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Diary 4 April 2015: Loads-a-resi!

News

Emily Wright

02 April 2015

Loads-a-resi!
As parliament drew to a close, communities secretary Eric Pickles issued his final missive outlining new rules and updates to the planning system. For a government that has presided over an unprecedented boom in the prime residential sector over the past five years, it seemed appropriate that his final act should be to sanction “casino-to-resi” regulations. The last time a weak Conservative government went into a deeply uncertain election campaign in 1992, it was attacked regularly by then-opposition leader Neil Kinnock for presiding over a “Loadsamoney” culture, a reference to the popular Harry Enfield character of the time. Diary wonders whether the current opposition might consider taking a similar approach, re-imagining the character for the 2010-15 intake. LOADS-A-RESI!

A solid foundation
Talking of resi, Hammersmith & Fulham last week signed off on a residential scheme that perhaps sums up the extent to which residential values have moved over the past five years. The £400m mixed-use Albert Wharf scheme includes 237 luxury flats boasting views over Wandsworth Bridge Road, SW6. What the press release didn’t say was that the scheme also includes a safeguarded concrete batching plant at ground floor.

Heavy-duty occupiers
Much of the talk in the central London office market recently has been of the changing nature of occupier requirements – which is to be expected as tenants are asked to dig deeper into their wallets. Diary learned of a perfect example this week, with agents at one high-end office block having to field some novel requirements from prospective occupiers. Among these was a query about whether the building’s parking arrangements could accommodate the armour-plated cars favoured by its employees. The good times must surely be back.

Streets ahead
Cushman & Wakefield brought in a touch of celebrity to lure guests to the 10th anniversary of its opening in Manchester last week. Celebs spotted at the Coronation Street-themed party – which took place on the actual Coronation Street in the old Granada Studios – included Corrie star Jennie McAlpine, AKA Fiona “Fiz” Brown (pictured). Who says you don’t get glitz and glamour at property parties?

More selfies than you can shake a stick at..
Love them or loathe them, selfie sticks – or narcissisticks as they have been appropriately dubbed – have become big business. And there is none so big as the specimen currently onsite at King’s Cross. The scheme’s photographer, John Sturrock, has created a selfie stick so long – 15m to be exact – it has to be attached to a crane. The idea is that this latest gadget, which has pride of place in Pancras Square, will capture bigger and better shots of the development site. The big question must surely be, how many pouting selfie faces can you fit into a shot that aims to capture life at the 8.7m sq ft King’s Cross Central? Now there’s a challenge.

Loads-a-resi! As parliament drew to a close, communities secretary Eric Pickles issued his final missive outlining new rules and updates to the planning system. For a government that has presided over an unprecedented boom in the prime residential sector over the past five years, it seemed appropriate that his final act should be to sanction “casino-to-resi” regulations. The last time a weak Conservative government went into a deeply uncertain election campaign in 1992, it was attacked regularly by then-opposition leader Neil Kinnock for presiding over a “Loadsamoney” culture, a reference to the popular Harry Enfield character of the time. Diary wonders whether the current opposition might consider taking a similar approach, re-imagining the character for the 2010-15 intake. LOADS-A-RESI! A solid foundation Talking of resi, Hammersmith & Fulham last week signed off on a residential scheme that perhaps sums up the extent to which residential values have moved over the past five years. The £400m mixed-use Albert Wharf scheme includes 237 luxury flats boasting views over Wandsworth Bridge Road, SW6. What the press release didn’t say was that the scheme also includes a safeguarded concrete batching plant at ground floor. Heavy-duty occupiers Much of the talk in the central London office market recently has been of the changing nature of occupier requirements – which is to be expected as tenants are asked to dig deeper into their wallets. Diary learned of a perfect example this week, with agents at one high-end office block having to field some novel requirements from prospective occupiers. Among these was a query about whether the building’s parking arrangements could accommodate the armour-plated cars favoured by its employees. The good times must surely be back. Streets ahead Cushman & Wakefield brought in a touch of celebrity to lure guests to the 10th anniversary of its opening in Manchester last week. Celebs spotted at the Coronation Street-themed party – which took place on the actual Coronation Street in the old Granada Studios – included Corrie star Jennie McAlpine, AKA Fiona “Fiz” Brown (pictured). Who says you don’t get glitz and glamour at property parties? More selfies than you can shake a stick at.. Love them or loathe them, selfie sticks – or narcissisticks as they have been appropriately dubbed – have become big business. And there is none so big as the specimen currently onsite at King’s Cross. The scheme’s photographer, John Sturrock, has created a selfie stick so long – 15m to be exact – it has to be attached to a crane. The idea is that this latest gadget, which has pride of place in Pancras Square, will capture bigger and better shots of the development site. The big question must surely be, how many pouting selfie faces can you fit into a shot that aims to capture life at the 8.7m sq ft King’s Cross Central? Now there’s a challenge.