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Midtown deal

Refurbishment plan in W1

Pre-let at Regents Place

Midtown HQ to start

Refurbishment in EC2

City consent

Major scheme starts on site

City consent

City refurbishment plan

City pre-let

Mayfair scheme deal

SE1 scheme on site

Refurbished office let

Paddington application

Midtown options

West End refurbishment

Astoria site decision soon

Contractor appointment

City fringe application

City refurbishment green light

Victoria consent

New plans revealed

US firm takes a floor

Strand site sold

St James redevelopment

City scheme nears completion

US bank shortlists architects

Architect for scheme

Summer completion expected

Oxford Street start

Contractor tipped

St James's refurbishment

Retrofit to start

Refurbishment completed

Refurbishment on market

Midtown appointment

Former HQ refurbishment

Phase 4 on site

Demolition starts

HQ refurbishment starts

London Offices – An Olympic Year?

Midtown scheme start

Refurbishment in SW1

Midtown refurb

Tenders to be invited

Canary start

Contractor appointed

Refurbishment starts

West End refurb underway

City scheme application

Mayfair HQ revised

Contractor appointment

Refurbishment start in EC3

Architect replaced

Liverpool Street consent

Refurbishment in EC4

Planning consent

Tower letting

Midtown consent

Contractor in W6

City HQ to start

Contractor appointed

City refurbishment start

West end application

Tower work suspended

Refurbishment out to tender

Consent for refurbishment

Paddington scheme letting

West end start

West end consent

Canary scheme update

Refurbishment potential

Consent in SW1

Hedge fund for new W1 building

City refurbishment application

City refurbishment consent

Banks to fund scheme

Revised Midtown scheme

Mayfair application

Mayfair refurbishment plan

Central London - a Sack Full of Refurbs

City scheme start

Scheme discussions

City fringe application

Contractor shortlist

Mayfair start tipped

Tower to start

City scheme underway

Refurbishment possible

King's Cross Central pre-let

Midtown scheme underway

Noho refurbishment

Tower to start

Skyscraper delayed

Inquiries on the up

Mayfair refubishment

City construction start

Appointment in EC3

Victoria consent

More London letting

March lettings - deals climb

London office lettings in March 2012 as researched by Cityoffices, reached 800,000 sq ft, in line with recent monthly totals. The largest letting was Pushbutton's near 50,000 sq ft deal at the Glasshouse building in EC1. A healthy 70 deals of 5,000 sq ft or more were recorded in the month. - (18-04-2012)

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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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Glasnost - Online Project, Contact & Image Management

UK's tallest crane

The UK's tallest crane is now in place over the Shard in London, SE1. The crane will reach 317m (1,040 ft) above ground level and will enable the building modules making up the 23-storey steel 'spire' to be put in place. - (10-10-2011)

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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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Kings Cross pre-let

Camden Council has agreed to pre-let 11,782 sq m (126,818 sq ft) of offices on the 4th-10th floors at the soon to be constructed 17,187 sq m (185,000 sq ft) 3 Pancras Square in London, N1. The building will be developed from late 2011 by King's Cross Central Limited Partnership (KCCLP) for completion in 2014. Architect David Chipperfield. - (26-08-2011)

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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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London: 30 new office schemes in Q1

London Springs Forward

The first quarter of 2011 marked the beginning of a new cycle in London’s office construction. Since January 2011, Cityoffices research has revealed that 30 new office schemes have seen starts on demolition and construction work. Schemes such as Africa House, Howick Place, Grosvenor Hill, and 20 Fenchurch Street (full list at cityoffices.net) are just some of those now underway. When completed, these schemes will add over 5.5m sq ft to London’s available office space.

These 30 schemes appear to be speculative as none of the developers has yet announced a pre-let; although 30,000 sq ft is rumoured to be under offer at Waterhouse Square.

It is possible that the start on the two towers; 20 Fenchurch Street, by Land Securities, and the Leadenhall Building, by British Land, both in EC3, may have prompted other developers to get schemes underway and completed before the two towers are on-stream in 2014.

Almost half the new developments underway are refurbishments. Many of these refurbishments do not require planning permission and are being bought forward quickly for the period 2011 to 2014 to meet a perceived short-term ‘gap’ in office supply.



These refurbishments include the upgrading of former premises of large companies which have recently moved into new developments. Examples include the former Cancer UK HQ at 40 Kingsway, WC2, and the former DEFRA building in Page Street, SW1.

Our research shows that a further tranche of construction should be underway in the second quarter of 2011, with a number of developers now appointing construction teams and initiating archaeological digs in advance of spring/summer starts. CityOffices is now monitoring over 100 office schemes in central London that could start this year. - (12-04-2011)

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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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West End HQ nears completion

The new Greater London Magistrates Court Authority building is due for completion in summer 2011. The £50m, 9,700 sq m (104,410 sq ft) building designed by architect Hurd Roland Partnership is at the junction of Seymour Place and Marylebone Road, London, NW1 is approaching shell and core completion. Laing O’Rourke is the main contractor. - (04-02-2011)

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Surge in London Office Development

London Office Prospects 2011: 75m sq ft of lease expiry hopes drives market forward

A surge in London office development is coming, with major office buildings planned to come on-stream in 2012-2015 to meet an anticipated increase in demand.

This demand is expected to come from those occupiers, which took space in the mid 1980’s boom and early 1990’s, with leases coming to an end on what is now outdated space.

Our research on occupier ‘moves’ in central London indicates a potential of up to 17m sq ft of lease renewals due in 2011, and an average of about 15m sq ft a year of lease expiries a year up to 2015.

The question is “How much of this lease expiry-led ‘demand’ will result in new space being taken-up?”

The London office market is fairly consistent on office space take-up with the average being about 10m sq ft a year over the last decade. In these terms 2010 was above average with over 11m sq ft of office space taken-up, the majority in large pre-lets.

If half of lease expiries (say 7.5m sq ft) each year actually turned into office ‘moves’, this would then mean a further 2.5m+ sq ft of office demand would have to come from existing occupier expansion and new ‘start-ups’ to achieve even the average for annual take-up.

This would then mean occupiers would be renewing leases on around 7.5m sq ft of office space each year with the potential for refurbishment deals. In addition the 7.5m sq ft (or possibly more) of office space vacated by ‘movers’ could be returned to building owners and would need to be upgraded for letting.

To meet the expected lease expiry-led office demand a substantial supply of new Grade A development is needed in 2011, which is not going to arrive. Those occupiers with imminent lease expiries will be unable to find prime new office space and will therefore postpone moves, increasingly turn to pre-lets, or remain ‘in-situ’ and refurbish.

In 2011 development starts will be numerous (30+ is possible) but take-up is expected to be down on 2010 levels and the majority deals are likely to be smaller, perhaps under 4,645 sq m (50,000 sq ft).

The ‘volume’ of deals done in late 2010, combined with about 46,450 sq m (500,000 sq ft) of office space now under offer, will carry the fit-out market through to summer 2011. The office market will then become one of refurbishment and restacking until a new wave of occupiers starts to take up the developments coming on-stream from late 2012 onwards.





- (01-02-2011)

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Victoria scheme start

Doughty Hanson and Terrace Hill Group have appointed contractor Kier to build offices and flats at Howick Place in London Victoria, SW1. Demolition of existing buildings is nearly complete and Kier is due to start work on the 280,000 sq ft One Howick Place scheme shortly. The mixed-use redevelopment will include offices, alongside 33 apartments and ground floor retail space. Rolfe Judd is the designer. - (27-01-2011)

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City tower underway

Construction of Land Securities and Canary Wharf Group's “Walkie Talkie” building has finally got underway at 20 Fenchurch Street, EC3. Piling for the Rafael Viñoly designed building has begun with completion to ground floor planned for February 2012 and final completion anticipated in early 2014. When complete, the 37 storey building will provide 690,000 sq ft grade A office space in the City of London, topped by a public sky garden. Canary Wharf Contractors Limited, is the construction manager. - (19-01-2011)

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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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Contractors tipped for City tower

Six major office scheme contractors are tipped to be competing to build British Land's £340 million 'Cheese grater' building in Leadenhall Building in Leadenhall Street, London, EC3. Mace, Skanska, Laing O'Rourke, Bovis Lend Lease, Balfour Beatty and Sir Robert McAlpine have been identified as front-runners for the project. - (17-12-2010)

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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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Office tower deal

Land Securities and Canary Wharf Group have formed the 20 Fenchurch Street Limited Partnership, a 50:50 joint venture to develop the Walkie Talkie office building in the City of London, at a development cost of £500m. The site has been sold by Land Securities to the Partnership for £90.2 million and will provide 690,000 sq ft of office space in EC3. Construction will begin in 2011 with Canary Wharf Contractors appointed as Construction Manager. - (19-10-2010)

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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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West End letting

Linkedin, the US business social networking site, is taking the 687 sq m (7,400 sq ft) first floor of Derwent London's recently completed Charlotte Building in Gresse Street, London, W1. The rent agreed is thought to be about £511.29 pre sq m (£47.50 per sq ft). The lease is understood to expire in 2020, with a break option in 2015. - (02-09-2010)

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Broadgate start in 2011

British Land is to demolish UBS's offices at 4 and 6 Broadgate near Liverpool Street station, and erect a 65,000 sq m (700,000) sq ft building with four trading floors. The Swiss bank will occupy the new building and has agreed an 18-month rent-free period and will then pay £54.50 per sq ft. The new 5 Broadgate will cost £340m to construct. British Land and Blackstone plan to start building in the middle of 2011 and hope to finish in 2014. British Land is also in negotiations with potential tenants for its planned 122 Leadenhall Street tower, known as the Cheesegrater. - (03-08-2010)

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Lettings in Land Securities buildings

News International is taking 5,110 sq m (55,000 sq ft) of offices on the ground, first, fourth and fifth floors at Land Securities' 2 Thomas More Square and 1,400 sq m (15,000 sq ft) on the 14th floor of 3 Thomas More Square, both in London, E1. The leases run to 2020. These deals take total occupancy in Thomas More Square to just under 99% with News International occupancy at Thomas More Square over 260,000 sq ft. - (29-07-2010)

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Can of Spam consent

Targetfollow has gained revised consent for its planned 22-storey office development with retail at ground level, at 60-70 St Mary Axe, London, EC3. The building is being nicknamed "Can of Spam" because of its shape. The architect is Foggo Associates for the 39,166 sq m (421,582 sq ft) gross or 27,870 sq m (300,000 sq ft) net, island scheme. A start is not expected until 2011 or 2012. DP9 is the planning consultant. DTZ is advising on the development. - (02-07-2010)

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Broadgate HQ plan

British Land has confirmed press reports that it is planning a new headquarters for UBS covering around 65,000 sq m (700,000 sq ft) at its Broadgate, London, EC2 site, on the site of existing UBS buildings number 4 and 6. The scheme is expected to cost £175m. The new HQ is expected to be completed in 2014. - (19-05-2010)

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Tower topped out

110 Bishopsgate a.k.a Heron Tower, the 46 storey, 230m high, building that will provide 40,836 sq m (439,560 sq ft) of grade A office space close to Liverpool Street Station, London, EC3 was topped out today. Heron International, will complete the tower in March 2011, when in addition to the office space the building will also provide apartments, restaurants and skybar. Heron chief executive Gerald Ronson said "I believe that Heron Tower has come to market at the right time.” - (12-04-2010)

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Cheesegrater revival

British Land, developer of 'The Cheesegrater', otherwise known as the Leadenhall Building at 122 Leadenhall Street, London, EC3, one of the tallest towers planned for the City of London before the recession, say it it is thinking about beginning construction of the 47-storey Richard Rogers designed tower. British Land said it was “thinking pretty seriously” about reviving the project, which will provide 82,721 sq m (890,409 sq ft) of office space 56,856 sq m (612,000 sq ft net) and 2,150 sq m (23,142 sq ft) of retail space. - (01-04-2010)

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Search for City tower sites

Brookfield, the Toronto-based developer and contractor, is seeking a City of London site to build another office tower, following its role on the Pinnacle, this time as developer. A shortage of prime office space may push rents back to their 2007 peak in three years, according to King Sturge. The company’s development unit has seen some “interesting opportunities” for an office building in the City of London, according to James Tuckey, chairman of Brookfield’s European arm. - (11-03-2010)

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Macquarie to move HQ to Ropemaker

Macquarie Bank, the Australian investment bank, is understood to have agreed to take 20,160 sq m (217,000 sq ft) offices at British Land's Ropemaker Place in the City of London for its 1000 London staff. Terms are undisclosed. Macquarie was close to letting Drapers Gardens last year has been outbid by Blackrock. The bank has a lease expiry at City Point in 2011. Ropemaker Place is now almost 80 percent let. Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd. and Mitsubishi UFJ Securities leased almost 230,000 sq ft in the building last year. - (12-02-2010)

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Developer schedules three schemes for 2010

Land Securities plan to start work on three West End office developments in 2010 with the intention of completion in 2013. The developer is looking to start Park House in London W1, Selborne House in SW1 and possibly Victoria Interchange. Park House includes more than 100,000 sq ft of retail and 160,000 sq ft of office space. Selborne House is close to Parliament. Land Securities is prepared to build both without pre-lets, ahead of likely completion in 2013. - (14-01-2010)

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Bishops Place approved

Hammerson has had its Bishops Place regeneration project approved yesterday by LB Hackney. The revised scheme includes 233 Shoreditch High Street (the Light Bar building) and relates to a 1.3ha (3 acre) site in London, E1. The 1.5m sq ft project, designed by Foster + Partners, will include about 59,922 sq m (645,000 sq ft) of offices, a hotel, residential, and retail space. - (05-11-2009)

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London survey looks forward

The latest Drivers Jonas Crane Survey, researched by Cityoffices.net, has found that despite 10.3m sq ft under construction (of which 7.15m sq ft is available to let) there were only six significant starts in Q4 2008 and Q1 2009. There are 30 buildings available to let at the moment of greater than 100,000 sq ft. DJ said developers should expect more prelets in 2010-11 for completion in 2013. Tenant’s choices will be reduced over the next few years. In addition short-term lease extensions being agreed now could generate further demand. - (11-06-2009)

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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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Can of Spam consent

Targetfollow has gained consent for its planned 22-storey office tower with retail at ground level, at 60-70 St Mary Axe, London, EC3. The building is being nicknamed "Can of Spam" because of its shape. The architect is Foggo Associates for the 39,166 sq m (421,582 sq ft) gross or 27,870 sq m (300,000 sq ft) net, island scheme. Finance has yet to be secured. A start is not expected until 2010. DP9 is planning consultant. DTZ is advising on the development. - (19-12-2008)

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Aldgate East stops

The construction of Formation’s "Aldgate East”, at 1 Commercial Street and 101-110 Whitechapel High Street, London E1, has stopped. The building has reached concrete frame stage up to 11 storeys but its future is now being decided by administrators Ernst & Young. The development is planned as a 22 storey tower with about 8,640 sq m (93,000 sq ft) of office space, 217 residential units, and 1,068 sq m (11,500 sq ft) of retail space. The Formation Group, the sports talent manager, is understood to have raised a £93m loan for the land and building work from Heritable, part of Landesbanki, the failed Icelandic bank. As part of the deal Formation agreed to underwrite £11.6m of the loan, which now becomes a liability. Completion was planned for May 2010. - (18-12-2008)

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New Broadcasting House fit out

The New Broadcasting House project for the BBC in Portland Place, W1, is seeking workplace and interior design consultants for the 45,000 sq m (484,380 sq ft) net fit-out of the eight story Phase 2. The £110m Phase 1 involved the refurbishment of Broadcasting House of 16,600 sq m (178,882 sq ft), and the new build East Wing (Egton House), a five storey 6,800 sq m (73,195 sq ft). Phase 1 completed in early 2006. The £262m Phase 2 is an eight storey 54,000 sq m (581,256 sq ft) gross building due to be completed in mid 2009. The fit out project is due to be appointed in the New Year for a start in April 2009 and occupation is planned for September 2012. - (17-12-2008)

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Mayfair scheme for March 2009

Completion of D2 Private's 9,300 sq m (100,000 sq ft) speculative office building at 23 Savile Row, Mayfair, London, W1, designed by Eric Parry Architects, is expected in March 2009. The development manager of the scheme, which also has retail on the ground floor and six flats on the top two floors, is Stanhope. Mace is the main contractor at the old English Heritage Fortress House HQ. - (05-12-2008)

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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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JP Morgan pre-let deal

JP Morgan, the US investment bank, has announced a £237m deal to acquire a 999 year lease from Canary Wharf Group (CWG) on the Riverside South site at Canary Wharf, London, E14. The site has planning permission for 1.8m sq ft of office space in two towers and a ‘link’ building. Infrastructure work is underway but JP Morgan is still finalising the design of the buildings and will occupy in phases. The building will be the headquarters for all the banks European operations and could be completed in 2012 or 2013. CWG will act as development and construction manager. CWG will complete the design, planning, piling and raft construction and the bank will, subject to market conditions, decide when to instruct CWG to proceed with final construction. If construction of the building is postponed, or put off altogether, CWG will be paid for completed work and also retain £76m representing a portion of developers profits related to the development. - (18-11-2008)

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City scheme close to completion

Lancaster Holdings, part of Warner Estates, is well underway with the refurbishment of the 5,300 sq m (57,000 sq ft) Cable House office building at 60 New Broad Street, London, EC2. Completion is expected in December 2008 and Montagu Evans is the letting agent. - (14-11-2008)

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City completion

ING Real Estate has completed its 1,548 sq m (16,667 sq ft) office refurbishment of the seven-storey office and retail building at 2-4 Eastcheap, London, EC3. Tuffin Ferraby Taylor advised. Cuffe was main contractor and the letting agent is King Sturge. - (15-02-2008)

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Pinnacle tower progress

Demolition at Arab Investment's site at 22-24 Bishopsgate, London, EC2 is due to complete in February 2008. Mace is project manager. Multiplex is to build the new £500m, 288m-high office tower which will be completed in 2010. - (15-01-2008)

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Work starts at Fetter Lane scheme

Construction work is underway at Delancey's speculative redevelopment of Bream’s Buildings and Rolls Buildings in Fetter Lane, London, EC4. 13,527 sq m (145,600 sq ft) on LG,G,1,2,3,4 floors has been pre-let to HM Courts Service, and 9,649 sq m (104,347 sq ft) remains available on 5,6,7,8 floors. The completed scheme will offer separate entrances for HM Courts Service on lower floors and the offices on upper floors. - (22-08-2007)

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"Walkie Talkie" building approved

Land Securities, the developer, has won the planning inquiry into its planned £200m, 39-storey skyscraper at 20 Fenchurch Street, London, EC3. The 160m high ‘Walkie Talkie’ scheme, looking a bit like a mobile phone, will provide 55,741 sq m (600,000 sq ft) of office space, 1,114 sq m (12,000 sq ft) of retail space and 3,716 sq m (40,000 sq ft) “Skyroom” function facility. There are also plans for a 1,745 sq m (18,783 sq ft) office next to the tower. Work on the development could start in late 2007 for 2010 completion. - (11-07-2007)

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Shell-Mex House sold

Shell-Mex House in the Strand has been sold for just under £500m to Westbrook, the US fund manager. The 51,096 sq m (550,000 sq ft) art deco building was owned by a group of private investors, including Robert and Vincent Tchenguiz, David and Simon Reuben and Jack Dellal, who acquired the building in 2002 for £327m from Lehman Brothers. The building has been on the market since early 2006 and has seen several bids fall through, possibly because of rising interest rates. Westbrook was advised by Knight Frank and CB Richard Ellis advised the consortium. - (06-07-2007)

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More view less towers

An interim report from the Department of Culture could lead to changes in the protected view lines for the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey and the Palace of Westminster. London's Unesco World Heritage Sites are seen as being in need of more stringent planning rules to protect them. Any move to extend view lines could be at odds with the Mayor of Londons support for tall buildings. The Government is undertaking a visual impact study to review the current London View Management Framework. Any changes to London view lines is certain to lead to a lively debate. - (15-02-2007)

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Middlesex Hospital plans

Project Abbey, the consortium of investors led by Christian Candy, founder of Candy & Candy, is submitting a planning application for the redevelopment of the Middlesex Hospital site on Mortimer Street, London, W1. The 1.3ha (3 acre) NoHo site will be redeveloped into 273 apartments and a 32,980 sq m (355,000 sq ft) nine storey office building. - (14-02-2007)

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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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Gherkin for sale

Swiss Re has put 30 St Mary Axe, London, EC3, otherwise known as The Gherkin, up for sale. It is thought that the iconic 40-storey building could achieve a sale price of over £550m. Swiss Re is being advised by DTZ and Eurohypo. - (18-09-2006)

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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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Smithfield plans called in

Thornfield Developments has had its plans to redevelop the west wing (General Market building) of the former Smithfield market at 43 Farringdon Street, London, EC1, called in and could face a public inquiry. The plans are seen as a possible conflict with “national policies on important matters”. The £150m plans are for a seven storey 39,204 sq m (422,000 sq ft) redevelopment. Other buildings in Smithfield are no longer part of the plans, which have been scaled down following the listing of the Red House cold store earlier in the year. - (06-07-2006)

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Beetham big plans in Aldgate

The Beetham Organization is thought to be about to submit plans for a 92,920 sq m (1m sq ft) office and retail scheme on a 1.3ha (3.2 acre) site that includes Bain Dawes House and Latham House, 16 Minories, London, EC3, and Aldgate bus station. The scheme involves three office buildings with 3,251 sq m (35,000 sq ft) of retail space. The first phase of the development could start in March 2007, subject to planning permission. The tallest building is 22 storeys and the 12 storey block could be first and developed as a speculative building. - (06-07-2006)

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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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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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Consent for Drapers Gardens

The Royal Bank of Scotland has at last received planning consent for the redevelopment of its Drapers Gardens site bounded by Copthall Avenue and Throgmorton Avenue, London, EC2. The existing building is 32,996 sq m (355,168 sq ft) and the current proposals, submitted in April 2004, are for a stepped building of between five and 16-storeys, providing 37,452 sq m (403,733 sq ft) gross floorspace. The office element of the scheme will be on 13 floors and amount to 30,761 sq m (331,111 sq ft) gross external. There will be 131 sq m (1,410 sq ft) of retail space on the ground floor. The architect is Foggo Associates and Drivers Jonas is the development advisors. - (21-11-2005)

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Lloyds considers HQ sale

Lloyds has confirmed that it is considering the sale of its historic City headquarters building - 71 Fenchurch Street, London, EC3 for £150m. The 23,230 sq m (250,000 sq ft) building is currently home to Lloyds Register. CBRE is advising Lloyds. - (28-09-2005)

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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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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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Bishops Square reaches 'Cat A' stage.

The Bishops Square development at Spitalfields will effectively reach 'Cat A' completion very soon. The 70,000 sq m (753,474 sq ft) building has been pre-let by a law firm and the main contractor should be finished on site during the next few weeks. - (06-06-2005)

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Palestra topping out next week

There are two less cranes on the London skyline today as those on the Palestra development on Blackfriars Road, SE1, gears up for the topping out ceremony next week. The 13-storey 27,870 sq m (300,000 sq ft) office building will complete in mid 2006. - (02-06-2005)

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LandSecs sell 30 Gresham Street

It has been reported that Land Securities has sold the freehold of 30 Gresham Street to to the Government of Singapore Investment Corp for £300m. The 36,368 sq m (391,462 sq ft) building was let to Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein last autumn. BH2 advised Land Sec on the sale. - (04-05-2005)

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York House on-site

The development of the former York House at 15-17, Great Cumberland Place in London, W1, started on site on 18th April 2005. The mixed-use scheme, which may be marketed as The York Building, will provide about 27,870 sq m (300,000 sq ft) of office space, residential apartments and retail. The office element is thought to be around 11,000 sq m (118,000 sq ft). - (27-04-2005)

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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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Bath House goes under the hammer.

Investment company, Favermead Assets has decided not to redevelop the largely vacant 1960s Bath House, 52-60 Holborn Viaduct, London, EC1A 2DY and has instead decided to sell it. The company has planning permission to replace the building with a speculative, eight storey mixed scheme including 14,000 sq m (150,700 sq ft) of offices, plus ground floor retail. The building is nearly opposite the City Thameslink station northern entrance and adjacent to Lovells new HQ. Favermead will have disposed of the site within the next 4-6 weeks. Nelson Bakewell is advising Aside from the ground floor retail space the building is empty. Sheppard Robson was the architect. - (09-04-2005)

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West end office from McKay.

Work is now underway on McKay Securities new 1,860 sq m (20,000 sq ft) speculative office development at 1 Old Queen Street, London SW1. The building will be completed during 2006. - (24-03-2005)

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City office refurbishment.

The Mercer Company is having most of Basildon House on Moorgate, London EC2, refurbished. The building will be available from early June 2005 and is being marketed by DTZ and Ingleby Trice. The building is still partially occupied but the areas currently being renovated cover approximately 2,322 sq m (25,000 sq ft). The entire lower ground, 1st, 2nd, & 3rd floors are being refurbished along with part of the 5th and ground floors. - (24-03-2005)

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Work starts on 71 Lombard Street.

Work has now gotten underway on the redevelopment of 71 Lombard Street, London EC3. The building is being renovated by IVG Asticus, which is acting as construction manager and appointed sub contractors for the building work, and should be ready to occupy during early 2007. When completed, the building will provide approximately 12,000 sq m (129,168 sq ft) of offices on floors 1-8 and 3,716 sq m (40,000 sq ft) of retail on the ground and mezzanine floors as well in the basement. The letting agents for the offices are DTZ and Savills and DTZ and Cushman are the agents for the retail. - (08-03-2005)

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British Land plans another skyscraper

British Land has unveiled new plans for two linked office buildings of 34-storeys and 12-storeys at 201 Bishopsgate, London, EC2. The buildings will provide a total of 77,108 sq m (830,000 sq ft) of space. The tower will provide office space of about 37,161 sq m (400,000 sq ft) and the low rise block will have 38,554 sq m (415,000 sq ft) of offices and nearly 1,858 sq m (20,000 sq ft) of retail space. - (04-03-2005)

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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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Hammerson sees rents rising

Hammerson is predicting that the London office market will see rents rise in 2006 and fewer incentives being on offer this year. Hammerson has one-third of its portfolio in offices and a vacancy rate of 28.3%, mainly because of its four central London buildings. The comments by John Richards, chief executive, were made as Hammerson announced that John Nelson, former chairman of Credite Suisse First Boston, is to become chairman of Hammerson at the end of September, when Ronald Spinney retires as chairman. - (01-03-2005)

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Spring start for Winchmore House

British Steel Pension Fund is planning a refurbishment of the 7,897 sq m (85,000 sq ft) Winchmore House on Fetter Lane in EC4. The fund has vacant possession of the building and the refurbishment could start in spring 2005 for completion in early 2006. - (23-02-2005)

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Elephant & Castle project hots up

St Modwen, the developer, is said to be looking to bid for the redevelopment of the Elephant & Castle site in south London. The London Borough of Southwark is about to issue invitations to tender for the 71ha (170-acre) site. The scheme includes new office buildings, shopping centre, leisure uses and residential. Other groups thought to be preparing bids include Blackfriars Investments, with Royal London Asset Management, Berkeley Group, Hines, the US developer, and possibly Multiplex. The previous attempt by LB Southwark to find a developer partner fell apart in 2002. - (23-02-2005)

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Huge office scheme for SE1

Capital & Counties has submitted an application for the redevelopment of Kings Reach tower, Stamford Street, London, SE1. The scheme adds an additional four floors to the 30-storey tower, bringing it to 34-storeys and increases the 25,500 sq m (275,000 sq ft) building to 37,200 sq m (400,000 sq ft). - (15-02-2005)

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Knight Frank predicts

Knight Frank is predicting that take-up in central London will rise from 1.2m sq m (13m sq ft) in 2004 to 1.7m sq m (18m sq ft) in 2008, a 38% increase. Available space is seen as falling from 2.5m sq m (27m sq ft) to around 1.0m sq m (11m sq ft) in the same period. The firm sees rents in the City of London as remaining around £484.38 per sq m (£45 per sq ft) in 2005 but rising to £645.84 per sq m (£60 per sq ft) in 2008. In the West End rents are predicted to rise from £807.30 per sq m (£75 per sq ft) to £861.12 per sq m (£80 per sq ft) and to £1,022.58 per sq m (£95 per sq ft) by 2007. The firm also considers that because only a few new-build West End developments are in the pipeline that this year will see a focus on refurbishments. - (14-02-2005)

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Lloyd's of London building finally sold

The iconic Lloyd's of London building, designed by Lord Rogers, at One Lime Street, London, EC3, has been sold by DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale to a closed-end German fund fronted by CLI Group, part of Commerzbank, for about £231m. DekaBank paid around £180m for the building in 1996 and has been looking for a buyer for over a year. - (09-02-2005)

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More London underway

Construction is now officially underway at More London Riverside of plots 3, 4 and 5 comprising 41,806 sq m of offices and a Hilton hotel in the Foster-designed scheme. Construction of the London, SE1 scheme is expected to complete in late 2006. Both the office buildings are pre-let to law firms. - (31-01-2005)

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Completion near for Meritcape office

Meritcape’s office refurbishment at 24 Cornhill, London EC3, is expected to complete by April 2005. The building will provide 2,554 sq m (27,500 sq ft) of office space and is being marketed by Chapman Swabey. - (20-01-2005)

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Condor House nears completion

In March 2005, Sir Robert McAlpine is expected to complete the construction of City Office’s (Greycoat) new 12,322 sq m (132,642 sq ft) Condor House office and retail scheme at 4 St Paul’s Churchyard, London, EC4. The building, known as Condor House, is being marketed by CB Richard Ellis. The building will provide a net office area of 10,033 sq m (108,000 sq ft). - (13-01-2005)

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Barclays deal with LandSec

Barclays Bank has agreed to sell 16 office buildings to Land Securities’ Trillium group. Barclays is moving London staff to a new 1m sq ft headquarters at Canary Wharf by May 2005, which will release 13 office premises. The bank will pay Land Securities to take on the commercial responsibility for the short-term leases. The deal also includes three office buildings at the Westwood Business Park in Coventry on which Barclays will take a 20-year lease back at around £20m and Land Securities will pay about £25m for the buildings. - (13-01-2005)

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L&G confirm pre-let

2005 starts with good news, as Legal & General, the insurer, confirms, at last, that it has taken an initial 11,148 sq m (120,000 sq ft) pre-let on floors 3 to 8 at CLOUT’s 16,727 sq m (180,000 sq ft) 1, Coleman Street scheme (Austral House) in London, EC2. The new headquarters building will be completed in early 2007 and demolition of Austral House will start this month. Legal & General is planning to relocate 700 staff from Bucklersbury House and has taken a 20-year lease at £493.53 per sq m (£45.85 per sq ft) with a 30 month rent free period. Knight Frank is advising L&G. - (08-01-2005)

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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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CIS plans big scheme in Victoria area

Co-Op Investment Services is planning to renovate Abford House at 333 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London, London SW1. The company will soon submit an application to refurbish the nine-storey building into 13,935 sq m (150,000 sq ft) of offices. Gerald Eve is the planning consultant. - (03-12-2004)

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Late 2005 start for Bath House?

Investment company, Favermead Assets has yet to begin work on its redevelopment of the largely vacant 1960's Bath House, 52-60 Holborn Viaduct, London, EC1A 2DY. The company has planning permission to replace the building with a speculative, eight-storey mixed scheme including 14,000 sq m (150,700 sq ft) of offices, plus ground floor retail. The building is nearly opposite the City Thameslink station northern entrance and adjacent to Lovells new HQ. When contacted, Favermead that it will not begin work before late 2005 at the earliest. Aside from the ground floor retail space the building is empty. Jones Lang LaSalle’s City office is advising. - (27-11-2004)

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35 Basinghall Street demolition start

A revised planning application has been submitted for the CLOUT (Pillar) office scheme at 35 Basinghall Street and 16 Coleman Street, London, EC2. The latest plans are for 25,328 sq m (272,630 sq ft) of offices and a 140 sq m (1,507 sq ft) shop unit. The new scheme includes the redevelopment of MAB's 16 Coleman Street building, which adjoins the site of 35 Basinghall Street. Demolition of 35 Basinghall Street building is currently underway. - (13-11-2004)

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Moor House nears completion

Moor House at 119 London Wall will now be completed at the end of 2004. Skanska is currently completing the fitout of the 306,395 sq ft speculative office building, which was originaly due for completion in September. At this time the space is fully available with a rent in the £50's per sq ft expected. The agents are JLL (Mathew Hammond) and Strutt & Parker. - (12-11-2004)

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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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Happiness is a completed office

Benchmark started the redevelopment of its Soho site at 15-18 Golden Square, London W1, during autumn 2002 and has just completed. Benchmark awarded the main contract to Wates for the construction of a 5,295 sq m (57,000 sq ft) 6 storey building (now called ‘Happiness’), designed by TP Bennett. The scheme includes retail and restaurant on the ground floor with 5 floors of offices totaling 4,087 sq m (44,000 sq ft) above. The letting agents are DE & J Levy and Dunlop Heywood Lorenz. - (20-10-2004)

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Imminent start for Chesham House.

Demolition of the original premises at 132-154 Regent Street has been completed and work on the 6,596 sq m (71,000 sq ft) new offices is about to commence. The new address of the building, dubbed Chesham House, is actually now 1 Warwick Street and has been conceived by City Office Developments and Morley Fund Management. The building will be ready by autumn 2006 and the agent is CBRE. - (20-10-2004)

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Gerkin favourite to win prize

The Swiss Re building at 30 St Mary Axe, London, EC3, otherwise known as the Gerkin, has won 55 per cent of the public votes in a BBC poll on what should win the RIBA Sterling Prize for architecture. The Imperial War Museum North in Manchester was in second place. The winner will be announced on October 16. - (08-10-2004)

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DevSecs to start on new phase?

Development Securities could be about to start on one of the 32,515 sq m (350,000 sq ft) second phase buildings at Paddington Central in London, W2. The financial backers to the scheme, HBOS and Morley Fund Management, are thought to be close to agreeing the funding for the next phase to proceed on this £1bn project. Development Securities has already completed the first phase of the 157,933 sq m (1.7m sq ft) development. Michael Marx, joint chief executive at Development Securities, has said “now was a good time to embark on redevelopments in central London as the occupier market started to pick up”. - (05-10-2004)

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Canary Riverside South decision

The London Borough of Tower Hamlets has decided to grant planning consent for the Canary Wharf Riverside South development, subject to the agreement of the Mayor of London and the Government Office for London. The scheme is for two towers providing a total of 279,000 sq m (3m sq ft) of office and retail space. The towers will be 28- storeys and 34-storeys high and linked by a building at podium level. The planning permission is subject to a S106 agreement for around £20m to provide infrastructure improvements, a community fund and a park. - (24-09-2004)

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Hammerson predict rent rise

Hammerson is predicting a rise in office rents in the City of London in 2005, with John Richards, chief executive, being quoted as saying “Rent-free periods in the City will shorten this year and rents will rise next year”. City office buildings account for 20 per cent of the company’s UK portfolio and have seen a rise in value by 4.8% to £540.8m. In the West End rents were 5 per cent to 10 per cent higher than in 2003. Hammerson’s West End portfolio accounts for about 2 per cent of the company’s UK portfolio and saw a 12.8 per cent rise in value to £81.7m. - (25-08-2004)

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UBS buys Mondial House

UBS, the investment bank, is reported as having acquired Mondial House, 90, Upper Thames Street, London, EC4, from British Telecom for around £55m for it’s Triton fund. City Offices, the Greycoat subsidiary, is partnering UBS on the scheme which could include a refurbishment of building or redevelopment to provide over 46,451 sq m (500,000 sq ft). BT will take a two-year lease on the 37,160 sq m (400,000 sq ft) building to remove telephone switchgear having originally planned to redevelop the 1970’s building to a design by Foggo Associates. The site could also be incorporated into an adjoining site where the Corporation of London has been considering a development. - (10-07-2004)

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Kings Cross Central plans unveiled

After a gap of 15-year new outline plans have been announced for the 28ha (67-acre) Kings Cross site in London, NW1. The Kings Cross Central development in totola will provide 743,218 sq m (8m sq ft) of mixed-use space to be developed by Argent St George with Exel and London & Continental Railways, the landowners. The main site is bounded by the Euston Road, York Way, St Pancras Station and Kings Cross Station. The 1980’s proposals by Rosehaugh and Stanhope included two Sir Norman Foster skyscrapers as part of a £3.5bn redevelopment. The new plans are for a £2bn scheme and involve the renovation of 20 historic buildings and providing 483,091 sq m (5.2m sq ft) of office space, 47,194 sq m (508,000 sq ft) of hotel space, 45,893 sq m (494,000 sq ft) of retail and leisure uses, 8,454 sq m (91,000 sq ft) of cenemas, and 75,715 sq m (815,000 sq ft) of community and education and cultural space, to include an art gallery and museum. At lease 1,800 homes will also be built. Construction work on the major elements of the scheme cannot start until the Channel Tunnel rail Link is completed in 2007. - (05-06-2004)

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Shell wins on appeal

Shell International’s plans for the redevelopment of part of the Shell Centre site in London, SE1 have been given planning consent on appeal. The scheme in York Road is to be developed in partnership with Lend Lease and is known as Belvedere Court. The development include about 32,000 sq m (344,450 sq ft) of offices, 7,300 sq m (78,575 sq ft) of retail within the existing Shell building, 4,000 sq m (43,056 sq ft) of restaurants and cafes, 11,200 sq m (120,556 sq ft) of sports facilities and 4,700 sq m (50,590 sq ft) of conference space. The scheme has been designed by Arup Associates - (20-04-2004)

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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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Parkview revises Battersea plans

Parkview, the developer, has submitted a revised planning application for Battesea Power station in London SW8. The new application is a revision to the 510,962 sq m (5.5m sq ft) plans approved in 2001 with key elements being a renovated power station building, two hotels, a theatre and office space, and up to 700 apartments. The new plans, which follow a feasibility review by Parkview and Lend Lease, open up the south side of the site and include 51,096 sq m (550,000 sq ft) of office space and a 20,996 sq m (226,000 sq ft) exhibition building. Letting agents are CB Richard Ellis and Davis Coffer Lyons. - (23-03-2004)

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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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