THE EDGE MARKETS. 8TH NOVEMBER: The Malaysian investors have grown far and wide in their property investment journey in the last decade. From investing only in Malaysia, many have ventured into property investing in other countries such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, China, Australia, and United Kingdom.
The love story between Malaysia and United Kingdom is one that many hold close to their hearts. Many Malaysians have studied there and returned with fond memories, many others aspire to send their children there for education or already have children there, and many have profited from investing in the UK market, specifically in London. And it’s not hard to see why London properties are so popular.
In a recent ranking by Evening Standard Newspaper, nine of the top ten UK areas for house price growth over the last decade are in London. London’s status as a top world class city and its magnetism attracts people, capital and global businesses. Over 250 languages are spoken in London, making the capital the most linguistically diverse city in the world. From portfolio diversification to wealth preservation, London continues to be a top choice attracting investors from all over the world, including our own Malaysian government (EPF), GLCs, large corporations and many High Net Worth Malaysians.
The South-East of London has always been known for its lush spread of greenery with Greenwich earning the prestige of being a “Royal Borough” and popularly visited for the Prime Meridian, Greenwich Maritime Museum, Greenwich University to the quaint Blackheath Village full of charming shops, restaurants, Grade II listed conservatoire, entertainment and concert halls.
At a time when access to green space has never been more important, Berkeley Group is developing a masterplan regeneration project there at Kidbrooke Village. This award-winning township spreads over 86 acres of open spaces – the equivalent of 45 football pitches and the stunning Cator Park, wetlands and wildflower meadows, making it one of the greenest developments in London and a priority for tenants and owners looking for an active and outdoor lifestyle.
Greenwich has benefited from a ripple of buyers moving to the suburbs to find affordable homes and has seen a price growth of 84% in the last 10 years, to an average of GBP416,306. And this growth is likely to carry on with affordability being the single biggest driver of the market and the offerings of good schools, abundance of parklands akin to living in the countryside and yet remaining within such close proximity to London city.
The newest launch at Kidbrooke Village are Waterlilly Court and Blackheath Collection, located only moments away from the brand new on-site train station, allowing residents to reach London Bridge in only 16 minutes, Canary Wharf in 20 minutes, and Victoria in 26 minutes. The desirable and pretty Blackheath Village is a mere 3 minutes away.
Both the Waterlilly Court and Blackheath Collection Apartments and Podium Houses offer something special for every investor. The apartments are light, free-flowing spaces with a contemporary specification and also feature a private terrace or balcony while the Podium Houses are innovatively designed to suit modern day family life with contemporary interiors and a spacious driveway. In addition, residents of the Blackheath Collection will have access to The Blackheath Quarter Clubhouse, to include 24 hours concierge, swimming pool, cinema room and more, all included in the service charge.
The properties are ideally positioned between the vast parkland and The Village Centre, home to a wealth of retail and leisure facilities including supermarket, restaurants and community spaces. There is a range of one, two, three-bedroom apartments, and a limited number of three-bedroom townhouses, available, all of which offer a strong investment opportunity and are attractively priced from GBP385,000, leaving room for further capital growth.
Kidbrooke Village is one of London’s most significant new housing-led developments, where GBP1 billion of investment is transforming the area into a green and desirable place to live, in partnership with the Royal Borough of Greenwich and the Mayor of London. The fact that it is located in Zone 3 means that some of London’s most important business districts and mainline stations can all be reached within half an hour. And it is only 12 minutes away by car to the O2 Icon, one of London’s best all-under-one-roof destinations for shopping, dining and nightlife.
According to Ms Shelvin Tan of Red Bean Consultancy, “After a turbulent 2 years, investing in London property remains a clear choice for both local and international buyers. The disparity between supply and demand of properties in London, the drive to seek value-for-money properties, the understanding of higher than normal capital appreciation in a large-scale regeneration project, and how the pandemic has taught us all the value of space, makes Kidbrooke Village a standout investment proposition.”
If you are looking to invest in one of the top property hotspots in the UK, Kidbrooke Village offers a golden opportunity to start building exceptional capital growth while generating consistent rental returns.