‘Not just a pie in the sky’ - The Royal Wharf looks to the next phase

Royal Wharf residents will start to move in at the tail-end of next year (Image: Archant)

The Royal Wharf is an urban landscape in constant flux, a blurred vision gaining focus with every steel rod that is laid.

This is my impression as we step over the just-laid grass balcony of the ‘marketing suite’, offering exquisite views to would-be buyers as the next phase of the 3,385 home development advances.

Flanked by the capital’s only cross-river cable car and the Thames Barrier, a perfectly manicured green oasis lies directly below us. It’s no accident, it seems, that the ‘central park’, complete with flower beds, trees and freshly laid lawn, has already taken such prominence amid what is still a fast-paced building site.

The Georgian architecture inspired town houses will boast gardens, while even the studio appartments will have courtyards or access to shared green space. An impressive 45 per cent of the development will be devoted to open space.

“We have got this wonderful park with landscaping all around it,” says my tour guide, Ballymore development manager Anthony Kingston.

“We’ve got a long way to go, but it’s starting to come together and look really good,” Anthony adds, cautiously but visibly excited.

The first phase of the development – a total of 811 units – sold out within a week last year, with a further 92 to be launched this September and an additional 700 in February 2016.

The exact move-in date for the recent property owners is not known, but Anthony hopes it will be at the tail-end of next year, when a new high street complete with around fifty cafes and shops should also be ready for business.

The CGI plans show grassy roof tops, children milling in soft play areas a thriving high street and even a market square, Sovereign Place.

A 500m river promenade, 2000 sq ft leisure facility with acitivities integrated into the public parks and a primary school are further parts of the vast jigsaw puzzle.

Since residential developers Ballymore and Singapore developer Oxley teamed up in December 2013, the project has gained steady momentum.

“What Oxley and Ballymore have done is they’ve broken the back of the project and given people the confidence that the development will be built,” added Anthony.

“It’s not just a pie in the sky, it’s a wonderful community project.”

The riverside properties, designed by Ballymore, comprise of town houses, two to four bed duplexes, one to four bed apartments and suites. Prices range from £330,000 for a one bed studio to a town house of over a million pounds.

Find out more at ballymoregroup.com/en-GB/developments/royal-wharf