Property

Whitechapel property offers versatile redevelopment opportunity near Liverpool Street

Wednesday, 29 October 2025 5:04AM UTC

Duru House in Whitechapel, a 33,051 sq ft building with flexible conversion options, is on the market for £7.5 million as developers explore residential, student accommodation, hotel, or office-to-residential conversions in a prime East London location.

A private family office in the UK is offering the Whitechapel property known as Duru House, located at 101 Commercial Road, E1, for sale with an asking price of £7.5 million. Originally constructed as a clothing factory, the building was converted to office use in the 1990s and now provides 33,051 square feet of office and educational space across its basement, ground, and three upper floors. The asset is currently multi-let to ten tenants, delivering an annual rental income of approximately £208,653. Notably, vacant possession of the ground and upper floors could be secured within six months, while the basement remains let to London Xmas until March 2030, generating a rent of £55,200 per year.

This property presents a variety of potential redevelopment opportunities for prospective buyers. Conversion into residential accommodation through permitted development rights is a prominent option, as is transformation into purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA), which is increasingly in demand given the building's proximity to the Aldgate educational cluster. Office-to-residential conversions have gained traction in London as part of adapting to changing market dynamics post-pandemic, with the student housing sector also cited as one of the capital’s fastest-growing occupier groups, having seen 1.2 million square feet of take-up over the last seven years.

Alternatively, the building could be reimagined as a hotel or serviced apartments, or it could undergo retrofitting and extension while retaining its current mixed office and educational use. The flexibility of Duru House coupled with its location near Liverpool Street, Aldgate, and Aldgate East stations—offering access to several Underground lines—makes it attractive for various uses. The area benefits additionally from a vibrant local scene comprising restaurants, bars, shops, and markets such as Spitalfields, which further enhances its appeal for residential or hospitality conversions.

Currently, the second-floor office spaces in Duru House are available for rent with flexible leasing terms, suitable for smaller businesses. Facilities in these offices include glass-partitioned rooms with ample natural light, large reception areas, toilets, double-glazed windows, heating, and lift access. Rental rates for these spaces vary, reflecting their size and configuration, with some listings quoting as low as £10,200 per annum. The building hosts a range of tenants that include fashion retailers, accountants, and estate agents.

The sale process is being handled by Allsop and Savills, two prominent real estate firms, underpinning the transaction with professional oversight. As London’s real estate market continues to evolve with shifting demand patterns, opportunities such as Duru House that offer both immediate income and redevelopment potential underscore the strategic value in this part of East London.

Nearby, other developers like Truman Estates Ltd are actively pursuing large-scale redevelopment projects in the Whitechapel vicinity, which could signal further area-wide transformation and increased demand for new residential and mixed-use schemes. This broader context reinforces the latent potential embedded in properties such as Duru House for investors looking to capitalise on regeneration trends.

📌 Reference Map:

Paragraph 1 – ^[1] (Estates Gazette), ^[2] (Estates Gazette)
Paragraph 2 – ^[2] (Estates Gazette)
Paragraph 3 – ^[2] (Estates Gazette), ^[3] (PrimeLocation), ^[4] (Zoopla)
Paragraph 4 – ^[2] (Estates Gazette), ^[3] (PrimeLocation), ^[4] (Zoopla)
Paragraph 5 – ^[2] (Estates Gazette), ^[7] (Whitechapel London)

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.estatesgazette.co.uk/news/whitechapel-office-conversion-opportunity-up-for-grabs/ - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://www.estatesgazette.co.uk/news/whitechapel-office-conversion-opportunity-up-for-grabs/ - A UK private family office is seeking to sell its Whitechapel asset for £7.5 million, presenting an opportunity for conversion into various uses, including residential and purpose-built student accommodation. The property, known as Duru House, is located at 101 Commercial Road, E1. Originally a clothing factory, it was converted into office space in the 1990s and now offers 33,051 sq ft of office and educational space across the basement, ground, and three upper floors. Currently, it is multi-let to 10 tenants, generating an annual rental income of £208,653. However, vacant possession of the ground and upper floors is possible within six months. The basement floor is let to London Xmas until March 2030 at a rent of £55,200 per year. Potential development pathways for prospective buyers include residential conversion via permitted development, large-scale purpose-built living, or purpose-built student accommodation. Alternatively, the property could be transformed into a hotel or serviced apartments, or retrofitted and extended while retaining its current office and educational use. The building's proximity to the Aldgate educational cluster could support the latter option, with the educational sector now considered one of the capital's fastest-growing occupier groups, with 1.2 million sq ft of take-up over the past seven years. Allsop and Savills are leading the sale.
https://www.primelocation.com/to-rent/commercial/details/70105314/ - This listing offers a second-floor office space in Duru House, 101 Commercial Road, E1, available for rent at £10,200 per annum (£850 per month). The office features a glass-partitioned room with large windows providing natural light, suitable for smaller businesses. The property includes a large reception area, toilets, double-glazed windows, heating, and lift access. Located just off Commercial Street, it is within walking distance to Liverpool Street, Aldgate, and Aldgate East stations, granting access to the Metropolitan, Circle, Hammersmith & City, and District lines. Nearby amenities include restaurants, local stores, supermarkets, banks, pubs, bars, and Spitalfields Market. The building houses various businesses, including accountants, estate agents, and fashion retailers. Flexible lease options are available, with one-year leases offered.
https://www.zoopla.co.uk/to-rent/commercial/details/69744752/ - This listing offers a second-floor office space in Duru House, 101 Commercial Road, E1, available for rent at £15,000 per annum (£1,250 per month). The office features a glass-partitioned room with large windows providing natural light, suitable for smaller businesses. The property includes a large reception area, toilets, double-glazed windows, heating, and lift access. Located just off Commercial Street, it is within walking distance to Liverpool Street, Aldgate, and Aldgate East stations, granting access to the Metropolitan, Circle, Hammersmith & City, and District lines. Nearby amenities include restaurants, local stores, supermarkets, banks, pubs, bars, and Spitalfields Market. The building houses various businesses, including accountants, estate agents, and fashion retailers. Flexible lease options are available, with one-year leases offered.
https://www.harnessproperty.com/listing/173d55c6-75ad-5e66-96b6-69f1cff27b14 - This listing offers a B1/D1 first-floor commercial unit in Duru House, 101 Commercial Road, E1, available for rent at £200,004 per annum. The unit provides 24-hour access and lift facilities. It is in close proximity to two underground tube stations and several bus routes. The property is marketed by Reality Properties.
https://www.harnessproperty.com/listing/c6eab224-9e18-576f-ada6-3d96e9a2f209 - This listing offers a B1/D1 first-floor commercial unit in Duru House, 101 Commercial Road, E1, available for rent at £95,988 per annum. The unit provides 24-hour access and lift facilities. It is in close proximity to two underground tube stations and several bus routes. The property is marketed by Reality Properties.
https://whitechapellondon.co.uk/truman-estates-brick-lane-property-development-plans/ - Truman Estates Ltd has submitted a planning application for the demolition of redundant structures at the Osborn Street site, located near Whitechapel High Street. The company has also acquired additional parcels of land adjoining the site, indicating plans for a large-scale development. This approach mirrors previous strategies employed by the company, such as purchasing multiple properties around the proposed site of the Time Out market in 2016. The development's scale and nature will depend on the planning context and community response.

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 was published on 28 October 2025, indicating recent and original content. ([estatesgazette.co.uk](https://www.estatesgazette.co.uk/news/whitechapel-office-conversion-opportunity-up-for-grabs/?utm_source=openai))

Quotes check

Score: 10

Notes: ✅ No direct quotes were identified in the narrative, suggesting original content.

Source reliability

Score: 10

Notes: ✅ The narrative originates from Estates Gazette, a reputable UK real estate news outlet, enhancing its credibility.

Plausability check

Score: 10

Notes: ✅ The claims about Duru House's sale and potential redevelopment align with available property listings and market trends. ([primelocation.com](https://www.primelocation.com/to-rent/commercial/details/70105314/?utm_source=openai))

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary: ✅ The narrative is recent, original, and originates from a reputable source. ([estatesgazette.co.uk](https://www.estatesgazette.co.uk/news/whitechapel-office-conversion-opportunity-up-for-grabs/?utm_source=openai)) The claims are plausible and supported by available property listings.

Real estate
London property
Mixed-use development