Estates Gazette

Landsec ’s Mark Allan: REIT will remain disciplined on retail acquisitions Speaking after Landsec’s FY results, Allan told Estates Gazette that the REIT will remain “disciplined” in its shopping centre acquisitions in the face of growing competition for dominant regional malls, as the company continues to move capital out of offices and into retail. He said that the company had deliberately walked away from deals over the past year because of concerns around catchment quality and future capex requirements. “We're only really going to get the opportunity to do this once. And so we want to make sure we do it right.” The comments come amid ongoing negotiations over Silverburn in Glasgow and as major assets including the Metrocentre are expected to come to market next month. Allan said Landsec believed there was more than £3bn worth of shopping centre assets owned by groups that were “not natural long-term owners” and likely to be sold over the next two years. Out of which, the REIT wants to secure roughly 20%-25% over the next few years. Full story below https://lnkd.in/eKGnxfwW

Adrian Boyce , the former regional managing director for London at agency Avison Young │ UK , has joined office fit-out company ODGroup. as group director. "I’ve admired OD Group for a long time, both through working alongside the business and through the reputation it has built in the market," he said. "The industry is changing quickly, and clients increasingly need advisers and delivery partners who can think more broadly across real estate, workplace and business challenges." OD Group managing director Jon Kearney added: “Adrian’s experience across a different part of the real estate industry was one of the things that really attracted us to this move. He brings a fresh perspective, strong market relationships and experience that will help us continue to evolve and support clients with increasingly complex challenges." More here first in Estates Gazette . https://lnkd.in/epv_52rH

"I'd always looked at Workspace as a sleeping giant. It's 4 million square feet that they own. Four million square feet! It's unbelievable. So if you're going to make a difference and you're going to make an impact, to have that as a starting point is such a gift." Great fun to join the Flexible Space Association 's conference and exhibition this morning to interview Charlie Green , co-founder of The Office Group and now chief executive of Workspace Group . We talked about his career journey as the flex market has matured, encouraging 'emotional intelligence' among office owners and what he now hopes to achieve with the turnaround of Workspace. Oh, and there was one anecdote involving being threatened with being shot, some talk about engaging with activist investors, and a bit of career advice I absolutely agree with: don't work with arseholes. More to come from our discussion in Estates Gazette soon.

Flexible workspace operator Co-Space has signed for two new locations, striking deals with local authorities in Harlow and Watford in its third and fourth such local authority partnerships. The company has signed for 19,500 sq ft of workspace at the Market House in Harlow, alongside 15,000 sq ft at Watford’s Town Hall (pictured). "We thrive on supporting local businesses, and partnering with forward-thinking local authorities is exactly what we want to do, and do more of," said William Stokes , chief executive and co-founder of Co-Space. "These projects in both Harlow and Watford show what’s possible when the public and private sectors work together creatively." Details here first in Estates Gazette . https://lnkd.in/eaxTZUse