (6.3m sq ft) of new office space a year in central London.

Future potential office projects, where architects are appointed, amount to around 6.5m sq m (70m sq ft), certainly enough space for the next 10 years.


The Last Decade

The Top 10 Architects for office space built over the last 10 years have created about 3.3m sq m (36m sq ft) of new buildings. The clear leader is Foster + Partners with about 800,000 sq m (8.6m sq ft), or 24% market share, followed by KPF with 490,000 sq m (5.2m sq ft), or (14%).

The mid ranking is fairly close run between SOM, Sheppard Robson, Pelli Clarke Pelli and HOK, with an average of around 320,000 sq m (3.4m sq ft) of developments.

The last four architect places in the ranking account for around 180,000 sq m (2m sq ft) of projects each, and the position of these firms in future ranking could be threatened by rivals over the next few years.


Top Architects (London) 2000 - 2010 (Built Office Space)

1 Foster + Partners (24%)
2 Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF) (14%)
3 Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM) (11%)
4 Sheppard Robson (11%)
5 Pelli Clarke Pelli (10%)
6 HOK (8%)
7 Sidell Gibson (6%)
8 Rolfe Judd (6%)
9 EPR (5%)
10 Fletcher Priest (5%)



The Future!

The analysis of future office projects in central London shows the changing fortunes of firms. Although it must be said that until developments actually start on site architects can, and do, get changed!

On future office projects we are looking at nearly 3m sq m (30m sq ft) over the next property cycle (or two), so 2011 and beyond.

The ranking shows those firms set to lead design into the next decade.


Top 10 London Architects (London) - Future Office Buildings

1 Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (16%)
2 Pelli Clarke Pelli (14%)
3 Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF) (14%)
4 Foster + Partners (13%)
5 Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM) (11%)
6 MAKE Architects (9%)
7 Wilkinson Eyre (8%)
8 Foreign Office Architects (FOA) (5%)
9 Allies & Morrison (5%)
10 Sheppard Robson (5%)


Interestingly Rogers Stirk Harbour comes in at No1 in the ranking having been absent from the ‘past’ ranking. The firm’s 450,000 sq m (5m sq ft), or 16% of ‘future’ market share, is based around some major Docklands projects.

The next four places in the ranking (2-5) sees a reshuffle of firms from the ‘past’ ranking, reflecting the positions held over the last 10 years.

The lower end of the ‘future’ ranking is mostly newcomers to the Top 10. MAKE Architects, Wilkinson Eyre, Foreign Office Architects, and Allies & Morrison, account for 748,000 sq m (8m sq ft) of projects, as they look to increase their share of development activity in the London office market.

These ‘newcomers’ could now be set to overtake those firms established in the Top 10 of the past decade. However, that ‘overtaking’ relies on the developments progressing and the architect managing to stay on the project.

Andy King
CityOffices.net
20.10.10

Notes:
All office development details available at www.cityoffices.net
The rankings include all office schemes over 1,858 sq m (20,000 sq ft).
A Top 20 Architect (Built Office Space) list is available on request.

- (05-11-2010)

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As cranes disappear ...

As cranes disappear from office development sites in central London the question is what are the triggers needed to start the next cycle of development. This comes down to supply and demand.

In the first half of 2010 take-up in central London was a healthy 5.7m sq ft, slightly up on the 5.6m sq ft of deals done in the second half of 2009 and comfortably ahead of the 3.2m sq ft of deals recorded in the first half of 2009.

The financial services sector has the most active with nearly 2m sq ft of office space taken up, followed by 690,000 sq ft taken by professional services firms and 330,000 sq ft by insurance companies.

In terms of area the City of London accounted for nearly 2.6m sq ft of the office space taken up, with Midtown take-up being 1m sq ft, and the take up in Docklands 700,000 sq ft. The West End managed a relatively slender 1.3m sq ft of space taken.

New requirements for office space in central London during the first half of 2010, amounted to around 4.1m sq ft, just ahead of levels in 2009.

So far in the second half of 2010 office deals continue apace as firms take advantage of rent deals. However, for the few remaining ‘iconic’ office buildings In the City of London and West End rents now seem to be be on an upward path.

The amount of available Grade A (newly completed or refurbished) office space in central London peaked in autumn 2009, with 12m sq ft being available in the City and 8m sq ft in the West End. Since then the take up of office space has reduced by 17%, with the amount of space available being 9.5m sq ft in the City and 7.5m in the West End. In total this is gives an availability to stock ratio of just over 7%, a fairly healthy level, when a ‘normal’ market is seen as being a ratio of 5%.

A reducing amount of office space, prospects of rising rents, and demand holding up, are the key signals for office construction starting again. Developers are already busy dusting off plans and clearing sites in anticipation of starts in 2011. The only thing holding things back may be development finance.

Andy King

Subscribe now - (10-09-2010)

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Record breaking December

Research by Cityoffices reveals that a record-breaking 74 London office move deals over 5,000 sq ft were agreed in December 2009, totalling 1.8m sq ft. The City saw 800,000 sq ft of deals and Docklands saw 500,000 sq ft of lettings. Nearly 50% of transactions were for new Grade A space requiring extensive fit-out. Average rents were £40 psf and rent free periods averaged a little under two years. - (21-01-2010)

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Ballymore to press on in Docklands

Following London's Olympic win, developer Ballymore has taken a full page advertisement in today's press highlighting its plans to build 3.5m sq ft of offices, by 2012, at Arrowhead Quay, Crossharbour, New Providence Wharf, Peninsula Reach and Wood Wharf in London's docklands. - (07-07-2005)

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British Waterways' shorter shortlist

British Land and a consortium of Canary Wharf Group, Ballymore Properties and Manhattan Loft Corporation, have been shortlisted by British Waterways to develop the 334,448 sq m (3.6m sq ft) office scheme, hotel and apartments, on a 8.3ha (20-acre) Wood Wharf site in London Docklands, E14. A final decision on the developer is expected in January 2005 and British Waterways is likely to want to retain a share in the project. Atis Real Weatheralls is advising British Waterways. - (04-12-2004)

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British Waterways in search of a partner

British Waterways has launched an international competition to find a development partner for its 8.3ha (20-acre) Wood Wharf site, adjacent to Canary Wharf, in London Docklands, E14. This follows last years approval of a 464,511 sq m (5m sq ft) masterplan for the £2bn mixed-use scheme. The planned development includes 325,158 sq m (3.5m sq ft) of offices, retail and hotels, and 1,500 homes. The designs could include two office towers of 35-storeys, located at the western end of the site opposite Heron Quays. British Waterways, advised by ATIS Real Weatheralls, is thought to be intending to submit the first detailed planning applications for the site in 2005. - (16-02-2004)

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Morgan Stanley to raise offer?

Morgan Stanley is said to be looking for further equity backing to raise its bid for Canary Wharf and could have approached the government of Qatar, British Land and Liberty International. Morgan Stanley could be looking for an extra £200m for it’s bidding vehicle ‘Silvestor’ to raise its offer from 275p to over 292p and try to beat Brascan, which last week matched Morgan Stanley’s latest offer. The 14m sq ft Docklands office complex is now being valued at £1.6bn. The bids by Paul Riechmann, the former chairman of Canary Wharf collapsed two weeks ago and Brascan, the Canadian property and power company, is now thought to have the support of shareholders controlling over 24 per cent of the Canary Wharf shares. - (15-02-2004)

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Canary Wharf Group set deadline for offers

Canary Wharf Group has set a deadline of 13th February for Branscon, the Canadian property company, and Paul Reichman to make fully funded offers for the Docklands complex. The deadline is expected to clarify the position of the rival bidders to shareholders ahead of an extrodinary meeting on 23rd February, which is to vote on a recommended £1.56bn offer from a Morgan Stanley-led consortium. Recently Canary Wharf secured a £1.1bn investment deal with Royal Bank of Scotland on 5 Canada Square, let to CSFB, and 25 Canada Square, let to Citigroup. - (12-01-2004)

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Canary Wharf is bid target

Canary Wharf Group, the London docklands developer, is said to have been approached by “a number of parties” to take the company private. On the news shares in the company rose 46% to 263p, valuing the company at £1.54m. The company has formed an independent committee to deal with any potential bids and analyse other options. Morgan Stanley Real Estate, British Land, Land Securities, and Brascan Corporation of Canada are rumoured to be interested in buying the portfolio. In the Sunday papers price indications from prospective bidders are reported to be around 270p, at the lower end of range predicted by analysts. - (08-06-2003)

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City objects to "excessive layers"

At the 'Docklands at 20' conference Judith Mayhew, chair of policy and resources at the Corporation of London, has said that "excessive layers" are undermining the planning process and putting London position as a leading financial centre at risk. She made the point said that planning rules allowed English Heritage and others to delay approvals. Her view is that "Large developments, in the City and elsewhere, need speed and certainty in planning process" and she also seemed to be saying that the power of the Mayor of London and the Secretary of State to over-ride local authority decisions, along with individuals and organisation that "seek to influence" decisions, were unnecessary layers. - (03-10-2001)

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Canary predicts downturn

Canary Wharf Group has warned that the economic slowdown would "inevitably" lead to a downturn in demand in the London office market and a fall in rental levels. The group, which has just has reported £42.5m profits for the year, has decided not to start any further speculative development until the future for property and financial services is clearer. The group's current development programme is said to be two years ahead of schedule. The group is planning to apply for planning permission for sites in Docklands, which would increase its total office space by 50 per cent and lead to another 40,000 office workers at the development by 2010. - (14-09-2001)

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Canary looks to Tarmac site

Canary Wharf Consortium, the property developer, is said to be looking to buy a site from Tarmac to extend its 13.5m sq ft office scheme. Tarmac's office complex is at the western end of Heron Quays and was one of the first 'high-tech' developments in the Docklands area in the mid 1980's. It is now thought that the site could now accommodate an office development of over 1 million sq ft. Canary Wharf recently extended its ownership by buying a 6.7-acre site to the north of the main office complex. - (25-08-2001)

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St Katherine's Dock on the market

The St Katherine's Dock mixed-use development in East Smithfield, London E1 is understood to have been put on the market by Taylor Woodrow. In 1969 the Port of London Authority sold the docks in Wapping to the Greater London Council for £1.5m and in 1969 the GLC awarded Taylor Woodrow the project to develop the docks, the first London Docklands regeneration project. The development includes the K2 site, previously called Europe House, which is planned as a 21,802sq m (234,676 sq ft) building that will provide seven-floors of office space, amounting to 16,720 sq m (180,000 sq ft), and a lower ground floor of 1,394 sq m (15,000 sq ft) of retail and restaurant space. The whole St Katherine's Dock development is on the market through Jones Lang LaSalle and is expected to be sold for around £250m. Possible bidders are said to include Catalyst Capital (previously Greenwich Group) with Lehman Brothers, and the US funds JE Roberts and Blackstone. - (01-07-2001)

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Canary in £875m bond issues

Canary Wharf Group has issued £875m of bonds in a deal that will securitise three buildings under construction at the Docklands complex. The bonds are secured on the rents from the two pre-let towers being built for Citigroup and Credit Suisse First Boston and Morgan Stanley Dean Witter. The deal adds the three buildings to a securitised portfolio that also includes One Canada Square, from which the company raised about £555m in 1997 and £385m in 2000. - (02-06-2001)

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Quadratic gets sums right

Carnegie Holdings has been granted planning permission by London Borough of Tower Hamlets for the 'Quadratic' building at 4 Mastmaker Road, in the Millennium Quarter in South Quay, London Docklands E14. The 13-storey office building is named the 'Quadratic' as it is in an H-shape with office towers at each corner. The design includes an 11-storey double atrium on the east and west sides, and a two-storey winter garden on the north and south sides. The building will be clad in Planar glazing glass and travertine stone, from the same quarry as stone cut for the Colosseum in Rome. The Quadratic will provide 25,840 sq m (278,141 sq ft) of office space and has been designed by Patrick Davies. - (20-05-2001)

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2 Millharbour deferred

Fidelity Investments Guardian Printworks scheme at 2 Millharbour in the Millennium Quarter in South Quay, London Docklands E14 was deferred by London Borough of Tower Hamlets for further information to be provided. The developer has agreed to provide Tower Hamlets with £23m in section 106 payments, primarily to be used for transport improvements. - (20-05-2001)

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Four Millennium Quarter approvals

More than 2.6 million sq ft of new office schemes was granted planning permission by London Borough of Tower Hamlets last week. All the development are in the 20ha (50 acre) Millennium Quarter site in South Quay, London Docklands E14. The schemes include Ballymore's One Millharbour and Arrowhead Quay office schemes, the first five buildings over two phases of Capital & Provident's World Trade Centre scheme and the Quadratic building. - (20-05-2001)

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'Chamaeleon' building approved

Ballymore's Arrowhead Quay office scheme in South Quay, London Docklands E14 has had its planning application approved by London Borough of Tower Hamlets. The scheme, designed by Skidmore Owings & Merrill, will in total provide 44,600 sq m (480,074 sq ft) of office space, with leisure and retail space in two buildings. The design will make use of a Mica paint technology that will make the façade of the buildings appear to change colour between blue and green depending on the light conditions. - (07-03-2001)

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Docklands site on the market

A vacant seven acre site in London Docklands to the west of the new Billingsgate fish market and adjoining Canary Wharf is said to be on the market and could be acquired by Canary Wharf Group. The site is owned by the Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Maktoum Al-Maktoum, and a number of business associates and could be worth £150m. If acquired by Canary Wharf Group the site would be an extension to the Canary Wharf complex. The consortium, which operates under the name Wetherby, a Gibralter registered firm, is thought to have planning consent for a hotel, exhibition space and offices totalling over 69,676 sq m (750,000 sq ft). - (25-09-2000)

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