Luxury property development complex in heart of Islington with GBP 370m GDV

In June this year Sager Group completed its transaction with Royal Mail to relocate their Islington delivery office to Eagle Wharf Road and absorb the remaining buildings of the Former North London Sorting Centre into Sager’s Islington Square retail and leisure development, which has an estimated gross development value in excess of £370 million.

Property developer, Sager Group today announced the formation of a joint venture with US private equity firm Cain Hoy, to develop Islington Square. Islington Square is a 4.5 acre mixed-use regeneration and development scheme in the heart of Islington, London N1.

“Sager is delighted to have joined with Cain Hoy as its partner to create this landmark destination. Sager acquired the original site more than a decade ago – we are delighted that our vision will now become a reality and are pleased to be Cain Hoy’s first investment in London.”

The Islington Square site fronts Upper Street and is the former North London Mail Centre that was established in 1904. The 500,000 sq ft mixed use Islington Square development will incorporate 170,000 sq ft of retail and leisure space along with 356 residential units. These will be a mixture of private, affordable and serviced apartments.

The scale of development will present leading retailers with their first opportunity to secure modern regular shaped units in Islington of the scale that most require. In addition, it will create residential apartments, serviced apartments, leisure and restaurant outlets. Islington Square’s architecture will retain many of the key heritage features of the original Post Office site, designed around the concept of arcades, sympathetic to the local architecture.

Planning consent has been granted, work has already begun on the site, and Islington Square is scheduled to be completed early in 2017.

Commenting on the joint venture, Giris Rabinovitch, CEO of Sager, said:

“Sager is delighted to have joined with Cain Hoy as its partner to create this landmark destination. Sager acquired the original site more than a decade ago – we are delighted that our vision will now become a reality and are pleased to be Cain Hoy’s first investment in London.”

Jonathan Goldstein, Cain Hoy’s Head of European Investments, said:

“Islington is a thriving area of London close to Kings Cross, the City and Tech City. We look forward to working with our partner, Sager, to bring this iconic development to life.”

Letting agents for retail and leisure are Cushman & Wakefield, Orme Retail and Shelly Sandzer. Savills, Fraser and Co and Beauchamp Estates are instructed on residential.

Roshan Doostdar, Director of Vision Finance, said:

“Significant property developments in the Islington area have been a rarity over recent years. In fact Sager Group acquired Islington Square ten yers ago. With property development finance more readily available, and a continued shortage of housing stock in London, this is great for both the developer and future occupants.”