Sir Robert McAlpine completes 1 Broadgate ahead of programme, on budget and 96% pre‑let

Sir Robert McAlpine announced practical completion of 1 Broadgate on 24 July 2025, saying the 14‑storey City building finished ahead of the contract programme and on budget. The Liverpool Street‑adjacent scheme is 96% pre‑let, features a graded recycled‑aluminium façade and targets BREEAM Outstanding, WELL Platinum and NABERS 5‑star ratings alongside a suite of circular‑economy measures.

Sir Robert McAlpine has announced the practical completion of 1 Broadgate, the 14‑storey mixed‑use development delivered for British Land and GIC in the heart of the City of London. According to British Land’s announcement, practical completion was achieved on 24 July 2025, capping a programme that the contractor says finished ahead of the Contract Programme and on budget. The scheme is sited immediately adjacent to Liverpool Street station and the Elizabeth Line, underlining its strategic importance to the Broadgate campus and to occupiers seeking rapid transport connections.

The building offers a substantial amount of commercial space and amenity that the client and contractor describe slightly differently in scale: Sir Robert McAlpine’s announcement describes 56,500 m² of premium office, retail, leisure and dining space, while British Land’s statement sets out circa 545,000 sq ft of office accommodation alongside approximately 48,000 sq ft of retail and leisure — figures that broadly align once metric and imperial measurements are reconciled. 1 Broadgate is designed around extensive terraces and seven‑day destination uses, reflecting the architect’s intent to stitch public routes and green amenity into the scheme and to create active street‑level connections.

Sustainability has been presented as a central organising principle from concept to completion. British Land says the building targets BREEAM Outstanding, WELL Platinum and NABERS 5‑star ratings and highlights operational energy efficiency as a design objective. Sir Robert McAlpine and the design team have emphasised alignment with the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard and British Land’s ESG strategy, describing a suite of measures intended to reduce whole‑life carbon and to support long‑term adaptability.

That commitment extends into circular‑economy interventions on site. The contractor’s project information details specific reuse and material‑saving measures — including the reuse of granite, the incorporation of reclaimed steel into the frame where possible, and a procurement approach that prioritised low‑carbon materials across the supply chain. Sir Robert McAlpine frames these choices as part of a deliberate effort to facilitate future deconstruction and material reuse, and to minimise construction waste.

The building’s exterior is an unmistakable element of the project’s identity. Sir Robert McAlpine reported completion of the facade installation as a key construction milestone, noting that the elevation comprises 2,432 recycled aluminium cladding panels powder‑coated in 19 colours to produce a graded effect — darker tones at lower levels graduating to lighter tones above. The contractor highlights that the panels were manufactured using recycled aluminium as one of a number of measures to reduce embodied carbon.

SRM also credits its experience of complex City logistics with maintaining business continuity for neighbouring tenants throughout the build. The contractor says close collaboration across delivery and client teams helped the project remain on schedule and on budget, and it frames the outcome as the latest delivery under the Broadgate framework.

Leasing momentum has been strong: British Land’s release states the development is 96% pre‑let, with occupants including A&O Shearman and JLL. JLL previously confirmed a 2021 agreement for lease taking 134,000 sq ft on a 15‑year term and signalled that the move reflects a strategic reimagining of workplace space aligned with the building’s sustainability and wellbeing ambitions. The top floor remains available and, according to British Land, is attracting good interest from the market.

Commenting on completion, Mark Leeming, Framework Director at Sir Robert McAlpine, said in the contractor’s statement that the team was “immensely proud to have completed 1 Broadgate on time and on budget,” and described the finished building as “a stunning development” achieved through collaborative effort. David Lockyer, Head of Development at British Land, said in British Land’s announcement that reaching practical completion was a “significant milestone,” and described the 96% pre‑let position as evidence of strong demand for premium office space in a supply‑constrained market.

1 Broadgate is the fifth scheme delivered by Sir Robert McAlpine under the Broadgate framework. British Land has confirmed that the next major phase, 2 Finsbury Avenue — a larger dual‑tower development being progressed in joint venture with Modon and also contracted to Sir Robert McAlpine — remains on course for completion in 2027 and is being marketed on similarly high sustainability credentials.

Taken together, the delivery of 1 Broadgate underscores British Land’s strategy to create a campus of high‑quality, resilient workplaces and amenities in the City. The project’s blend of specification, connectivity and a clear sustainability brief appears to have resonated with large occupiers seeking long‑term, best‑in‑class space; whether the building ultimately secures the certifications it is targeting will be confirmed as post‑occupancy performance is measured and assessed.

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Source: Noah Wire Services

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score:
10

Notes:
The narrative reports the practical completion of 1 Broadgate on 24 July 2025, with the article published on 9 August 2025. This aligns with British Land’s official announcement dated 24 July 2025. ([britishland.com](https://www.britishland.com/news/1-broadgate-achieves-practical-completion/?utm_source=openai)) No earlier versions of this specific content were found, indicating high freshness.

Quotes check

Score:
10

Notes:
The article includes direct quotes from Mark Leeming, Framework Director at Sir Robert McAlpine, and David Lockyer, Head of Development at British Land. These quotes are consistent with statements from British Land’s official announcement dated 24 July 2025. ([britishland.com](https://www.britishland.com/news/1-broadgate-achieves-practical-completion/?utm_source=openai)) No earlier instances of these exact quotes were found, suggesting originality.

Source reliability

Score:
8

Notes:
The narrative originates from Premier Construction News, a trade publication focusing on construction industry news. While it provides detailed coverage, its reputation is not as established as major outlets like the Financial Times or BBC. The information aligns with British Land’s official announcement, enhancing credibility. ([britishland.com](https://www.britishland.com/news/1-broadgate-achieves-practical-completion/?utm_source=openai))

Plausability check

Score:
10

Notes:
The claims about the completion of 1 Broadgate, its specifications, and leasing details are consistent with British Land’s official announcement and other reputable sources. ([britishland.com](https://www.britishland.com/news/1-broadgate-achieves-practical-completion/?utm_source=openai)) The narrative maintains a formal tone appropriate for the subject matter, and the language is consistent with UK English usage.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary:
The narrative provides accurate and timely information about the completion of 1 Broadgate, with consistent quotes and details matching official sources. The source is reliable, and the content is plausible and well-written.