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This project involved:
Case Study Background
London Blackfriars Station located in Central London was
subject to a major refurbishment designed to increase capacity.
This included an extension to the platforms across the railway
bridge, the construction of additional bay platforms and a new
station entrance on the South Bank of the Thames to allow
quick and easy access to the tourist attractions and new office
developments. Work was completed in 2012.
As part of the scheme new retail facilities were introduced.
These included new grab and go coffee units at both sides of
the station, a CTN, pop-up trading locations and also a 4000ft2
retail area on the north side with poor access and visibility.
The unit had been designed prior to Amey TPTs involvement
with the intention of developing either a casual dining offer or
convenience store. However, the lack of natural light, visibility
and the tertiary location combined to make this aspiration
unfeasible.
Amey TPT took over the management of the station in 2015
and set about finding a quick solution for the space that had
been vacant since the project completion. We set out to
minimise our client’s business rates liability and provide an offer
that would attract custom from both the area surrounding the
station as well as station footfall.
Our input
- Initial discussions were held with convenience and food and beverage operators; however, it was soon evident that the poor access and sight lines (as described above) would not sustain these uses.
- We identified that unit would not be sustained by station
footfall alone and would need to appeal to a wider market - A proposal was made to the client to invest in a nationwide marketing listing through Estates Gazette by way of a full page advertisement in their weekly magazine, online and also a targeted mailshot via email.
- From the interest received we identified Digme Fitness as a premium tenant for the space.
- Heads of Terms were negotiated and agreed with the tenants’ agent.
- Amey TPT programme managed the interfaces between the client, the client’s station manager and the tenant to enable the timely approval of RAMS thus enabling the tenant to gain site access as soon as possible.
Deliverables
- The letting of a poorly laid out unit for its original purpose, that had been vacant for four years, also reducing the onerous business rates responsibly of the client.
- Introducing a new tenant use to the UK station portfolio.
- Success in creating a destination station.
