Capital Gains: London Property Hits A New High
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Capital Gains: London Property Hits A New High

Four developments that prove the British capital’s prime market is roaring post lockdown.

By Kanebridge News
Thu, Sep 9, 2021 10:12amGrey Clock 4 min

THE BROADWAY, WESTMINSTER

Views of Big Ben, Art Deco-revival design, vast, sun-drenched living spaces, boutiques and cafés minutes away from the front door — to say that there’s much that appeals about this six-tower development that epitomises is a tepid understatement.

Set on the former site of the Metropolitan Police headquarters, the development exudes the best in urban living. Executed with aplomb by developer Northacre and the project’s architects Squire and Partners, it comprises 258 luxury apartments (including 16 spectacular penthouse apartments) characterised by oak and marble fittings and floor-to-ceiling, diamond-shaped windows inspired by 1920s jewellery.

The residents-only lifestyle services and amenities are fit to elevated expectations —  state-of-the-art games, screening and meeting rooms; beautifully tended podium gardens above the bustle of Westminster; a dedicated 24-hour concierge service which will service residents’ needs from housekeeping, laundry and flowers, to travel, tickets and recommendations.

A fully-equipped gym, personal training rooms and yoga/stretch rooms, steam room and 25-metre pool also inform the property.

From £1.75m; thebroadwaylondon.com

GARDEN VILLAS AT REGENT’S CRESCENT, MARYLEBONE

The ultimate lock-up-and-leave London bolthole for overseas buyers, as well as an ideal dwelling for professional city-folk, these nine Garden Villas mere moments from Regent’s Park blend Mews-style living with luxury amenities (think 24-hour concierge, underground valet parking and a private 12-seat cinema).

As well as space – 1,864sq ft for two bedroom efforts – owners have more than 9,000 sq ft of private residents’ amenities at their disposal, including a spa, 20-metre swimming pool, treatment room, gym, business suite and Pilates studio.

Inspired by the Regent’s Crescent’s architectural design, interiors are blessed with a combination of warm timbers, dark stone and rich metal accents, all bathed in plenty of light.
“A refreshing characteristic of the Garden Villas is the amount of natural light that flows through each property, with carefully angled roof lights and floor lights shooting daylight right through to the basement area, flooding the spaces with light,” states the mastermind behind the homes’ architectural design, Ian Law, a partner at PDP London. “London has previously been known for its quaint traditional mews houses, but these Garden Villas offer a refined take on a classic way of living in the capital, they satisfy the desire to live in an individual home by retaining proximity to private garden space and your own front door, creating a sense of freedom in a Prime Central London location.”

From £5,150,000; regentscrescent.com

80 HOLLAND PARK, KENSINGTON

Londoners are well-attuned to the joys of visiting the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s largest park – not least the orangery, the giant chess set, the war-ravaged ruins, the cricket pitch, the tennis courts, the Kyoto Garden, the Fukushima Memorial Garden, the squirrels and peacocks that call it home… look, we could be here a while such is the bountiful allure of this central space.

And now a lucky few can live on the cusp of Holland Park — in one of four 3,007 sq ft penthouses, the interiors of which are the work of Albion Nord. The design-studio-of-the-moment has blended light, fresh tones with richer earthy greens, burnt oranges and blues to reflect the hues of the park just to the residences’ south. The studio has also hand-picked statement artworks, sculptural items from artisan suppliers mixed with vintage pieces to echo the incredible tree-lined, ‘boulevard’ views of the famed suburb.

Located on the fourth floor, the development’s prime expression, The Penthouse, is filled with natural light and has sweeping views of West London. The property features three spacious bedrooms, two terraces and views onto the stunning neighbourhood and park. Bathed in light thanks to floor-to-ceiling glazing, the Penthouse offers high ceilings and underfloor heating throughout, and is fitted with rich joinery, Bulthaup kitchens and marble bathrooms.

All residents of 80 Holland Park – the latest residential scheme by visionary developer Christian Candy – have access to the development’s private communal garden, providing easy access to Holland Park, as well as a full-service offering that includes  24-hour concierge, secure parking, private cinema room with 98-inch screen, lounge and business suite with fibre-optic broadband for residents working from home.

There is also a boot and dog-wash room, a 17-metre pool and steam room, and a performance-driven gym fitted with state-of-the-art training equipment and best-in-class technology curated by Olympic triathlete Tim Weeks.

From £15,350,000; knightfrank.co.uk

NO. 1 PALACE STREET, ST JAMES’

Having The Queen as a neighbour is just one boastful aspect of this luxury development — one that stares down Central Park Tower, the Avenue Des Champs-Élysées and Dubai’s Burj Khalifa when it comes to ‘Most Prestigious Global Address’ status.

It’s again Northacre – the luxury developer behind acclaimed London projects such as The Lancasters, The Phillimores, Kings Chelsea and The Bromptons, as well as The Broadway –  steering things at No.1, which, as the road name suggests, offers unique views across Buckingham Palace Gardens.

“The development is unique in the sense that it incorporates five architectural styles – Italian Renaissance, Beaux-Arts, French Renaissance, Queen Anne, and 21st-century Contemporary within an island site — which is very rare in developments across London,” explains Northacre CEO Niccolò Barattieri di San Pietro.

Indeed, the project’s interiors team scoured the planet in search of exceptional accoutrements and precious materials to reflect this eclectic quintet of styles —

Italian marble and brushed copper among the results of such curation efforts.

Residents who take up one of 72 dwellings found behind the five distinct facades – which range from one-five bedrooms, and from 679sq ft-5,343sq ft, and have ceiling heights ranging from 2.65m to 5m in the principal rooms – will find elegant fitted oak parquet flooring across living spaces and all bedrooms, with kitchens by Obumex inclusive of Calacatta Oro marble tops and splash backs alongside fully integrated appliances by Gaggenau and Miele.

Eco-friendly touches include LED lighting and adjustable controls, independent MEP control and a state-of-the-art rooftop rainwater harvesting system.

From £2.35m; numberonepalacestreet.com



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First time buyers determined to enter the Australian property market are taking creative approaches as interest rates steady

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Aspiring first home buyers are increasingly pooling their resources, adopting new strategies and making compromises to get themselves onto the property ladder, according to research from Westpac. About 56 percent of buyers surveyed are planning to buy their first property jointly with their partner compared to 40 percent three years ago. Three in four buyers say they are willing to compromise on location, up nine percent from three years ago, and 47 percent are willing to pay lenders mortgage insurance to buy their first home sooner.

Additionally, one in two first home hopefuls are considering ‘rentvesting’, whereby they purchase an investment property first ahead of a home for themselves. In this scenario, buyers typically continue renting in expensive lifestyle locations where they want to live and buy an investment property in more affordable locations, often on the outskirts of major cities or in regional areas.

The 2024 Westpac Home Ownership Report, released this month, is based on a survey of 2,015 Australians conducted in January. The report revealed increasing intentions to buy among all types of buyers, with 44 percent intending to buy in the next five years, up from 35 percent in July 2023. This may reflect expectations that interest rates have peaked, with the Reserve Bank keeping rates on hold since December.

Among first home buyers specifically, there was a slight decline in purchasing intention over the next five years, with 86 percent delaying buying a home due to cost-of-living pressures. The survey also found that more people are planning to buy an investment property, which is reflected in recent finance data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showing a 20 percent increase in the value of investor loans issued over the past year. Additionally, more people are planning to upsize their homes or renovate their existing homes.

Westpac managing director of mortgages Damien MacRae said first home buyers “are becoming more ruthless with their goals”. “They understand it’s a big task, but they are determined to break into the market and are willing to compromise to get there,” Mr MacRae said.

Buyers still prefer houses, but there has been a five percent decline in this preference since 2021 and a seven percent increase for apartments. Preference for a townhouse, or house and land packages, has increased markedly. “Buyers are casting their expectations wider, willing to compromise on location and are forgoing everyday luxuries like food delivery. They are also more inclined to relocate and move to apartment living.”

The latest Westpac-Melbourne Institute Consumer Sentiment Index released this week shows the ‘time to buy a dwelling’ index rose 4.9 percent to 77.8 out of 100 this month, which is a 15-month high, but still relatively weak overall. Buyer sentiment is notably stronger in Victoria at 84.3, with Westpac senior economist Matthew Hassan pointing to softening home values over the past four months.

In contrast, the NSW index is at 73.3 out of 100, likely reflecting affordability challenges in Australia’s most expensive market. “Nearly 70 percent of consumers expect housing prices to continue rising in the year ahead,” Mr Hassan added.

 

MOST POPULAR
11 ACRES ROAD, KELLYVILLE, NSW

This stylish family home combines a classic palette and finishes with a flexible floorplan

35 North Street Windsor

Just 55 minutes from Sydney, make this your creative getaway located in the majestic Hawkesbury region.

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