Re: Development Opportunities

Helical Bar PLC 24 September 2004 24 September 2004 Helical Bar plc ('Helical Bar') HELICAL BAR ANNOUNCES TWO DEALS IN MILTON KEYNES WITH LOCAL PARTNER ABBEYGATE DEVELOPMENTS Helical Bar announces today that is has secured forward funding from an investment client of Arlington Property Investors ('API') for the development of an 80,000 sq ft retail warehouse on Childs Way, Winterhill, Milton Keynes. The property will have an end value of £24.5 million representing an initial yield of 5.7%. The retail warehouse, which is being developed in a joint venture with Abbeygate Developments, has been pre let to Homebase Ltd on a 25 year FRI lease at a rent of £17.75 per sq ft. Practical completion is scheduled for June 2005. Helical and Abbeygate have also been selected by the Milton Keynes Partnership Committee (English Partnerships and Milton Keynes Council) to bring forward for development a 2.6 hectare site between Avebury Boulevard and Childs Way, known as C4.1. The landmark development will comprise a new 110,000 sq ft Sainsbury's food store with 400 residential units together with small-scale commercial units and community space. A planning application will be submitted later this year with a forecast start on site in 2005. -ENDS- For further information, please contact: Helical Bar Tel: 020 7629 0113 Michael Brown Financial Dynamics Tel: 020 7831 3113 Stephanie Highett/Dido Laurimore This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange