Kennedy Wilson Europe Real Estate an LSE listed property company that invests in real estate across the UK, Ireland, Spain and Italy, announces strong leasing momentum across key investments, completing significant rent reviews at 111 Buckingham Palace Road, London, SW1 and new leases across Leavesden Park, Watford and Stillorgan Shopping Centre, Dublin 18 in Ireland, covering c. 270,000 ft² and delivering an uplift of 17% ahead of previous passing rents and 3% ahead of valuers’ ERVs.
At 111 Buckingham Palace Road, London, SW1 (224,100 ft² office)
Following the successful transformation of the reception and Sky Lobby, completed in November 2016, where we undertook a comprehensive refurbishment and extension, we delivered strong rental growth of 20% over previous passing, concluding two outstanding rent reviews and a new letting.
Rent reviews were concluded with the Telegraph Media Group (125,100 ft² over the first and second floors) and Regus (31,000 ft² on third floor) at attractive levels, achieving business plan ERVs and rents well in excess of previous passing. In addition, 6,400 ft² was let to international software company, Metalogix, for a new five-year lease, materially improving the rent.
At Leavesden Park, Watford (SEO portfolio, 196,300 ft² office)
We have successfully completed a simultaneous surrender with BT and agreement for lease with global online fashion retailer, ASOS, for a new 10-year lease over 74,000 ft², at 7% ahead of previous passing rent, making this one of the largest lettings of the year in the South East office market.
At Stillorgan Shopping Centre, Co. Dublin (Opera portfolio, 142,300 ft² retail)
An agreement for lease was signed with Tesco for a new 25-year lease (15 years term-certain) for an enlarged store which will enable them to consolidate from three to two locations within the centre. Work commenced on the new 11,000 ft² extension in March 2017, with practical completion expected by the end of the year. We are excited about the opportunity to unlock new asset management opportunities from the surrendered space to further improve the tenant mix and increase the rent roll.
Mary Ricks, President and CEO of Kennedy Wilson Europe, commented:“The positive leasing momentum delivered in 2016 across the UK and Ireland has continued in 2017 as the portfolio continues to offer attractive space at good value for occupiers. We are particularly pleased that at our largest asset, Buckingham Palace Road, the dramatic transformation of the reception and Sky Lobby in Q4-16 has led to significant NOI improvement across our largest rent review and to new leasing opportunities, all at pre-referendum levels, owing to the high quality and prime location of this asset. Buckingham Palace Road continues to demonstrate untapped potential and we are excited to capitalise on further asset management opportunities in the near-to-medium term.”
