Cluttons makes resi hire
Cluttons has poached Savills’ head of international developments Joanna Leverett to join the company as head of international residential markets. Leverett will focus on linking with the Middle East and also work with the firm’s branches in Asia Pacific, Europe, India and South Africa. She worked at Savills for eight years.
Midtown play for Brockton
Brockton Capital has submitted plans for a redevelopment of the former Royal Mail depot at 21-31 New Oxford Street, WC1. AHMM-designed plans lodged with Camden council comprise around 350,000 sq ft of office space, 42,000 sq ft of shops and 21 flats. Brockton paid around £95m for Aviva’s majority stake at the building.
Toy Store makes W1 debut
Middle Eastern retailer The Toy Store has made its UK debut and signed a 10-year lease on a 27,000 sq ft store on Oxford Street. Advised by MMX Retail, it will take the space at Orchard Street Investment Management’s West One shopping centre, W1. Savills acted for the landlord.
Colliers appoints shed guru
Colliers International has appointed industrial and logistics specialist Robert Whatmuff as a director in its Leeds office. Whatmuff joins the firm from Lambert Smith Hampton, where he spent seven years. He headed the Leeds office at LSH and led the firm’s industrial and logistics team in the northern regions.
West End returns up 23%
Returns from West End office investments increased by 23.3% in the 12 months to 30 June, according to the IPD/Colliers International West End report, which analysed more than £11bn of assets. In the strongest performance in four years, returns were more than double the 10.3% posted in the previous 12 months.
joanna.bourke@estatesgazette.com
