Cityoffices provides a comprehensive 'knowledge' database covering all major office projects in selected UK and continental European cities. The research covers recently completed office schemes, those under construction and identifies future development proposals.

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- New plan for Midtown scheme
- New office application in SE1
- Consent for WC1 scheme
- Walbrook Square update
- Noho site sale

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.

Office lettings continue surge
Office lettings in central London in January 2010 topped 1.2m sq ft, according to figures from Cityoffices and Metroinfo. Some 60 deals over 5,000 sq ft were signed, including two large deals to Macquarie Bank and Blackrock. The insurance sector was particularly active. Over half (600,000 sq ft) of the office space let was recently completed, further shrinking the availability of new office floorspace. Rents edged higher.

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.

Overspend on HQ
The BBC has admitted that it has gone nearly £60m over budget on its £1bn redevelopment of Broadcasting House, Portland Place, London, W1. Most of the mistakes occured during phase 1 to 2004. The new HQ will become the new home to BBC News and Radio, including the World Service at the end of 2010. Around 4,500 staff are expected to relocate to Broadcasting House in the next year.

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.