Holding in Company

Great Portland Estates PLC
16 March 2001

Letter to Company Announcements Office

I have today received notification that Capital & Counties hold 16,185,000
ordinary shares of 50p each in this Company, representing 7.56% of the issued
share capital of the Company.

A copy of their notice is below

Letter from Desna Martin - Company Secretary
            Great Portland Estates plc



Letter to Great Portland Estates PLC

Disclosure of Interest in Shares of Great Portland Estates P.L.C. (the
'Company')

As required under section 198 of the Companies Act 1985 ('the Act'), notice is
hereby given that, following purchases of shares on Wednesday 14th March and
Thursday 15th March, we have by virtue of section 208 (4) (b) of the Act, an
interest in 16,185,000 ordinary shares of 50p each in the capital of the
Company, which are or will be registered as follows:

Registered Holder                         Number of Shares

HSBC Global Custody Nominees UK Limited
A/c 766831                                   16,185,000

Letter from A C Smith - Director
            Capital & Counties