EMERGING LONDON 2018

There do seem to be a lot of international retailers circling London for their first UK store. What international brands really like about London is how we curate and look after spaces. And that we as developers or landlords actually care about how their brand operates and trades. For example, that we aim to put them in the best place and not next to an operator they don’t associate with. It will be much more of a collaboration here. And UK retailers also find themselves drawn to London. For domestic retailers, profile is key; they want to be seen and to get attention. Many of the smallest brands will target the biggest possible platforms to get the exposure that allows them to trade and succeed. You’ve personally got extensive previous experience of working on retail projects across the capital. What learnings have you brought to Battersea? The key thing I want to do is make sure we’re creating a mix that appeal to Londoners as well as tourists. If we can get that right, then everyone else will come. I appreciate that the London SamCotton Favourite part of London: Stoke Newington, where I live. A village in London. It’s the perfect place to spend the weekend, with a high street full of great independent retailers and eateries. Secret London: Not so hidden, but I really enjoy walking along Regents Canal. Stopping for a beer outside the Narrowboat pub in the summer is always a good London moment. Place for quirky gifts: Search & Rescue on Stoke Newington Church Street. It always serves me well in times of urgent gifting needs! Place to eat: During the weekend I’m a big fan of Broadway Market, lots of great traders to choose from. Awesome coffee from Climpsons & Sons. Le Bab in Kingly Court is a top choice for a casual dinner, but Randall & Aubin on Brewer Street is my all-time favourite. London to explore more: The areas around Bermondsey Street. I enjoy visiting Maltby Street market, but keep meaning to explore a little wider, too. Favoured transport: It has to be the river bus, it’s a really fun and quick way of getting from east to west. MY LONDON audience is incredibly discerning and I don’t lose sight of the fact that a Londoner can go to multiple locations for a great experience and see a large selection of brands. That variety must surely be one of London’s strengths. One of the comments I hear most often fromoverseas visitors is how good London is at regenerating zones and delivering public realm, services and transport. London leads the way in that respect. Even though Battersea is big, we’re not the only regeneration scheme in the capital. Looking across the city as a whole, the range of opportunities is huge. How does it feel to be working on Battersea Power Station? It’s amazing and an absolute pleasure working on this project. The number of people who go past the site every day means we come under a great deal of scrutiny, so I really want to make sure we get it right. For me, a highlight is being on a plane coming into land at Heathrow. They often bank right over the Power Station which is brilliant, because on a clear day you can really appreciate the scale of the site. It’s great seeing people taking photos of it. At a glance – BATTERSEA POWER STATION Battersea Power Station Development Company, backed by a consortium of Malaysian shareholders, is working on the phased redevelopment of 42 acres of brownfield land around the former Power Station. The first phase of the £9bn project, including over 865 new homes and supporting leisure uses, is already complete. The Power Station itself is being converted to provide a total of 925,000 sq ft of retail and leisure space, due to open in late 2020. Around 500,000 sq ft of offices has been pre-let to Apple for its new London headquarters. The key thing I want to do is make sure we’re creating a mix that appeals to Londoners as well as tourists. If we can get that right, then everyone else will come. Regents Canal – Photograph © Garry Knight . http://flickr.com/photo/8176740@N05/6602248655 Regents Canal © Garry Knight 47 46 CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD  | EMERGING LONDON SPOTLIGHT ON BATTERSEA POWER STATION & NINE ELMS