Highcross Group even sold off their own offices in a deal bonanza that included selling deeds to the Microfocus office in Old Bath Road, and offices of Bewley Homes, Vodafone and Azzurri Communications in Oxford Square.

The £12m sale of the Lawn, Oxford Road, and Mulberry House, Old Bath Road to Morley Fund Management, and the £9m sale of the Oxford Square luxury office complex to Fendlake – made up the bulk of the proceeds.

But Highcross also sold its head office of 17 years, The Rectory at Toomers Wharf, for £645,000 after outgrowing the premises. Another deal was the freehold to Oxford Court in The Broadway for £750,000, which is signed up with Vodafone until 2011.

St Peter’s House in Oxford Square was sold to Debt Management Services Ltd for £608,000.

Sir Peter Michael owns all of Highcross, along with the Vineyard at Stockcross and an 18% stake in GWR radio group. He is chairman of Greenham Common Trust and has been the largest donor in the campaign to save the Watermill.