CMS Cameron McKenna - London SW10, River Thames

Date: 26 Oct 2001

CMS Cameron McKenna, which is advising the developer of Imperial Wharf, has just completed the first major step towards the construction of an Marks & Spencer food store as well as a major hotel on the 32-acre site.

These are the first major commercial transactions to be exchanged for Imperial Wharf where the firm is advising developer St George on the commercial lettings and investment sales at the site.

The pioneering village-style community being built on a brownfield site along the River Thames next to Chelsea Harbour is one of the capital's largest waterfront developments.

CMS Cameron McKenna's team has just exchanged the agreement for lease on behalf of St George, which will see a 18,000 sq ft Marks & Spencer food store developed on the site. The Marks & Spencer shop will be an anchor for future lettings.

The CMS Cameron McKenna team also recently exchanged the Agreement for Lease and Development Agreement for a seven-storey hotel with 175 bedrooms on behalf of St George with Oxford Hotels Ventures Ltd.

As well as the hotel, the legal team is advising on the 235,000 sq ft of other commercial space being built at the site, including:

- 140,000 sq ft for office space

- 43,000 sq ft for mixed retail and restaurant use

- 34,000 sq ft health and fitness centre

- 18,000 sq ft food/retail space

The whole development will include 10.5 acres of open waterfront parkland with a riverside walk. There are also plans to build a railway station and waterfront jetty to serve the area which will also feature 1,665 St George homes.

The CMS Cameron McKenna team is being led by David Saunders who is being assisted by Adrian Leavey, Chris Shepheard and Eleanor Baggs.

David Saunders said: "This is the beginning of the commercial phase of a very exciting development which we are very pleased to be involved with."

Michael Meanley, managing director of St George Central London, said: "We are delighted that Marks & Spencer has taken the food store, thereby reinforcing the quality of our scheme as a new urban village in London."

Marks & Spencer was advised by Tom O'Grady and Neil Biswas of SJ Berwin. Oxford Hotels Ventures Limited was advised by Virginia Yeend of Brecher Abram.

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