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External Communications Manager
Accountancy and business advisory firm, BDO, has signed a long-term lease for its new UK headquarters at The M Building, Marylebone Lane, situated in the heart of London’s transforming central West End.
BDO, which has been headquartered in the West End for over a century and at 55 Baker Street since 2007, has taken 220,000 sq ft for its 5000 London-based employees, representing more than half of its UK footprint. BDO plans to relocate in Autumn 2027.
The former Debenhams building is owned and being fully developed by Ramsbury in partnership with development advisors, Capital Real Estate Partners. In total, the building will provide almost 280,000 sq ft of outstanding new workspace, with over 13,000 sq ft of landscaped terracing and views across the capital.
It is less than a minute’s walk from Bond Street underground station and is served by the very best amenities of Mayfair and Marylebone. A further 58,000 sq ft of prime office space remains available on the top three floors of the building, benefitting from 9,000 sq ft of private terraces. The building is due to reach practical completion in late 2025. Further information about the building can be found here.
The M Building has been intelligently designed to improve the wellbeing of its occupants, including dual entrances, an abundance of natural light, expansive terracing and superb on-site amenities, including changing rooms, showers and bike storage. It is targeting BREEAM Outstanding, Nabers 5*, and an EPC A rating.
The M Building will be a cornerstone of the Oxford Street regeneration programme, which will see new best-in-class office space, enhanced public realm, wider footways and new retailers transform the area. BDO is the first major office occupier to take space in one of the reinvented department stores.
BDO’s letting is the largest in the West End, this year to date. According to CBRE, there is currently 9.1m sq ft of UK office development under construction which could complete this year, 60% of which is in Central London. However, despite the high construction levels, 40% of the UK under construction pipeline to 2028 is already pre-let or under offer, demonstrating the high demand that exists from occupiers for the highest quality stock.
It’s exciting to have secured such a great building, which helps us meet many of our commitments: to our people, to our clients, the West End of London, and to our planet. Working together is what powers our business, and we remain committed to offering flexible, modern spaces where we can learn together, share ideas and collectively deliver work to our clients. We have a strong attachment to the West End and our new UK headquarters will provide a modern, flexible working space in the beating heart of the regenerated Oxford Street area. It marks the start of a new chapter in BDO’s history and gives us a new home from which to grow our UK business in a responsible and sustainable way.
It is very exciting to be able to welcome BDO to The M Building and we are looking forward to building a long-term relationship with the team there as we work together to develop a new headquarters they can be justifiably very proud of and that helps them achieve their own ambitions as a business. We are honoured that BDO has placed its trust in Ramsbury to deliver one of the most prestigious and sustainable buildings in London.
CBRE and Capital Real Estate Partners advised on the transaction.
BDO’s investment in London forms a key part of its national property portfolio across 17 UK locations, which are home to its 8,000-strong workforce.
In the last two years, BDO has moved into new premises in Glasgow, Nottingham and Ipswich, and has invested in major refits in Edinburgh, Bristol, and Southampton. It is shortly moving in Guildford and, next month, will move into its new Manchester office, Eden, the most sustainable office building in Manchester.
About BDO
Accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP provides integrated advice and solutions to help businesses navigate a changing world. The organisations it works with are Britain’s economic engine; entrepreneurially-spirited, high-growth businesses that fuel the economy. BDO LLP operates in 17 offices across the UK, employing 8,000 people offering tax, audit and assurance, and a range of advisory services. BDO LLP is the UK member firm of the BDO international network. The BDO global network provides business advisory services in 166 countries and territories, with more than 115,000 people working out of 1,776 offices worldwide. It has revenues of US$14bn.
About Ramsbury
Ramsbury is the investment company of the Stefan Persson family – the majority owner of H&M. Ramsbury own assets in Stockholm, Malmo, Copenhagen, Munich, Paris, Rome, London, New York, Washington DC. Their property holdings are worth c. £3.5 billion. Their commercial assets are mainly focused on high street retail in the best locations globally and are intended to be held indefinitely. Ramsbury take a perpetual approach to their real estate holdings – designing and constructing buildings for a “forever” hold.
About CBRE Group, Inc.
CBRE Group, Inc. (NYSE:CBRE), a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company headquartered in Dallas, is the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm (based on 2024 revenue). The company has more than 140,000 employees (including Turner & Townsend employees) serving clients in more than 100 countries. CBRE serves a diverse range of clients with an integrated suite of services, including facilities, transaction and project management; property management; investment management; appraisal and valuation; property leasing; strategic consulting; property sales; mortgage services and development services. Please visit our website at www.cbre.co.uk.