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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- Change at No10
- Major scheme planned in Regent Street
- Application for WC1 offices
- Fitzrovia scheme start
- Mayfair refurbishment planned

Grade A space boosts London lettings
End of year figures from Metropolis/Cityoffices show that total London lettings reached 9.3m sq ft in 2009. Despite a strong end to the year this was 20% down on 2008's total. The City totalled 4.3m sq ft, Midtown reached 1.5m sq ft and the West End was 2.1m sq ft. New Grade A space lettings reached 3.8m sq ft - 41% of all take-up, a major rise on 2008's 2.5m sq ft or 20%. Financial Services and professional topped the business sectors table.

Hedge fund growth to boost Mayfair
Hedge Fund Research has revealed the industry has enjoyed its biggest gains in a decade in 2009 and Toscafund is predicting 100,000 extra London financial jobs by 2020. New launches by SAC Capital, Tyrus Capital and CIFM are bolstering Mayfair offices.

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

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.

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.