Register now for our Future of Work evening reception
Members and stakeholders are invited to an evening drinks reception at Duke Street Property’s newly refurbished Parcels Building located on Westminster’s iconic Oxford Street in partnership with Fora / TOG.
The high specification building has been developed in line with BREEAM certified Excellent standards and includes events and meeting spaces, a bespoke auditorium and an al fresco dining terrace.
At the reception, Enrico Sanna (CEO, The Office Group) will give a keynote speech discussing the growth of the serviced office sector, the future of work and the changing needs of occupiers.
This week’s Westminster Planning Applications Sub Committee (3) unanimously approved an application for Portman Estate’s recently completed One Marble Arch for change of use at lower ground, part ground and first floor to provide a new art museum, Moco Marble Arch. The Moco Museum is an independent museum with a wide range of inspiring modern, contemporary, and street art, with locations in Amsterdam and Barcelona. The site will become Moco Museum’s first in the UK and is due to open its doors in 2024.
The application received positive comments from all councillors at the committee meeting and has since received praise from Cllr Geoff Barraclough (Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development), who said he was “thrilled” to welcome the venue. Read the committee papers here. Read more on media coverage here.
Oxford Street updates
Council approval for Oxford Street Programme
The project, along with £7.7m for the next phase of the programme has been formally approved by the City Council with construction work expected to start in autumn 2024. The Council has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the New West End Company to joint-fund the project. The Oxford Street Programme aims to restore Oxford Street to its former glory with improved footways, greening and seating. Read more here. Read WPA’s letter of support on the project here.
Candy stores down by a third
The fall in Candy shop numbers on Oxford Street comes following the City Council’s crackdown and an increase in efforts to stop letting agents leasing empty properties to candy stores or souvenir shops. Read more here.
New Oxford Street stores announced
Dr Martens, the footwear giant has signed a ten-year lease for a new 6,000 sq ft store set to open in January. US doughnut retailer Krispy Kreme has also announced plans to open a 1,500 sq ft outlet at 27 Oxford Street in the new year. Read more here.
Source: Adam Hug topping out Ebury Bridge, Westminster City Council
Westminster City Council updates
Ebury bridge tops out
The milestone marks completion of Phase 1 of the City Council’s Ebury Bridge regeneration scheme, which when complete, will deliver 171 socially rented properties. Read more here.
Leader sets out priorities for sustainable tourism
In a Local Gov article, the Leader of Westminster City Council Adam Hug has set out three conditions for resident friendly tourism. These include short-term leasing responsibility, an overnight stay levy and consistent government policy and investment in local initiatives. Read more here.
Westminster declares ecological emergency
The announcement recognises the effects of climate change on the natural environment and commits the City Council to deliver further action to protect wildlife and improve biodiversity. Read more here.
Council to receive £165,000 for smart tech trial
The funds have been awarded to the City Council as part the Government's Smart Infrastructure Pilots Programme. The money will enable trials for innovative schemes involving electric vehicle charging and wireless internet coverage. Read more here.
Westminster seeks views for night time plan
Feedback is being gathered from residents, businesses, visitors, and communities to inform the City Council's upcoming Evening and Night-time Plan over the next six months. Complete the survey here.
Calls for powers to tackle pedicabs
The City Council is calling for the Government’s Transport Bill to be included on the agenda for the King’s Speech on 7 November and for greater legislative powers to prevent unlicensed and unsafe pedicabs from operating. Read more here.
New cycleway consultation opens
The City Council is seeking views on a proposed cycle route connecting St John’s Wood with Marylebone as part of the Westminster Cycle Route Programme. Consultation closes on 15 October. Complete the questionnaire here.
Chair sought for Education, Employment and Skills Board
Following the City Council’s launch of the group last month to help bridge the skills gap for Westminster residents, applications have now opened for the position of Chair. Read more here.
Source: The Old War Offices, CNN
Other news and updates
WPA responds to proposed new planning policy
WPA has submitted its representation to the second consultation on the City Council’s Planning Obligations & Affordable Housing SPD and Affordable Workspace Draft Informal Planning Guidance Note, expressing particular concern over the proposed increase to the price of carbon offsetting. Read more here. Read our response here.
Old War Offices reopen as luxury hotel
The historic government palace is now open to members of the public for the first time in over a century following its redevelopment into hotel rooms, flats and restaurants. Read more here.
Grosvenor achieves 32% reduction in reported emissions since 2019
The results were announced in the company’s latest Net Zero Carbon Pathway Report which also listed a 16% reduction in overall emissions and a 46% reduction in supply chain emissions. Grosvenor is a signatory of WPA and Westminster City Council’s Sustainable City Charter. Read more here.
Events
Due to industrial action on 4 October this event has now been rearranged to Wednesday 25 October. If you signed up for the original event please re-register using the link below.
This breakfast seminar will explore the latest findings of our Global Cities Survey, focusing on the commercial real estate markets and economic picture for the UK capital and our closest ‘peer’ city.
An expert panel will explore the investment, development and key placemaking projects in London and New York and discuss our cities’ shared challenges, opportunities and where experiences diverge.
Date: Wednesday 25 October
Time: 8.00am-10.00am
Venue: Ham Yard Theatre, Ham Yard Hotel, 1 Ham Yard, W1D 7DT
Time is running out to secure your place at the most keenly anticipated property event of the year.
This year’s keynote speaker is renowned journalist, broadcaster, and former political aide Alastair Campbell. Alastair is best known for his time as Tony Blair’s chief spokesman and as a key architect of New Labour. After the lunch Alastair will be signing copies of his latest book ‘But What Can I Do? Why Politics Has Gone Wrong, and How You Can Help Fix It’.
There are a limited number of tables and individual spaces remaining.
Date: Thursday 16 November
Time: 12noon - 3.30pm
Location: Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, W1K 7TN
We are once again supporting Bisnow’s Women Leading Real Estate event, which returns for a sixth time to celebrate and enhance the success of women in the industry and promote greater diversity in all forms across the sector. WPA members can get a 20% discount for this event by using the code LPA23.
This event is focused on creating an opportunity for those with less than five years’ experience in their career to meet and network with a number of the leading figures in real estate development and investment. The event encourages mentees to branch out their connections and organically select the best possible mentors based on the conversation. All attendees wear a simple first name badge identifying if you are a mentor or mentee, no job titles, no organisations.
Date: Thursday 2 November
Time: 5pm - 8pm
Venue: Uncommon 34-37 Liverpool St, London EC2M 7PP
Both WPA and CPA members have access to our comprehensive database of all major decisions from central London's major planning committees. These can be viewed on our Planning News page.
For more details on all of the property news stories in the central London boroughs over the last seven days please visit the news section of the London Planningwebsite.
Westminster Property Association, 10 Bloomsbury Way, Holborn, London WC1A 2SL, United Kingdom
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