EG’s must reads: 25-29 November

Here’s a wrap-up of some of the top stories on EG from the past week. Specialist lender Paragon is suing Knight Frank over what it claims is a faulty valuation report it produced for a proposed student accommodation development in Aberdeen.Knight Frank sued over Aberdeen student accommodation valuation Vue is halving its space in Fulham Broadway shopping centre as cinema operators continue to struggle. The chain is the anchor tenant of the 200,000 sq ft shopping centre, SW6, but is downsizing its space from 50,000 sq ft. EG understands that a padel court operator will occupy part of the space, while additional F&B tenants are also being sought.Padel to replace the pictures as Vue cuts cinema space Pioneer Group has strengthened its top team amid its expansion spree, hiring life sciences specialist Chris Walters from JLL. Walters will focus on Pioneer’s £1.5bn life sciences portfolio which it aims to build out in partnership with the Crown Estate and Oxford Science Enterprises.Pioneer hires life sciences boss from JLL Canadian investor Realstar is under offer to acquire LaSalle’s One Exchange Square build-to-rent scheme in Birmingham for more than £100m. Realstar is also looking to acquire LaSalle’s Greengate operational BTR scheme in Manchester, comprising 497 homes in two towers.Realstar gets real on £100m Brum BTR purchase Residential developer London Square intends to build a £15bn platform in the next five years. The company has acquired 12 sites with a GDV of £2.3bn, nearing its target of £2.5bn for the first year it has been in business with parent company Abu Dhabi-based Aldar Development.London Square targets £15bn platform in next five years Other stories you mustn’t miss: Retail and leisure players search for the essential experienceRingley parts ways with South Kensington EstateAndrew Jones: ‘My job is to buy companies’L&Q boss expects ‘global interest’ in PRS portfolioLifestyle brand picks Spitalfields for office and flagship storeHelical’s chief exec on going from disposals to developmentOdeon movies in to fill Cabot Circus cinema vacancyShopping centre assets to be bagged at next Acuitus sale For your listening pleasure from EG Property Podcasts: Dealmaker of the Month: Rich Lowrey, Newlands Property Photo © Tima Miroshnichenko/Pexels