It has been announced this week that Sky News has moved offices and studios to the iconic Gherkin building in the City of London.
Abbey Business Centres announced that Sky News had joined their clients at 30 St Mary Axe, better known as the Gherkin, in the City of London. Sky News’ Chief Business Editor Jeff Randall’s team will be presenting live from the building on the 15th floor.
The Gherkin is an ideal move for Sky News, the location is in the heart of the financial district of London and their floor offers panoramic views of St Paul’s Cathedral, Tower 42 and Westminster. The views will be a breathtaking backdrop to the broadcasts which will also be done live from the studios there. (more…)
The BBC Trust has just spent £3.2 million on a new HQ in Central London.
The BBC watchdog spent £2.2 million on an 8 year lease for the first floor of a converted Edwardian building at 180 Great Portland Street after rejecting space in the corporation’s own building. They spent a further £1 million on refurbishments, following claims they need “physical seperation” from other BBC sectors. Refurbishment costs include £250,000 on interior designers and £40,000 on fitting out costs. (more…)
Land Securities Group Plc has announced that they are restarting their development of a new skyscraper in London, known as the Walkie Talkie tower.
The shortage of office space in London has driven the decision by Land Securities, the largest real estate investment trust in the UK. They have been making enquiries to contractors for estimates to build the 155-metre tower, which will be at 20 Fenchurch Street in the the heart of City of London. (more…)
Royal Dutch Shell have announced plans to move to Canary Wharf for the next ten years, whilst the Shell Centre headquarters in Waterloo are redeveloped.
The oil firm are currently negotiating a ten-year lease on 200,000 sq ft of office space in 40 Bank Street, which is close to One Canada Square, so that they will continue to have a working headquarters in London during the redevelopment. (more…)
The winner of a competition to design the new US Embassy in London has been announced this week. Kieran Timberlake, an architecture firm from Philadelphia won the pitch to design the building facing off fierce competition from high profile names such as Morphosis Architects, Pei Cobb Freed & Partners and Richard Meier & Partners.
The competition was judged by respected figures from British and American Architecture including property developer and patron of the arts Baron Peter Palumbo and British architect Lord Richard Rogers. (more…)
US investment bank JP Morgan is considering leaving their European headquarters in Canary Wharf in favour of other premises in the City of London area.
This will be a harsh blow for Canary Wharf’s hopes to be the main financial district of London. JP Morgan are currently reviewing plans for its headquarters and the consolidation of all staff and buildings into one development, which may be in City rather than Canary Wharf. (more…)
Dragon’s Den judge and entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne faces a challenge fiercer than his business judgement this month.
The 60-year old businessman is one of a growing number of athletes tacking a new challenge, set to take the fitness and athletics world by storm in major cities. Tower running, where runners tackle getting to the top floor of towers and skyscrapers the hard way by running up the stairs, is a growing new trend for fitness fanatics around the world. (more…)
Blackstone Real Estate Group and Prupim are the latest companies to join a new environmental scheme in London.
The Better Buildings Partnership was set up to encourage and improve the environmental performance of commercial property in London.
Following a meeting of 100 representatives at City Hall, the Better Buildings Partnership and Green500 annual brunch, discussing environmental and energy consumption issues in London, Blackstone Real Estate Group and Prupim have joined the scheme. (more…)
Real estate investors from China are increasingly looking to invest in commercial property in London.
Chinese investors are exploring new avenues and ventures, which is drawing them to the booming commercial property market in London according to a report by King Sturge.
“An increasing number of Chinese investors and occupiers have firmly set their sights on the City and Chinese occupiers and investors are now starting to represent potentially the biggest opportunity for the City office market,” says senior research associate at King Sturge, Deborah Hayward. (more…)
It has been announced this week that Sky News has moved offices and studios to the iconic Gherkin building in the City of London.
