Camden

Camden Council have launched an appeal to incentivise landlords to rent properties at Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates to help tackle homelessness in the area. Landlords are being offered cash incentives of up to £2,000 for one-bed properties and £4,500 for two-bed properties to let to those either currently homeless or making the transition from charity and council facilities. Councillor Meric Apak, Cabinet Member for Better Homes, said that demand for affordable safe, homes outweighs supply in the borough, but that landlords’ “community spirit” could help provide for families at the highest risk.

City of London

Building Design reports that Hershten Properties and Woods Bagot have submitted an application for a 32-storey mixed-use office tower next to Leadenhall Market. The development at 85 Gracechurch Street would provide 35,000sqm of grade A office space with a large civic public hall and public heritage garden at ground level. Developer Hershten Properties called the proposal a “complimentary extension” that would drive footfall to rejuvenate the historic market.

Property Week reports that flexible workspace provider TOG is set to launch its largest workspace to date – Chancery House – in May of 2023. The 127,000 sqft space will be located above the historic London Silver Vaults on Chancery Lane and has capacity for around 1,500 desks across 8 floors alongside a library, meeting rooms and lounge spaces. The building was first opened as Chancery Lane Safe Deposits in 1885 and underwent significant redevelopment in 1953 after sustaining damage in the Second World War. TOG’s owner, The Office Group, was formed by a merger of workspace giants TOG and Fora in September 2022 and is backed by both Blackstone and Brockton Capital.

Building reports that developer Sellar and Network Rail are set to unveil design changes to their £1.5bn Liverpool Street station redevelopment following a listing upgrade. The move comes after Historic England expanded the site’s listed status to include sections of the building added during its 1985-92 rebuild, which heritage groups feared could be lost in proposals designed by Herzog & de Meuron. The neighbouring Andaz hotel (formerly the Great Eastern) has also had its listing status upgraded from grade II to grade II*.

City of Westminster

The Evening Standard reports that the pharmaceuticals giant GSK is to return to central London in 2024 with new global headquarters on New Oxford Street. In a major boost to the West End economy, the company has signed a pre-leasing agreement with the Royal London UK Real Estate Fund for 155,000 sqft of office space at its new flagship development the Earnshaw, WC1. GSK are currently based at Great West Road in Brentford, and the move would see some 3000 staff move to the West End site, including the global leadership team and CEO Emma Walmsley.

Property Week reports that Grosvenor has appointed Hanover Green Retail as sole agents for all lettings at Motcomb Street in Belgravia, SW1. The prime location, which is close to both Knightsbridge and Sloane Square tube stations, has a total of 36 businesses including independent boutiques, Michelin-starred restaurant and the renowned Pantechnicon building which houses a five-storey dining and concept store. Hanover Green’s head of agency Matthew Hyland said the company were “delighted […]to assist Grosvenor on the continued improvement and development of Motcomb Street.”

The Guardian reports that celebrities including Stephen Fry and Miriam Margolyes have joined those aiming to prevent the closure of Soho’s I Camisa deli. News of the establishment’s closure has sparked a 4,000 strong petition calling on Westminster City Council to engage with Shaftesbury who own the building to find a solution. The deli was opened in 1929 and has been featured on TV shows including The Great British Bake Off and Stanley Tucci’s Searching for Italy. Alivini, its current owners, took the decision to close amidst rising costs and a return to pre-pandemic levels of rates and rent. I Camisa’s closure would mark another casualty in the long string of independent businesses which have recently closed in the iconic West End location. Shaftesbury said that discussions with Alvinvi were “ongoing” and that they were continuing to listen to the community’s views.

Westminster Council, WPA and businesses have paid tribute to the former council leader Philippa Roe who amongst many things, was known for her determination and dedication to the people of Westminster. Charles Begley, Chief Executive, WPA said: “Philippa’s untimely death is incredibly sad, and our thoughts are with her all her family and friends. She was a diligent and dedicated champion of Westminster as both council leader and later in the Lords, leading through consensus and engagement at a time of significant challenge and change.”

Hackney

The Hackney Citizen reports that fifteen sites in Hackney have been marked for council housing as a scheme to build more that 1,000 new homes gets underway. Hackney Borough Council has identified “anchor sites” in locations including Haggerston, Stoke Newington and London Fields in an effort to deliver 400 homes towards its 1,118 target. There are currently 8,500 families on the waiting list for social housing in Hackney, and Chris Trowell – interim director of regeneration at Hackney Council – said that the authority was determined to use “all means at its disposal” to meet demand, including renovation, buying back ex-council housing and new builds. The sites identified for development include the Welshpool Street depot, the Morris Blitz neighbourhood office in Stoke Newington and the controversial redevelopment of the Tesco store at Morning Lane.

Lambeth

The Architect’s Journal reports that Lambeth councillors have unanimously approved plans to replace two post-war housing blocks near Waterloo with a major life sciences hub. The planning committee resolved on Tuesday to grant developer Stanhope consent to demolish Canterbury House and Stangate House to create 150,000sqm of office space and 133 homes at the 2.2ha Royal Street site. Half of the new homes at the proposed development will be affordable, and architects AHHM also propose to provide a number of other facilities between Waterloo Station and St Thomas’ Hospital.

Southwark

The Architect’s Journal reports that Peckham Library could become the first 21^st century listed building. Campaigners from heritage group the Twentieth Century Society are demanding that the Stirling Prize-winning building, designed by Alsop & Stormer in 2000, receive Grade II* listed status. The move comes after an application by Southwark Council to install air source heat pumps on the roof which planning documents state would significantly reduce the building’s carbon emissions. The society claim that such a move would dampen the “heritage significance” of the “highly characterful” roof. The Twentieth Century Society have said that they are now setting their sights on a number of buildings funded by the Millenium Commission in the late 1990s.

Southwark News reports that plans by Howarth Tompkins to refurbish 144 homes in Rotherhithe have been thrown into doubt by Southwark Council. The scheme, which also involves the provision of an additional 24 homes, was consented in 2018 but local residents were informed last month that the council were now considering demolishing Mayhew House. The scheme would rejuvenate the 1960s tower block, which has stood empty since 2015 due to asbestos, electrical and plumbing concerns, but Southwark Council leader Kieron Williams stated that “a perfect storm” of increased construction costs, new regulatory standards and inflation had left the council “looking at other options” for the estate.

Tower Hamlets

The Architect’s Journal reports that Canary Wharf Group and Kadans Science Partner have submitted plans for a 23-storey laboratory and office building on the northern edge of Canary Wharf. The proposal, designed by Kohn Pederson Fox Associates (KPF), is described as a “first of its kind vertical campus” and would provide 76,500sqm of commercial health and life sciences building on the North Quay opposite Foster + Partners’ Elizabeth Line station. The application marks the first step in the transformation of the undeveloped 3.5ha waterside site, which has outline permission for 325,000 sqm of laboratory and affiliated space for a health and life sciences campus.

East London Lines reports that One Park Drive in Canary Wharf has won the title of “best large housing scheme” at the 2022 New London Awards. The building forms part of Canary Wharf Group’s flagship residential development in Wood Wharf which aims to transform the built environment in Canary Wharf to a hub of business and cultural life. One Park Drive was praised for the global recognition it has received for its innovative design, with each of its residential floors built in rotation to afford each flat a view of the London skyline. Chairman of the Canary Wharf Group Sir George Jacobescu said that the area’s regeneration was “defined by an audacious vision […] of what urban life at its very best should be.”

General

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has confirmed that the government is committed to introducing a registration scheme for short-term holiday lets. Responding to a question from Conservative MP Nickie Aiken during Prime Minster’s Questions last week, the prime minister said the government was committed to increasing “appropriate regulation” in the sector to “better understand and monitor the impact [of short term lets] on local communities”. He also confirmed that the government “would consult on whether planning permissions should be required for new short-term holiday lets, especially in tourist hotspots”. Aiken had pointed out that councils like Westminster – which has 13,000 Airbnb properties – have almost no way to regulate the fast-growing sector at present.

City AM reports that tenants in London are facing the highest rent increases in the UK as mortgage rates for landlords continue to skyrocket. Average monthly rent in London has increased by 14.8% from £1,752 to £2,011 since last Christmas, whilst across the UK there has been an average increase of 10.8% with median rent rising from £1,060 to £1,175. Ocasa, who conducted the study, also said that the recent move by many high street lenders to remove buy-to-let mortgage products would worsen the situation by increasing the dearth of rental stock in the face of strong tenant demand.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan called on the Government for emergency investment in social housing on Monday after it was revealed that 43% of London’s social housing does not currently meet the Decent Homes Standard. City Hall analysis found that 343,000 homes needed improvement to both meet the Standard and reach energy efficiency compliance. Following the tragic death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak due to mould in social housing in Rochdale, the mayor urged the government to act to prevent similar tragedies in London. Homes failing to meet the standard are knows as Category 1 HHSRS hazards and can contain damp, mould, excess cold or severe infestations of pests and vermin. Sadiq Khan said that without a long-term investment strategy to address the crisis, the Government will fall short of its own target of halving the number of non-decent homes by 2030.