GPE expands in Southwark, SE1

Great Portland Estates PLC
21 September 2006



21 September 2006

Great Portland expands in Southwark, SE1


Great Portland Estates plc ('GPE') announces the expansion of its business in
Southwark through;

• The submission of a planning application for a major mixed use
development totaling 188,000 sq ft at 240 Blackfriars Road, SE1;

• The purchase of the 38,300 sq ft Delfina Studios in Bermondsey
Street, SE1 for £8.1 million.

At Blackfriars Road, following the £3.0 million purchase of the last remaining
part of the island site from housing charity Novas, GPE has increased the size
of its proposed development from 131,000 sq ft to 188,000 sq ft, up from the
existing building's 34,000 sq ft.

The proposed 15 storey office building, designed by leading London architects
Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, will incorporate flexible 12,000 sq ft floors and
2,300 sq ft of retail and restaurant accommodation. An adjoining residential
building will provide 10 apartments.

In a separate transaction, GPE has acquired Delfina Studios in Bermondsey Street
for £8.1 million. The buildings comprise 38,000 sq ft of B1 studio and warehouse
space on a 0.6 acre site. A planning application will be submitted shortly to
the London Borough of Southwark for a refurbishment and partial new build
development to provide 49,000 sq ft of offices, retail and restaurant space with
completion scheduled for autumn 2008.

Toby Courtauld, GPE Chief Executive, said: '240 Blackfriars Road, an important
part of our medium-term development programme, will play a key role in the
regeneration of this part of the Southbank. Delfina joins the Group's extensive
near-term programme and provides us with an opportunity for some creative
redevelopment, from a low entry cost, in this rapidly improving part of the
Capital.'


To access photograph please cut and paste the below link into your web browser:

240 Blackfriars Road, SE1. 
http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/2639j_-2006-9-20.pdf


Contacts:

Great Portland Estates plc
Toby Courtauld        Chief Executive         020 7647 3042
Neil Thompson         Development Director    020 7647 3029

Finsbury
Gordon Simpson                                020 7251 3801
James Murgatroyd





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