The future is now: London’s most exciting new build properties
As luxury buyers demand more from their homes, a new generation of properties are answering that call
A wander around PCL yields mansion-lined avenues, antique townhouses and Baroque landmarks. History is everywhere. But one thing that is also often said about the capital is that it has momentum – it isn’t afraid to move with the times. In recent decades, London’s old-world mainstays have been joined by an inspiring suite of new builds. The sector is world-leading – think striking design, new answers to the sustainability question, and ever-loftier levels of luxury. It’s a tempting – and prudent – prospect if you’re looking to buy.
We’ve rounded up some of the most exciting new builds in London, all of which are changing what it means to live here.
River Park Tower, One Nine Elms, SW8
River Park Tower, part of mixed-use scheme One Nine Elms, is the tallest residential new build in Zone One at 57 storeys – London’s highest roof garden is on the 50th floor. The building houses 334 residences, including one- to four-bedroom apartments and a five-bed penthouse. The layouts are lateral and open-plan, with a neutral colour palette and high-spec fittings such as underfloor heating. Each unit has a winter garden with views of the river or the development’s Linear Park. Communal amenities, meanwhile, include a cinema, karaoke room, gaming room, boardroom and an immersive play area for children; all of which have been curated by interior designer of the moment Angel O’Donnell.
Prices start from £1,057,000, riverparktower.com
Hurlingham Waterfront, SW6
This 3.2-acre development is seeking to make SW6 into a destination in its own right. Once completed, Hurlingham Waterfront will offer 269 apartments across four 11-storey buildings. The design of the one- to four-bedroom apartments reflects their proximity to the water: warm timbers run throughout the design and internal spaces are filled with natural light. There are also 39,000 square feet of gardens here, which span roof terraces, green streetscapes and courtyards. The Herland Gardens building is dedicated to amenities; here, you will find areas for working, exercising and relaxation.
Prices start from £595,000, hurlinghamwaterfront.co.uk
Wandsworth Mills, SW18
This wellness-led neighbourhood boasts proximity to not one, but two rivers (the Thames and the Wandle), as well as access to 1,700 acres of green spaces within two miles. The design comprises a mixture of heritage and modernity, combining high-specification homes with sensitive landscaping. The 34-storey, architecturally-impressive Artisan Tower, which is home to 166 Manhattan, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, constitutes the heart of the development. Elsewhere, there are over 15,000 square feet of amenities in South West village, such as a resident retreat and open spaces including sunken gardens, roof terraces and pedestrian bridges.
£540,000-£2,099,000, wandsworthmills.co.uk
Koa at Electric Boulevard, Battersea Power Station, SW11
This collection of 204 studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments is set within the revitalised neighbourhood surrounding Battersea Power Station. The homes, designed by Foster + Partners, possess contemporary interiors based around two colour palettes, which in turn bring distinct qualities. Amenities-wise, residents have access to a fitness area – complete with cardio machines, weights areas and a studio space overlooking the Power Station – and to Battersea Roof Gardens, which are London’s largest residential roof gardens at 29,000 square feet.
Prices start from £765,000, batterseapowerstation.co.uk
The HiLight, SW11
Yet another Battersea development that has sprung up in the wake of the Power Station, the HiLight comprises 113 one- to three-bedroom apartments designed by Bowler James Brindley, which has also worked on the 140-year-old W Budapest. The residences at The HiLight offers warm interiors with tactile finishes, as well as excellent views of the Thames from balconies, bay windows and full-height glazing. Residents enjoy a club room, cinema, fitness and wellness studio, meeting room and workspaces, as well as a sports court, viewing platform and sensory rooftop garden landscaped by Grant Associates, whose USP is addressing the challenges of urbanisation and biodiversity loss.
Prices from £580,000, thehilight.co.uk
One Thames Quay, E14
Speaking of emerging neighbourhoods, this property overlooks Canary Wharf’s Wood Wharf. Each of the apartments boast views of the skyline and River Thames from secluded balconies. There’s a wrap-around indoor-outdoor garden at One Thames Quay, as well as a children’s play area, 46th-floor gym and lounge, two roof terraces, a media room and London’s only private bowling alley. The apartments also have a great story: they are designed by BoxNine7, part of the UK’s first B-Corp-certified interior design collective; custom paintings are from the charity ArtBox, curtains are repurposed fishing nets, and velvet cushions are produced from plastic bottles.
Guide price: from £937,000, onethamesquay.com
Nine Eastfields, SW18
Nine Eastfields is the flagship scheme in Wandsworth’s Riverside Quarter – a former Shell oil terminal reborn as a living and retail destination. The 14-storey building consists of six one-bedroom apartments, 28 two-bedroom apartments with winter gardens, and 45 two-bedroom apartments with private balconies providing views over the River Thames and River Wandle. Residents are also privy to a swimming pool, lap pool, and gym, not to mention 24-hour estate management.
Prices start from £650,000, riversidequarter.com
The Westin Residences, EC4
The City of London is one of the oldest quarters in our capital – a history now complemented by a cohort of tasteful new builds. The Westin Residences is one such building – a collection of nine three-bedroom homes located in Queenhithe Dock. The residences are inspired by the river: floor-to-ceiling windows and waterside balconies reveal uninterrupted views, and interiors make use of natural textures. The Westin Residences join the growing number of branded residences and enjoy direct and private access to the Marriott’s Westin Hotel services, including 3,500 square feet of spa and wellness facilities.
Prices from £4,230,000, residential.jll.co.uk
Vetro, E14
Docklands enjoys the coveted combination of being its own serene bubble and in close proximity to some of London’s most important hubs. Vetro’s collection of one- and two-bedroom apartments sit among the historic waterways of Westferry, but a three-minute train from its virtually dedicated DLR station brings you to the heart of Canary Wharf. The apartments themselves possess modern design and floor-to-ceiling windows.
Guide price: £555,000-£1,500,000, savills.com
The Sky Residences at One Bishopsgate Plaza, EC3A
One Bishopsgate Plaza is making real estate history. This is the first development in the City of London to put private ownership and a luxury hotel under the same roof: its 160 residential apartments, The Sky Residences, are perched on top of Pan Pacific’s first European outpost. Residents enjoy the entire spectrum of hotel services and amenities, the jewel in the crown being an 18.5m infinity swimming pool overlooking the plaza.
£1,160,000-£4,400,000, onebgp.com
Capella, N1C
Along with the wildly-popular Granary Square and the behemoth that is the new Google headquarters, Capella represents another piece in the puzzle of King’s Cross’s transformation. Located on Lewis Cubitt Park, the largest green space in the postcode, this 176-apartment (120 private, 56 rented) development concludes a 67-acre regeneration masterplan. Choose between spacious studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom residences and townhouses, all of which boast zero-carbon heating via their own on-site energy network.
Prices from £650,000, capellakingscross.co.uk
