June 2026
The sustained success of developer London Square is proving the vital importance of commercial elements in mixed-use schemes. Getting placemaking right – with retail and leisure curated to suit the specific needs of those living and working in a location – is boosting the desirability of a great variety and number of residential developments.
Established in 2010, London Square has built a large portfolio of mixed-use and residential sites in London and surrounding areas. This has grown significantly since late 2023, when the business was acquired by Aldar Properties – and it’s now looking to complete 7,000 homes over the next five years. This year alone, the company will have 25 live sites capable of providing around 5,600 new homes, including homes for private sale, build-to-rent properties and affordable housing. As the portfolio and scale of developments have grown, the retail, leisure and work components of the schemes have become increasingly important to the character and value of the places London Square is creating.
John Giblin, Commercial Sales and Leasing Manager at London Square, puts this into context: “We now have schemes where quite a substantial part is non-residential, and several where the commercial aspect actually transforms the locality. A lot of thought goes into everything from design to getting the right mix of occupiers, so we create places that support residents, as well as attracting other local people and visitors into the neighbourhood.”
Since joining London Square two years ago, John has overseen the letting or sale of around 85,000 sq ft of commercial space, giving a sense of the growing importance of placemaking to the company. However, the current portfolio and pipeline of commercial space is three and a half times this figure. “Commercial, and retail in particular, is a fast-growing and vital component of our placemaking offer,” says John. “At present, there are approximately 60 retail and leisure assets to be delivered across our schemes during the next five years.”
Placemaking in practice.
A few examples demonstrate how London Square uses commercial space to enhance residential developments…
Leegate, Lee Green.
In Blackheath in South East London, this scheme will include 620 homes on the site of an old shopping centre. GCW is helping London Square develop around 27,000 sq ft of commercial space, which will comprise a medical centre, a supermarket, a pub and a restaurant, as well as a variety of other retail and leisure occupiers. “To get the mix right, we are talking to some of the former occupiers of the old shopping centre,” explains John. “They’re keen to find a new home back in Leegate, and their views on what they’d like to see on site have been really useful in the planning and design process.”
Ransome’s Wharf, Battersea.
Next to Ransome’s Dock, London Square is building 118 homes and working with GCW on letting seven commercial units, covering just over 15,000 sq ft. Situated next to Vivienne Westwood, Foster & Partners’ headquarters and the Royal College of Art, this is a flagship London Square scheme. The development is centred around a brand new plaza, which will also benefit from the comprehensive and sensitive refurbishment of Ransome’s Dock and investment in the neighbouring Thames path. Several units will benefit from dockside frontages and most units will have outdoor seating.
Nine Elms, Battersea.
At this scheme (where GCW is also acting for London Square), construction of over 756 homes and six commercial units is almost complete. The private-sale homes are virtually sold out, and build-to-rent investor Moda Group has taken two large blocks totalling over 450 homes. Keeping pace with the residential development, most of the commercial units are under offer, to a range of independent leisure and F&B operators. Also, London Square has completed a major public realm investment in the Linear Park, a new public green space that runs through much of the Nine Elms regeneration area. “It’s vital that we bring footfall to these schemes,” continues John. “We have to offer a lively environment for residents. And we must ensure our developments remain viable for future occupiers.”
Wimbledon Bridge House.
London Square acquired this site last year and sold a substantial retail asset adjacent to it, to an investor. This includes an Aldi, a Metro Bank, a Joe & The Juice, a gym and a large multi-storey car park. As well as building 123 apartments, London Square is retaining a small number of retail and leisure units at the ground floor, with further commercial space (about 22,000 sq ft) above.
The Pickle Factory, Bermondsey.
In a former Branston Pickle factory, this mix of new-build and old warehouse buildings contains around 86,000 sq ft of commercial space. While most of this was originally intended to be offices, a surge in demand from the education sector has led London Square to gain permission for educational use. The scheme is also home to: a Co-op supermarket; a dentist; Studio Soma, a women-only personal training gym and Tannery Arts, which provides artist studios and a large gallery and exhibition space.
Brixton.
In a joint venture with Lambeth Council, London Square is planning approximately 30,000 sq ft of private and affordable workspace, along with a community space, called the Enterprise Hub, which will mainly serve local businesses. A small number of retail outlets will complete the scheme.
Navigating Gateway 2.
Like any developer involved with tall buildings, London Square must achieve approval from the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) through the Gateway 2 submission process before starting construction. While this has caused inevitable delays, London Square has so far been successful in its applications. As John says, the reason for this is simple: “We have experienced technical teams, supported by excellent consultants, that deal with the submissions efficiently and are fully invested in the process and aims of the legislation.”
Mixing up mixed-use schemes.
A big part of London Square’s success to date has been an open-minded approach to selecting retail and leisure occupiers to maximise the appeal of its developments. Whether they are local independents or established brands doesn’t matter. What’s important is their potential to support those who live and work within a scheme – and to attract visitors into it. Every location is different, and in creating destinations as well as places to live, the developer is taking a very broad view of which businesses can fit into its future neighbourhoods.
London Square in numbers.