London’s Royal Albert Dock development could appeal to the many Asian companies that are looking to expand in Europe partly as a precautionary hedging manoeuvre against investment risk, and see London as a Gateway, says John Miu, chief operating officer of ABP London Investment.
ABP was at the EXPO REAL UK and Ireland Pavilion to promote the £1.7 bn (€1.9 bn) Royal Albert Dock scheme which is near London’s City Airport. When complete it will add about 437,000 m2 of mainly offices to the city’s stock of space in what is the largest privately funded Chinese project in Europe.
Miu explains that the scheme’s first phase has been entirely funded from Chinese resources and approximately half of the first phase has since been sold on a long leasehold. Now he wants to get the ABP project in front of a European agency and funding audience to promote opportunities in further phases.
He says that the product at Royal Albert Dock is unique and mixes the characteristics of modern open plan office space and buildings which provide occupiers with their own front door, a feature of much of London’s older office stock.
