The Langham Estate is a property estate in
Fitzrovia, London, and is owned by the Mount Eden Land Limited (
Guernsey). The company controls 11.3 acres of real estate in central
London. A third of its property portfolio was sold in 2024.
Background
The Langham Estate originates from an entity first established in 1925 to manage a holding of 40 acres of land purchased from the
Howard de Walden Estate in central London.[1][2][3] The properties, acquired for £3m and located in eastern
Marylebone,[1][4] then passed through various owners, including
Sir John Ellerman's Audley Trust, before being acquired in 1994 by Guernsey-based Mount Eden Land Ltd for £51m.[1][5][6][7] Under Sir John Ellerman, the holdings covered almost all
Great Portland Street, and much of streets alongside it (including
Hallam,
Bolsover, Margaret and
Great Titchfield Streets).[1][8][9] Numerous holdings on Great Portland Street were divested over the years.
The Langham Estate operates in an area noted for its media connections, restaurants, design showrooms and art galleries.[10] The Langham Estate was described in 2017 as being one of London's 16 Great Estates.[11][12] Many of the entity's original properties are still held—but now in the form of
freehold as their long leases have been sold off.[1]
The
Fitzrovia real estate market has been undergoing a renewal.[18] The area has witnessed significant increase in
rents and
rates along with markedly higher occupant turnovers.[19][20] Property values have increased in part due to changes in planning constraints,[21][22] along with the impact of the
Cross Rail and
Oxford Street projects, which were projected to increase commercial activity in the area.[23][24][25]
The company markets some of its properties under the banners of Noho and/or FitzNovia to describe an area just north of
Oxford Street and just west of
Regent Street.[26][27] The company website states the company holds a "1.3 million sq feet (29 acre) mixed portfolio of office, showroom, retail, restaurant, bar, residential and storage" properties.[28][5]
A neighbourhood plan is being developed for Langham Estate's
Fitzrovia area. This is being done in consultation with stakeholders, the Langham Estate and other local landlords, businesses and residents.[29][30] The plan focused on improving the local amenity, affordable housing provision, poor broadband data services and air pollution conditions.[31][32][33]
In August 2023, Langham Estate decided to divest itself of a third of its property holdings.[34] These include 27 freehold assets of offices, retail, leisure, educational, medical and residential properties in northern Fitzrovia.[35] These properties were reportedly sold for £350m in January 2024.[36]