Unlocking £1.4m in savings on a landmark East London mixed-use development
Protecting developments today. Powering the communities of tomorrow.
Project Overview
Location: Twelve Trees Crescent, London E3
Development type: New-build, mixed-use apartment scheme on a former gasworks site
Blocks: 1 x Build-to-Rent, 1 x Private Sale, and 1 x Social Housing
Total units: 615
Expected completion: January 2033
LBB advised on the placement of structural warranty cover for the first phase of a major mixed-use redevelopment at Bromley by Bow Gasworks, supporting one of East London’s most significant regeneration schemes.
The project, delivered by St William Homes (part of Berkeley Group), is included in the long-term, multi-phase masterplan and comprises 615 new homes across three residential blocks, including build-to-rent (BTR), private sale, and social housing.
Both the developer and main contractor on the scheme were St William Homes, part of the wider Berkeley Group.
The Berkeley Group has historically relied on a specific panel of warranty providers within this region.
For this scheme, the client required:
- Robust structural warranty terms, particularly for the BTR block
- Loss of Rent cover to protect long-term income streams
- A solution that prioritised commercial pricing and cash flow efficiency, given Berkeley’s retained ownership of the BTR asset
At the same time, Berkeley wanted full visibility of the wider market to ensure best value.
Leveraging LBB’s ongoing relationship with the Berkeley Group, Rachel Bryant, Principal Consultant at LBB, introduced the scheme to a broader panel of warranty providers, giving the client access to options not previously considered in the region.
Following a full market exercise, BLP Insurance was selected, having offered the strongest combination of price, cover, and payment flexibility.
BLP’s proposal stood out by delivering:
- £1.4 million in savings compared to Berkeley’s usual warranty provider
- Competitive commercial terms for a large, phased development
- Loss of Rent cover suitable for a retained BTR asset
- Payment terms with the majority of premium payable at Practical Completion, providing a significant cash flow advantage
LBB’s role went beyond placement, providing strategic advisory value by:
- Opening up access to the full structural warranty market
- Clearly presenting the commercial and technical differences between providers
- Enabling the client to make a fully informed, evidence-based decision
- Challenging historic procurement norms to achieve a materially better outcome
This transaction demonstrates how active market engagement and informed comparison can unlock significant savings on major residential developments—even for experienced, repeat developers.
By broadening access beyond traditional providers and aligning cover with asset strategy, LBB delivered a materially improved outcome on a flagship regeneration project set to shape East London for decades to come.
This case study is intended for professional clients and does not constitute personal advice or a financial promotion to retail customers.
The London Belgravia Group Provides Risk and Insurance Advisory Solutions to Global Property Developers. London Belgravia Brokers Ltd, t/a LBB, is an appointed representative of Ten Insurance Services Ltd t/a Eleven Network, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
