Chief Executive, Derwent London
Search every verified Paul Williams interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. In a July 2024 interview, Paul Williams, CEO of Derwent London, discussed the company’s focus on walkable Central London office locations and its long-term portfolio strategy. He stated that the company’s portfolio has been "curated over 30 odd years" and would be "really difficult to try and create this portfolio again." Williams described London as "remarkably resilient," noting that while there is "negativity" about the city from America, the West End vacancy rate is "about three and a half percent," which he said is lower than in other parts of London and the United States. Williams said the company has a pipeline of "about 1.8 million square feet of new build over the next decade" and "800,000 square foot of refurbishments," aiming to create "amenity rich green buildings." He also mentioned a "little known fact" that the company owns "five and a half thousand acres up in Scotland" where they plan to build a solar farm. Regarding sustainability, Williams stated the company is "rolling out intelligent buildings" with sensors to reduce energy consumption and is focused on "embodied carbon" in its development decisions.
“I think London's remarkably resilient if you see some of the negativity that out in act in America I think London feels very different you know the Western particularly I always say beware of averages the vacancy rate in the West End is about three and a half percent much lower than the city or even docklands are far f...”
“I think what excites me is that we do have a good pipeline going forward I think about 1.8 million square feet of new build over the next decade we've got 800 000 square foot of refurbishments we'll probably do a bit more of that over the next few years so keep creating some really good amenity rich green buildings I t...”
“something switched in me, you know, I went from being different to being special and that's that's addictive.”
“It's the most grandiose, vapid, shallow, arrogant, nasty little creature that I had become.”
“If you can’t walk to a building, we’re not interested”. Find out how Paul Williams, CEO of office provider Derwent London discovers new locations, the challenges of sustainability, building a solar farm in Scotland, and more. #insights #globalcities #realestate #investing #sustainability #investment
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