The Clerkenwell Collection, owned by the little-known Sheinman family, was quietly marketed earlier this year and comprises seven properties located close to the new Crossrail station at Farringdon.

Evans Randall initially agreed a deal worth between £190m and £200m with the family in June. At that time, the firm, run by founders Kent Gardner and Paul Kendrick and former BNP Paribas Real Estate UK chief executive John Slade, had backing from Italian pension giant Enpam, but it is understood the fund withdrew its interest last month.