is, unwelcome one affect was a positive, more pro-active approach resulting from in-flows of capital which could either be used on the estate or distributed as dividends to the family. On the whole, and certainly in the case of Cadogan, this capital was vigorously reinvested. That has certainly changed the shape of this estate immensely over time – particularly in the sense that we now hold much more commercial property and in Chelsea that is inevitably largely retail.
Ironically, following a long history of being conservative property owners, the estates found themselves – more particularly after the financial crisis – in a position to take a lead and initiate development and improvement at a time when much of the private sector did not have the means. Seaborn observes: “I think our values of long-term strategy, careful decision making, conservative structures and funding are now more appreciated than ever”.
When Seaborn, arrived at Cadogan he was fresh from running the Portman Estate. He had completed a major turnaround of Portman which owns large swathes of land north of Oxford Street, around Baker Street in Marylebone.
“At Portman there was a lot of empty property which needed a development strategy. When I arrived, a large proportion of the estate was empty and derelict due to long leases reverting back to the estate, so we were catching up on years of refurbishment and re-development as a result,” he recalls.
The challenge at Cadogan was very different in nature.
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“I took over from Stuart Corbyn who for over 20 years had done a tremendous job. Cadogan has always been a very good property manager which has placed us well to maintain that excellence and embark, in parallel on other areas of improvement.”
The sense of history at the estate’s offices in Cadogan Gardens is almost palpable, but Seaborn’s job is to look to the future.
“Increasingly we’re delivering excellent customer service and doing so in a careful, considered way. We are working hard at our environmental credentials. We have a team dedicated to this and they have very specific objectives which the business, as a whole, supports.
“We strive to go well beyond just being a proactive, supportive landlord and look consistently for effective ways to support our customers and project our values.
“For example, we work with our customers to market and promote the area as a shopping destination as well as Chelsea more generally. Our numerous initiatives underway include
‘Chelsea in Bloom’ during the Chelsea Flower Show week in May, during which time we provide lots of attractions for visitors to the area, to encourage dwell time and spend.
“Our latest exciting initiative is underpinned by a five-year plan for what is one of the jewels in the estate’s crown – Sloane Street. We are, effectively, providing the benefits of a Business Improvement District, supporting them with access to a range of
marketing initiatives on an international and local level; involvement in retailer networking forums, which we hope to develop into a more formal retail alliance for Sloane Street; and we respond swiftly to our customers’ priorities, including aspirations for better business security, driving up efficiencies around waste removal and creating an even more elegant and greener public realm.”
John McAslan + Partners have been commissioned to carry out a feasibility study and strategy that will develop a new vision for the physical enhancement of Sloane Street – a world renowned street famous for its high-end luxury fashion shopping and, as such, subject to immense competition both from within London and internationally.
The study is assessing existing land use, street furniture, accessibility, utilities, lighting and movement patterns in order to understand how these physical and functional conditions affect the street’s economic, social and cultural character.
“This is an exciting new chapter for Sloane Street, an opportunity to create a more dynamic cityscape connecting Knightsbridge and Sloane Square.” Seaborn observes.
Integrating – and calming – the traffic flow along the thoroughfare will be an important part of upgrading the street’s environment.
“Sloane Street is a wide boulevard and drivers are too often tempted to travel along it at very high speeds. This can impair the environment for pedestrians and also the permeability of the area
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