The document summarizes Acorn Commercial's activities in the first quarter of 2015, including: 1) The successful sale of a development site in Lewisham and plans to begin construction in summer 2015. 2) Securing planning permission for the redevelopment of Acorn's former headquarters in Lewisham into a commercial unit and 22 apartments. 3) The sale of various development sites, residential blocks, and commercial investments that put the company on track after the first three months.

1. 1 Sherman Road,
Bromley, Kent BR1 3JH
020 8315 5454
116-118 Bermondsey Street,
London Bridge, London SE1 3TX
020 7089 6555 acorncommercial.co.uk
TheUpdateCommercial & Development Division
First Quarter
2015
Lewisham
Acorn’s Development team have successfully concluded the
sale of the landmark Nella Cutlery site in Hither Green to Hyde
Housing Group.
The industrial units, which occupy a prime 0.60 acre plot close
to Hither Green Station, will make way for a mews style, 43
unit residential scheme comprising a mix of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom
apartments.
Senior Projects Manager, Warren Guest, overcame a number of
technical issues by introducing a building contractor to provide
reassurance to Hyde of the viability of the project.
Demolition of the existing buildings is scheduled for Q2 2015,
and construction will begin during the summer.
Our Development team has acted for private, corporate and
institutional landowners for more than 25 years, and is vastly
experienced in the sale of property for alternative uses. If you
have a site with planning permission, or a property that may
offer development potential, please contact Warren Guest on
020 8315 5454.
P2 P5P5
Inside...
Construction is due to commence on the
site in the early part of the Summer of
2015, with a scheme of 43 units comprising
a mix of 1, 2 and 3 bed apartments.
1
Full planning permission
secured for commercial unit
and 22 private apartments
in Lewisham.
Development site in
Shirley with full planning
permission sold by our
Development team.
78-82 Nightingale Grove, SE13 6DZ
Prime retail unit in
Blackheath let to retail
guru Mary Portas’
charity.

2. 1 Sherman Road,
Bromley, Kent BR1 3JH
020 8315 5454
116-118 Bermondsey Street,
London Bridge, London SE1 3TX
020 7089 6555 acorncommercial.co.uk
I have to admit to feeling ever so slightly nervous as I walked
back into the office after the festive break. We enjoyed a bumper
final quarter of 2014, but how would the market hold up with
a predicted rise in interest rates, and a General Election on the
horizon?
Well, those nerves quickly subsided as the team picked up pretty
much where it left off in December. With inflation at 0% interest
rates are more likely to fall than rise; which is encouraging
investors to look even harder at commodities including property
for a return on their capital. With a little effort or the assistance
of a decent managing agent, some commercial properties still
offer double-digit returns, and off relatively affordable lot sizes.
Demand for retail space remains strong off the back of a record
year for business start-ups in 2014, and the office market in the
suburbs is recovering largely due to displacement from office to
residential PD schemes. Finally, with the latest housing targets
(unsurprisingly) higher than most Local Authorities anticipated,
development land is as highly coveted as ever.
So, all in all the future looks bright, unless of course the Aussies
retain the Ashes and win the Rugby World Cup on UK turf!
Anyway, as far as specifics are concerned, the first quarter saw
us conclude the sale of a variety of development sites, a number
of unbroken residential blocks and several notable commercial
investments. These deals, coupled with a host of smaller freehold
sales and numerous retail and office lettings, put us comfortably
on target after 3 months.
As dull as it may sound, over the last 12 months we’ve been
developing new software to better manage our instruction book
and enquiry database. The new system went live at the beginning
of March and whilst it’s still being ‘tweaked’, it has already made
client and applicant contact easier and more recordable. We’ve
also forged alliances with specialist rent review and valuation
surveyors, which will enable us to offer a more rounded service
to our clients under the single Acorn banner.
As ever I hope this latest Update proves interesting reading, and
would be delighted to hear from you personally; particularly if
you have a property to sell!
Lewisham
Editorial
2
Jeff East - Director
jeff.east@acorn.ltd.uk
Our Planning Management team have recently secured planning
permission for the redevelopment of Acorn’s former headquarters
in Lewisham Town Centre.
The tired, two storey retail and office building is set to be replaced
by a contemporary five storey building comprising a commercial
unit and 22 apartments. The new building was designed by Yurky
Cross Architects to set a precedent for the scale and quality of
future development in the key section of High Street between
the pedestrianised centre, and Morley Road. Constructed to
sustainability Code Level 4, the project will include private amenity
space for each flat, a communal roof terrace, green roof and will be
partly powered by solar energy.
The commercial space has been designed to house a bespoke
staff training suite for the Acorn Group, whilst all 22 apartments
will be made available for private letting or sale. Why no
Affordable Housing? Nine months of negotiation by our Planning
Management team and their consultants, bptw and Savills, resulted
in a cash payment in lieu of an Affordable provision.
Our Planning Management team has the expertise to assemble and
co-ordinate teams of consultants to tackle planning applications
both large and small. If you require assistance with a planning
application or legal agreement please contact Jeff East.

3. 1 Sherman Road,
Bromley, Kent BR1 3JH
020 8315 5454
116-118 Bermondsey Street,
London Bridge, London SE1 3TX
020 7089 6555 acorncommercial.co.uk
3
Our investment team has recently
completed the sale of two unbroken
residential blocks in Bromley to London
& District Housing Ltd.
Our residential management team had
acted for the private Irish owner for
many years; introducing tenants and co-
ordinating renewals etc. With the client
keen to reduce her portfolio ready for
retirement, we were brought in to advise
on the best way to maximise value.
With neither block fully compliant and
utilities shared, the decision was made
to market each building as a whole
rather than on a piecemeal basis.
Whilst the purchase of both buildings
was not a prerequisite of the marketing
campaign, their proximity and similarity
to each other encouraged most
interested parties to bid on both.
The national marketing effort
guaranteed huge interest and a host of
offers. London & District emerged as
the most competitive buyers, and their
acquisitions completed in February 2015.
Given our knowledge of the blocks, we
have been retained to manage both
estates and the individual tenancies.
If you have a long-standing or unbroken
investment that you might consider
selling please get in touch – you might
be pleasantly surprised by the current
value.
Camberwell We’ve lost count of the number of properties that we’ve sold for the
Jehovah’s Witnesses in recent years. Far from resting on our laurels
though; we relish the opportunity to turn on the style and maximise
value for our institutional clients.
The Witnesses acquired this c.6,000sqft commercial unit from
Galliard Homes several years ago, and secured planning permission
(albeit personal) for D1 use. A change of internal strategy left the
building surplus to requirements, and presented as nothing more
than a watertight shell.
Undeterred, given the sheer volume of space in such a popular
postcode we were confident of achieving a premium price. As always
seems to be the case, our national marketing campaign generated
numerous offers. A deal was promptly agreed with a private
investment company, and contracts exchanged inside 2 weeks!
With a sale concluded at a figure 25% ahead of the guide, and
almost 50% more than the original purchase price, we can
confidently report another happy (repeat) customer!
If your faith or community group has a property to sell but you’re
worried about achieving the best price, please contact Adam
Hosking or Jeff East for some confidential and impartial advice.
Bromley
Brockley
Unbroken residential blocks are hot
property with investors at present. Whilst
yields are typically a long way short of
similar sized commercial investments,
the active management, re-financing and
break-up potential always ensure that we
have no shortage of interest.
This period building in an attractive
terrace on the Brockley Conservation
Area has been arranged as four self-
contained flats, and remained in the same
ownership since the 1980’s. Being fully
let made the opportunity to conduct
viewings rather difficult, but we still had
no trouble finding a buyer.

4. 1 Sherman Road,
Bromley, Kent BR1 3JH
020 8315 5454
116-118 Bermondsey Street,
London Bridge, London SE1 3TX
020 7089 6555 acorncommercial.co.uk
This redundant parcel of land was acquired from Bromley
Council on behalf of a private investment fund in late 2013,
subject to planning permission.
Our Planning Management team promptly set about the
conception of a suitable scheme for development, utilising the
expertise of BHD Architects and RE Planning. A proposal for
eight 4 bedroom houses was presented at a public exhibition,
and approved by majority decision at committee at the first
attempt.
With consented development sites at such a premium, and
substantial value added to the project, the decision was made
to pursue a sale.
Having managed the sale of a similar site for the same fund to
JP Whelan Homes in December they seemed the obvious buyer,
particularly given that their offices are in the same street as
the site! Needless to say Whelan couldn’t bear the thought of
passing another developer’s boards every day, and a sale was
quickly concluded!
Whilst our agency work attracts all the attention, this project is
further evidence of the depth of services we are able to offer.
4
Biggin Hill
Our London Bridge office has recently competed the
letting of this self-contained office building to a children’s
entertainment company at a premium rent.
We sold the property to the current owner in 2013; and
negotiated a leaseback to the previous proprietor. With
that agreement coming to an end we were re-instructed
to locate a new tenant.
The property sits in a convenient location close to
Borough tube, and with demand for offices in SE1 at a
seemingly all-time high, we were confident of achieving a
strong rent. Quoting £42,500pa for the 1,041sqft building
(£40.83/sqft) we had a new lease completed within 3
weeks of being instructed!
We are genuinely very keen for office instructions of any
size in SE1. We’re receiving an average of 5 fresh, good
quality enquiries every day, and simply don’t have the
supply to satisfy demand. Please contact Chris Henshall
or Henry Hammond if you have any B1 accommodation
available in SE1.
Southwark
New Streatham branch for Acorn!
Our Commercial Team have
successfully sourced a prime
A2 unit for the Group in
Streatham, and we’re delighted
to announce that our latest
residential branch opened at
4 Streatham High Road on
Saturday 11th April.
If you’re keen to expand your
business but need help locating
the right premises why not give
us a call? No deal – no fee!

5. 1 Sherman Road,
Bromley, Kent BR1 3JH
020 8315 5454
116-118 Bermondsey Street,
London Bridge, London SE1 3TX
020 7089 6555 acorncommercial.co.uk
Greenwich
Vacant A2 unit on
Trafalgar Road let to
Chestertons who are set
to open by summer 2015.
John Payne are coming
to East Greenwich too...
Peckham
Vacant freehold
building located
prominently on the
Old Kent Road, sold by
our Corporate Asset
Services team for a
charitable trust.
5
Crystal
Palace
Former public house
in the heart of Crystal
Palace, let to a niche
retailer who will begin
trading by summer 2015.
Shirley
Development site with
planning permission
for four houses, sold by
our Development team
in January 2015.
Peckham
Freehold mixed-use
investment producing
a total income of
£52,150pa and offering
potential to extend; sold
to a private investor.
Bexleyheath Brixton
Freehold building
comprising a shop
with residential uppers
sold by our London
Bridge team to a private
investor.
Blackheath
Prominently positioned
retail unit in Blackheath,
let to TV personality
Mary Portas’ charity
‘Living & Giving’ in
association with Save
The Children.
Former nightclub let by
our Commercial team
to McMillan Williams
Solicitors, who plan to
extensively refurbish
the space to provide
high quality offices.

6. acorncommercial.co.uk
Meet Our Team
Tom Luck
Director
Jeff East
Director
Warren Guest
Senior Projects Manager
Chris Henshall
Senior Projects Manager
Kevin Neun
Projects Manager
Adam Hosking
Projects Manager
Henry Hammond
Projects Co-ordinator
Joshua Beeston
Projects Co-ordinator
Persephone Pollock
Team Secretary
Emma Fox
Team Secretary
Jess Adams
Team Secretary
Bromley Head Office
1 Sherman Road,
Bromley, Kent BR1 3JH
020 8315 5454
London Bridge Office
116-118 Bermondsey Street
London Bridge, London SE1 3TX
020 7089 6555
commercial@acorn.ltd.uk acorncommercial.co.uk @acorncommercial
6
Could this be you?
We are always looking for
new, enthusiastic and driven
members of the team.
If you’re interested please
send your CV to
emma.fox@acorn.ltd.uk
This newsletter has been designed and edited in-house by Acorn’s PR & Marketing Division.
Please contact Adam Smith for more information on 020 8315 6959.