A Central London industrial site near Canary Wharf is to be transformed into a “Manhattan-style vertical village” suitable for Jay Gatsby himself.
Called Harbour Central, the five towers offering 900 homes constitute the first planning-consented phase of the wider Millharbour Village project off Lighterman’s Road, and just a few minutes’ walk from Canary Wharf.
At its centrepiece are two The Great Gatsby-esque Art Deco-style residential towers set to be 41 and 35 storeys high; the New York-themed facades with expanses of glass, bronze effect panels and ceramics with brise-soleil feature screens and traditional and covered balconies.
The Art Deco feel continues inside with the type of interiors Leonardo di Caprio, aka the mysterious millionaire Mr Gatsby, would have been happy to host the debutante Daisy Buchanan. On the ground floor of the 41-storey Maine Tower, the striking hotel-style entrance foyer has a three-metre high ceiling; lifts with a feature stone concierge desk.
But you will need the kind of money Gatsby had to afford one of these homes: studios average 370 square feet in size with prices from £350,000 (Dh2 million). One-bed apartments of 562 sq ft start from £495,000, while two-bed apartments at about 756 sq ft start from £625,000. The three-bedroom apartments, at 1,075 sq ft, start from £1.25m.
The apartments come with a spacious reception room with natural oak flooring, an entertainment unit with LED smart TV and floor-to-ceiling windows. Many of the apartments have private balconies; the kitchens will be fully fitted and bathrooms feature heated towel rails as well as underfloor warming. The top floors of Maine Tower will also house four premier and four duplex penthouse residences with their own roof gardens.
The project was launched last month when 297 apartments and penthouses in Maine Tower went on sale.
Harbour Central is designed by London’s architect and planning firm Rolfe Judd with Nicola Fontanella of the design house Argent Design behind the luxury interiors. Among Argent’s client list are celebrities such as Madonna, Guy Ritchie, Richard Caring and Sally Burton.
Q&A
So what is exactly is on offer to the investor?
Harbour Central will provide 624 homes for private sale, 277 intermediate and affordable rented homes, 10,538 square feet of ground floor retail and commercial premises and an 11,292 sq ft six-storey leisure facility with a lounge, library, gym, a private cinema, cocktail bar and club lounge.
Who’s behind it?
The London-based builder Galliard Homes, in a joint venture with the UK real estate fund manager Frogmore and private investment company Cain Hoy, has undertaken the £550 million transformation of the 2.65-acre site. The first handovers will start in the first quarter of 2018 and full build completion is early 2019.
You’ve mentioned the first two Art Deco towers, so what will the other three offer?
The third 24-storey tower will feature apartments for private sale, while the eight and 27-storey towers will provide intermediate rented homes.
How green is the site?
The project is built around two new green squares called Millharbour Park, and will be completed with tree-lined pedestrian boulevards.
What other amenities will attract investors?
The concierge services will include dry cleaning, laundry, housekeeping, porterage and valet parking. Besides residences, Harbour Central will offer retail, commercial and leisure facilities.
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