The London Fruit and Wool Exchange

A Development Agreement with The City of London Corporation established the framework which enabled us to secure a planning consent for the redevelopment of London’s old Fruit and Wool Exchange. Set in this vibrant part of London, opposite the listed Spitalfields Market and adjacent to Christchurch, Hawksmoor’s baroque masterpiece, the scheme was not without its challenges. A testament to its success was the speculative funding of it by M&G Real Estate followed by securing a pre-let for the entire office element.

The project delivered 270,000 sqft of grade A office accommodation. A principle attraction of the scheme was its expansive floorplates of between 35,000 and 65,000 sqft.

In addition, 30,000 sqft of retail and restaurant space, including a replacement pub and a uniquely designed pavilion, activated the ground floor plane.

The complex and protracted planning process demanded considerable tenacity and skill as well as fantastic design by Bennetts Associates. The final scheme saw the original facade on Brushfield Street retained with the commercial space set behind a dramatic 4 story colonnade to ensure unhindered natural light to the east elevation and the views over Spitalfields Market.

Funded by M&G Real Estate, the entire office space was let to Ashurst in 2015, and the project competed in 2018. SpaceNK, Nars, Uniqlo, and Heineken amongst others occupy the retail/restaurant space.