Free news & data alerts
Log in
Tribunals · City of London Corporation · 2017 rating list

3RD & 4TH FLRS 20 OLD BAILEY, EC4M 7BH

Office and Premises Decided 31 July 2025 CHG101121861 Savills

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£2,330,000from 6 Aug 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 (3RD & 4TH FLRS, 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 EC4——£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 EC4This appeal——£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 argued that the rateable values in the 2017 rating list were unreasonable and sought reduction to £475 psm (later revised from £450 psm), later revised to £500 psm. The appellants relied on rental evidence from within the subject building, analysed comparables at 10 Old Bailey (£480 psm) and 60 Ludgate Hill (£550 psm), and argued for a distinction between newly built and refurbished properties. The tribunal found the existing assessment at £525 psm was unreasonable and, considering the evidence including photographs demonstrating the subject property was superior to 10 Old Bailey but inferior to 60 Ludgate Hill, determined the appropriate tone was £500 psm, reducing all subject properties accordingly.

Summary generated from the decision text and checked against it. The appellant was Metro Bank plc / Withers LLP / Phoenix Group / Barings, represented.

Grounds argued

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

Similar decisions

All decisions in City of London Corporation · Offices nationally

Is your own rateable value in line?

A free check compares a property with the assessments around it and says plainly whether there is anything worth pursuing.

Check a property

The tribunal’s decision in full

Download the PDF · Find it on valuationtribunal.gov.uk

Decision © Crown copyright, published by the Valuation Tribunal Service under the Open Government Licence v3.0 and reproduced unaltered. This site does not index the names of private individuals that appear in decisions. Information, not advice.