Mount Anvil unveils London project in Malaysia

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THE EDGE. 27TH OCTOBER: London-based property developer Mount Anvil Ltd in partnership with JLL Property Services (M) Sdn Bhd launched The Arrival at Battersea, London, in Malaysia on Oct 14 and 15 at the Four Seasons Hotel KLCC.

The residential apartments were launched in London in July. They are the final phase of One Clapham, which is part of the larger transformation of St John’s Hill, a Peabody estate built in the 1930s. Peabody is the UK’s oldest and largest not-for-profit housing association.

JLL Property Services international residential division senior sales negotiator Chong Shu-Ling says the apartments are in a scenic area near parks and greenery. “The One Clapham project is situated between the river and [parks] near Battersea Park, in the southwest (SW11) of London. It has a scenic view of the Thames River and overlooks the London skyline.”

Connecting past to present

Spread across a 0.73ha leasehold land of 999 years, The Arrival offers 116 one- and two-bedroom apartments spread across a stepped building of 4-, 8- and 12-storeys. There are 56 two-bedroom units with built-ups ranging from 808.6 to 1,018 sq ft, and 60 one-bedroom units with built-ups ranging from 601.2 to 752.2 sq ft. All have a balcony, in addition to fittings, and are semi-furnished.

“The units will be priced from about £523,000 (RM3.03 million) onwards or £890 psf, and have a service charge of about £4.54 psf annually,” says Chong.

She adds that One Clapham’s previous phases — The Ascent and The Approach — were launched in 3Q2022 and will be completed by late 2025/early 2026 and early 2026 respectively. The Arrival is expected to be completed in 3Q2026.

In total, the One Clapham development covers 2.27ha and has a gross development value of over £160 million, delivering 307 new apartments ranging from studios to 3-bedroom units.

Facilities at the The Arrival include a 24-hour concierge service and a fitness centre fitted with Pelotons, in addition to landscaped gardens, a woodland garden, and a play area in the courtyard.

Speaking about the design, Chong says One Clapham apartments connect the past to the present with distinctive brickwork and patterns inspired by local landmarks. “From the Edwardian terraces of Eckstein Road to the diamond motifs and colours of St Mark’s Church, the development respects and reflects the local architectural heritage. Throughout the homes, burnished bronze ironmongery, smart matt black fittings and mixed metals are a nod to its industrial past, aesthetically authentic and built to last.”

Vibrant neighbourhood

While the development also has on-site retail space, both commercial and green spaces are found in abundance in the neighbourhood. The area is also home to the Battersea Power Station — a regenerated commercial space jointly developed by S P Setia Bhd, Sime Darby Property Bhd and the Employees Provident Fund — which opened its doors in 2022, and the Nine Elms cultural and leisure hub, notes Chong.

“The redevelopment of Battersea Power Station and Nine Elms South Bank has introduced a wealth of retail, dining and entertainment options, further adding to [One Clapham’s] appeal as a place to live.”

In addition to the nearby parks such as Battersea Park, Wandsworth Common and Clapham Common, the apartments are close to Northcote Road, Battersea Rise, Lavender Hill and Clapham Old Town. These areas are home to art galleries, shops, bars, cafes and restaurants.

Chong highlights that residents can easily access Clapham Junction station, which is right across from One Clapham. “This location is an exceptionally well-connected area with 99% of homes being within a 200m walk from a bus, train or tube. Residents can travel to Victoria station within six minutes and Waterloo station in eight minutes and can even reach Gatwick Airport in 24 minutes (through Clapham Junction).”

“Transport is the number one priority for tenants and having Clapham Junction on your doorstep offering services to Central London every five minutes and even more frequent trains in peak times — this excellent connectivity is driving tenant demand and growth in rental values,” she says.

Value for money

According to Chong, The Arrival had a 40% take-up rate upon launch in July. As such, she says One Clapham’s location provides a competitive pricing advantage compared with neighbouring areas, including Nine Elms, Chelsea and Fulham. “Capital values have consistently increased in the Wandsworth and Battersea area. In March, capital values rose 4.6% year on year.

“This paired with an undersupply of new homes, and increasing demand is underpinning this price growth. Additionally, rental demand is increasing, and rental values have risen 16.1% in the last 12 months. Rents are 32.2% higher than they were five years ago — higher than the London-wide average,” she adds.

Emphasising that One Clapham is located in one of the most affordable boroughs in inner London while offering a big variety of amenities, Chong says the apartments will bring in attractive rental yields. “We believe the 1-bedroom units’ estimated rental value will range between £550 and £585 per week. The 2-bedroom units’ estimated rental value, meanwhile, will range between £725 and £745 per week. This gives an average yield of 5.2%.”

She speculates that demand in the area will increase further as Wandsworth Council is set to invest £15 billion into the borough, providing 6.5 million sq ft of commercial space, 20,000 new homes and 25,000 new jobs.

Regeneration of St John’s Hill estate

One Clapham – a joint-venture partnership between 31-year real estate veteran Mount Anvil and Peabody – is the final phase of the transformation of St John’s Hill.

Peabody senior development manager Rob Kelleher comments that the community is greatly in favour of the redevelopment of St John’s Hill, as evidenced by the successful bid to increase the number of homes to 599 in 2019. “These changes were a consequence of the original scheme being consented to over 10 years ago, and the need to ensure the final phase delivers real improvements to support this thriving community with amenities that are needed and wanted by the neighbourhood.”

The One Clapham project is the fourth partnership between Mount Anvil and Peabody. Their previous collaborations were Three Waters, Bow Creek, E3; The Verdean, Acton, W3; and Chelsea Botanica, SW6.