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Refurbishment plan in W1

Refurbishment plan in EC1

City refurbishment plan

Refurbishment underway

City refurbishment consent

City site sale

City block may re-start

St James's refurbishment

Refurbishment completed

City refurbishment start

Tower contractor

Refurbishment start in EC3

City refurbishment application

Architect replaced

City scheme letting

Contractor appointed

SE1 scheme to start

West end consent

EC3 construction to start

City site to progress

West End pre-let

Refusal in SE1

Scheme discussions

Tower to start

Refurbishment possible

Midtown scheme underway

Refurbishment plans

Refurbishment underway

Hammersmith start planned

Demolition to re-start

Southbank space revamp

City site sale

Refubishment opportunity in SW1

London Office Market – Special Report

New plans for West End site

Planning application submitted

Holborn refurbishment plan

Refurbishment about to start

Refurbishment underway

Demolition in EC3

St James's demolition start

City consent

Revised consent in EC2

Refurbishment consent in Mayfair

Development start planned

Developer appointed

Contractor appointed

Docks scheme could be revived

Tower to start (again)

Redevelopment may follow purchase

Property firm signs for EC1 building

Consent for Midtown scheme

Victoria scheme on-site

City office scheme plan

Bank takes floor in City scheme

Refurbishment mooted in EC4

Contractor appointed for SW1 scheme

City refurbishment

Plans approved

Holborn refurbishment plan

Contractor appointed

Refurbishment in WC2

Mayfair refurbishment options

Refurbishment planned

Mayfair scheme revived

New Canary Wharf application

West end start planned

Refurbishment plan in EC2

Mayfair office consent

City development opportunity

New City tower plan

City refurbishment start

Renewed consent in EC4

Refurbishment starts

Broker signs for new City scheme

Consent for City scheme

Victoria refurbishment

LandSecs scheme approved

New Paddington tower

City scheme start

Consent in WC2

Masterplan revised

Refurbishment in SW1

New plan for EC4 site

Gem underway

City fringe application

St James office sale

Camden office to start

Office tower tenders

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

NoHo Square new team

Blackfriars scheme seeks new investors

Mayfair consent

HQ refurbishment?

Architect appointed

Fund to refurbish offices

German bank to build

Joint venture confirmed

Euston scheme signs major tenant

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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Leadenhall pre-let

Aon, the risk management company, has confirmed its pre-let of 191,000 sq ft of new offices at 122 Leadenhall Street, EC3 - aka the 'Cheesegrater' building. Aon will take floors 4-13, comprising one third of the 610,000 sq ft skyscraper, upon completion of the 47-storey building in 2014. Initially set for completion in the third quarter of 2014, construction company Laing O'Rourke has now cut its building schedule by a few months to bring the completion date forwards to the second quarter. The Richard Rogers designed is being developed as part of a joint partnership between British Land and Oxford Properties. - (18-11-2011)

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Towering Ambition

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. .



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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Glasnost - Online Project, Contact & Image Management

Developer stepping up programme

Great Portland Estates is planning to raise £160m via the international bond markets to fund its development and investment programme in central London. The property company, which has four London office schemes underway, is understood to be planning to sell two tranches of seven-year and ten-year bonds. - (08-04-2011)

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Office Futures: London, Paris, Frankfurt

London looks set to trounce Paris (and Frankfurt) in terms of office development activity over the next three years, which is bound to rekindle old rivalries. Hopefully this ‘win’ will be repeated in this weeks England v France game, and the findings set the scene for a lively MIPIM property event in Cannes.

London and Paris have both seen a substantial contraction in the levels of office development over the last two-years and an upsurge in office take-up in 2010, which has eaten into available space.

London is heading for a sharp revival in office completions from 2012 onwards, while the Paris market appears to be looking at a slower recovery at the moment. In Frankfurt, like most other European cities, office completions peaked in 2010 and a continued slowing over the next two years is anticipated.

This London revival is in contrast to the start of the last property cycle, which saw major office developments in Paris kick-off at least nine-month before London. This time around London is ahead, and at least eight major office schemes are expected to start construction by spring 2011.

Any reports of new office construction in central Paris are sparse at present, although office shortages will develop and lead to an increase in development activity, particularly refurbishment. In Frankfurt there is an oversupply of new office space and the high proportion of vacant (and unlettable) older space means refurbishment, rather than new build, is likely in the short-term.

Looking ahead, we foresee that the development cycle in London will prove to be about 12 months ahead of Paris, with construction activity rising sharply in London in 2011, followed by the start of an upswing in Paris in 2012.

The predicted levels of office development activity to 2013 are however, still relatively low, and likely to produce a severe demand and supply imbalance (for quality space) in both London and Paris. It is expected that development activity will continue to increase to meet demand, with the peak of the next development boom being 2014-2015.






- (22-02-2011)

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Property company gearing up

Helical Bar, the property company, is raising £29m to fund property acquisitions. The group said that the market opportinities it has been waiting for are arriving, as a number of interesting schemes become available. Helical Bar has been standing back from the development market since 2004/5. The development portfolio for this cycle includes 200 Aldersgate, White City and Mitre Square, EC3. - (10-12-2010)

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London Offices – 2011, Looking Up

The central London property market seems to be at a turning point in terms of construction activity. It would seem that we are at the start of the next development cycle, with the prospect of major office projects starting in 2011.

CityOffices constantly reviews London’s office development projects. The latest ‘Skyline Monitor’ shows that a total of 11 schemes started on site during summer 2010. Schemes such as The Pinnacle in the City, 62 Buckingham Gate, SW1, and Park House in Oxford Street, W1, added a further 1.3m sq ft to office space under construction.

The current total office space under construction in London is 4.2m sq ft, comprising 2.4m in the City; 1.1m sq ft in the West End, 600,000 sq ft on the Southbank and 130,000 sq ft in Midtown.

The 4.2m under construction at present is low when compared to the 13m sq ft under construction two years ago, but does compares favourably with the mere five office schemes started this time last year.

This summer nearly 5.8m sq ft of offices were completed in schemes such as Minerva’s St Botolphs building, EC3; Derwent’s Angel Building, EC1; and Standard Life’s 95 Gresham Street, EC2. A number of lettings have been secured in these buildings and currently half of the 5.8m sq ft has been let, in line with the overall sharp reduction in prime office space available in central London.

CityOffices has identified 21 London office projects where demolition is either underway or the site has been cleared. It is anticipated that starts on around half of these before Christmas 2010, which could result in a further 1.5m sq ft of offices under construction by the New Year.



Looking forward to 2011, Cityoffices is currently tracking 110 office schemes in central London totaling over 22m sq ft, which have planning permission, and where the developer is thought to be considering a start in 2011. The short-list of developers lining up schemes to start next year includes British Land, Land Securities, Great Portland Estates, Helical Bar, and Exemplar.

The reason behind the increasing activity in central London is that Grade A office space availability is expected to hit a low point in late 2014 and rents are already rising to reflect shortages of prime space. Developers are keen to catch the next property ‘wave’ before it peaks and are trying to push ahead with developments. In reality not all these schemes will start but Cityoffices is tracking them all to identify the ‘winning’ development teams. - (19-11-2010)

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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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Rents rising

NB Real Estate, the property consultant, is reporting that average rents for Grade A office space in the City increased from £42.50 per sq ft in the first quarter of 2010 to £53 in the third quarter - a rise of 25%. The sharp rise in prices is attributed to a lack of new supply of office space. Supply of new space is at a two-year low. - (05-10-2010)

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City rents up in 2010

City of London office rents are forecast to rise in 2010 with London leading the European property cycle according to the latest market report from DTZ. Prime City rents are expected to rise by 8% next year but rents in other Euroepan cities are expected to fall further. DTZ has upgraded its previous forecast for the London office market to reflect current optimism and the view that this might be the start of the next property cycle. - (14-10-2009)

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Application for Canary towers

Wood Wharf Limited Partnership, comprising British Waterways, Canary Wharf Group and Ballymore Properties, has submitted detailed plans for two office buildings at Wood Wharf, E14. The two office buildings (W01 & W02-03) will be located on the northern side of the site. Building W01 designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, will be 134m tall and provide 84,600 sq m (911,000 sq ft) of office space over about 30 storeys. Building W02-03, at a height of 194m, is designed by Clarke Pelli and provides 149,000 sq m (1.6m sq ft) of floor space over about 40 storeys. - (04-06-2009)

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Derwent call halt

Derwent London, the property developer, has said that it is not planning to start any new commercial developments until 2010 or 2011. The company has made the decision because of the credit crunch and the fall in occupier requirements for new space. Derwent has three buildings under construction and has let 408,000 sq ft in the last nine months, and has a further 35,000 sq ft of office space under offer. John Burns, chief executive, has said that the next two years are about "good housekeeping" and his comments mirror those expressed by Great Portland Estates, Hammerson and Liberty International. - (20-11-2008)

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New architect for Smithfield

Thornfield Properties has appointed a new architecture team to redesign its plans for Smithfield Market in the City of London. Architect Kohn Pederson Fox has been replaced by John McAslan & Partners. Plans by KPF were rejected in August 2008 by Secretary of State Hazel Blears. Revised plans will be submitted shortly. - (11-11-2008)

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Wood Wharf outline approved

Wood Wharf Limited Partnership, comprising British Waterways, Canary Wharf Group and Ballymore Properties, has had its outline planning application for the development approved. The plans for the 7ha (17 acre) Wood Wharf site in London, E14, include 455,221 sq m (4.9m) sq ft of offies, retail and leisure space and 1,668 apartments. The scheme includes a £50m S106 agreement and a £100m contribution to Crossrail. Wood Wharf will be developed as four phases. Reserved matters on Phase 1 will be submitted in 2009. - (06-11-2008)

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Green light for Shard

Sellar Property is likely to start construction of the Shard tower in London, SE1 later in 2008, after a finance package was agreed with Qatari-backed consortium - the Qatari Islamic Investment bank QInvest, Qatar National Bank and Qatari Islamic Bank. Sellar will remain the developer for completion of Shard of Glass tower and 55,740 sq m (600,000 sq ft) New London Bridge House in 2011. The schemes were designed by Renzo Piano. Cushman & Wakefield advised on planning, and Mace is project manager. - (01-02-2008)

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November inquiry for EC1 scheme

The public inquiry to determine Thornfield Properties’ contentious 35,303 sq m (380,000 sq ft) office scheme at Smithfield market, London, EC1 will begin in November 2007. A successful outcome for Thornfield may prompt a 2008 construction start. - (26-10-2007)

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Shard demolition plans

Teighmore, the consortium consisting of Sellar Property, CLS and Simon Halabi, is hoping to start demolition at the London Bridge Station (Shard of Glass) site in London, SE1, in mid October 2007. The demolition will take seven months. The main construction contract will not start until funding is in place but a Middle Eastern bank is said to be considering financing the £1bn scheme. Completion of the development is expected in 2010 or 2011. - (18-09-2007)

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CityPoint on market

CityPoint in Ropemaker Street, London, EC2, is thought to be about to go on the market with an asking price of £650m. The 34-storey 65,681 sq m (707,000 sq ft) building is owned by US developer Tishman Speyer and partners Schroders, SITQ and UBS, who acquired the property for about £520m in 2006. - (06-02-2007)

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Swiss Re talks to IVG Asticus

Swiss Re is said to be in exclusive talks with IVG Asticus, the German property group, to sell 30 St Mary Axe, 'the Gerkin", in London, EC3. The reinsurer is thought to have had over 50 expressions of interest in the buildng and the present deal could be finalised in early 2007. Offers are believed to have almost reached £600m. - (05-12-2006)

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New Year launch for WC1 scheme

Arlington Property has almost completed its refurbishment of the former Alton House at 177 High Holborn, London, WC1. The scheme will be launched in January 2007 and consist of 3,051 sq m (32,500 sq ft) of refurbished office space on ten floors. The project manager is Cyril Leonard & Co and the agent is Farebrother. - (05-12-2006)

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Minerva in Cannon Street

The Property Merchant Group and Abacus Developments have sold their freehold at 111 Cannon Street, London EC4 to Minerva for £9m. The building, comprising 1,375 sq m (14,800 sq ft) of office and retail accommodation, is multi-let and has planning consent for a 2,787 sq m (30,000 sq ft) mixed-use scheme. - (24-08-2006)

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Grosvenor Crescent start

Grosvenor Properties, the developer, has appointed Walter Lilly for the £27m mixed use redevelopment of 3-10 Grosvenor Crescent, London, SW1. The scheme, on the site of the former Red Cross HQ, includes a small amount of office space (believed to be about 930 sq m) plus 17 apartments. Enabling works are underway and completion is planned for early 2009. - (24-08-2006)

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St.James's application

Britel Fund Trustees, the investor and part of Postel Properties and Hermes, has submitted a planning application for the redevelopment of 7 & 8 St James's Square and 7 Apple Tree Yard, London, SW1. The scheme envisages 10,511 sq m gross (113,140 sq ft) of offices on basement, ground and five upper floors mainly at 8 St James's Square and 7 Apple Tree Yard, plus four apartments. Net floorspace will be about 8,500 sq m (90,000 sq ft). CB Richard Ellis is advising Britel. - (24-08-2006)

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Heron Tower preparation

Heron Tower Property Unit Trust has begun demolition work in preparation for construction of its 220m high office tower at 110 Bishopgate and Camomile Street in London, EC3. Site clearance works by contractor Skanska will be followed by construction in early 2007 for 2010 completion. The Heron Tower will be over 60,000 sq m (650,000 sq ft). Kohn Pederson Fox is the architect. - (07-07-2006)

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Property at the top?

The top of the property investment market has been called by agent DTZ. Joe Valente, group head of research, has commented that the peak of the commercial market had probably been reached and that the level of interest in buildings on the market has been seen to be falling recently. This accords with the general view of property cycles that prices go up and then usually go down. - (06-07-2006)

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Refurbishment planned for SW1

GE Commercial Finance Real Estate, the property developer and investor and Grafton Advisers LLP have bought the vacant 1,400 sq m (15,000 sq ft) office building at 4-5 Arlington Street, London, SW1A 1RA for £11.3m and intend to refurbish it during 2006. - (25-11-2005)

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Offices for Brook Street

Gracemark Investments and Oppenheim Property Fund, the property investors have submitted plans for the redevelopment of the vacant £11m Melbourne House, 8-12 Brook Street, London, W1. The scheme envisages a 1,860 sq m (20,000 sq ft) refurbishment to include 1,626 sq m (17,500 sq ft) of offices, plus two floors of retail. The refurbishment has been designed by DP9. - (21-11-2005)

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Manchester Square refurbishment

The Portman Estate has submitted a planning application for the internal office refurbishment and extension of 10-12 Manchester Square, London, W1. The buildings comprise around 2,323 sq m (25,000 sq ft) and were formerly partly occupied by property adviser Colliers CRE. The architect is Feilden + Mawson. - (21-11-2005)

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CityPoint on the market

CityPoint, the 36-storey skyscraper, on Ropemaker Street, London, EC2, is thought to be on the market and could be sold by the City of London Office Unit Trust (CLOUT) for around £500m. CLOUT was set up by Pillar Properties, now part of British Land, and Schroders, the fund manager, in 2001. CityPoint has about 52,675 sq m (566,993 sq ft) of office space and around 11,148 sq m (120,000 sq ft) of retail and leisure uses on the ground a lower floors. The building was built in 1967 and was named Britannic Tower, the former headquarters of British Petroleum. The building was re-named CityPoint after a major rebuild to a design by Sheppard Robson, which was completed in early 2001. - (28-08-2005)

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Centre Point up for sale

Centre Point, the Richard Seifert designed skyscraper, on Tottenham Court Road, London, W1, has been put on the market by its owners, a consortium of Deutsche Bank, Europa Capital Partners and Apollo Real Estate Advisors, for about £80m. The 32-storey 16,257 sq m (175,000 sq ft) tower, now listed, was built in 1964 and became a symbol of the worst excesses of the property development industry at the time. - (08-07-2005)

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LRP planning Vauxhall scheme

London & Regional Properties has said that reports on its proposals for the Vauxhall Cross island site, opposite Vauxhall Bridge, London, SW8, are inaccurate. The developer has been linked to plans to develop a mixed-use scheme with 9,290 sq m (100,000 sq ft) of offices and residential units. It appears that the size and mix of the scheme has not yet been decided upon. - (26-05-2005)

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Office scheme for 190 Strand

Property developer, Capital & Counties has submitted a planning application to develop 21,830 sq m (235,000 sq ft) of offices at 190 Strand, London WC1. When contacted, C&C confirmed its intentions but said that work will not get underway before 2008. The architect is KPF. - (22-04-2005)

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Refurb possible for St Michael House.

London & Regional, the property group, which recently bought the 35,500 sq m (371,000 sq ft) Michael House (former headquarters of Marks & Spencer), in Baker Street, London, W1 is expected to opt for an early refurbishment rather than the KPF redevelopment, which has planning consent. M&S moved the last remaining staff from the Baker Street site to its new headquarters at Paddington late last year. - (18-04-2005)

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Start date for 150 Cheapside

St Martin's Property Corporation’s planned 19,000 sq m (204,516 sq ft) 8-storey office scheme at 150 Cheapside, London EC2, has been granted detailed planning permission and a shortlist of main contractors has been drawn up. Sir Robert McAlpine, Carillion, Mowlem, Skanska and Balfour Beatty are all reported to be on the shortlist for the new office building. Demolition of the existing site (known as St. Vedast House) is likely to begin before the end of this year and the building should be ready during 2008. - (14-04-2005)

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Thornfield thwarted by Smithfield listing

Property developer Thornfield's plans for three large office buildings totalling 5m sq ft across disused parts of Smithfield market in Farringdon, London, EC1 have been dealt a blow by the listing of the former Fish Market. Thornfield will now have to change its plans to incorperate the listed building. - (04-03-2005)

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L&R buy Michael House

London & Regional Properties has acquired the long leasehold interest in the former central London headquarters of Marks & Spencer for £115m. M&S moved from Michael House at 37-67 Baker Street, London, W1, to Paddington last year. Jones Lang LaSalle advised M&S. - (05-02-2005)

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Canary and Ballymore win Wood Wharf

British Waterways, the owner of the 8.3ha (20-acre) Wood Wharf site to the east of Canary Wharf, London, E14, has chosen Canary Wharf Group and Ballymore Properties as its preferred partners on the £2bn regeneration. Offices, residential and a hotel are planned. - (01-02-2005)

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Lloyds building to be acquired

The "love it or hate it" iconic Lloyds of London building in EC3 seems to be about to be sold to a Commerzbank fund by Deka, the German fund manager. Deka's property fund arm is selling the building for about £257m as part of an excercise to stabalise its property fund operations following a major outflow of funds. Deka originally paid £180m for the building in 1996. In the summer Shelbourne Developments, the Irish property investor, was due to acquire the building but the deal fell through after cracks in the concrete structure were said to have been found. Follow-up surveys are reported as failing to find any cracks. - (21-12-2004)

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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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McAleer takes the Swiss

British Land has sold the Swiss Centre in Leicester Square, London WC2, to Northern Irish property developers McAleer & Rushe for a reported £47m. The most likely fate for the striking, but ugly, 9,300 sq m (100,000 sq ft) building is redevelopment into a mixed-used office and leisure complex. The new building is likely to include a hotel and recently the Irish hotel chain Jurys Doyle was linked to the site. It is worth noting that McAleer is Jurys regular contractor for its UK based hotels and should McAleer included a hotel in its plans then it is not unreasonable to hazard a guess as to who the operator will be. McAleer is declining to comment at this early stage. Jones Lang LaSalle represented British Land. - (25-10-2004)

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Hammerson to redevelop Stock Exchange

The London Stock Exchange has sold the freehold of Exchange Tower and a site at 24, Throgmorton Street, London, EC2 to Hammerson, the property developer, in a deal worth about £67m. The site has planning consent for 45,522 sq m (490,000 sq ft) office and retail scheme designed by Nicholas Grimshaw & Partners, which involves the refurbishment of the tower and a new build office and retail block. - (07-02-2004)

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Columbus Tower approved

Columbus Tower, a 63-storey, 246m high, skyscraper, has been approved by London Borough of Tower Hamlets. The building, designed by DMWR architects and Weintraub Associates, adjoins Canary Wharf and is at the western end of West India Quay, London, E14. The project needs a Section 106 agreement to be signed and will also to be referred to the Greater London Authority and the Civil Aviation Authority. Columbus Tower is to be developed by SKMC, controlled by the Abu Dhabi royal family, and Farnham Properties. The scheme includes 30,000 sq m (322,920 sq ft) of office space, a hotel and health club, 2,200 sq m (23,680 sq ft) of retail space and a winter garden. The development could be completed by 2007. GVA Grimley is the planning consultant and DTZ is advising on the commercial space. - (30-03-2004)

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Save Smithfield Market

Save Britain’s Heritage (SBH) is setting out to save the western buildings at Smithfield Market from redevelopment plans by the Corporation of London. SBH considers that the impending fight to be as important at that for Covent Garden in the 1970’s. The General Market buildings, owned by the Corporation of London and designed by architect Sir Horace Jones, have been vacant for at least six years. Although the entire complex is within a conservation area only about 60% of the buildings are listed. Thornfield Properties is thought to be working up a planning application for office development supported by the Corporation. The site is part of a plan by the City of London to allow 1m sq ft (92,900 sq m) of development at the western end of Smithfield and the proposed Crossrail track will bisect the site. - (18-02-2004)

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Elizabeth House redevelopment unveiled

Elizabeth House, the 1960’s tower block on York Road, London, SE1, is planned to be redeveloped by P&O Properties. The developer has submitted a planning application to London Borough of Lambeth for a 116,128 sq m (1.25 sq ft) development to include a 33-storey tower, designed by architect RHWL. The site has an existing planning permission for 92,902 sq m (1m sq ft) scheme approved in 1993 in three buildings. The new scheme is for just one building and incorporates two floorplates of 4,645 sq m (50,000 sq ft) and four of 3,251 sq m (35,000 sq ft). The development will also require diverting York Road to run alongside Waterloo Station and new pedestrian links to the SouthBank. - (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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Helical Bar calls bottom of the market

Helical Bar has joined other property developers in calling the bottom of the central London office market. Michael Slade, managing director, has commented to the effect that although the City of London office market has bottomed out, he saw no rapid upturn and it might not come on-stream for three years. Taking a more positive view of the West End market he has said that it will come on-stream in two years time. - (28-11-2003)

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Hammerson sale falls through

Hammerson has issued a statement on the London Stock Exchange to the effect that its deal to sell three office buildings to Fordgate, a private company, has fallen through. Fordate was to have paid around £122m for 21 Moorfields, London EC2, and Grant Thornton House and 40, Melton Street, Euston Square, NW1. Hammerson has said that it has "fulfilled the outstanding conditions" and that "the proposed purchaser has failed to complete the transaction in accordance with the contract". Hammerson has therefore terminated the contract and appears to be intending to retain Fordgate's deposit and seek redress. Fordgate has responded to Hammerson's statement saying it was "factually incorrect and libellous... No subsidiary of Fordgate Limited asn contracted to acquire the properties mentioned". - (26-11-2003)

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LandSec's reveals New Street Square

The City of London Real Property Co Ltd, otherwise Land Securities, has submitted revised plans for the redevelopment of the New Street Square site (off Fetter Lane) in the City of London, EC4. The new plans are for 98,816 sq m (1.06m sq ft) of space to replace the existing 54,479 sq m (586,411 sq ft) of offices. The scheme, designed by Bennetts Associates, envisages five buildings, of between three and 18-storeys, providing 81,941 sq m (882,013 sq ft) of offices space and 3,082 sq m (33,175 sq ft) of retail space. - (22-11-2003)

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Great Portland Estates switches to buy

Great Portland Estates has said that it is planning to start buying properties as it followed other commentators in calling the bottom of the property market in the West End. Although a few months behind others market 'gurus' with the comment, Toby Courtland, chief executive at Great Portland, is expecting to see rent rise in 2005. Great Portland reported first half pre-tax profits of £15.6m and is changing emphasis from selling properties. - (22-11-2003)

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Hammerson sell London offices

Hammerson, the property company, has sold three office blocks to reduce its exposure to the central London office market. Fordgate, a private company, has paid around £122m for 21 Moorfields, London EC2 (151,000 sq ft), and Grant Thornton House (69,000 sq ft) and 40, Melton Street (116,000 sq ft), two buildings that are part of the Euston Square Estate. 21 Moorfields is vacant but leased to Lazard Brothers until 2008. Hammerson had plans to redevelop the site and as part of the sale agreement is understood to have retained a role as development manager and an option to participate in any redevelopment. At Euston Square, Grant Thornton House is leased to Grant Thornton and 40, Melton Street is leased to Network Rail. Hammerson has retained ownership of the 117,000 sq ft building at One Eversholt Street which will allow the company to be involved in any future redevelopment of Euston Square. - (21-10-2003)

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Helical Bar scheme for EC3

Helical Bar, the developer, has submitted plans for a 20-storey tower in Mitre Square in the City of London. In a joint venture with Ansbacher Property Developments, Helical Bar is planning to redevelop the Mitre Square island site in London EC3, bounded by Mitre Street, Dukes Place and Creechurch Lane. The scheme comprises about 32,515 sq m (350,000 sq ft) of offices as well as ground-floor retail and restaurant space. Ansbacher and Helical Bar are being advised by Allsop & Co and Ingleby Trice Kennard. - (30-09-2003)

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US rivals may team up for Canary bid

Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, the rival US investment banks, are said to be making a joint attempt to take control of the Canary Wharf development. The Whitehall Fund, part of Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley Real Estate fund are bidding against Brascan, the Canadian property group. Last week canary Wharf received sealed offers for the company. Property analysts are expecting offers of between 260p to 300p a share, putting a value on the company of around £1.5 billion. - (31-08-2003)

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Benchmark to focus on West End

Benchmark Group has sold its interest in three office properties in the City of London for about £8.6m. Benchmark ha sold the leasehold interests inMitre House, Cheapside, and Compter House, Wood Street, London EC2, to clients of ING Real Estate. Benchmark has said that the disposals will allow the compnay to focus on the West End market. - (24-08-2003)

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Rents to fall further says Helical Bar

Michael Slade, chief executive of devepment company Helical Bar is reported as saying that West End rents have further to fall before a 2005 recovery. Mr Slade puts vacancy rates in the City of London at 1993 levels and the West End at 1994 levels. Helical Bar has reduced its exposure to London offices through disposals worth £190m to 41% from 71% a year ago. Helical Bar has said that it is aiming to reduce London offices to 20% of it’s portfolio on expectations of a “flat year”. Mr Salde thinks that the time to come back into the London property market will be 2005 or 2006. - (08-06-2003)

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5 Cheapside plans submitted

A planning application has just been submitted for the refurbishment of 5 Cheapside, London EC4. The architect for the scheme is Rolfe Judd and the developer is St Martins Property Corporation. 5 Cheapside is an unusual octagonal building and the office floorspace will be increased from 3,479 sq m (37,447 sq ft) to 3,786 sq m (40,752 sq ft). The 5,248 sq m (56,489 sq ft) building will have retail units of 230 sq m (2,475 sq ft) on the ground floor. - (27-02-2003)

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BBC £252m "live news centre"

The BBC is to spend £252m creating a “live news centre” at Broadcasting House, Portland Place, London W1. The development will start shortly with the demolition of Egton House, an adjoining building, starting in January 2003. Bovis Lend Lease has been appointed as the construction manager. The 9 to 13 storey complex has been designed by Sir Richard McCormac and will include 140 studios, a central atrium, and a huge newsroom. All the BBC’s radio operations and television news will be brought together in the building. The first stage of the project is the refurbishment and extension of Broadcasting House, a 1932 Grade II* listed building, and the demolition of four adjoining properties to create two new buildings of about 74,321 sq m (800,000 sq ft). The scheme will be completed by 2008. - (16-12-2002)

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Cannon Bridge sold for £167m

The headquarters of the London International Financial Futures & Options Exchange (LIFFE) has been sold in a £167m deal, a yield of about 7.9%. The 250-year lease on the 26,477 sq m (285,000 sq ft) building at Dowgate Hill, off Cannon Street EC4, has been acquired by Fordgate, a secretive private property group run by the Gertner brothers. The deal, one off the biggest this year, shows a profit for Pillar Properties, which paid Railtrack and General Electric £64m for the building in 1995. Pillar sold a 75% stake in the building to the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association, the US pension fund, in 2000 for about £140m. Liffe occupies about half of the Canon Bridge building and has a 'rolling' tenant break. The rest of the space is occupied by Standard Chartered Bank and Winterflood Securities. In July 78 Cannon Street, adjoining Cannon Bridge, was sold by Marylebone Warwick Balfour (MWB) to Hines, the US property developer, for £53.3m. In the 1980's developer Speyhawk was considering linking the two buildings and there must still be potential for longer term redevelopment. Pillar and Teachers were advised by FPD Savills. - (06-10-2002)

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Millbank Tower on the market

Millbank Tower, the Grade II listed skyscraper owned by Tishman Speyer Properties, is thought to be on the market for around £125m. The US-owned private property group owns several landmark buildings including the Chrysler Building and the Rockerfeller Centre in New York, and the MesseTurm in Frankfurt, Germany. Jones Lang LaSalle is acting on the sale of Millbank Tower. - (06-10-2002)

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London Gate plans released

Detailed plans have been unveiled for the London Gate project in Hayes, Middlesex, which will provide 52,000 sq m (559,728 sq ft) of office space in six converted Art Deco buildings, formerly an EMI Records factory. The scheme has been designed by architect Gensler, and is being developed by Resolution Property. The London Borough of Hillingdon granted permission for the scheme at the end of 2000. - (17-06-2002)

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Clout revises Basinghall Street scheme

City of London Office Unit Trust (Clout), made up of Pillar, Schroder Exempt Property Unit Trust and SITQ Albion, has submitted a planning application for 35 Basinghall Street, London EC2, which increase the floorspace on the previously approved scheme. The latest application by Bennetts Associates is for a ten-story 17,413 sq m (187,433 sq ft) scheme that will provide about 12,122 sq m (130,481 sq ft) of net floorspace. The new scheme has introduced two additional floors into the building without a major increase in its height. - (18-04-2002)

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Deutsche Bank tower for EC2

Deutsche Bank is said to have plans for a 38-storey skyscraper on the edge of the City of London to be developed by its property arm Deutsche Grundbesitz (DGI). The building planned for Ropemaker Place, Ropemaker Street, London EC2 is said to be a "commercial development" and Deutsche has refused to say if it intends to occupy the building. The 200m high tower has been designed by Sheppard Robson and will rise to 10 storeys before leaning 20 degrees from vertical before straightening up. The bank was looking for a second headquarters building last year but this is now said to be no longer a top priority. No formal planning application has yet been made to London Borough of Islington. - (16-02-2002)

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Canary Wharf raises £1.25bn

Canary Wharf Group, the property developer, issued new debt and increased the level of its asset-backed bonds by £1.25bn this week. The bonds are backed by rental cashflow from the Canary Wharf portfolio of 12 office buildings. Last year Canary Wharf raised £875m through an asset backed deal. On the basis of this deal it would appear that the securitisation of 'trophy' real estate developments has not been affected by the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre. - (13-02-2002)

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Aldgate Union approved

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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Benchmark in bouyant mood

Benchmark Group, the property company specialising in the West End office market, is in a positive mood about the prospects for West End offices in 2002 and 2003, and considers that there is a good balance between supply and demand. The firm recently paid £55m to gain management control of 90 Long Acre, London WC2, a 17,837 sq m (192,000 sq ft) building, and is currently refurbishing the fourth floor of 2,043 sq m (22,000 sq ft). Benchmark has said that it intends to bring more space on-stream during the year. - (06-01-2002)

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London slowdown predicted

A new survey by GVA Grimley and the Confederation of British Industry expects the commercial property market in London and the South East to slow in the next six months. The slowdown is expected to be most marked in the office sector and most marked in London, where net demand is expected to halve. - (05-01-2002)

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New Kings Cross plans revealed

P&O Property Holdings Ltd has submitted plans for the refurbishment and redevelopment of four major buildings at Kings Cross,London N1. Block A (3,000 sq m)is known as the Lighthouse and plan retains 1870s office building with construction of 3 storey office building with retail. Block B (3,000 sq m) retains the majority of building, with some new build elements. Block C (4,000 sq m), comprises mainly refurbishment and re-building with the construction of new four storey headquarter offices, and five storey hotel to SW of site. Remaining block D retains listed facades with conversion of some buildings to create residential units. Architect is Rolfe Judd. - (14-11-2001)

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Agents for change

With more competitive times now facing the property industry developers are starting to make a few changes in their letting agents. Thorstone Land has replaced Knight Frank on the marketing of Lion Plaza in EC2 with BH2, and at 'The Eye' in WC1 Alfie Buller's Bee Bee Developments has replaced Atis Real Weatheralls with Insignia Richard Ellis. No doubt there are more changes to come as the increasing supply puts more pressure on agents to be more proactive in letting space. - (10-11-2001)

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Hemingway plans tower in EC3

Hemingway Properties has submitted a planning application to the Corporation of London for a 16-storey tower with 23,403 sq m (251,909 sq ft) of offices along with retail and restaurant space in EC3. The site is bounded by Mark Lane, Hart Street, London Street and New London Street. The development advisor is Jones Lang laSalle. - (31-10-2001)

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Fidelity on-site at South Quay

Fidelity Investment Management, through its property arm Pembroke Real Estate, has now started site preparation for the redevelopment of the former 'The Guardian' printworks site at South Quay, London E14. The new scheme, known as 'London Millharbour' will provide a total of 71,000 sq m (764,224 sq ft) of office space and 2,787 sq m (30,000 sq ft) of retail and restaurant space, in four linked buildings ranging from of 9 to 19 storeys. Michael Hopkins and Partners is the architect for the scheme, which will be built in two phases. The Eastern Tower will be Phase 1, providing 42,800 sq m (460,699 sq ft) of offices and retail, with the Western Tower providing the remaining space. The main construction is due to start in early 2002 with completion planned for 2004. - (15-10-2001)

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Bidding race at St Katherine's Dock

TrizecHahn, the Toronto-based property investment company, and Rugby Estates, backed by UBS, the Swiss Bank, and Hilstone, the developer, are said to be shortlisted to compete to buy Taylor Woodrow's St Katherine's Dock development in London E1. The bidding for the 1970's development is said to be close to the asking price of £250m. The development comprises mainly residential units but includes a site with planning permission for a 16,722 sq m (180,000 sq ft) office scheme known as K2. Other losing bidders are said to include Marylebone Warwick Balfour, the property company, with JE Robert and Greycoat; Catalyst Capital with Blackstone, and Lehman Brothers, the US funds; and CIT. - (15-10-2001)

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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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Austral House revised

The City of London Office Unit Trust (Clout), which includes Pillar Properties, has submitted a new planning application for Austral House, Basinghall Avenue, London EC2. The present 9,570 sq m (103,011 sq ft) building is proposed to be redeveloped as a nine-storey 22,990 sq m (247,464 sq ft) scheme. The building has been designed by Swanke Hayden Connell Architects. The existing planning consent for the scheme was granted in December 1999, and was for an eight-storey building of 21,111 sq m (227,238 sq ft). - (13-09-2001)

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'Groundscraper' to 'Skyscraper'

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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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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Greycoat to win Paternoster Row site?

The site of Sheldon House at 1 Paternoster Row could be developed by Greycoat. Earlier this year the Sheldon House and Transept House sites, owned by HSBC, were put on the market at a price said to be around £25m. Greycoat is said to be the favorite to win the site from Pillar Property, Helical Bar and Development Securities. CCF Charterhouse originally planned to occupy the 9,500 sq m (102,000 sq ft) new build scheme but these plans were abandoned when the firm was taken over by HSBC and then sold to ING. - (06-08-2001)

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Grosvenor may buy 41 Lothbury

Grosvenor, the private property company, is said to be in advanced negotiations to buy 41 Lothbury, London EC2 from the Royal Bank of Scotland. The scheme has planning approval for the refurbishment and partial redevelopment of the 9-storey, Grade II listed, building, the former National Westminster headquarters. The scheme involves a change of use from a banking hall to office (B1) use, with retail and restaurant space. The net office floorspace proposed is estimated to be about 13,935 sq m (150,000 sq ft). DTZ Debenham Tie Leung is thought to be advising RBS and CB Hillier Parker is acting for Grosvenor. - (29-07-2001)

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Minerva to start Aldgate scheme

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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Kumagai Gumi raises £60m

Kumagai Gumi, the Japanese property company, has sold three of its London properties and raised about £60m. The buildings include 55 Bishopsgate; Trafalgar House in Waterloo Place, Pall Mall; and Phoenix House. No details of the purchaser are available at present. - (17-06-2001)

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Great Portland Estates plan skyscraper

Great Portland Estates, the London property group, has said that it is in talks to develop a skyscraper in central London. Peter Shaw, managing director, has said that the company is to build the office block as part of a joint venture with a City Livery Company and an unnamed City Institution. Mr Shaw has refused to name the other backers for the Great Portland Estates' skyscraper. The plans have been announced as the company reported a worse than expected set of results. - (06-06-2001)

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Crown Estate to spend £500m in W1

The Crown Estate has announced a ten-year plan to spend £500m on improving property in Regents Street, London W1 to provide modern office and retail space. The Crown Estate is consulting the public on the plans and is emphasising that it intends to preserve the character of the Nash-designed street. - (20-05-2001)

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Resolution funds London offices

UK based Resolution Property has launched three limited partnerships to finance more than £250m of property development in London. The financing will fund three office schemes in London boroughs of Hayes, Hammersmith, and Camden. The deal is backed by JER Partners and the Blackstone Group, US real estate investors. Deutsche Bank, and its property financing subsidiary Eurohypo, will provide debt of up to £165m to complete the deal. UK institutions invested a record £5.6bn in property in the first nine months of last year, and saw yields of around 7% achieved. - (18-05-2001)

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Skanska sells to Axa Sun Life

Skanska, the Anglo-Swedish construction group, has sold its last two investment properties in London to AXA Sun Life for just under £91m. The two developments are at Thomas More Square, E1 and 55 King William Street, EC4. The 22,000 sq m (236,840 sq ft) Trinity Tower at Thomas More Square, overlooking St. Katharine Docks, completes the bulk of Skanska's sale of the development, which began last year. The King William Street property comprises 5,839 sq m (62,859 sq ft) of offices with some retail and leisure uses. Frederick Wirdenius, President of Skanska's Project Development Europe said: ‘These two sales, which made a profit for Skanska of £34 million, represent the completion of Skanska's divesting of its real estate portfolio in London. It also creates possibilities for continued investments in other attractive growth areas in Europe.’ - (11-05-2001)

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SDG may submit new application

Spitalfields Development Group (SDG), now owned by Hammerson, is according to Property Week thought to be considering submitting a new planning application for its office scheme at 1-10 Bishops Square, London E1. The new application could be submitted for a named occupier once SDG has a pre-let. SDG has been reluctant to submit a new application, as requested by London Borough of Tower Hamlets, as it considers the 'reserved matter' applications submitted as being within the scope of the original 1997 permission. Tower Hamlets had been awaiting legal opinion on the question of whether the reserved matter applications were acceptable or if a new planning application was required due to 'material changes'. - (08-05-2001)

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BT to leave Newgate Street

British Telecom is to leave its purpose built 27,870 sq m (300,000 sq ft) headquarters building at Newgate Street, London EC1 in the next 12-18 months. Staff will be transferred to other divisions in BT buildings and the 400-500 'central activities' staff and executives will move to a smaller office in London. The Newgate Street head office and the Telecom Tower were the only buildings omitted from the £2bn property portfolio deal announced last month. - (04-05-2001)

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Railtrack tower proposed for E1

Railtrack Property has submitted plans for a new office and retail scheme on the edge of the City of London. The proposed elliptical glass and steel development, on the corner of Norton Folgate and Worship Street, in London E1, has been designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox, and will have 19,000 sq m (204,521 sq ft) of offices in a 23-storey tower. It is said that Railtrack had hoped to create a larger development by linking the site to the adjoining site owned by Lehman Brothers. The bulk of the scheme will be built over the railway lines and will include 200 sq m (2,153 sq ft) of retail space next to the main office entrance. - (30-04-2001)

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Dublin architect HKR now in the City

Demolition work has just started on 12 Arthur Street, London EC4, a site which has recently seen proposals for a new 12,680 sq m (136,487 sq ft) office building of 10-storeys submitted for planning permission by developer Shieldpoint. The proposed scheme has been designed by Irish architects Horan Keogan & Ryan, a firm which has made a big impact in the Sandyford area of Dublin over the last decade, designing the Sandyford Business Centre and the AIB Financing & Leasing premises among other projects. Horan Keogan & Ryan's latest office project in Dublin is The Atrium Office Development for Green Properties, which is now nearing completion. - (12-04-2001)

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BT may sell portflio to LandSec's

British Telecom is said to be close to arranging a sale and leaseback deal on its £2bn property portfolio with Land Securities. Land Securities is rumoured to have beaten Mapeley to the deal. In what is thought to be a speeding up of the process BT may now complete its £2bn portfolio sale and leaseback deal by summer 2001. BT's advisor Schroder Salomon Smith Barney is understood to have recently shortlisted Land Securities Trillium and Mapeley, the George Soros backed venture, as the final two bidders for the 7,500 sites in the UK. Oftel, the telephone regulator, has set restrictions on BT's ability to sell sites and they are to be leased to the successful bidders for 130-years and then leased back by BT on 30-year agreements. The leases are understood to have break options for BT to vacate premises after 15-years, providing redevelopment opportunities for central London sites such as Mondial House, Upper Thames Street and Fleet Building, Farringdon Street, both in EC4 - (09-04-2001)

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British Land may be in lead for Mayfair estate

British Land is now said to be the front runner to buy the 10-acre Berkeley Square estate in Mayfair W1 from the BP Pension fund. It is thought that an offer of around £300m has been made by the company that is on a shortlist of bidders that may also include the Barclay twins and Moorfield, the property group, Simon Hallabi, a Syrian-born investor, Grosvenor Estates, and the Saudi Arabian Royal family. The BP Pension fund acquired the portfolio in 1967 for around £12m. The sale is being dealt with by Richard Womack at CB Hillier Parker. It is said that unsuccessful bids have been made by Minerva, Benchmark, and Green Properties and an unnamed US investment bank. - (09-04-2001)

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Benchmark bid for BP Amoco portfolio

Benchmark is reported to have bid nearly £300m for the 100 properties around Berkeley Square, London W1, put up for sale by the BP Amoco pension fund. Other bids submitted last week are said to include those from Minerva and the Grosvenor Estate. BP Amoco is holding the property auction at a time when headline rents in the area are passing £861 per sq m (£80 per sq ft). - (25-03-2001)

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BBC prefers Land Securities

The BBC has announced that Land Securities Trillium as the preferred bidder in its proposed property partnership. Land Securities submitted a joint bid with Trillium, the outsourcing group, last year. The Land Securities team is also understood to include Bovis Lend Lease. The BBC's reserve bidder is Amey. If Land Securities/Trillium secure the deal the first project is likely to be the £200m development of the White City site in London W12, which could provide 60,000 sq m (645,840 sq ft). The Grade II listed Broadcasting House in Langham Place, London W4 is included in the property portfolio and the BBC is also said to be renegotiating its lease on Bush House, Aldwych, London WC2, which expires in 2005, and could be a refurbishment project. - (25-03-2001)

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"Shard of glass" revealed

The designs for the £350m skyscraper at London Bridge station, SE1 have just been unveiled. The 66-storey tapering glass tower, designed by Renzo Piano and Broadway Malyan, for developer the Sellar Property Group, will, if built, be the tallest in Europe at 1,016 ft tall. The lower half of the tower is planned as a 27-storey 55,741 sq m (600,000 sq ft) office block, with the upper 15-storey as a hotel and apartment complex. A planning application for the "shard of glass", otherwise known as the London Bridge Tower, could be submitted to the London Borough of Southwark next week. The scheme has been reduced by about 14-storey following initial comments from CABE, the architectural advisory body. There seems little doubt that this scheme, along with Heron's Bishopsgate tower, will become the centre of debate, around which London local government and advisory bodies will finally have to establish an agreed policy towards tall buildings. - (20-03-2001)

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Shell-Mex House for sale

Shell-Mex House in the Strand, London WC2 is rumoured to be on the market at around £300m. The landmark office building was built by Royal Dutch Shell as its head office in 1931 and was acquired by Witkoff, the US property company, for about £180m in 1999. The 53,400 sq m (575,000 sq ft) building completed a major refurbishment last year and is now occupied by Omnicom, the advertising group, Pearson, the media company, and Vizzavi, the internet joint venture between Vodafone and Vivendi. It is said that Insignia Richard Ellis is to market the investment opportunity. - (11-03-2001)

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Topland could invest £600m in City

Topland, the privately owned property company, is said to be looking to acquire up to £600m of property in the City of London, and has just acquired 33 King William Street, London EC4 for £85m from Land Securities. 33 King William Street was built in 1983 and provides around 13,000 sq m (140,000 sq ft) of office space, it is the home of Merrill Lynch Investment Managers. Last year Topland acquired 51-55 Gresham Street EC2 from Land Securities for £46m and recently bought 150 Aldersgate Street EC1 from Slough Estates for £33m. - (02-02-2001)

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MWB acquires Marble Arch Tower

Marylebone Warwick Balfour has acquired the 90-year lease of the 15,003 sq m (161,500 sq ft) Marble Arch Tower, London W1 from Regalian properties for £69.2m. The building has been recently refurbished and tenants include Nokia, Abbey National, J Sainsbury and Odeon Cinemas. MWB is expected to take over the operation and management of the offices from Regus, the serviced office group, within the next 12 months. - (04-01-2001)

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Pillar to redevelop 5 Cheapside

Pillar Property plc has submitted a planning application for the redevelopment of 5 Cheapside, London EC2, the former Bank of Boston House. The scheme designed by Allies & Morrison Architects will provide 10,264 sq m (110,481 sq ft) of office space in a six-storey building. The development will also include ground floor retail uses and a new entrance to the St Paul's London Underground station. Pillar acquired the freehold of the building in 1998. - (18-12-2000)

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London & Regional buys EC4 site

London & Regional Properties has taken a controlling stake in a 0.9ha (2.2 acre) site on Victoria Embankment, London EC4, which includes the 37,160 sq m (400,000 sq ft) Morgan Place, 60 on Victoria Embankment, London EC4Y OJP, occupied by JP Morgan, the US investment bank, on a lease expiring in 2016, and the former City of London School for Boys. The site was sold by Sumitomo Life for about £135m. The deal has led to speculation that JP Morgan, which is about to merge with Chase Bank, will now seek to combine operations in one site in London. Chase, formerly Chase Manhattan, also recently acquired Flemings the UK investment bank, based at London Wall EC2, where leases expire in 2004 and 2006. The merger between Chase and JP Morgan will see around 2,000 staff laid off by the end of the year in London and New York and more in 2001. - (01-12-2000)

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Pillar cash offer for Wates City

Wates City of London Properties has received a formal cash offer from Pillar Property at 141p a share, valuing the company at around £373m. The price is said to be equal to Wates City net asset value at the end of June. - (25-11-2000)

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Pillar approach to Wates rumoured

Pillar Properties is said to have made an approach to buy property company Wates City of London Properties. Wates City of London Properties is currently trying to sell CityPoint, the largest office building under construction in the City of London and also has other office schemes planned in the Square Mile. Pillar operates 28 retail park schemes and also has business park interests, but has a low exposure to the central London office market. - (13-11-2000)

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MEPC sells Alban Gate

MEPC, the property company, has sold Alban Gate, London Wall, London EC2 for around £157m to CIT (Capital and Income Trust). Alban Gate is a 34,373 sq m (370,000 sq ft) building largely occupied by Chase Manhattan, the US bank. MEPC is also to dispose of its Scottish subsidiary, Caledonian Land for a further £150m. The sales are part of MEPC's disposal programme, which will leave the company focussed on its business park developments in Basingstoke, Warrington, Cambridge, Abingdon and Leavesden. - (05-11-2000)

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