Estates Gazette’s must reads: 28 April-2 May

Here’s a wrap-up of some of the top stories on Estates Gazette from the past week. “You could cut me in half and you would see hospitality running through my veins. If you had asked me 10 years ago what I do, I would have said I’m in property advisory for hospitality. If you asked me two years ago, I would have said: I am hospitality.” Ted Schama told Estates Gazette about his new business, One Voice Hospitality, and the market trends he hopes to tap into with the launch.Ted Schama: ‘Hospitality runs through my veins’ US pharma giant Eli Lilly has gone under offer for more than 30,000 sq ft of workspace across the top floors of Reef Group and BlackRock’s Apex building in the heart of London’s King’s Cross.Eli Lilly nears deal for new Knowledge Quarter home Aviva Capital Partners and Socius have lodged proposals for a £1bn centre for cancer research and treatment in Sutton, south London. The outline planning application spans 974,500 sq ft of research and laboratory space for life sciences companies, academic researchers and clinicians.Plans in for £1bn London Cancer Hub treatment district Investment in UK purpose-built student accommodation reached £744m in the first quarter of 2025, according to Knight Frank. The agency recorded 18 deals over the period, with total investment volumes only slightly down on the £750m invested during the same period of last year.UK PBSA investment holds steady in Q1 A proposed amendment to the Renters’ Rights Bill discussed in the House of Lords this week could deliver significant relief to developers and operators of purpose-built student accommodation, by removing code-compliant schemes from the financial and administrative burdens of local authority licensing.Student digs Renters’ Rights exemption set to boost development Other stories not to miss: DWS pulls out of Midtown acquisitionCapgemini’s City office hits the market at £100m+London Tribunals rules in favour of City moveRidley to step down as Savills chief executiveUkrainian developer’s student shelters win international awardBlacklight puts Limelight on the market for £61m“Uncharted waters”: Real estate reels from policy puzzlesNext phase of Dockside Canada Water gets green lightThumbs down for Wandsworth Council – and its leader’s sad little emojiUCEM to become University of the Built Environment