Special Feature

Banking on the GBP7 billion Brent Cross Town, London’s next-gen ‘park town’

By Related Argent and Savills Singapore

/ EdgeProp Singapore |

May 20, 2022 7:00 PM SGT

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Claremont Park looking towards The Ashbee at Brent Cross Town (Credit: Related Argent).

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Singaporeans will have an opportunity to invest in one of the largest regeneration schemes in London’s recent history, Brent Cross Town. Exclusive marketing agency Savills Singapore will be showcasing the project and its first homes to buy to Singapore buyers over the weekend of June 4 and 5.

The GBP7 billion Brent Cross Town in North London is a next-generation, work-live-play scheme with 6,700 new homes and workspace for 25,000 jobs. It is part of Barnet Council’s larger masterplan to transform the 370-acre Brent Cross Cricklewood area. Brent Cross Town is a 180-acre neighbourhood developed by Related Argent, a partnership between two renowned real estate giants: UK property developer Argent, which specialises in mixed-use developments and placemaking, and US real estate group Related Companies, together with Barnet Council.

Brent Cross Town is a 180-acre neighbourhood developed by Related Argent, a partnership between two renowned real estate giants: UK property developer Argent, which specialises in mixed-use developments and placemaking, and US real estate group Related Companies, together with Barnet Council (Credit: Related Argent)

Related Argent includes the team behind the successful GBP3 billion King’s Cross regeneration scheme which is located adjacent to London St Pancras Station, while Related Companies is the developer of the US$25 billion Hudson Yards, the largest private real estate development in New York.

‘A 15-minute park town’

Designed as a “park town”, Brent Cross Town is built around 50 acres of green spaces, parks and playing fields, offering a wealth of open space on the doorstep of every home. The town plans to deliver world-class outdoor and indoor multi-sport facilities which will support traditional competitive sports such as basketball, football and tennis, as well as provide facilities for challenger sports such as skateboarding, BMX and parkour. These will be complemented by eight public squares and 110,000 sq ft of indoor leisure facilities which together will create a vibrant destination which is focused on fitness and wellbeing.

The new high street with 50 stores and cycle-friendly streets (Credit: Related Argent)

A new high street will sit at the heart of the new town, featuring 50 stores, cafes, bars and restaurants, bringing together well-known brands and independents. Amenities such as schools, shops, healthcare facilities and parks are situated within a 15-minute bike ride or walk from home or the workplace within Brent Cross Town.

Brent Cross Town offers excellent transport connections into central London and beyond. The new Brent Cross West Station, scheduled for completion this December, will bring residents to London St Pancras Station in just 12 minutes. This complements the existing Brent Cross Underground Station on the Northern Line, which is just a 10-minute walk away and will bring residents to Central London within 15 minutes. The train arrives at five-minute intervals.

The upcoming Brent Cross West Station on the Thameslink will bring residents to London St Pancras Station in King’s Cross in just 12 minutes (Credit: Related Argent)

Tom Goodall, partner and head of residential for Related Argent, says: “Brent Cross Town will offer something unique to London; a new neighbourhood set around 50 acres of parks and playing fields but within 12 minutes of Zone 1 London. It will be a place which supports health and wellbeing and maximises the opportunities offered by our new flexible lifestyles. As well as being focused on providing great new homes, we are focused on creating the best place to live in the capital.”

A future-proofed, net-zero town

Related Argent has pledged that Brent Cross Town will be a net-zero town by 2030, at the latest. There will be a network of new cyclist-friendly, low-speed streets and about 6,600 cycling spaces. The target is that in the future 80% of all journeys in Brent Cross Town will be made by foot, cycle or public transport.

Related Argent has pledged that Brent Cross Town will be a net-zero town by 2030 (Credit: Related Argent)

Swedish multinational power company Vattenfall, the leader in city-scale green energy infrastructure, has been appointed to provide zero carbon heating to all buildings, removing the need for individual boilers in homes across the town, and there will be 100% renewable energy for all energy supplies controlled by Brent Cross Town.

Buildings are designed to be energy efficient to reduce operational energy demand. All apartments feature future-proofed technology and services, including instant boiling water taps and underfloor heating.

Claremont Park, towards The Delamarre (Credit: Related Argent)

Singapore buyers get first bite

Making its debut in Singapore over the weekend of June 4 and 5 are the first two residential buildings at Brent Cross Town, The Ashbee and The Delamarre. Interiors at the 107-unit The Ashbee and the 170-unit The Delamarre are designed by global architectural and design practice Woods Bagot.

“The Ashbee and The Delamarre occupy a prime spot in the development, with units fronting the park,” says Jacqueline Wong, head of residential services - international residential, Savills Singapore.

Interior of a two-bedroom apartment, with floor-to-ceiling glazed glass looking out to Claremont Park (Credit: Related Argent)

The architect for The Ashbee is the globally acclaimed Squire & Partners while The Delamarre, which is inspired by Victorian mansion blocks, is designed by award-winning architect Maccreanor Lavington.

Both buildings are designed to be elegant, with natural finish and bold colours. Typical apartments in both blocks are a mix of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units. They will feature floor-to-ceiling glazed windows offering park and garden views as well as natural light throughout the day. Work-from-home spaces are designed to maximise flexibility. Apartment fittings, appliances and sanitaryware will be of the highest specification.

Rental rates in London are projected to be 22.2% higher by the end of 2026 (Credit: Related Argent)

Residents at The Ashbee and The Delamarre will have exclusive use of the state-of-the-art health and leisure club as well as workspace facilities at the Claremont Park Club, located across the ground floors of both buildings. At The Ashbee, apartments start from 496 sq ft for a studio to 1,739 sq ft for a three-bedroom maisonette. The Delamarre has apartments ranging from 533 sq ft for a studio to 1,389 sq ft for a three-bedroom unit. Prices are said to start from GBP390,000 ($665,450).

Strong investment potential

“Brent Cross Town presents an ideal investment opportunity for those in Singapore – for first-time investors and those buying for their children’s education,” says Savills Singapore’s Wong. “With the Singapore Dollar to Pound Sterling at 1.72, and starting prices for studios from GBP390,000, one need only pay 5% to secure a unit at Brent Cross Town.”

Capital growth in the neighbourhood of Brent Cross Town is higher than in Central London at 4% per annum, Wong points out. Last year, it saw price growth of more than 3.9%. Investors at Brent Cross Town could also look forward to long-term capital appreciation. According to Savills Research, outer prime London prices are forecast to grow by 13.7% over the next five years from 2022 to 2026. Meanwhile, projected rental growth over the same five-year period is expected to be 22.2%.

Located in Zone 3, Brent Cross Town is uniquely positioned alongside the 44-acre Clitterhouse Playing Fields, which is currently an open park and site of local importance for nature conservation, and which is going to be the home of new sporting facilities, parkland, trees and social spaces. Nearby are also The Beach Brent Cross, one of UK’s largest urban beaches with splash pools and rides; and Wembley Stadium, a world class venue for some of the biggest events in sports, music and entertainment.

Brent Cross Town is designed for a post-Covid future, where Londoners place a higher priority on proximity to transport and green spaces compared to the pre-Covid era (Credit: Related Argent)

“Brent Cross Town will be a new neighbourhood in North London, with double the commercial space offering at Battersea Power Station,” says Savills’ Wong. “Designed for a post-Covid future, Brent Cross Town is poised to be the destination for work, live and play given its proximity to public transport, green spaces and amenities.”

Attractive payment terms are available: