1st Flr 20 Old Bailey, EC4M 7AN
Office and Premises Decided 31 July 2025 CHG100547679 Knight Frank - Bjorn Bowles
Figures are as stated in the decision; a dash means the document does not state that figure. This decision covers 12 properties; the figures shown are for the first listed.
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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