Uk Developer St Williams Launches East London Project Regent%E2%80%99S View Asia
Regent’s View, a new mixed-use development in London marketed by St William, a division of real estate corporation Berkeley Group, is making waves in the property market. The project, located in the London borough of Tower Hamlets in Zone 2, boasts 555 units and was developed as part of an adaptive reuse scheme. This unique project has already gained global recognition, winning the prestigious “Best Future Residential Project” award at the World Architecture Festival 2024 in Singapore.
As the population in Tampines continues to grow, plans are in place to develop the area and meet the educational needs of the community. This includes the construction of new schools and the addition of polyclinics and nursing homes to improve healthcare facilities. Exciting developments are also on the horizon for Tampines, including the highly anticipated Parktown Residence Condo. This development, along with the new amenities, will contribute to the overall growth and development of the neighborhood. Residents can look forward to a more vibrant and well-equipped community with the introduction of these new facilities, including the Parktown Residence Condo.
St William, a joint venture between Berkeley Group and National Grid, was established in 2014 with the aim of transforming decommissioned industrial sites into new residential and community spaces. In 2022, Berkeley Group bought out National Grid’s share in the company, giving them full ownership of 24 brownfield sites across London. Regent’s View is one of the ongoing projects, located on a 4.5-acre site along the Regent’s Canal. This iconic site, known as the Bethnal Green Gasholders, has been a landmark in the area since the 1850s, providing gas to homes in the district.
Although the gasholders were decommissioned in 2012, the developers, along with their architect partner RSHP, have incorporated the iconic frames into the design of the new project. The largest gasholder frame, standing at 146 feet tall with a diameter of 200 feet, will be preserved as an integral architectural element of the development.
Surrounding the restored gasholders will be five contemporary residential buildings ranging from six to thirteen stories, situated around a landscaped park. The project will also include 45,000 square feet of commercial and community spaces, including a 100-meter public access canal frontage. This will be the first time in over 150 years that the public will have access to this stretch of the Regent’s Canal, and the area will be revitalized with new food and beverage options.
The development of Regent’s View faced some opposition from residents who wanted to preserve the historic gasholder frames. However, after extensive engagement with the local community, the project was approved by the Tower Hamlets council. St William spent nearly five years working on the project, carefully incorporating the frames into the design while also meeting affordable housing targets and rejuvenating the canal front through placemaking activities.
The project will provide 555 private and affordable homes, with 35% of the units designated as affordable housing. The ground floors of the five buildings will also feature commercial and community spaces, with the largest gasholder buildings along the waterfront housing public-facing amenities such as cafes, bars, and restaurants. This will activate nearly 100 meters of previously inaccessible canal frontage.
St William is also developing another 23-acre brownfield site in the borough of Newham, featuring a collection of seven Victorian-era gasholders. This will be a 2,000-unit mixed-use development, with plans to start development next year.
Last year, St William launched the sale of The Wright Building, which is over 70% sold and set to be completed next year. The second sales phase, The Westwood Building, launched in September and is nearly 90% sold, with prices starting from GBP585,000 for a one-bedroom unit. The developer has seen strong interest from international buyers, particularly those looking for a base for their children attending university or as a professional residence close to London’s financial hubs.
The strong buying interest at Regent’s View showcases the increasing appeal of new developments in London’s city fringe neighborhoods in Zone 2. As central London properties continue to climb in price, investors are turning to properties in Zone 2 for more attractive rental premiums. The next sales phase, featuring larger units and with most F&B offerings on the ground floor, is expected to attract significant interest.