Despite commercial property values falling steadily for several years, London has still remained a popular place for investment, especially from overseas investors. Now, it would seem, this investment is paying off, as the UK commercial property market has just noted an increase in value for the first time since the end of 2011. 

The Thameslink Programme of upgrading the north-south rail links through central London that was originally due for completion in 2000 may now not meet its revised 2018 deadline, as advised by the National Audit Office. 

It is remarkably easy to think of London as its own financial bubble, a micro-economy, and a property market with its own rules and exceptions. The banking and financial centre of the UK, and the focus of UK and international investment, for obvious reasons the capital is usually examined on its own merits – often in contrast to the rest of the UK or the national economy as a whole. 

That once stalwart of the City, the financial institution, looks like it may be leaving home. Indications from a recent CBRE survey are that banks are looking to reduce overheads as well as raise capital, and moving out of the City into lower-cost areas may be the answer. 

Amongst the many interesting and valuable items being exhibited over the next couple of weeks at the annual Olympia International Art and Antiques Fair is a silver serving dish commissioned by Admiral Nelson using a £500 reward that had been presented to him by Lloyds Coffee House after his 1798 victory at the Battle of the Nile.  

The Shell Centre, situated on London’s ever popular South Bank has now received planning approval for its redevelopment. The plan is to completely transform the 1.45million sq ft of tired 1960’s office space. The site will provide new offices for Shell as well as providing office space for other businesses, hundreds of new homes and retail space.  

London’s Finsbury Square is to see one of its buildings, the landmark Alphabeta, fully refurbished with the intention of offering 220,000 square feet of space to companies in the creative, technology and media sectors.  The office block, also known as Triton Court, will provide A1 restaurant and retail space on the ground and basement floors, while the remainder of the building will cater for TMT companies looking for top-quality space in the centre of London.

Aldgate is fast becoming the latest part of the City fringe to undertake major regeneration, not only to the residential sector but also the commercial sector, in particular in terms of offices. The rise of the TMT age has seen Shoreditch and Clerkenwell rents soar, with some offices achieving up to £42.50 per square foot. The huge demand from TMT companies for the converted-warehouse style of office space has drawn many clients out of the West End and into the City fringes.

Huge online retailer Amazon revealed that they have signed a lease for new offices in Holborn Viaduct located between Chancery Lane and St Pauls. The move will see hundreds of staff move into the new project at 60 Holborn Viaduct where Amazon has taken 210,000 square feet of new office space over 12 floors. 

Amazon is set to make the news once again – but this time for its decision to relocate a great proportion of its staff from the current offices in Slough to a new central London offices. It is understood that Amazon’s intention is to provide more space for their current requirements as well as looking to the future. The new space, with capacity for 1,600 staff, will enable the internet giant to recruit more staff as its plans for expansion are realised.