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9th October 2015
Shanghai-based Greenland Group has submitted plans for a 67-storey tower at West India Quay, designed by architects HOK. Should it be approved, it will be the tallest residential building in western Europe, standing at 241m in height – 21 m higher than the neighbouring South Quay Plaza project being built for Berkeley Group by Laing O’Rourke. Hertsmere House will contain a total of 869 one, two and three bedroom units, along with new community spaces and a play area for children. A number of the properties will be classed as affordable. Setareh Neshati, Senior Planning Manager at Greenland, said the “graceful” new tower will complement the Canary Wharf skyline, while also improving the landscaping and public realm at ground level.
Property Week (08/10/2015) Construction News (08/10/2015)
9th OCtober 2015
Developer EcoWorld Ballymore says it looked to the history of the East End for inspiration when designing Wardian London. Its latest project, located in South Dock and just a stone’s throw away from Canary Wharf, takes its name from the Wardian Cases created in east London and used by the British Empire to transport both rare plants and tea plants. The two residential towers will feature 624 properties overlooking the Thames, boasting a rooftop observatory bar and gin garden, a swimming pool set in a tropical environment, and atriums filled with flowers from across the world. Prices for a suite start at £395,000. The first residents will be able to move in during 2019.
The Wharf (05/10/2015)
9th October 2015
Some 30,000 starter homes could be sold to Londoners at discounts of up to £112,500 under the new housing plans promised by David Cameron, according to No 10 sources. A similar number would be built in the South-East region, with discounts of up to £62,500. However, housing charities and Labour say only people earning above £75,000 will be able to afford to take part.
Evening Standard (07/10/2015)
9th October 2015
Matthew Lynn argues in the Telegraph that none of the London mayoral candidates seem to grasp the scale of the opportunities, or are pushing the kind of radical, pro-growth policies that London needs.. Lynn says none of the policies by any candidate on issues such as housing, transport and business offers solutions for the capital’s continued growth. London Assembly Labour member Valerie Shawcross argues that Labour candidate Sadiq Khan will prioritise London’s housing crisis.
The Daily Telegraph (06/10/2015) Evening Standard (05/10/2015)
9th October 2015
The number of house sales in the UK increased 3% to 106,480 in August – the highest monthly total since February 2014, when the introduction of the Government's Help to Buy scheme boosted sales to 109,030, according to the Halifax house price index. Average property prices are up 8.6% to £202,859 in the year to September. However, month-on-month they dropped 0.9% from August.
The Times (07/10/2015)
2nd October 2015
Writing in the Telegraph, Richmond Park MP and Conservative candidate for Mayor in 2016 Zac Goldsmith says London faces a 1.5m increase in its population by 2030 and a change in housing policy is needed if that figure is to be viable. He says there are 3,500 housing estates approaching the end of their lives in the city which are ripe for redevelopment into low-rise, high-density streetscapes. He also reveals that a land commission for the capital is set to identify all of the brownfield land in public ownership to uncover developable sites as the city needs to create 50,000 new homes a year. Mr Goldsmith calls for a pan-London investment fund that would directly finance a new generation of homes for investors seeking long-term, low-risk, medium-return investments.
The Daily Telegraph (29/10/2015)