National Grid Property is a wholly owned subsidiary of National Grid that specialises in dealing with the group's large, complex portfolio within the UK. The company owns and manages the portfolio of occupied and surplus properties formerly belonging to British Gas and National Grid.
The history of gas making can be tracked back to 1792, when William Murdoch, inventor of gas lighting, used the newly harnessed energy to light his own home in Redruth, Cornwall. Within 30 years, gas manufacturing had become a staple industry throughout Britain. Gas transformed both homes and industry, providing heating, lighting and cheap and efficient energy for all. Soon gasworks - operated by private companies, local authorities or as joint ventures - were a feature of almost every town and city.
By the time of nationalisation in 1949, 12 million customers were being supplied by 1,050 gas undertakings, from approximately 4,000 sites. Over the following 30 years, the manufacturing process for gas diversified to include oil, as well as coal, as a source fuel.
In the late sixties and early seventies, however, everything changed with the advent of safer, cleaner, natural gas from the North and Irish Seas. The vast majority of gasworks became surplus to requirements. While some were re-used as local distribution depots, rebuilt as customer service centres or sold for redevelopment, many - in full or in part - have since lain derelict and contaminated by the former manufacturing processes.
In 1986, the gas industry was privatised. The newly formed British Gas plc examined its assets and liabilities and soon identified the need to address the industrial legacy of its contaminated land portfolio. In 1994, it established British Gas Properties as a discrete business unit charged not only with responsibility for reclaiming former gas works, but also managing and advising upon a range of other property issues.
Following the retirement of the business unit's first Managing Director, Ralph Ellis in 1997, Roy Dantzic, the MD of Port Greenwich - the site of the Millennium Exhibition - was appointed in his place. One of Roy's first challenges was to manage Properties' part in the demerger of British Gas into BG plc (gas transportation, exploration and supply) and Centrica (consumer facing retail).
Over the next few years, British Gas Properties' successor division, BG Property, accelerated its programme of regeneration and sales, generating revenue for the Group and reclaiming in excess of 1000 acres of contaminated land. In 1999, in recognition of this work, BG Property, won the prestigious Property Week Real Estate Strategy of the Year award.
Roy Dantzic retired at the end of May 2003 and Phil Kirby, National Grid Property’s General Manager, stepped up to become Managing Director.
In October 2000, BG plc demerged into BG and Lattice Groups, the latter including Transco and Property. BG Property became Lattice Property and continued its massive reclamation programme. In 2001, Lattice Property's work was again recognised when it came runner up in the competitive environmental category of the Property Week awards. In autumn 2002, Lattice Group merged with National Grid Group to form National Grid Transco. As a result Lattice Property changed its name to National Grid Property.
1792
Invention of gas lighting.
1804
Gas exhibited in London for the first time.
1813
Gas used to light Westminster bridge.
1850s
Gas manufacturing is an established industry throughout Britain.
1949
Nationalisation of 1,050 private and local authority gas undertakings on approximately 4,000 sites.
1960s
Introduction of natural gas, pumped ashore from the North, and then Irish Seas.
1970s
Last gas manufacturing plants decommissioned.
1986
Privatisation.
1994
Formation of British Gas Properties from the property divisions of British Gas' regional companies;
Ralph Ellis becomes first Managing Director.
1996
Sale agreed of Greenwich Peninsula to English Partnerships.
1997
British Gas demerges into BG plc and Centrica. Roy Dantzic appointed Managing Director of BG Property.
1999
BG Property wins Property Week Real Estate Strategy of the Year award.
2000
BG plc demerges to form the BG and Lattice Groups, the latter incorporating Lattice Property.
2001
Lattice Property is runner up in the Property Week Environmental Award.
2002
Lattice Property gained a Special Award at the Lattice Chairman's Awards recognising the company's
consistent leading edge Health, Safety and Environment performance.
2002
Lattice Group merged with National Grid Group to form National Grid Transco. As a result Lattice
Property's name is changed to National Grid Property.
2002
National Grid Property awarded the British Council of Offices commercial category (covering the North,
North Wales and Northern Ireland), for the operations and controls centre of Phoenix Natural Gas, Belfast.
2003
Phil Kirby becomes Managing Director.