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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- Essex House completion date
- Consent for Mayfair offices
- Midtown scheme for 2010 start
- Hotel redevelopment for offices
- Application for WC1 building

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.