Evans Randall Investors understands the diverse and changing needs of office occupiers. By responding to the nuances of the market and preparing for future trends, we deliver prime assets with strong investor appeal. 

We have worked across the West End, Midtown, City and Docklands markets, delivering projects which range from financial sector headquarters to niche multi-let buildings. 

Most recently we have identified the need to develop for the undersupplied smaller occupier. As Central London office availability falls to its lowest levels for many years, the supply of offices in the 2,500 sq ft to 10,000 sq ft range is under pressure. This is impacting on the smaller businesses which arguably underpin the London economy. Not only the new or high-growth companies, but also the established names which conduct high-value business with comparatively small teams.

Our purchase of 90 Fetter Lane forms part of our strategy to reposition outdated offices to meet this kind of demand, creating multi-occupier workspaces for companies in the creative, media, technology, professional or financial sectors. The plans include curating a carefully-chosen group of retail and restaurant occupiers at ground floor level, in order to create a distinctive locality for the target office tenants.

Our understanding of the occupier is balanced by our insight into the requirements of prime office investors, from institutions and funds to private purchasers.

At Drapers Gardens in the City of London, we had the vision to make this high-yielding and at-the-time incomplete asset into a trophy investment ready to appeal to the largest global investors. 

Due to the degree of market uncertainty at the time, the 5.2% yield looked particularly attractive for several reasons. The property was let on a rare 25-year fixed term lease to BlackRock, the world's largest investment manager. And there were some outstanding development issues to resolve, plus the completion of the tenant’s fit out. 

With the tenant in occupation and with all outstanding development issues resolved the asset represented an absolute prime central London office investment. We sold it subsequently to one of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds for £285 million, an uplift of more than £40m on the original purchase. 

Find out more about our investment in prime City of London offices at The Gherkin, Riverbank House, and Milton Gate.