Thornsett Group

Power House of redevelopment

Battersea is a place that’s constantly evolving. Along the riverside and beyond, a range of luxury developments has brought previously redundant space to life.
One of the most striking is Montevetro, a series of five connected blocks designed by Richard Rogers, at Battersea Reach, on the opposite bank of the Thames to Chelsea’s Cheyne Walk. Also at Battersea Reach, and following hot on the heels of apartment block The Tower, is Spinnaker House, recently launched by developer St George.
The 11 –storey building will feature one, two and three-bedroom apartments and duplex penthouses, with river views. Some will be completed this winter and prices start from £319,950 for a one-bedroom, second-floor apartment.
Sesame Apartments, by Thornsett Group, close to Battersea Square, is due for completion in September 2013. It comprises 80 one and two-bedroom apartments over seven floors, many overlooking the Thames. Prices start from £285,000 for one-bedroom apartment and from £400,000 for a two-bedroom apartment.
Price’s Candle Factory in York Road has been transformed by George Wimpy into apartment complex Candlemakers. Five minute’s walk from Clapham Junction station, you’ll find the Lismore – featuring 14 spacious two and three-bedroom apartments, one town =house and an inner courtyard, with properties priced from £495,000 – through Hamptons international. The regeneration of the iconic Battersea Power Station, which stopped generating electricity in 1983, is also promising to get off the ground, with outline planning permission now approved for a huge redevelopment. And further improvements will be taking place ahead of the US embassy’s move to Nine Elms from Grosvenor Square, although no date has been set.
But what of the area’s history? Battersea was first recorded in a charter of 693AD and excavations have uncovered evidence of a Saxon settlement, with the village centred on what is now Battersea Square. Here, you’ll find the area’s oldest buildings, including Devonshire House and the Raven Inn, dating from the 18th century. Battersea Square has enjoyed a resurgence in recent years, and its cafés, bars and restaurants are invariably packed on summer evenings. Other popular streets for refreshment, relaxation and retail therapy include Lavender Hill and Northcote Road – often referred to as Nappy Valley on account of the number of buggies crowding the pavements.
As well as new developments, Battersea boasts elegant mansion blocks – concentrated around Prince of Wales Drive by Battersea Park – and many streets of Victorian houses. The schools are good too – Belleville Primary and Honeywell infants and junior are rated as outstanding by Ofsted.
The transport links are also excellent. ‘ Clapham Junction is the busiest station in Britain, there are plenty of bus routes and the new Cycle Superhighway runs through Battersea,’ says Lucy Pendleton, of James Pendleton estate agents. It’s just over a mile from Battersea Park to Victoria Station so some people prefer to walk.
Clapham Junction, Battersea Park, Queenstown Road and Wandsworth Road railway stations are in Zone 2. An annual Zones 1-2 Travelcard costs £1,104. Battersea may have its own Tube station in years to come as public consultation on the proposed Northern line extension is underway. The area has a wide-ranging appeal. ‘Mansion flats make good pied á terres and are popular with downsizers, ‘ says Pendleton. ‘The new builds are sought after by overseas buyers, especially those from Asia, that will pay a premium for a crisp, clean apartment.’
Prices vary according to size and location, but one-bedroom flats in the Sisters conservation area near Battersea Park start from £370,000 and one-bedroom mansion flats costs £375,000 to £475,000. Two-bedroom flats are £475,000 to £550,000 and three or four-bedroom houses range from £850,000 to 900,000. Large houses in Thurleigh Road go for up to £2.5 million and new build are around £1000 per square foot.
This might be holiday season but it’s also high season for rentals. It’s when families looking to sort out their housing situation before schools starts and groups of sharers tend to move,’ says Robert Nichols of Edmund Cude letting specialists.
Average prices for one-bedroom flats are £227 to £300 per week, two-bedroom flats are £350 to £450 per week, and four and five-bedroom houses are £750 to £1000 per week