James Bond’s Fort Knox in City of London sold
Date : 18 November 2009
One of the City of London’s finest freehold buildings, the former Midland Bank headquarters at27-35 Poultry and 5 Princes Street, EC2, has been sold for around £40 million to a private client of Gresham Down through Knight Frank on behalf of Grant Thornton, administrators of Poultry Developments Limited.
The grade I-listed Lutyens designed building, located next to The Bank of England, whose vault starred as Fort Knox in the 1964 Bond film, Goldfinger, is suitable for a variety of alternative uses to include office, hotel and mixed use, subject to the necessary planning consents.
The property was purchased in September 2006 by a private Russian investor who obtained planning permission on November 2008 to convert the 291,573 sq ft property into a luxury hotel. It has permission for 181 bedrooms, bars, restaurants, health clubs, private members’ club and roof garden, protecting the Portland stone façade and interior features including Lutyens’ banking hall which is decorated with marble Corinthian columns.
Stephen Clifton, Head of City Investment at Knight Frank, commented: “This sale demonstrates the continued strength and depth of international investor interest in prime Central London properties, particularly with mixed use potential, having carried out 75 inspections and received numerous offers.”
For further information, please contact:
Naomi Curtis, commercial PR manager, Knight Frank, +44(0)20 7861 1744