Camden

Co-Star reports that The Bloomsbury Partnership, a consortium of stakeholders and landowners in the central London district, have joined forces to pledge a £400 million investment over the next five years into the area to attract occupiers, businesses and visitors.

City of London

Building Magazine reports that Camden council unanimously approved the Kingsway Exchange Tunnels scheme, a month after the City of London voted to approve the plans. The deep-level subterranean network, located 42m beneath Holborn, runs for 8,000 sq m across the boundary between the two boroughs and needed approval from both councils to go ahead.

BE News reports that BauMont Real Estate Capital and YardNine have agreed their first pre-let at the 90,000 sq ft Edenica Grade A office development in the City of London. Specialist litigation firm Boies Schiller Flexner LLP has signed for 12,000 sq ft across floors 10 to 12 of the building, which is located at 100 Fetter Lane. Designed by Fletcher Priest Architects and Waterman Group, the fully-electric building is the first project in the UK to adopt ‘material passporting’ and is currently tracking net zero performance levels, according to BauMont and YardNine. The development partners are targeting BREEAM Outstanding for Edenica, which is due to complete in Q4 2024. 

Building Magazine reports that the procurement strategy for a Lipton Rogers 18 Blackfriars scheme is set to be let as two-stage job beginning with a construction management route before switching to a fixed-price.

Building Magazine understands that The City of London’s plans to repair leaks at the Barbican will now cost 60% higher than estimated due to compliance issues with the council’s climate strategy. Work at the grade II-listed estate to replace a damaged waterproofing membrane beneath the site’s podium had been priced at £12.5m but will now cost up to £20m.

City of Westminster

BE News reports that The Crown Estate has unveiled plans to deliver three developments in London’s West End with a GDV of more than £430m at New Zealand House, 10 Spring Gardens and 33-35 Piccadilly, which between them will provide 250,000 sq ft of office, leisure and retail space.

City AM reports that Cambridge House, a grade I-listed, 18th-century property and former Royal residence, is being converted by Auberge Resorts Collection into a luxury hotel and is expected to have 102 bedrooms when it opens in late 2025.

BE News reports that a freehold residential investment opportunity in London’s Knightsbridge area has hit the market with a £28m price tag. Located at 47 Princes Gardens, on the border of Knightsbridge and South Kensington, Cornerstone comprises three interconnected Victorian buildings with three mews houses at the rear, offering approximately 26,147 sq ft of gross internal area. 

The property provides 15 lateral apartments ranging from studios to four-bedrooms, which are fully occupied and produce an annual rent of £997,000. 

Islington

Architects Journal reports that KPF’s scheme at 176-178 York Way was approved by committee in Tuesday 16th July. The scheme will include 16,000m² ‘lab-enabled office floorspace’ on its upper floors, consisting of laboratories and office write-up space, and a series of ‘generous’ upper-level terraces. It will be 37m tall, rising to 43m including plant screening.

Tower Hamlets

EG Radius reports that a decision on a new London tower from Hong Kong private equity firm Gaw Capital and developer City & Docklands was deferred at this week’s Tower Hamlets planning committee meeting, following a request for a site visit.

Inside House reports that Latimer by Clarion Housing Group’s proposals to redevelop the former Chest Hospital for housing was approved by committee. Latimer’s plans for the site include 50% affordable housing within the development, with 76 homes allocated for social rent – around 28% of the total.