London Launches: One York Square Worth the Wait

Nearly two months after buyers rushed to get their name down on the waiting list for one of London’s most hotly anticipated new developments—600 people had signed up within 24 hours—the first phase of apartments in Southbank Place have gone on sale. The 5.25-acre mix-use development will surround the famous 27-story Shell tower building on the edge of the river Thames. It has been a long time coming, after a lengthy planning battle after facing opposition for obstructing views of the House of Parliament. Southbank Place is a joint venture between London’s Canary Wharf Group and Qatari Diar. Here’s an overview: Step Outside: When complete in 2019 Southbank Place will comprise 877 apartments across seven buildings. Sales for the first tower, known as One York Square, started Sept. 17. The site, which formerly housed the Festival of Britain, is on the Southbank, famous for its arts scene. Visitors flock there to visit Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe theatre, the National theatre and the British Film Institute. The iconic London Eye sits just in front of the Shell tower and apartments will have views to the Palace of Westminster and Big Ben.

Inside scope: Two-thirds of the One York Square apartments will have floor-to-ceiling windows looking over the river and the city. The architects have used a palette of stone, glass and bronze to create an elegant structure and façade. The top four floors are grouped into a series of fully glazed penthouse apartments. Notable: At 36 stories with 199 apartments, One York Square is the tallest of the seven towers. The tower was designed by architects Squire and Partners, whose other London projects include sites at Chelsea Barracks and One Tower Bridge. Interiors are designed by Johnson Naylor, who also worked on apartments for phase one of the Battersea Power Station development.

The numbers: Studios start from £540,000 (about $840,000), one bedrooms at £685,000 ($1.1 million) and two bedrooms from £1million ($1.55 million). Amenities: The completed site will have 48,000 square feet of new shops, restaurants and cafes, 53,000 square feet of office space, new green public spaces and exclusive amenities for residents such as a health and fitness center. There will be a private dining area to meet and entertain.