firstbase

PRESS RELEASE

01 April 2007

FIRST BASE SUBMIT PLANS FOR NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN ISLINGTON AND SOUTHWARK

First Base, the residential-led urban regeneration developer, announced today that planning applications have been submitted for two new residential developments in London. The schemes in Islington and Southwark will revitalise each respective area and boost the local communities with environmentally sound and affordable mixed-use developments.

Both sites are currently owned by English Partnerships and are being developed by First Base as part of the London Wide Initiative, a pilot scheme to fast-track more quality affordable homes in Greater London. Following a series of public consultations and exhibitions, plans were submitted to local councils this week for the mixed-use developments that will provide a range of affordable, Key Worker, social for rent and private for sale homes as well as retail and workspace, all built to the highest standards. As with all First Base projects, both sites will aim to achieve EcoHomes Excellent ratings.

Printworks, which is part of a wider proposal to bringing much needed regeneration and new homes to Elephant & Castle, will deliver a 9-storey development designed by renowned architects Glenn Howells, comprising 164 homes. The scheme will consist of 42% affordable housing. In addition commercial space will be created and allocated for small businesses. The scheme will be located along Amelia Street and Robert Dashwood Way, and will be built on what was previously a coal store for the railway and more recently, an HMSO printing facility.

52 Holloway Road will bring 128 new homes into the Islington borough. Designed by architects Porphyrios Associates and John Robertson Architects, the development will be built on the former London Taxi showroom site, and is in a prime location, with local amenities, Highbury Fields and strong public transport links all nearby. As with Printworks, 52 Holloway Road will be 50% affordable and include ground floor commercial space for utilisation by local businesses.

Elliot Lipton, managing director of First Base, said, "The submission of plans for these two projects is the next step in achieving our vision for more quality, affordable, sustainable housing within London, and we are pleased that we can continue to work alongside English Partnerships to accomplish this. Printworks and Holloway Road are two of many exciting developments in the First Base pipeline, and we look forward to continuing to create thriving mixed-tenure communities that bring together First Base's core propositions of design, quality and sustainability."

The developments will be built using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) in order to provide quality, sustainable properties designed with the environment in mind.

For more information and images contact:

For First Base:

Jess Gooch / David Lucas

Tel: 020 7908 6447 / 020 7908 6422

jgooch@lexispr.com / dlucas@lexispr.com

For English Partnerships:

Catherine Snow

Tel: 0207 531 2465

catherinesnow@englishpartnerships.co.uk

Notes to editors

First Base is the residential-led urban regeneration developer that creates stylish homes in great urban spaces.

Designed by renowned architects, built by skilled craftspeople, managed by experts, First Base homes are quality, sustainable properties for purchase or rental.

First Base was included in the 2006 RIBA ---Top 50 Clients--- survey for its innovative approach to quality design, using renowned architects including AHMM, Richard Rogers Partnerships, Glenn Howells and Fletcher Priest for a range of projects across the capital.

First Base is also a founding member of the UK Green Building Council. The non-for-profit organisation is being launched in the spring of 2007 and aims to reduce the environmental impact of buildings by improving the way they are designed, built and maintained.

For further information please visit www.firstbase.com