Historically London has had a lot of foreign investment, particularly from the Middle East and more recently from China. 75% of all office investment deals were completed by overseas investors in 2014. 

With space throughout the Central London market at a premium, it is welcome news that the Battersea Power Station development is to open its doors on over 1 million square foot of office space. The development, which includes ultra-high end residential, more reasonable apartments and retail, is aiming to attract ‘World-class’ tenants on large floor plates – expected to be around the 80,000 square foot mark.

GM Real Estate, headed up by two of the biggest ‘closers’ in the Property World, Tony Gibbon and Tony McCurley, are close to being taken over by Colliers International in a deal that will see the property giant enhancing its presence in the City market. The deal is believed to be at a premium price of £25m – suggesting that Colliers are keen to wrap up a deal for the company who last year rejected the advancements of CBRE. 

Landlords are cashing in as the investment value of commercial properties rise throughout the West End. This turn is welcomed to the market due to the limited amount of stock in the last year. Investment values is hugely influenced by headline rent and lease length certain. In the current market, rental levels are at an all-time high with the minimum lease term demand being 5 year straight. 

There is to be a coming together of 5 major landowners to create a much needed redevelopment plan in White City, with an estimated end value of £3 billion. A similar collaboration in Nine Elms is evidence that if landlords and councils work together and trust the joint vision, it can bring wealth and positivity to the area. 

A Moorfields site is to be acquired by Land Securities with the intention of developing it into a 500,000 square-foot office scheme.

Specialist real estate/private equity investment company Maya has begun what will become a UK-wide investment programme with its purchase of a Swansea office building.  To further its investment portfolio Maya will be targeting properties outside London and the M25, putting together a combination of sites that will enable risk-spreading and bulk investment. 

Late last year, a very controversial plan for the Goodsyard in Shoreditch was purposed. This plan included 1,464 homes and over half a million square feet in office space along with 215,000 sq. ft. in retail space. These plans are heavily opposed due to the height of the seven towers which will make it up, as two of the towers will be similar height to the Walkie-Talkie and tower42 in the city. It is said towers like this will “damage the whole local environment”.