HQ relocation delivers £1.3m savings

Daniel Watney Partnership was appointed by a leading student housing operator to advise on a ‘stay vs. go’ decision for their London headquarters during the height of UK lockdowns.

The project required navigating evolving post-COVID working practices and reassessing long-term office requirements.

A dual-track strategy was implemented – running a market search alongside lease renewal negotiations – to maintain flexibility and maximise leverage.

The team secured 8,759 sq ft of Grade A office space on the 1st floor at 12 Arthur Street, EC2, a comprehensively refurbished building delivered by landlord CIT, and negotiated a 10-year lease with 26 months’ rent-free and a £1.50 per sq ft rent reduction, delivering total savings of £1.3 million over the term.