November 2008 Archives

It's tempting to think that in these dark days for the construction industry that there's nothing going on out there, just abandoned building sites waiting for the odd bit of tumbleweed to roll across them. But you'd be wrong. This is Docklands...yesterday around lunchtime:

The Young Group's The Landmark 800+ units and close to topping out:

Ballymore's South Point nearly 200 units and well underway:

And just in case you thought I was just talking about schemes that are already under construction here's one that's just started, City & Docklands' Lanterns Court development, 639 units:

But this is Docklands, it's not like the rest of Tower Hamlets let alone the rest of London.

Ealing yesterday around 10:30 am:

Berkeley's Bromyard Avenue development, 280+ units just started

...and just up the road its Berkeley again with their Stanmore Place development in Harrow, and this one's set to deliver a thumping 816 residential units:

These developments may be built at a slower rate than a few years ago but they are still being built. Why? Because those developers who are building now will be part of a small (but happy) band with houses to sell when the upturn begins.

This is a great picture, you may not think so, but it is. Well it is if you want to phase the development. Let me explain. A residential development site such as this one, City House in Croydon can have units in a variety of different states across the site, from permissions to completions. Why is this important. Well if I told you that this 317 unit scheme was under construction I'd be wrong. Equally if I said it was complete, I'd still be wrong. The truth is that it's a bit of both. The refurb office to resi element is complete (223 units) whilst the new build element at the back (94 units) is still under construction.  But there's even more, if you know a little more of the planning history (we do) then not only can you work out how much is under construction/complete but also the tenure of the completed units (196 private, 27 affordable intermediate - completed, 94 affordable rented - under construction). All this from one picture. Fantastic.