With an oversupply of office buildings and a shortage of UK residential properties, many developers are increasingly taking the shrewd step of converting empty office blocks in to luxury residential homes. A number of schemes are currently taking place around the country, including central London and the suburbs.

Matt Oakely, head of commercial research at Savills says: "About 18% of office accommodation in the city (London) is unlet. "With little demand from tenants, rents have fallen by about 30%, so tenant companies can afford to move from secondary to primary sites."