Estates Gazette’s must reads: 29 September – 3 October

Here’s a wrap-up of some of the top stories on Estates Gazette from the past week.

Capital & Centric has grown its average project size from £2m to £75m in just over a decade. As the social developer celebrates its 15th birthday this year, Estates Gazette got its bosses in the room to learn more its successes – and what comes next.
Capital & Centric on staying ahead of the creative curve

London’s office market is showing a cautious but clear revival, driven by a combination of strong occupier demand, the return of overseas capital and the re-emergence of larger investment deals.
Investors get serious about London’s office renaissance

Criterion Capital has signed Turkish chocolate company Mazlum Confectionery Products to Scotch House, Knightsbridge. The company has signed for a 2,500 sq ft flagship store across the basement and ground floor of Scotch House on a 10-year lease. The store, located at 10 Brompton Road, will open by the end of this year.
Turkish chocolatier to make sweet debut at Criterion Capital’s Knightsbridge site

Oxford North has firmed up its position on the global life sciences stage as its first precision-constructed workspace becomes available for the sector’s occupiers. As the £1.2bn innovation district takes shape, Estates Gazette had an exclusive glimpse of what’s next on the agenda from the project team.
Oxford North Ventures on adding to the city’s innovation ecosystem

UK retail real estate investment has led a European upturn as other key markets on the continent struggle. Retail investment in Europe jumped 29% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2025, with the UK emerging as an outperformer, according to JLL’s Global Real Estate Perspective report. UK retail investment volumes surged 30% over the period, in contrast to Germany and France, which saw 31% and 13% declines respectively.
Retail investment jumps as UK outperforms in Europe

London’s office market is showing a cautious but clear revival, driven by a combination of strong occupier demand, the return of overseas capital and the re-emergence of larger investment deals.
Investors get serious about London’s office renaissance

And the best of the rest…

New Towns Taskforce picks sites to set ‘new standard’
Infrastructure and investment take centre stage in London’s next act
Regeneration in the North West: No better time, no better place
Councils grapple with ‘everything all at once’
Criterion Capital set to snap up St Giles hotel in £240m deal
Plans go in to convert Victoria’s 1970s Royal Mail post office to pub
Breakthrough Properties gears up leasing with hire from DTRE
Aviva and CO-RE get go-ahead for 130 Fenchurch
Columbia Threadneedle bought out of MIX Manchester JV
Companies cut office space too far, too fast
AstraZeneca’s NYSE pivot is another dampener on our life sciences ambitions
Diary: Wheel estate

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