Former prime minister Tony Blair has taken an office in
As tipped by Estates Gazette (15 October p65), Blair, who was appointed official envoy to the Quartet in June, will take the entire 5,700 sq ft self-contained office building at 9 Grosvenor Square, W1.
A rent roll of £475,000 pa – an average of £80 per sq ft – was being quoted for the building on the north-east corner of the square.
However it is understood that Blair – who has taken the office for 10 years with three months rent free – will pay an annual rent of around £550,000 – an average of £93 per sq ft.
The former Labour leader looked closely at buildings north of Oxford Street – which is close to his Connaught Square, W2, home – as well as St James’s, before settling on the Grosvenor Square building which is currently being refurbished.
He will move into the office in mid-November.
As envoy to the Quartet – which comprises the United Nations, the EU, the US and Russia – Blair aims to help facilitate negotiations between the Palestinians and Israel.
CB Richard Ellis and Crossland Otter Hunt acted for the landlord.
