Helical chief executive Matthew Bonning-Snook said the company was looking to add “highly profitable” opportunities to its development pipeline given the “favourable market dynamics”.
In reporting the company’s annual results to the year end 31 March 2026, during which Helical saw its profit after tax fall from £27.9m in 2025 to £5.7m, Bonning-Snook said: “Many development opportunities in London are unlikely to see their potential realised, with their current owners either not having the expertise or resource to navigate a challenging planning environment or access to quality contractors, who increasingly will only work with the most reliable partners and are essential to be able to deliver a building of the highest quality.
“We see this as a significant opportunity for our business and will look to utilise equity-light structures similar to that adopted at Brettenham House, WC2 to help unlock sites that would otherwise be unavailable.”
He added: “It has been an extremely active and productive year; highlights included significant lettings at The Bower, EC1 and progress across our substantial office development portfolio, with over 700,000 sq ft having been in build. This includes two office schemes, totalling 270,000 sq ft, that will be delivered in the next eight months into a market where new build vacancy is close to 1%, which provides the opportunity to capture significant value upside as they are let.
“In addition, we have acquired, financed and started on site at our new office scheme Delta Paddington, W2 and forward funded our student development at Southwark, SE1, whilst simultaneously forward selling the affordable housing element. Earlier this week we completed our forward sale of 100 New Bridge Street, EC4, with the proceeds being used to de-leverage as well as enable a meaningful return of capital to shareholders, and invest into our future pipeline. This includes a new Places for London joint venture office opportunity at 63 Charterhouse Street, EC1M, where we successfully obtained planning permission last month, with a number of additional, attractive opportunities under active consideration.”
