Great Portland Estates plc (LON:GPE) has announced it has reached practical completion at 2 Aldermanbury Square, EC2, delivering 321,650 sq ft of best-in-class HQ office space. With the building now complete, Clifford Chance, which has pre let all the office space, will soon take occupation to begin its fit out.
This milestone completes a project which was first designed in 2019, received planning consent in 2021 and was delivered on time and to budget. The new 13 storey building delivers premium workspace in the heart of the City, complemented by improved public realm, a panoramic roof terrace, flexible floorplates and an impressive double height reception. The site benefits from excellent transport links, with Moorgate, Liverpool Street and Bank stations all within a short walk, providing access to the Elizabeth line, National Rail and multiple underground lines.
Working closely with its supply chain partners, GPE has delivered a market leading embodied carbon target of 561kgCO₂e/m²* and has also achieved its first BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ building. The former building, City Place House, acted as the donor for GPE’s pioneering steel reuse approach, with more than 1,500 tonnes of steel recovered and now forming almost 80% of the steel frame at GPE’s new build scheme at 30 Duke Street, St James’s, SW1. 2 Aldermanbury Square is also GPE’s first NABERS Base Build Design For Performance 5* development.
Miles Wilkinson, Senior Project Manager at GPE, commented: “Completing a development of this scale and complexity on programme is a major achievement. It reflects the strength of collaboration with Bovis, our supply chain partners and consultants, and shows what is possible when teams unite behind a shared sustainability vision.”
Piers Blewitt, Director of Development Management at GPE, added: “At 321,650 sq ft, this project is GPE’s largest single office development and was pre-let entirely off-plan to Clifford Chance. It is almost double the size of the previous building, has the highest sustainability standards and delivers much improved public realm including the new Basinghall Walk. We’re extremely proud of this outcome and look forward to welcoming Clifford Chance back to the City of London in the coming weeks.”
Chinwe Odimba‑Chapman, Office Managing Partner for London and Co‑Regional Managing Partner for One Europe: “This milestone brings us a step closer to our move into 2 Aldermanbury Square. By placing our clients and our people at the centre of our plans, we are investing in a space that supports the future growth of the firm and demonstrates our commitment to delivering the highest standards.”
*currently being third-party reviewed
