As an overseas investor looking to acquire UK property, you’ll want to take time to familiarise yourself with the top developers in London, often thought of as the more established and prestigious real estate developers.
Investors can garner great confidence in the future success of any acquisition by assessing the track record and heritage of a developer.
As an expert in London real estate, we’ve taken the time to introduce you to some of the top developers in London.
1. EcoWorld
As the name suggests, EcoWorld has a focus on sustainable developments, which is fairly unique among prime London developers – at least to the extent of emphasising it in their very name.
Of course, sustainability is no longer detrimental to the quality or even vision and EcoWorld’s developments in London have garnered headlines, investors and tenants consistently since they entered the market 7 years ago in 2015.
EcoWorld London belongs to Eco World International Berhad, which is listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad and you’ll find many qualified and experienced individuals on the board of both companies.
Few other London real estate developers have won as many awards as Ecoworld – certainly in as short a space of time. Honours include wins in categories as diverse as Best Regeneration Scheme and Placemaking Awards to Gold Awards for Customer Satisfaction.
Notable London real estate developments from EcoWorld: The Claves
The EcoWorld ethos is alive and well in The Claves. It’s a residential scheme nestled in the verdant parklands of Mill Hill on the outskirts of London, which features a beautiful residents-only garden.
Investors can opt for 1 and 2 bedroom apartments, and 3 and 4 bedroom townhouses. Although the bright lights of the city seem a million miles from the tree-lined avenues and quaint village high streets, The Claves is actually only 20 minutes from London’s West End.
2. Galliard Homes
Galliard is a developer that has become synonymous with London real estate and most overseas investors would be familiar with them by now.
They have operated in the UK’s capital for over 30 years and have some impressive headline numbers to attest to their scale and track record: 6,905 homes under construction, 10,000 + units in planning and as of April 2022, a £3.95 billion portfolio value. The company’s approach tends to be on the acquisition of land with great potential – often ahead of the wider development curve – and rejuvenating whole regions of London with their schemes. This approach was particularly evident in their work on the London Docklands in the early 1990s.
Investors have enjoyed huge capital growth often acquiring assets that double in value. Indeed, the Galliard website showcases one investor’s example of seeing a £50,000 investment at Papermill Wharf mature to be worth around £500,000.
Notable London real estate developments from Galliard: Orchard Wharf
Orchard Wharf is a prime example of what Galliard are capable of. It’s a mixed-used development with a strong focus on high-class, high specification residential set in the heart of the wider Docklands development next to Canary Wharf.
Completed in Q1 2022, investors will find 338 1, 2 and 3-bedroom apartments, duplexes and penthouses across two main buildings – all ready to acquire and market.
Residents will find an array of sought-after amenities including cafés, an outdoor pavilion, two sheltered outdoor recreational areas, courtyard gardens and three private communal landscaped roof gardens.
3. Berkeley Group
Berkeley Group are one of the largest property developers in the UK and focus mainly on homes, neighbourhoods and schemes between Birmingham and London.
They’ve constructed 18,400 new homes in the past 5 years while managing to have 43 Net Biodiversity Gain Strategies underway too. Such is the scale of Berkeley and the importance of new home construction to the whole of the UK, it is estimated the developer alone has contributed £13.8bn to the UK economy since 2017.
Like many of the top developers in London, Berkeley bring a long-term commitment to their projects, ensuring planning and operation fosters community and makes a lasting positive difference to people’s lives.
Notable London real estate developments from Berkeley: Fulham Reach
Occupying a prime waterside location on the banks of the River Thames, Fulham Reach is a lush and vibrant community of 1 and 2 bedroom homes that can all boast park, boulevard or courtyard views.
Situated in the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham, just 3 miles west of Central London with great transport routes, this multi-phase development is favoured for its closed links to many global businesses, including the headquarters of Harrods to Virgin Media.
4. Barratt Homes
Barratt Homes is one of the UK’s largest new-build housebuilders and has forecast stock growth of 17% over the next couple of years.
Part of Barratt Developments, Barratt London is integral to that. It’s a notable residential developer and also one of a limited number of London developers capable of delivering mixed-use and large-scale complex regeneration programmes.
Many Barratt London schemes are infused with all manner of amenities such as play spaces, libraries, medical centres, retail units, gyms, cafés, and restaurants.
Investors benefit from Barratt’s in-house approach as the company has less reliance on external contractors throughout the build process. This can be particularly comforting when buying off-plan.
Furthermore, Barratt London has the honour of being the only major housebuilder to achieve an HBF 5 Star customer rating for 10 consecutive years.
Notable London real estate developments from Barratt London: Eastman Village
Eastman Village is the ambitious rejuvenation of the 150-year-old Kodak site in Harrow, Middlesex. Back in the 1950s, the Kodak Factory was one of the largest manufacturing plants in the world, but digital innovation left the beautiful building without a clear purpose in 2016.
Now as part of a £1.75 bn restoration plan, Barrat London are repurposing it with a multi-phase project will bring 2,000 new homes, restaurants, cafes, shops and two new schools.
5. Camrose London
Camrose London places a great emphasis on individuality – drawing inspiration from their schemes from the lives of the people who’ll live there, as well as the area’s history.
From an investment perspective, this is not simply marketing lip service. Camrose developments tend to have premium and distinct finishes and make very attention-worthy acquisitions.
Camrose has already delivered over 10 London real estate schemes all with distinctive personalities that align well with the needs and tastes of the city’s tenant market, which is one of the largest in the whole of Europe.
Notable London real estate developments from Camrose: Empire One Wembley
Located in a prime redevelopment site, just an 8-minutes walk from the iconic Wembley Stadium, Camrose have fashioned a unique scheme comprising 38 brand new studio, 1, 2 and 3-bedroom apartments.
Empire One Wembley is central to the investment in innovation and invention that has transformed Wembley Park over the last 10 years – a master plan that has already secured £1.7 billion of investment and will deliver a community of 7,500 new homes and 8,000 new jobs by 2027.
Empire One at Wembley
Empire Way & Wembley Park Dr, Wembley Park, Wembley HA9 0EW, UK Details6. CK Asset Hutchinson
CK Asset Hutchinson is based in one of the world’s other highest performing and prestigious real estate markets, Hong Kong.
Investors rest assured CK Asset Hutchinson developments won’t lack for funding; the company is listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong and reported 2021 revenue of £8.5 bn (an 18% increase on the previous 12-month period) with almost a third of that as profit.
Their actual track record as a real estate developer is equally impressive having a stable of prestigious developments in London, Singapore, Hong Kong and mainland China.
Notable London real estate developments from CK Asset Hutchinson: Chelsea Waterfront
Chelsea Waterfront is a Sir Terry Farrel masterplan, spanning over 600 metres of river frontage.
The 11.3-acre hectare scheme comprises over 10 residential buildings. Including Chelsea‘s highest homes and the iconic Metropolitan Building which CK Asset Hutchinson is revamping and refurbishing into 193 luxury private apartments.
Mixed-use elements include a striking 100m long mall and three new bridges spanning Chelsea Creek.
One to watch: Third.i
Third.i are a relative newcomer to the London market yet has extensive real estate operations in Australia and Singapore and a current development pipeline exceeding £2.3 billion – with over £500 million of that residing in the UK.
The company manages all aspects of the process keeping investors up to date from acquisition to completion and handover. As well as residential, Third.i have developed retirement resorts, and commercial and industrial units.
Notable London real estate developments from Third.i: Graphite Square
Third.i showcases Third.i’s expertise as a mixed-use developer. The scheme located in the heart of vibrant Vauxhall very close to the banks of the River Thames will feature 160 1, 2 & 3 bedroom apartments and 80,000 sq ft of collaborative workspaces.
Residents can look forward to the creation of new public realm with elevated parks and public walking routes adding to its market appeal.
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