LAWFUEL – Legal News, Legal Jobs – Linklaters has advised the Worshipful Company of Leathersellers on an option for a development agreement and new ground leases to allow Great Portland Estates to construct a three building complex including a new City of London office tower at 100 Bishopsgate, London EC2.
The site, which is jointly owned by the livery company, will include a 40-storey office tower and two seven storey buildings – one of which will contain a 5,000 sq ft public library while the other, to be behind a retained façade in St Helen’s Place, will include a new livery hall for the Leathersellers. In total, the development will provide 815,000 sq ft of office and retail space.
A planning application has already been submitted by Great Portland Estates, as has an application for conservation area consent, as the site falls partly within the St Helen’s Place Conservation Area. If planning is approved, the site can be redeveloped after 2011 which is when the majority of leases expire.
Real estate partner Christopher Coombe led the Linklaters team which advised the Leathersellers. Working with Sir Robert Finch, a consultant with the firm, he was assisted by Kirsty Corkum and Penny McLaren at Linklaters.
Leathersellers were also represented by Charlie Anderson of Farrer & Co on title matters. Leathersellers’ Surveyor is Nick Baucher of GVAGrimley.
Great Portland Estates were represented on all aspects by Deborah Parry of Nabarro Nathanson, assisted by James Beauchamp.
