London Development Sites

15 December 2022

At the December meeting of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee the members voted 6-3 to increase the Bank Rate by 0.5% to 3.5%. Two members preferred to keep rates at 3% and one member preferred to increase the rate to 3.75%.

22 November 2022

The City of London Corporation have approved plans from the Museum of London to create a world class cultural destination within the historic buildings in West Smithfield. The museum will be rebranded The London Museum. Photo Secchi-Smith.

3 November 2022

The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee voted 7-2 to increase interest rates by 0.75% to 3%. One member preferred to increase the rate by 0.5% and one by 0.25%.

26 January 2024

The City of London Corporation has approved a 14,000 sq m office scheme incorporating landscaped terraces and urban greening at 30 Minories EC3N in the east of the City, replacing a postwar building. A Victorian warehouse building known as 'Writers' House', will be retained and repurposed as a community hub featuring an archaeological and cultural centre, along with retail space and affordable workspaces above. Artefacts from the excavation will be housed in a public exhibition, and the car park at Sheppy Place will be transformed into a green public space. City of London Corporation.

1 July 2022

The City of London Corporation have approved a 10 storey 12,102 sq ft office building at 3-4 Holborn Circus EC1. The building is designed by WilkinsonEyre architects for Evan Randall Investors and features retail at ground floor, a pocket park and a BREEAM pre-assessment rating of 'outstanding'.

8 March 2022

The City of London Corporation has obtained an Article 4 Direction removing the development right to convert offices to residential in the 'Square Mile' from the 1st of August 2022.

11 March 2022

Plans to transform London's oldest public park, Finsbury Circus Gardens, have been approved by the City of London Corporation. The scheme is designed by Architecture00 + Studio Weave and includes an 'urban forest' and a 100 capacity pavilion café built of low carbon concrete and Portland stone. 

29 July 2021

The City of London Corporation have received planning consent for a Maccreaner Lavington and Erect Architecture designed scheme of 91 affordable homes. The development includes apartments in three villas along York Way N7.

6 May 2021

The City of London Corporation has released updated images of how the City will look in the mid 2020s. The images include projects approved in the past 12 months notably 50 Fenchurch Street, 55 Gracechurch Street, 60 Aldgate High Street, 70 Gracechurch Street and 2-3 Finsbury Avenue. Key proposals in the City Plan 2036 include more animated ground floor spaces with pedestrian spaces through tall buildings and urban greening. Photo Didier Madoc.

24 February 2021

The City of London Corporation has approved an office led 38 storey development by British Land and GIC. The building, designed by architects 3NX, will provide more than 83,000 sq m of office space and over 700 sq m of retail space. A new north south pedestrian route will connect Finsbury Avenue Square to Sun Street. Photo 3XN

16 December 2020

The Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has announced measures to allow cities and their high streets to recover from the damage caused by the pandemic. The measures will enable the council to support the delivery of 300,000 homes, encouraging family homes while prioritising brownfield sites and urban areas.

16 December 2020

The City of London Planning & Transportation Committee has approved architect ACME's next phase of 4C Hotel's Minories Masterplan. The Masterplan includes a refurbished 342 bedroom hotel, a new 250,000 sq ft office building and 87 new homes, together with a landscaped park and urban squares.

14 December 2020

Assael Architecture and Montreaux Developments have secured planning permission for 204 homes in two buildings hidden by woodland. The proposed development is located in Colney Hatch Lane, close to New Southgate station and represents 10% of Barnet borough's annual housebuilding target.

12 November 2020

The RICS October 2020 survey of chartered surveyors who operate in the residential sales and letting markets shows increased buyer enquires, agreed sales, new instructions and prices.

5 November 2020

A Knight Frank survey of 40 leading investors with £62 billion invested in student accommodation, purpose built rented accommodation and senior living, expect to invest a further £10 billion in these sectors in 2021 and £42 billion over the next five years. This seems to indicate a diversification of investment covering all age groups. 70% of survey respondents expect these sectors to outperform others over the next 5 years.

3 November 2020

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, announced the relocation of City Hall from its location at More London near London Bridge, to the GLA owned Crystal building on the Royal Victoria Docks. The move is expected to save £61m over the next 5 years and also act as a catalyst for the regeneration of the Royal Docks.

28 October 2020

Planning content has been granted for the Perkins & Wills designed Stage Visitor Centre in Shoreditch as part of a £750m mixed use scheme. The scheme showcases the recently excavated Elizabethan theatre, the Curtain Playhouse, and features a glass stage that floats above the archaeology find.

26 October 2020

Camden Council has given planning consent for a new pedestrian bridge linking Pancras Square and Coal Drop Yard. The 25m bridge, designed by Moxon Architects and structural engineers Arup for KCCLP, takes inspiration from the lost railway bridges over the canal.

23 October 2020

Knight Frank have identified property hotspots in the UK with future growth potential. The hotspots are based on existing house prices, house price to earning ratio, housing shortages, and access to services. The resulting locations are Surrey Heath, Fareham and East Herts with either fast trains or proximity to London, Tameside with close proximity to Manchester and Chesterfield, the gateway to the Peak District.

23 October 2020

The Oxford-Cambridge Arc encompasses a concentration of knowledge intensive industries supported by world class universities. A Lambert Smith Hampton report identifies opportunities in the region in the post-COVID economic recovery. The National Infrastructure Commission has suggested that one million new homes could be created in the region by 2050; the report discusses how the opportunity should benefit local residents and the UK economy.

20 October 2020

The City of London Corporation, in partnership with Oliver Wyman and Arup have published London Recharged: Our Vision for London in 2025. Its recommendations include the need to create spaces to innovate, citing start up incubators such as Station F in France and Level 39 in London. Pilot transformation of London's office spaces to support new uses has been suggested together with the need for affordable work space for artists and SMEs.

20 October 2020

The Thames Barrier Park in the Royal Docks has won the Green Flag Award for the third year running. The award recognises well managed parks and green spaces.

20 October 2020

Branded residences are those affiliated with a well known brand, usually hoteliers such as Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons, but increasingly non-hotelier brands such as YOO, Baccarat, Missoni and Aston Martin. According to Savills research the branded residence sector has grown 170% over the last 10 years, achieving an average 31% premium over non-branded developments, however this varies substantially according to location.