Another Day At The Office

In London, a housing crunch is creating a new trend of converting old office spaces into housing. The majority of the city's new housing developments are actually old office spaces.

1 minute read

December 21, 2006, 6:00 AM PST

By Nate Berg


The new trend is covering the majority of the market with converted office buildings. And as the conversions move into upscale neighborhoods, the new residences are some of the city's most expensive.

"90% of residential development in the capital is on ex-commercial sites, and estimates that 500-600 conversion schemes are currently being undertaken, according to Tim Craine, a director of London Development Research, a company that advises developers and investment companies on property issues"

"The explanation is simple: according to estate agency Knight Frank, the price of residential property in prime London locations has risen by more than 26% during the past 12 months. In Kensington and Chelsea, Rightmove, a property website, reports asking prices have risen by 55.8%."

Sunday, December 17, 2006 in Times of London

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 14, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

Cars driving under automatic congestion pricing toll machines on Broadway next to the Trump International Hotel in Manhattan, New York City.

Data reveals that NYC’s bet on congestion pricing has paid off

After almost two years of the program, reports show positive impacts on traffic and air quality and no disruptions to parking.

October 13, 2026 - Marcelo Remond

A crane lifts a manufactured house, with is rectangular and does not yet have a roof.

HUD modernizes 50-year-old manufactured housing framework

The Next Generation Manufactured Housing Action Plan establishes new energy-efficiency standards for manufactured homes, and new guidelines for anchoring them.

October 8, 2026 - Boston Real Estate Times

An aerial view of Dayton with a river and many trees visible

This Ohio town is using AI to speed up transit analysis

The Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority’s new AI tool correctly determined riders’ preferred ways to reach key commuter routes.

45 minutes ago - Cities Today

Tourists admiring the Seattle skyline.

Yet again, Seattle’s density zoning update is hit with delays

The city must now examine the ‘maximum possible development’ under a future zoning scenario, rather than the ‘maximum likely development.’

1 hour ago - The Urbanist

a construction site. Cranes are seen building apartments.

In the heart of suburbia, a Utah developer is building a high-density downtown from scratch

The project faces criticism from some city council members, who say the private developer is using taxpayer dollars to turn a profit.

2 hours ago - The Salt Lake Tribune