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Tribunals · City of London Corporation · 2017 rating list

1st Flr 20 Old Bailey, EC4M 7AN

Office and Premises Decided 31 July 2025 CHG100547679 Knight Frank

OutcomeAllowed in partThe tribunal reduced the rateable value, but by less than the ratepayer sought.
Original RV · 2017 list—
Ratepayer sought—
VO conceded first—
Tribunal decided£890,000from 12 Mar 2018

Figures are as stated in the decision, and are values in the 2017 list; a dash means the document does not state that figure. This judgement decided 12 properties together; the figures above are for this appeal's property (1ST FLR, 20 Old Bailey, London EC4). Every property is listed below.

The 12 properties in this decision

One judgement covered all of these appeals. Each property’s figures as the judgement states them (2017 list); this appeal’s property is highlighted.

The properties covered by this tribunal decision, with the figures it states for each
PropertyOriginal RVSoughtTribunal decidedOutcome
PT LGND FLR, 20 Old Bailey, London EC4£242,000—£260,000Allowed in part
PT GND FLR, 20 Old Bailey, London EC4——£410,000Allowed in part
1ST FLR, 20 Old Bailey, London EC4This appeal——£890,000Allowed in part
2ND FLR, 20 Old Bailey, London EC4——£1,200,000Allowed in part
2ND FLR, 20 Old Bailey, London EC4——£1,200,000Allowed in part
3RD & 4TH FLRS, 20 Old Bailey, London EC4——£2,330,000Allowed in part
3RD & 4TH FLRS, 20 Old Bailey, London EC4——£2,160,000Allowed in part
3RD & 4TH FLRS, 20 Old Bailey, London EC4——£2,330,000Allowed in part
PT GND FLR NORTH, 20 Old Bailey, London EC4——£249,000Allowed in part
PT GND FLR NORTH, 20 Old Bailey, London EC4——£230,000Allowed in part
PT GND FLR NORTH, 20 Old Bailey, London EC4——£249,000Allowed in part
PT 5TH FLR WEST-9TH FLR, 20 Old Bailey, London EC4——£3,270,000Allowed in part

What was argued and what the tribunal found

The appellants, represented by Savills and other agents, challenged the 2017 rating list entries for office suites at 20 Old Bailey, London, contending the unadjusted base rate of £525 psm was unreasonable and proposing £475 psm (later reduced from £450 psm). The tribunal reviewed rental evidence from within the subject building and comparable properties (10 Old Bailey at £480 psm and 60 Ludgate Hill at £550 psm), finding the subject property was superior to the former but inferior to the latter. Although 10 Old Bailey and 60 Ludgate Hill were newly built (2009 and 2015 respectively) whereas the subject was refurbished in 2018, the tribunal found a difference in tone between newly built and refurbished properties. The tribunal determined the original RV was unreasonable and reduced the unadjusted base rate to £500 psm, allowing the appeals in part as this was less favourable than the appellants' £475 psm proposal.

Summary generated from the decision text and checked against it. The appellant was Withers LLP, represented.

Grounds argued

  • Comparable assessments (tone) · decisive
  • Rental evidence
Evidence
Rents, Settled assessments, Photographs
Cases cited
Gardiner & Theobald LLP v David Jackson (VO) [2018] UKUT 0253 (LC); Denton v TH White Ltd [2014] EWCA Civ 906; Dawn Bunyan (VO) v Acenden Limited [2023] UKUT 17 (LC)
Hearing
1 July 2025

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