Raffety House, Sutton Surrey

In January 2002 the company acquired the freehold interest in a 20,000sq.ft. (1,850m2) property in the London Borough of Sutton from Security Services plc (formerly Securicor plc).

The property was the subject of a comprehensive refurbishment together with a new extension of 3,500sq.ft. (325m2) at ground floor level. The entire property was pre-let to Haliburton Brown & Root Ltd at a rental of £330,000 per annum. On completion of the refurbishment the property was valued at £3.5 million.

South Point and Sentinel House, Sutton Surrey

In January 2001 LS&E was involved in protracted negotiations resulting in the corporate acquisition of two companies owning adjoining office buildings in the London Borough of Sutton, known as South Point and Sentinel House.

South Point is a property of some 72,000sq.ft. (6,700m2) on 17 floors benefiting from 150 car parking spaces. LS&E arranged for the surrender of the existing lease from a well known South American oil service company and then pre-let the vacant property to Halliburton Brown & Root Ltd. The building was the subject of a major refurbishment programme and continues to be occupied by the tenant at a rental of £1.1 million per annum. The property was valued at £10 million.

Sentinel House is an office building of approximately 21,500sq.ft. (2,000m2) with 50 car parking spaces. The building is let to the Secretary of State at an annual rental of £140,000. The property was valued at £1.5 million.

The 3 buildings were sold in August 2002 as an investment to Schroeder Asset Management for £14.75 million.

The Square, Market Harborough, Leicestershire

In early 2000 LS&E acquired their first retail development opportunity from the local Working Mens' Club at 9 The Square, Market Harborough. Having moved the club and overseen the refurbishment of their new premises, the company obtained vacant possession and a planning consent was achieved to create three new retail units. The property was subsequently comprehensively refurbished. On completion in early 2002, two retail units were let at new record rents for Market Harborough. The 3rd unit was sold freehold to an owner occupier. The resultant investment was sold at approximately £1.4 million to a private family trust.

Ansdell Street, London W8

In October 1998 LS&E acquired a 12,500sq.ft. (1,160m2) office building in Ansdell Street, Kensington, London W8, from Haymarket Publishing Limited, a company controlled by Lord Heseltine.

A comprehensive refurbishment of the property was then carried out to create modern open plan offices. The company disposed of its interest in the property to a major organisation looking for a headquarters building at a price of £2.2 million.

The Georgian Hotel, Haslemere

In October 1997 the company acquired The Georgian Hotel in Haslemere, Surrey, a Grade II listed building with 25 bedrooms and grounds of some 1.25 acres.

A planning application was submitted to create twenty residential units. The application was declined and LS&E subsequently ‘appealed’. This appeal was lost in 1998. The company then decided to return to the original lawful use and enhanced the value of the property by obtaining a new planning and listed building consent for a 43 bedroom hotel with conference centre and leisure facilities. The property was subsequently sold to a regional hotelier in October 1999 at a price of £1.5 million.