GPE completes largest office development to date

Great Portland Estates plc (GPE) has reached practical completion at 2 Aldermanbury Square, marking the delivery of its largest office development to date.

2 Aldermanbury Square, EC2

Located in the heart of the City of London, the project provides 29,882 m2 of "best-in-class" headquarters space. The building has been entirely pre-let to the global law firm Clifford Chance, which is set to begin its internal fit-out shortly.

Originally designed in 2019 and granted planning consent in 2021, the 13-storey development was delivered both on schedule and within budget. Key features of the new landmark include flexible floorplates designed for modern corporate requirements, a panoramic roof terrace, and an expansive double-height reception area. It is strategically located in proximity to Moorgate, Liverpool Street, and Bank stations, offering direct access to the Elizabeth line and National Rail networks.

The property is the first GPE building to receive a BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ certification. It also achieved a low embodied carbon target of 561 kgCO2 e/m2. Notably, over 1,500 tonnes of steel were recovered from the site’s predecessor, City Place House; this salvaged material now constitutes nearly 80% of the steel frame for GPE’s separate development at 30 Duke Street, St James’s. Furthermore, the scheme is GPE’s first to achieve a 5* NABERS Base Build 'Design for Performance' rating.

Piers Blewitt, director of Development Management at GPE, said: “This project 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 a much-improved public realm, including the new Basinghall Walk”.

Chinwe Odimba Chapman, Office managing partner for London and Co-Regional managing partner for One Europe, commented: “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”.

Miles Wilkinson, senior project manager at GPE, added: “Completing a development of this scale and complexity on programme is a major achievement. It reflects the strength of collaboration with Bevis, our supply chain partners, and consultants, and shows what is possible when teams unite behind a shared sustainability vision”.