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Midtown deal

Fringe scheme start

City scheme underway

EC2 planning renewal

Paddington application

West End refurbishment

Contractor appointment

City site sale

City refurbishment green light

Victoria consent

Noho refurbishment start

Strand site sold

Soho scheme poised

Revised consent in EC3

St James redevelopment

US bank shortlists architects

City refurbishment start

City scheme redesign

Mayfair redevelopment

Oxford Street start

Contractor tipped

Application in EC1

Canary start

Victoria scheme deal

City scheme application

HQ lease signed

Mayfair HQ revised

West end consent

Architect replaced

Contractor in W6

West end application

Paddington scheme letting

Canary scheme update

EC3 construction to start

City site to progress

West end start planned

Mixed use scheme consent

Southbank re-design

New application in EC3

Mayfair application

Mayfair refurbishment plan

Refusal in SE1

Contractor shortlist

Mayfair start tipped

Tower to start

Consent in EC2

Contractors battle it out

Early days for SE1 scheme

City refurbishment plan

Appointment in EC3

Victoria consent

Contractor appointed in EC3

City scheme green light

Hammersmith start planned

City consent

City site sale

Demolition start in EC2

Development starts (again)

Soho HQ plan

Holborn refurbishment plan

City fringe start

Moorgate consent

Major West End development

City consent

Mayfair scheme start

Mayfair scheme poised

Consent for Farringdon scheme

Marylebone refurbishment

Revised City scheme

Office application in W1

Kings Cross starts

Major City scheme on site soon

Refurbishment consent in Mayfair

Major Soho consent

Kings Cross start

Final Bankside blocks

Knightsbridge redevelopment

Contractor appointed

Midtown application

City consent

Architect change in EC3

Docks scheme could be revived

York House update

Major West End application

City site changes hands

Consent for Midtown scheme

Noho scheme scheduled

Mayfair scheme start

City tower start

City office tower start

New application in Farringdon

Paddington scheme consent

Work starting on City fringe scheme

Contractor appointed for SW1 scheme

Midtown scheme planned

Mayfair consent

New City application

City scheme to start

City HQ redevelopment

Contractor appointed

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

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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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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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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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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Major scheme launch

Legal & General is launching its 500,000 sq ft Renzo Piano-designed Central St Giles office scheme in London, WC2, at MIPIM 2010. The scheme includes 400,000 sq ft of offices, with large office floors of 43,000 sq ft, plus 109 apartments and retail. Letting agents are Jones Lang LaSalle and Cushman & Wakefield. - (16-03-2010)

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Embassy design unveiled

The US Government has appointed architect Kieran Timberlake to design its new £324m embassy at Nine Elms, Battersea, London, SE11. The winning design is a glazed box on a colonnade and crystalline second skin. The size is expected to be about 46,450 sq m (500,000 sq ft). The anticipated ground breaking is in 2013 with completion in 2017. - (24-02-2010)

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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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Mayor backs Institute scheme

The London mayor has backed the £150m refurbishment of the 9,300 sq m (100,000 sq ft) former Commonwealth Institute in High Street Kensington, London, W8. The refurbishment will include space for the Design Museum and three new residential blocks by Chelsfield. The architects for the Parabola scheme are Rem Koolhaas and Reinier de Graaf of OMA. Further negotiations will be needed before work can start. - (19-06-2009)

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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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Stanhope win Noho

Stanhope is now the developer of the NoHo Square scheme in Mortimer Street, London, W1. The 1.3ha (3 acre) NoHo site was owned by Kaupthing, the Icelandic bank, but a £50m deal will see Stanhope in control of a joint venture. It is thought that Kaupthing will write off £200m of debt on the project. The planned 82,776 sq m (891,000 sq ft) of luxury apartments and 32,980 sq m (355,000 sq ft) of offices is expected to be redesigned with a media industry focus. - (21-03-2009)

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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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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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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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NoHo no go!

CPC Group, the Candy & Candy venture, has transferred its equity and share in the NoHo Square development in Mortimer Street, London, W1, to Kaupthing, the Icelandic bank, which now has 100% of the project. The 1.3ha (3 acre) NoHo site was planned to be redeveloped as a 82,776 sq m (891,000 sq ft) as luxury apartments and 32,980 sq m (355,000 sq ft) of offices but the scheme may now be redesigned. Candy & Candy will cease to be development managers on the project. The site is now said to be worth £120m (down from £175m) and the bank may now sell the site or seek a new development partner. - (04-11-2008)

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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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Hammerson pick and mix

Hammerson has selected a plethora of architects for the redevelopment of Victoria Station. Hammerson and Network Rail are proposing to develop three office towers each designed by a different architect. The architects appointed are Rafael Vinloy, Nicolas Grimshaw and GMW Partnership. In total the scheme could provide 74,322 sq m (800,000 sq ft) of office space. One of the architects will also be appointed to redesign the ticket hall and concourse. - (01-02-2007)

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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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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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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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Treasury Office completed

Work on the 450,000 sq ft refurbishment of the Treasury Office (Phase 2) on Great George Street is to complete next week. The Foster & Partners designed scheme has been project managed by Stanhope under the Exchange Partners Consortium banner. Bovis Lend Lease has been acting as main contractor and Gardiner & Theobald was the Quantity Surveyor. - (12-11-2004)

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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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New Guardian offices completed.

The new offices for the Guardian Newspaper at 3-7 Herbal Hill, London, have been completed. Developed by Millennium Loft, designed by Child Graddon Lewis, built by Tolent and marketed by CBRE, the 3,800 sq m (41,000 sq ft) office was pre-let by the Grauniad during late 2001 – early 2002. - (20-10-2004)

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Listing throws puts plans in doubt

South Kensington Tube station has just been listed by the Culture Secretary and could thow into doubt plans by Stanhope and Hutchison Whampoa for gaining planning consent for a new office and retails scheme. Proposals for a Terry Farrell & Partners designed 11-storey tower and shopping centre were withdrawn last month following local protests. South Kensington Tube station was built in 1868 and the listing is intended to presenrve original features designed by Sir John Fowler for the Metropolitan and District Railway. - (09-09-2004)

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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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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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L&G appoints on Bucklersbury House

Legal & General has appointed French architect Jean Nouvel to design the redevelopment of Bucklersbury House in London, EC4. Jean Nouvel has previously been involved in early concept designs at Canary Wharf and will work in collaboration with Foster & Partners. Stanhope has been appointed as the development manager. The 1.3ha (3-acre) site is bounded by Cannon Street, Queen Victoria Street and Walbrook and includes Bucklersbury House, Temple Court and 9, Queen Victoria Street. The new development could provide a 139,353 sq m (1.5m sq ft) mixed-use office and retail scheme. - (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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Regent Street proposals submitted

The Crown Estate has submitted proposals to Westminster City Council for it’s £500m mixed-use scheme for the redevelopment of the southern part of Regent Street, London, W1. The scheme, named ‘The Quadrant’, is for 90,000 sq m (968,760 sq ft) of space and includes a five-star hotel, apartments, and about 60,386 sq m (650,000 sq ft) of office space. The scheme includes Regent Street, Brewer Street, Glasshouse Street and Aire Street, and has been designed by architect Allies & Morrison with CB Richard Ellis advising on the development. - (18-02-2004)

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L&G unveils St Giles Court plans

Legal & General and Stanhope have unveiled designs for a mixed-use 46,451 sq m (500,000 sq ft) for St Giles Court, St Giles High Street, off Oxford Street, London WC2. The scheme has been designed by the Italian architect, Renzo Piano and includes offices, restaurants and retail based around a new semi-covered public space. The scheme also includes 100 housing units. The scheme would require the demolition of L&G’s 18,600 sq m (200,000 sq ft) St Giles Court office block, currently occupied by the Ministry of Defence on a lease until 2011. At present public consultation into the propsals is underway and a planning application could be submitted to London Borough of Camden later this year. - (16-02-2004)

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British Waterways in search of a partner

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

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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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British Land submits skyscraper plans

British Land has revealed the plans for a 48-storey glass tower at the site of 122 Leadenhall Street, London, EC3. The Richard Rogers Partnership is the architect of the Leadenhall Building which at 224m (737 ft) tall would be the highest in the City of London. The design incorporates a distinctive triangular shape and will provide 53,605 sq m (577,000 sq ft) of offices, with the lower floors of the building providing restaurants and bars along with 1,672 sq m (18,000 sq ft) of retail space. British Land is hopeful that the Leadenhall Building will be completed in 2006, with a late 2004 start following approval of the planning application made this week. English Heritage is thought to be more positive about this skyscraper as it does not block views of St Pauls. - (15-02-2004)

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Unilever submits new plans

Unilever has submitted a new planning application for the redevelopment of it’s 35,303 sq m (380,000 sq ft) headquarters building Unilever House, Victoria Embankment, London EC4. The scheme is to be developed by Stanhope and has been designed by KPF Architects. The façade of the Grade II listed building is to be retained and rear sections rebuilt. If planning and listed building consents are granted the scheme could start in summer 2004 with completion in mid-2006. Unilever is to accommodate staff at 60, Victoria Embankment, London, W1 before re-occupying the Unilever House. - (31-01-2004)

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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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'Gherkin' shortlisted for award

The Swiss Re building, otherwise known as the ‘Gherkin’, in the City of London, has been shortlisted for the first London Planning Awards. The awards, run jointly by London mayor Ken Livingstone, London First, and the Royal Town Planning Institute, aim to highlight outstanding planning achievements in London. The Swiss Re building was designed by Foster & Partners and submitted for the award by Montagu Evans. Paddington Waterside Partnership is on the shortlist for the best community or partnership initiative category. - (31-10-2003)

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M&S unveils Baker Street design

Marks & Spencer, the retailer, has submitted detailed plans for an eight-storey 71,070 sq m (765,000 sq ft) on the 0.8ha (2-acre) site of the firm’s present headquarters at Michael House in Baker Street, London W1. The building, designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF), will include 60,386 sq m (650,000 sq ft) of offices, 4,366 sq m (47,000 sq ft) of shops and a health club and 32 residential units. Marks & Spencer will seek a developer to undertake the scheme, which could be carried out as two building phases. Marks & Spencer is anticipating a planning consent in spring 2004 and the building will cost around £125m. Jones Lang LaSalle is the development advisor. - (06-09-2003)

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Parabola submits Kings Cross scheme

Parabola Land has submitted a planning application to London Borough of Islington for an eight-storey 27,870 sq m (300,000 sq ft) office scheme overlooking the Regent’s Canal in Kings Cross, London N1. The scheme will also include an arts centre and gallery along with a café and restaurant. The development, designed by architect Dixon Jones, is to be known as Kings Place, and is on a 0.6ha (1.3-acre) site bounded by York Way, the Regent’s Canal and Battlesbridge Basin. - (06-09-2003)

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Chesham House to go to Greycoat

The Crown Estate is being tipped to appoint the partnership between Greycoat and Morley Fund Management as the developer of Chesham House at 132-154 Regent Street, London W1. The 9,662 sq m (104,000 sq ft) scheme designed by Squire and Partners, was recently granted planning permission and involves the demolition of the existing Grade II-listed Chesham House behind retained facades on Regent Street, Beak Street and Regent Place. The scheme will also create a new façade to Warwick Street and a new fifth floor. The basement, ground and first floor levels will house retail space, with office space provided on the upper levels. - (03-05-2003)

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Palestra for summer start

Blackfriars Investments and its joint venture partner Royal London Asset Management has said that it will start work on its 39,018 sq m (420,000 sq ft) Palestra office development in Blackfriars Road, London SE1 by June 2003 and be completed in late 2005. The scheme, designed by Will Alsop, has £79m of funding from Bank of Scotland. The site is ready for development with the previous 1960’s office building having been demolished last year. The letting agents for the scheme are Insignia Richard Ellis and DTZ. - (27-02-2003)

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Canary designs on new towers

Canary Wharf is thought to be about to unveil its scheme for two office towers providing 4m sq ft on a site at Riverside South and North Quay. The towers have been designed by the Richard Rogers Partnership and Cesar Pelli and will be part of an office, residential and leisure complex. A planning application will be submitted for the scheme but development is unlikely to take place until tenants have been identified. - (10-02-2003)

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Caxton Hall office scheme

Caxton Hall, the Grade II listed former Westminster registry office, in London SW1, is to be redeveloped as office and apartments. The building on the Broadway and Christchurch Gardens conservation area has been vacant for about 20-years. Amberswift Limited and Stanhope plc have submitted a planning application to Westminster City Council, for a scheme designed by Foggo Associates, to restore the building and create 13 flats and also build a nine-storey 5,000 sq m (53,820 sq ft) office building at the rear of the site. - (10-02-2003)

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Lambeth rejects Arup scheme

This week the London Borough of Lambeth refused to grant planning permission to the Belvedere Court scheme in York Road, London SE1. The decision was made against the officer recommendation. Belvedere Court is planned by Lend Lease and designed by Arup Associates. The refusal was based on design, overlooking of the listed County Hall, impact of retail on local shops, and loss of public open space. - (20-12-2002)

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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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"Lightbeam" on Mermaid

Blackfriars (PD2) Ltd, now owned by Heatherfield Limited, which is under the management of Blackfriars Investments, has submitted revised details for its scheme to redevelop 2 Puddle Dock and the Mermaid Theatre at Blackfriars Station in London EC4. The new three-four storey structure, designed by Alsop, is to be on stilts and includes a “lightbeam” on the west side of the building adjoining the “solid box” of office accommodation. The “lightbeam” is a four-storey glass box enclosing lobbies and access areas. The scheme has 26,416 sq m (284,341 sq ft) gross external space with 24,000 sq m (258,336 sq ft) gross internal office space, to include a dealing floor of 6,148 sq m (66,177 sq ft). The scheme also includes two retail units of 399 sq m (4,294 sq ft). - (02-12-2002)

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National policy rejected

The government has rejected ideas that the UK should have a national planning guidance on tall buildings, saying "it does not believe that a separate policy is needed". The update to policy in PPG 1 (Planning Policy Guidance) will instead "underline the importance of securing well designed, safe, and sustainable developments that show respect for their surroundings". Tall building proposals will continue to be considered in their specific context. The comments are a response to the Commons urban affairs select committee report on tall buildings issued in September this year, which called for a national framework. - (10-11-2002)

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British Land's new skyscraper

British Land has unveiled its plans for a skyscraper at 122 Leadenhall Street. The 48-storey tower will provide about 93,000 sq m (1,001,000 sq ft) of space and has been designed by the Richard Rogers Partnership. The initial designs envisage a tapering external frame structure, possibly a 'shard of steel', on 'legs' above a new public park. It is said that the building would be the tallest in the City of London. - (22-09-2002)

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Allen & Overy finally sign-up

Allen & Overy, the law firm, has formally signed the lease with Hammerson and the Corporation of London for its new 70,000 sq m (750,000 sq ft) headquarters at Bishops Square, Spitalfields, London E1 at £45 psf on a 25-year lease. It is thought that the firm also has a 21-month rent free period. Construction, of the Foster & Partners designed building, should start in early 2003. However everything is still subject to planning consent being granted by Tower Hamlets. The first announcement of the deal was made in March 2002 and at this time the rent free period was 18 months. - (22-09-2002)

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Selfridges scale back plans

Selfridges, the department stores group, is to scale down the £300m plans by Foster & Partners for its Oxford Street store. After nine months discussions with Westminster City Council planners Selfridges is thought to be about to scale back the 12-storey office tower, although the 9,290 sq m (100,000 sq ft) of retail space, a spa, car park and hotel, will remain. It is thought that the office tower will be reduced from 60m to 41m in the redesign. - (22-09-2002)

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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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Skanska to build Moor House

Skanska has been appointed as the main contractor for the Moor House scheme, which is being funded as a limited partnership with Henderson Investors and Hammerson. The 44,658 sq m (480,710 sq ft) gross external scheme, is conceived as a curved vertical design of 19-storeys. The building will comprise about 26,400 sq m (284,000 sq ft) net of offices and 1,810 sq m (19,500 sq ft) of retail space. Completion is planned for early 2003. - (03-04-2002)

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Marsham Street deal finalised

The £311m deal to redevelop the former Department of the Environment offices at 2 Marsham Street, London SW1 has finally been agreed. The Home Office and the Prison Service will relocate from six buildings in London, including Queen Anne's Gate, to the new building in February 2005. The new building, designed by Terry Farrell & Partners, will provide about 46,450 sq m (500,000 sq ft) and will house 3,000 staff. - (27-03-2002)

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Bishops Square plans revised

The plans for Bishops Square at Spitalfields market, by the Spitalfields Development Group, have been re-worked following public consultation. The new plans, by Foster and Partners, take into account the needs of law firm Allen & Overy, which has pre-let the building. The scheme includes 69,675 sq m (749,981 sq ft) of offices and 3,995 sq m (43,002 sq ft) of retail space. The revised plans replace the 'ski-slope' design with a more standard 'stepped' building. - (18-03-2002)

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Grands Union Building decision close

The revised planning application for the 89,087 sq m (958,954 sq ft) office and retail 'Grand Union Building' development at Paddington, designed by Richard Rogers Partnership, is due to go to Westminster City Council planning committee on 14th March. It is thought that members of the Chelsfield led consortium will 'allez' from MIPIM to be back in time for the meeting. - (04-03-2002)

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Royex House plans submitted

Scottish Widows has submitted a planning application for the redevelopment of Royex House in Aldermanbury Square, London EC2. Royex House is a 'classic' slab 1960's building in steel and blue glass designed by Richard Seifert. The proposed 17-storey replacement tower has been designed by Eric Parry architects. Subject to planning permission the development could be on-site in late 2003 for completion in late 2005 or early 2006. - (04-03-2002)

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Mercer's scheme approved

The Mercers Company and Scottish Provident Institution have received planning approval for the redevelopment of a site on the corner of Cheapside and Ironmongers Lane, London EC2. The site incorporates Becket House at 81-90 Cheapside, 36-37 Old Jewry, the Mercers Hall, Daunsey House, 4, 4a, 4b and 5 Frederick Place, and 4 Ironmongers Lane. Siddell Gibson has designed a new 10-strorey building of 20,114 sq m (216,507 sq ft) gross, with 9,407 sq m (101,256 sq ft) net of offices and 1,836 sq m (19,762 sq ft) of retail space. - (03-03-2002)

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British Land in White City talks

British Land and Chelsfield are said to be in discussions to form a joint venture company to develop the White City centre in west London. The 16.6ha (40-acre) site between Wood Lane and the West Cross route is planned as £700m shopping centre of around 111,482 sq m (1.2m sq ft) and this will include an office complex, a hotel, 9,290 sq m (100,000 sq ft) of leisure space and social housing. The scheme has been designed by Ian Richie and has meet with many planning objections. - (18-02-2002)

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Drapers Gardens plans submitted

The Royal Bank of Scotland, advised by Montagu Evans, has formerly applied for consent to redevelop its 32,996 sq m (354,478 sq ft) tower offices at Drapers Gardens, 12 Throgmorton Avenue, London EC2. The new 17-storey office building has been designed by Foggo Associates (020 7490 4040) and will provide 30,780 sq m (331,315 sq ft) net of office accommodation along with 319 sq m (3,433 sq ft) of retail space. - (16-02-2002)

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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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Richard Rogers' twin towers

Canary Wharf Group has confirmed that the Richard Rogers Partnership is working on building designs for a riverside site to the south of Westferry Circus, London E14, and adjoining the Cascades residential scheme. The plans are said to be at an early stage and no details are being made available. However the scheme is thought to include two towers, each of around 37-storeys and 44-storey and could provide a further 148,643 sq m (1.6m sq ft) of office space or a mix of uses. - (16-02-2002)

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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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British Land plans EC3 tower

British Land has submitted a planning application for the redevelopment of 51 Lime Street, London EC3, otherwise known as the 58 Building, acquired from Lloyd's of London. The new scheme, which also fronts Fenchurch Avenue and Billiter Street, is for 54,521 sq m (586,864 sq ft) of offices and 522 sq m (5,618 sq ft) of retail in a part six-storey, part 25-storey building, designed by Foster & Partners. - (25-01-2002)

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Juxon House designs unveiled

Standard Life Investments has unveiled the final designs for the redeveloped Juxon House, part of the Paternoster Square scheme in London EC4. The seven-storey building has been designed by Sidell Gibson Partnership and will provide about 11,891 sq m (128,000 sq ft) of office space with 1,858 sq m (20,000 sq ft) of retail space on the ground floor. The overall masterplan for the Paternoster Square area is by Whitfield Partners. The building, which has a curved classical façade in contrast to the previous 1960's 'box' design, will be completed in summer 2003. - (13-01-2002)

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Selfridges unveils plans

The plans for the £300m development at the rear of Selfridges store in Oxford Street have been unveiled. The designs by Foster & Partners include about 27,870 sq m (300,000 sq ft) of offices, an additional 10,219 sq m (110,000 sq ft) of retail space, and a 12-storey five star hotel. If planning permission is granted the scheme will start in mid-2003 and will not be completed until 2007. The planning application was submitted to Westminster City Council earlier this week. - (13-12-2001)

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HOK to design Barclays' tower

Barclays Bank has revealed the plans for its 30-storey headquarters tower at Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London E14, which will accommodate 5,000 staff by 2005. The building is being designed by HOK International. Barclays has signed the final agreement with Canary Wharf Group to occupy up to 1 million sq ft of office space in the tower. The new building will be completed in late 2004 for occupation in 2005. - (28-11-2001)

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Revisions to Churchill Place

The elements of the Canary Wharf masterplan for the Churchill Place area, also known as the 'BP 1-3' sites, which was previously intended as a group of four buildings, is understood to be under revision. The redesign will see some increases in planned floorspace. The new masterplan would include the 92,902 sq m (1 million sq ft) tower on BP1, possibly nearing a pre-let to Barclays Bank, BP2 at around 32,515 sq m (350,000 sq ft), and BP3/4 at about 69,676 sq m (750,000 sq ft). - (19-11-2001)

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London Development Agency names developer

The London Development Agency (LDA) has appointed Kajima as the preferred developer to carry out the works on the largest brown field site in London. The Silvertown Quay consortium is set to develop the Silvertown Docks area in East London. The £800m scheme will provide offices, 3,000 homes, a hotel, school, shops and leisure facilities including an aquarium designed by architect Sir Terry Farrell. Works sre proposed to start at the end of 2002. The mixed-use site of 20ha (48 acres) at Silvertown Dock in Newham, London E16. The developer was selected from a shortlist comprising Bellway Homes, The Greater Silvertown Consortium with George Wimpey, St George, a joint venture called Silvertown Quays Limited, Kajima and a group which includes Taylor Woodrow Capital Developments. - (14-11-2001)

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Architect Seifert dies

Richard Seifert, the architect who designed Centre Point and the NatWest Tower, now known as Tower 42, has died aged 90. Centre Point, constructed on a small plot, is still believed to be the world's tallest prefabricated building. A controversial development in design terms Centre Point also came to be regarded as the worse example of development greed as the building remained empty for years while rental values increased. The NatWest building in its plan shape is remarkably similar to the National Westminster logo, although any deliberate intention in 'mirroring' the design was always denied. After the second world war Siefert became one of the UK's most prolific architects and the two buildings formed just a small part of his extensive portfolio. - (27-10-2001)

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Skanska wins 1 London Wall

Skanska is rumoured to have won the main construction contract on Greycoats' 1 London Wall office development in EC2. The scheme, designed by Foster & Partners, will provide about 28,980 sq m (311, 940 sq ft) of office space. Demolition of the existing building is underway and main construction is expected to start in March 2002. - (15-10-2001)

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Bovis wins Plantation Place contract

Bovis Lend Lease is said to have won the construction contract for British Land's Plantation Place scheme at 31-35 Fenchurch Street, London EC3. In total the scheme, designed by Arup Associates, is about 60,386 sq m (650,000 sq ft) and around 34,875 sq m (375,400 sq ft) of the development has recently been pre-let to Accenture. - (15-10-2001)

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Sainsbury 'oval office' approved

Sainsbury's plans for a new office building in Stamford Street, London SE1 have been approved by London Borough of Southwark. The 34,838 sq m (375,000 sq ft) Foster & Partners designed building will create a five-storey 'podium' block rising up to 18-storeys as an oval-shaped tower. The development is on the site of the existing Sainsbury head office building. The building could be completed in 2004 and Sainsbury could then relocate from its new headquarters at 33 Holborn Place EC1. Sainsbury is thought to be looking for a joint venture partner to develop and finance the scheme. - (01-10-2001)

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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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Barclays to take space at Canary

Barclays Bank has confirmed that it is has reached agreement in principle with Canary Wharf Group to take a new headquarters building at Canary Wharf, London E14. The bank is to take the BP1 site at Churchill Place, at the eastern end of the scheme. The building will be about 1 million sq ft and initially 60,386 sq m (650,000 sq ft) will be occupied by Barclays, with the flexibility to move into more space as required. Design work is underway and construction of the new tower will start at the end of 2001 and is due to be occupied by Barclays in 2005. Barclays Bank is being advised by Weatherall Green & Smith. - (05-09-2001)

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SE1 office scheme announced

Shell International and Lend Lease have submitted detailed plans for the redevelopment of part of the Shell Centre site in York Road, London SE1. The scheme now has a high office content, rather than a retail emphasis as originally envisaged, following discussions with London Borough of Lambeth. The £180m scheme, named Belvedere Court, includes about 32,000 sq m (344,450 sq ft), of offices, mainly in a new 12-storey building, 7,300 sq m (78,575 sq ft) of retail within the existing Shell space, 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. Knight Frank is rumoured to be marketing the ofice development and CB Hillier Parker is the agent for the retail space. If planning approval is granted the scheme could be completed in autumn 2004. - (03-09-2001)

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British Land wins 51 Lime Street

British Land is thought to have acquired 51 Lime Street, London EC3 from Lloyd's of London. There is speculation that the building could be replaced with a 37,160 sq m (400,000 sq ft) office block and Foster & Partners is said to have been chosen by British Land for the redevelopment scheme. Built in 1958, 51 Lime Street was the headquarters of Lloyd's before it moved in 1986 to the headquarters building designed by Richard Rogers, now Lord Rogers. - (14-07-2001)

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GLA headquarters topped-out

The new ten-storey headquarters of the Greater London Authority (GLA), designed by Foster and Partners, was topped out by Nick Raynsford, Minister for London, and Ken Livingstone, Major of London, last week. The new GLA building, said to resemble a glass headlight, occupies a site at CIT's More London development in SE1. - (09-07-2001)

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'Guidance on tall buildings'

English Heritage in its new statement 'Guidance On Tall Buildings' discourages tall buildings in historic areas of London and suggests better locations are those such as Canary Wharf, Stratford and Croydon. The report has been produced jointly with the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE). The statement says "the overriding consideration will be whether the location is suitable for a tall building in terms of its effect on the historic environment. If not, then no tall building will be acceptable, however good the design". This seems to reverse previous thinking that allowed the Baltic Exchange to be demolished to make way for the Swiss Re tower. The report reinforces the current St Paul's protected view and is for maintaining views from royal parks. In the same report CABE says that first-class design should be paramount and that an exceptional scheme could override other considerations. - (12-06-2001)

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Lots Road application submitted

Taylor Woodrow, the construction group, has submitted a planning application for the power station at Lots Road, London SW10 to be retained as a mixed-use office and retail centre, with about 8,361 sq m (90,000 sq ft) of space. The scheme for the seven acre site also includes two 39 and 25-storey residential towers. Taylor Woodrow acquired the site last year and is said to have teamed up with Hutchison Whampoa, the Hong-Kong group, for the £350m project. The scheme will be developed by the joint venture company called Circadian and has been designed by Terry Farrell & Partners. - (12-06-2001)

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Selfridges loses tower

The Selfridges scheme in Duke Street, W1, planned as a mixed-use retail, residential and office development, will not now include a 20-storey tower. The idea of the tower is said to have been thrown out by Westminster planners. Instead the scheme could include 18,580 sq m (200,000 sq ft) of offices, a 250-bed hotel, 80 apartments and 9,290 sq m (100,000 sq ft) of additional retail space. The £250m project is a joint venture between Selfridges and Stanhope Developments and is being designed by Norman Foster & Partners. - (09-06-2001)

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Mayor agrees Lehman Brothers scheme

The mayor of London decided not to direct London Borough of Hackney to refuse the Northgate project, designed by Sidell Gibson for Lehman Brothers. In the decision letter the mayor has said that the 17-storey office and retail development "would contribute to London's global city role". However the mayor also said that he will ensure that the scheme, and the adjoining scheme planned by Railtrack, to not compromise each other when he considers the Railtrack proposals. The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) is thought to be concerned that Hackney failed to consult it on the proposals, which CABE says are "incompatible" with the Railtrack proposals and should be refused. - (02-06-2001)

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Battersea gains approvals

Parkview International has been granted planning permission by the London Borough of Wandsworth for the redevelopment of Battersea Power Station, London SW11, as a retail and leisure scheme. Detailed planning permission was given to all parts of the site not covered by earlier permissions. The latest planning decision approved Nicholas Grimshaw's designs for the redevelopment of Battersea Jetty, a 725-room hotel as part of a conference centre, with 18,004 sq m (193,800 sq ft) of meeting and banqueting space and a 2,100 seat theatre. Parkview now has consent to develop the 14ha (33.6 acres) site surrounding the power station with 1,125 hotel beds, a 44,128 sq m (475,000 sq ft) product showcase building, a 22,017 sq m (237,000 sq ft) seven-storey office building and residential units. The listed power station building will be used to accommodate a mix of retail, cafes, bars, restaurants, cinemas and other attractions. - (01-06-2001)

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Quadratic gets sums right

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

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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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Revelopment approved at Canary Wharf

Grenadier Investments has been granted planning permission for a new 27,870 sq m (300,000 sq ft) office building at 1 Park Place, close to Westferry Circus, Canary Wharf, London E14. The new development, on the site of the Littlejohn Frazer building, has been designed by Michael Squire & Partners and the developer is being advised by Delta Land. - (08-05-2001)

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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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Sainsbury plans SE1 towers

Foster & Partners has revealed plans for a 35,765 sq m (385,000 sq ft) 19-storey oval office tower to replace food retailers Sainsbury's existing Drury House and Stamford House headquarters at Stamford Street, London SE1. Sainsbury is linked with Stanhope on the proposals. A planning application for the £270m scheme has just been submitted to London Borough of Southwark along with an application for a second new building on the firm's car park site in Maymott Street. The tower has a tapered 'neck' and a low-rise office block forms the base. A Sainsbury's 'Central' supermarket could be incorporated in the ground floor. The 14,490 sq m (156,000 sq ft) Maymott Street scheme could cost £70m and is planned as a 22-storey tower designed by architect Lifschutz Davidson. Sainsbury is working on the site assembly for the scheme and is said to be in the process of acquiring Wakefield House and 19-21 Blackfriars Road from Dunloe Ewart, the developer. Sainsbury is thought to be seeking to develop around 46,451 sq m (500,000 sq ft) in the various SE1 developments for completion in 2004. Sainsbury is still thought to be considering its options on the 11,150 sq m (120,000 sq ft) Rennie House, on the south side of Stamford Street. Sainsbury staff will relocate to 33 Holborn Place, London WC1, to allow the headquarters development to proceed. Healey & Baker is advising Sainsbury. - (22-04-2001)

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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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Canary Wharf goes to £41 per sq ft

Canary Wharf has agreed the biggest single lease transaction in central London in its 93,000 sq m (1,001,052 sq ft) deal with Lehman Brothers, the US investment bank. Lehman Brothers will take the Cesar Pelli designed 30-storey HQ2 building, now under construction at Heron Quays, London E14, at a rack rent of £441.32 sq m (£41 per sq ft). Lehman Brothers will occupy the building in late 2003 and vacate about 40,000 sq m (430,560 sq ft) at Broadgate in London EC2. Insignia Richard Ellis advised Lehman Brothers on the transaction. - (06-04-2001)

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Drapers Gardens potential redevelopment

The Royal Bank of Scotland currently occupies Drapers Gardens, a Seifert-designed office tower providing around 16,710 sq m (180,000 sq ft), which was developed by Harry Hyams Oldham Estate in 1967. It is thought that the Royal Bank of Scotland could vacate the building in October 2001 and that it could then potentially be redeveloped or refurbished. Royal Bank of Scotland is said to be in discussions with the freeholder, the Worshipful Company of Drapers, about the development. There has been speculation that the development potential of the site could be in the order of 32,515 sq m (350,000 sq ft), although nothing else is known at this stage. - (05-04-2001)

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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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DS5 and DS2 "top-out" at Canary Wharf

The new towers for HSBC, designed by Foster & Partners, and Citigroup, designed by Cesar Pelli, at Canary Wharf, London E14 were topped-out yesterday. The towers will be about 100ft shorter than One Canada Square, the 50-storey skyscraper, which remains the tallest office building in the UK. Citigroup will move to its new building at 25 Canada Square (DS5 building) in September this year and HSBC to 8 Canada Square (DS2 building) in February 2002. - (08-03-2001)

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