Projects And Plans For Award-Winning Developer

We speak with Lucy Hopkins, the marketing director at WhatHouse? Award-winning developer Mount Anvil…

Please introduce yourself and tell us a little about Mount Anvil

I’m Lucy Hopkins, marketing director at Mount Anvil. At Mount Anvil, we’re all about doing things differently, through our partnerships, our developments, and our people. For over 30 years, we have been creating places all across London where people can thrive. We’ve seen some amazing sales results over the last 18 months, especially with our scheme Chelsea Botanica, being marked Knight Franks fastest selling scheme in 2022. This year we’ve also launched our Extended Reality Studio, creating a brand new shared experience for our customers by fully immersing them in real-time, walking through our developments like never before. It’s been a real step up for off-plan selling and one we’re super excited about.

Tell us about your Queens Cross development. ExCel is close by here, but what everyday amenities are within easy reach?

Queens Cross is the final phase of our Royal Eden Docks development, a joint venture with Excel. Once completed, the scheme will deliver 854 new homes, ranging from studios to three-bedroom apartments, with 17 amenities including a rooftop running track, a bespoke gym created in partnership with international fitness brand Peloton and an Olympic size swimming pool, all set within 5,000sq.m of landscaped gardens. Rising to 22 stories, Queens Cross will have fantastic panoramic views of Canary Wharf, the City of London, the Olympic Park and beyond, giving residents the feeling of being part of this vibrant and buzzing part of East London.

As an area, The Royal Docks really have everything for everyone. Located just 100m from the water, residents will find a range of water sports and activities, over 300 restaurants, bars and cafés, and the O2 Arena is just across the water. Westfield Stratford, one of the largest shopping and entertainment destinations in Europe, is just nine minutes away on the DLR and Jubilee line.

Were you expecting a real spectrum of buyer types here, and what sort of interest and sales have you experienced?

The Royal Docks regeneration story is multifaceted to say the least and so are our buyers. We have seen a huge increase in sales from young London professionals since the introduction of the Elizabeth Line (Crossrail). Having halved travel times across the city with Queens Cross to Canary Wharf in only three minutes, the City in 10 minutes, Bond Street in 17 and City Airport 14 in minutes, the area has become a real commuter hotspot.

£8bn is being invested in the area over the next 20 years, with improvements to transport, streets and open spaces already underway. Within the community, this investment means improvements to existing houses and public spaces, making Royal Docks an even more desirable place to live. We have seen a growing interest from families, with 43 schools and colleges within a five-kilometre span from Queens Cross, all rated 'Outstanding' by Ofsted.

Have you had feedback from buyers about what is attracting them to the properties at this development rather than others?

At Queens Cross, residents are at the heart of the exciting regeneration of this area, with attractive pricing in comparison to Canary Wharf. Our buyers are particularly attracted to seamless connectivity to and from central London, access to top-tier education and a unique combination of both waterfront and urban lifestyle. We’ve also seen a number of repeat purchasers, who have bought on our schemes several years ago and are now looking for something new, testament to the trust and quality of Mount Anvil’s services.

What can residents do for fun in this area?

Residents of the Royal Docks have access to a wide range of activities right on their doorstep, from open-water swimming and water sports such as sailing, rowing, and wakeboarding to wandering between the cafés and bars dotted around the neighbourhood. The Royal Docks also plays host to major sports events including Formula E and the London Triathlon. For a calmer day out, there’s no shortage of sunny waterside ambles, thanks to 18 kilometres of river and dock frontage. Across the water, a short trip on the Emirates Air Line lies Greenwich Peninsula and The O2, one of the world’s largest shopping and entertainment complexes, with regular performances from the biggest names in entertainment.

Is there more to come at Queen’s Cross?

Queens Cross is the final phase, however, watch this space! Next year will be the official opening of the gym in partnership with Peloton and the unveiling of the very first residential rooftop running track in London. While Queens Cross doesn’t complete for another year, the previous phase Royal Eden Docks is completing in the new year and will see 80 new residents moving in.

Mount Anvil just won a WhatHouse? Award for The Silk District – can you tell us a little about the development and the reaction to winning the Award.

In collaboration with L&Q, The Silk District brought 698 new homes at the heart of one of London’s oldest areas, Whitechapel. As part of the scheme, we’ve dedicated over 30% of the development to a new public realm, providing sustainable and inclusive spaces for residents, creating a positive legacy for Whitechapel’s future. The Silk District is also the first residential development in the UK to offer Peloton bikes within the gym. The first release of homes was such a success that later phases were brought forward to satisfy demand. By February 2022, 98% of all homes were sold.

The scheme was also recently awarded an NHBC Pride in the Job Award in recognition of some of the highest build quality in the industry and exceptional project team performance. We are proud to have created a development that has had such a positive impact on its residents and propels the transformation of Whitechapel into East London’s new heart for culture, inclusivity, and community.

You’ll be attending the London New Home Show in January 2024. Can you tell us what Mount Anvil will be promoting there, and what’s in store for new phases/developments in London next year?

We’re all about pursuing better, differently – so, the London New Homes Show will be a chance for us to show exactly what that means. Our groundbreaking partnerships with Royal Botanic, Kew will continue to grow across London next year with further growth of our blueprint sustainability plan, as well as exciting new projects in some of the best parts of London.

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