While the take up in the region has been disappointing this year, with most centres down on 2011, there are plenty of development proposals that augur well for the future. There is also the impact of the massive development of the Olympic Games site at Stratford and now some commentators are considering the area to offer the chance of being another Canary Wharf in a debate being led by Search Office Space.
The success of the Games has helped propel a regeneration plan, Meridian Water, in Enfield into the limelight. What is impressive about the proposals is that they bring new areas of parks and wildlife friendly areas to a number of parts of north and east London. The architects’ plans for a 4 mile park in Euston is one example and Enfield another while the Olympic Park is also impressive with the revival of the Lea Valley.
There are also commercial deals such as Dupont Fabros Technologies of the US buying most of Sanofi’s 108 acre Dagenham site for a 55,740 sq.metres (600,000 sq.ft.) data centre while Sainsbury’s is to build an adjacent supermarket. In Purfleet, Essex, Thurrock Council has started the search for a development partner for a £950 million regeneration on a 71 acre site. Even at the Silverstone motor racing circuit the plan for a development from the owners, the British Racing Drivers’ Club, has moved on. It is now seeking a development partner for the 760 acre estate.