Weekly round up of the central London property news

Camden

PW reports serviced office operator The Space has agreed to pre-let 235 High Holborn in its entirety from Gloucester Investments.

PW reports that luxury travel website Secret Escapes and international consulting group North Highland consulting are to take a total of 31,000 sq ft of office space at 120 Holborn, EC1.

City of London

EG reports that WR Berkeley has appointed CBRE as joint leasing agent on the Scalpel at 52 Lime Street, EC3. The 623ft tower will have 400,000 sq ft of office space over 35 floors upon completion which is expected in the final quarter of 2017.

EG reports that Royal Bank of Canada has signed a pre-let with Brookfield Property Partners to lease 250,000 sq ft at 100 Bishopsgate, EC3.

EG reports that Chinese conglomerate Fosum is to unveil plans for a 400,000 sq ft office block in Aldgate. It will shortly submit plans for the redevelopment of the Lloyds Chambers building at 1 Portsoken Street, E1.

CoStar reports that Schroders has agreed terms to buy 55 Bishopgate from the Canada Pension Investment Board for just under £190m.

City of Westminster

CoStar News reports that Boris has ‘strongly advised’ Land Securities to review its proposals for a 142,000 sq ft scheme at 1 Shewrwood Street, behind London’s famous Piccadilly Lights to incorporate a non-designated heritage asset façade, despite his own planning officers at the GLA deciding this element of the plan is ultimately acceptable. The scheme would comprise a replacement six storey building plus sixth floor mezzanine office with three basement levels to create a mixed-use scheme comprising offices at part ground to sixth storey mezzanine, retail at part basement one, part ground and part first floor, up to seven homes at part first floor, part second floor and part third floor.

PW reports that US independent eyewear brand Moscot has agreed a deal with Shaftesbury for its first standalone store in Europe at 37 Beak Street, W1.

PW reports Hermes Investment Management is to sell 20-24 Broadwick Street, W1, for around £25m in a move that that could pave the way for another major residential conversion in the West End.

CoStar News reports that Sir Richard Sutton Estates is selling the long leasehold interests on Piccadilly for a combined £68m. 105 Piccadilly has been put up for sale for £45m, reflecting a net initial yield of 3.8%. Tenants include Abaco Asset Management, Four Winds Capital Management and Smartmatic. Separately, the 16,819 sq ft 81 Piccadilly is being sold for £23m, reflecting a NIY of 4% on a topped up basis. The building is immediately adjacent to British Land’s Clarges Mayfair scheme.

EG reports that Knight Frank has been instructed to market the Nuffield Building on Lincoln’s Inn Fields, WC1, by the Royal College of Surgeons. No guide price has been set for the 65,000 sq ft block but it is expected to attract bids in excess of £50m.

Hammersmith & Fulham

EG reports that London Mayor Boris Johnson has signed off on a planning framework for the redevelopment of Old Oak Common, NW10. The framework will deliver 24,000 homes over the next 20 years.

Islington

PW reports that AXA and NH Hotel Group have acquired the hotel complex at Berkeley Homes’ 250 City Road, EC1, for £90m.

Kensington & Chelsea

EG reports that Brockton Capital is under offer to buy the 1.8-acre freehold Portobello Dock campus, from Derwent London. The five office buildings at 344 Ladbrooke Grove, W10, which include the HQ of Innocent Drinks, are on the market for £30m – a 4.24% net initial yield.