With its wealth of historic buildings, no other part of London is as unique as the enclave of Westminster, Victoria and Pimlico. Ideally located close to Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, Tate Britain and St James’s Park, this enviable central location has fast become an enticing residential hotspot for the discerning city dweller. For workers, commuting through the area’s main transport hub, Victoria Station, and for international culture vultures alike, the area has an exciting new appeal.

With its wealth of historic buildings, no other part of London is as unique as the enclave of Westminster, Victoria and Pimlico. Ideally located close to Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, Tate Britain and St James’s Park, this enviable central location has fast become an enticing residential hotspot for the discerning city dweller. For bees, commuting through the area’s main transport hub, Victoria Station, and for international culture vultures alike, the area has an exciting new appeal.

Thanks to renewed interest and investment, recent developments such as Nova, Eccleston Yards and Market Halls have brought a slew of new restaurants and street food brands to the area. As for Michelin-starred restaurants, Westminster boasts more than anywhere else in the capital. Heston Blumenthal’s ‘Dinner’, and Marcus Wareing’s namesake, ‘Marcus’, are but two. SW1 is also home to the main offices of Giorgio Armani and Burberry. And if you thought that Tom Ford and Jimmy Choo might choose to run their businesses from prestigious Bond Street or Sloane Street then think again. Howick Place which runs just off Victoria Street is where you’ll find their global brand headquarters.  

According to a new UK Living Research paper published by the real estate consultants JLL, house prices in the City of Westminster have jumped 368 % over the last 20 years, an average of 8% per annum compared to the Greater London average of 311% and 7.3% pa respectively.

The report cites that almost all residential developments, past, recent, current and planned, are redevelopments of existing office buildings. Many of these traditional Westminster premises were once home to government departments full of civil servants who have since relocated to other parts of the city. The JLL findings also show that the number of units under construction has increased from 244 in 2017, with 630 currently being built. A further 102 private units in three schemes in the Westminster, Victoria and Pimlico locality are in the planning pipeline, while a growing number of pioneering new-build properties is attracting a different type of buyer to the area and helping to diversify its resident base.

Northacre’s exciting new developments are also highlighted in the report. These include No.1 Palace Street, a stunning heritage revival development fusing five architectural styles of façade into one modern masterpiece overlooking Buckingham Palace. Then there is The Broadway, an impressive new build-scheme, located on the former site of the Metropolitan Police headquarters. With six striking residential towers at its centre, The Broadway will offer bird’s-eye views over Westminster and the iconic London skyline beyond. 

As for the decision to build here, Northacre CEO Niccolò Barattieri di San Pietro comments: ”You have four world heritage sites, one next to the other. And many people don’t appreciate how central it is. We chose it because we just couldn’t understand why, until recently, it was so unloved.’

Given the calibre of other eagerly anticipated schemes, the JLL report predicts that the £3,000 per sq ft pricing threshold will frequently be challenged and surpassed over the next ten years. 

“Not since the Victorian era has the area of Westminster and Victoria seen such sweeping transformation,” says Ruth Duston, OBE, chief executive of the Victoria Westminster Business Improvement District (BID). Driven by local businesses, BID was founded in 2009 with the sole aim of putting the area firmly on the map. Since then, this non-profit business has successfully undertaken ambitious green projects, such as Christchurch Gardens, and continues to address thorny issues such as air quality and rough sleeping. It has also galvanised key players to press forward the redevelopment plans for Victoria Station and worked with its local partners to support young people into employment.  

“Over the past decade, we’ve seen the movement of corporate HQ’s, innovative tech agencies, and of course, some of the leading fashion houses into the area. With more growth set for Victoria over the coming years, we expect to welcome many more of these familiar businesses,” adds Duston. 

For the re-energised locals of Westminster, Victoria and Pimlico, the sky’s the limit. 

Welcome to the festive edition of the Northacre Journal.

The Christmas season in London has a special kind of timeless appeal. For any of you who have not visited the city at this time of year, it must go to the top of your list for 2020.  Throughout the season, the twinkle of Christmas lights dazzle on every street corner, the pubs are cosy and packed and the city’s hotel and shop windows are brought to life with mesmerising stories of Christmas magic. It is hands-down my favourite time of year.  However, it is not only for the incredible festive parties (London is also the best at these!) but also for the opportunity to quietly reflect on another year passed followed by excitedly making resolutions and plans for the year ahead.

At Northacre, it has been another fantastic year and I wholly attribute that to the entire team’s unwavering passion and dedication to delivering the extraordinary. I am proud to convey that our two flagship developments, No.1 Palace Street and The Broadway, have celebrated a number of key milestones this year.  At the beginning of 2019, The Broadway was just a hole in the ground and now we have all six cores up. Additionally, we have surpassed 1 million man hours worked on-site with a reported average of 500 people working at the development site each day. To see all the action and the building take shape, have a look at this very cool time-lapse film.

Things over at No.1 Palace Street have also been busy with 678,896 man-hours reported on-site this year. We are now eagerly awaiting the arrival of our first shipment of Carrara marble from Italy and we are also thrilled to reveal that the exceptional fellow craftsmen over at Linley will be working with us to deliver the first show apartment in 2020.  

Whilst 2019 was a year of building, our products and our brands, in 2020 we are looking forward to turning our focus on completing and handing over the much-anticipated No.1 Palace Street.  The particular highlights in my calendar for next year include: 

Finally, on behalf of the Northacre and ADFG teams, I’d like to wish everyone a marvellous 2020 – one that is filled with an abundance of exceptional experiences. 

– Niccolò Barattieri di San Pietro – CEO of Northacre

The December Diary

From Mayfair to Knightsbridge, everywhere you turn street lights are twinkling and spruce trees are adorned with baubles and stars. It can only mean one thing – London’s festive season is in full swing. 

This winter, Skate returns to Somerset House with Fortnum & Mason. A stop at Fortnum’s rink-side lodge for a warming hot chocolate and mince pie is an essential part of the après-skate experience. With halls to deck and cards to write, a Christmas craft workshop at The Beau Brummell in St James’s Market could be just the ticket. Here, you can hone your calligraphy skills and design a bone china bauble to hang on the tree. Meanwhile, Claridge’s will be serving its delectable yuletide tea from now until January 1, to the heart-warming sound of Christmas carols from The Southend Children’s Choir. 

Might we also suggest the following London hotspots?

Amazónico

For those already acquainted with Amazónico’s Madrid-based flagship, its new Mayfair outpost will come as welcome news. Housed within the lush rainforest-themed interior, you’ll find chefs working at open kitchens, grilling rows of whole pineapples and prepping an eclectic mix of wide culinary dishes inspired by Latin American cuisine. If Peruvian sushi, sea urchin guacamole or pulled pork with plantain tickles your tastebuds then make tracks to this vibrant oasis in the heart of Berkeley Square. 

Amazónico, 10 Berkeley Square, Mayfair
www.amazonicorestaurant.com

Urban Retreat at The White House 

You could, of course, avoid the crowds and tinsel at this time of year. At the newly opened Urban Retreat at The White House in Knightsbridge, you can indulge in a Dr Deepak Chopra’s Inner Space Immersive Meditation Experience or book onto one of its new cleanse programmes launching in January. With a focus on gut health, weight loss and deep breathing respectively, what better way to reverse the effects of one too many mince pies?

Urban Retreat at The White House, 2-4 Hans Crescent, SW1
www.urbanretreat.co.uk

Lucian Freud: The Self Portraits at The Royal Academy of Arts

Considered by some to be one of the most celebrated British painters of our time, Lucian Freud’s work is instantly recognisable for its expressive figurative style and bold brush strokes. In a world first, The Royal Academy is showing more than 50 paintings, prints, and drawings depicting the late artist’s self-image over seven decades. Running from now until January 21, 2020.

Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, Piccadilly, Mayfair
www.royalacademy.org.uk

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, OR TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR A PRIVATE TOUR OF NO. 1 PALACE STREET OR THE BROADWAY, PLEASE CONTACT US.

Our racing journey continued in August, as the team and special guests travelled across the channel for the weekend, to discover the world of champion racehorse ownership in Deauville, France.

This exciting event was part of our summer celebration of our new landmark development, No. 1 Palace Street, bringing “The Palace Neighbour” experience to life.

Our party flew to France onboard a pristine fleet of Pilatus PC-12 jets, courtesy of private aviation experts Jetfly; touching-down in style in the picturesque town of Deauville, situated on the Normandy coast.

We were joined by our expert racing hosts, bloodstock specialist Hubie de Burgh and champion trainer Richard Hannon, as the day’s unique tour of how champion racehorses are bred, sourced and trained began with an exclusive tour of the Aga Khan’s prestigious Haras de Bonneval Stud.

The Haras de Bonneval stud is the largest of the Aga Khan Studs in France – which are famed for the breeding of racing champion horses for over 50 years and now cover over 1330 acres of finest Normandy pasture. The Haras de Bonneval stud’s 265 acres are home to some of the most prized horses in the world, including famed stallions Siyouni, Dariyan, Zarak and Charm Spirit. The tour gave Northacre and guests a unique insight into the world of champion racehorse breeding at the highest level, including the exciting opportunity to meet the champion (and very lively!) stallion Siyouni – and hear about how his unique lineage is making racing history around the world.

Next stop on our tour was the Deauville-La Touques Racecourse, for an afternoon of exciting sport, bringing to life the knowledge and history we had just experienced during the stud tour. In the afternoon our party then joined the day’s most hotly anticipated event – the Arqana August Yearling Sale. During sale time the town of Deauville lives and breathes racing, and the August sale is no different – attracting the racing elite from around the world, to bid on the next generation of champion thoroughbreds.

The Arqana August Sale is a feast for the senses. Throughout the exciting sale experience our party were hosted by expert auctioneers Arqana, who provided exclusive access and insights into the exciting process of racehorse purchasing and selling. The atmosphere of the event is certainly something to behold, with some of our guests getting in on the action – a beautiful chestnut colt caught the eye of our racing experts Hubie de Burgh and Richard Hannon and we’re pleased to report he is now enjoying the English countryside and progressing well at Richard’s beautiful training facility.

We will be keeping our eyes peeled for this champion of tomorrow!

When it comes to providing children and young adults with a unique education, London, with its world-class universities, private schools and cultural institutions, is the city of choice for growing numbers of international students and their families.

Indeed, the city boasts four of the world’s top 50 universities, including, notable multidisciplinary universities such as University College London (UCL) and King’s College London – famous for its pioneering research into the structure of DNA. London also offers specialists in particular disciplines such as the London School of Economics and scientific powerhouses, Imperial College and Brunel.

According to Lalage Clay, director of education and talent at the Mayor of London’s promotional arm, London & Partners, London is a popular place to study for several reasons. “London is one of the world’s great cities. It has a rich heritage and cultural history, but it’s also modern, dynamic, creative and adaptable. Its status as the UK’s centre for government and business has long attracted high calibre people and created the need for top-quality education.”

Asian students are especially drawn to London’s universities. According to a report by the Higher Education Statistics Authority (HESA) produced for London & Partners, more than 21,000 Chinese students attended London’s universities in 2017/18 – up by almost 60% since 2013/14 – making this the largest international group at London’s universities. Over the same period, the number of students from India rose 13% to 5,500, while 3,000 came from Malaysia, a rise of 6%.

For many, studying in London’s finest universities has far-reaching benefits. “Many students build up an international network of contacts who can help them in their careers,” notes May Huang, CEO, UK Education Weekly.

London also boasts some of the best private schools in the country, including Harrow, Dulwich College and Westminster School. Our latest properties, No. 1 Palace Street and The Broadway, are situated at the heart of this unique education offering, with Westminster School only a few minutes’ walk away. Just across the river also sits Thomas’s Battersea, one of London’s most prestigious prep schools, now famous for counting Prince George and Princess Charlotte as two of its pupils.

The benefits of a British education are numerous says the aforementioned Lalage Clay. “A British education values developing higher-level skills – analysing evidence, understanding trends, evolving and testing arguments, critical evaluation – rather than simply acquiring facts or learning competencies. Those skills are highly prized in the marketplace and much valued by employers.”

Finally, let’s not forget London’s leading fashion and design colleges. From the prestigious Central Saint Martins in Kings Cross where graduates include Alexander McQueen and John Galliano, to the Royal College of Art and Chelsea School of Art, there is no better city in which to stretch the mind, make lifelong friends and enjoy all that London has to offer.

Welcome to the second edition of the Northacre Journal. It’s been a fantastic summer for Northacre, with teams working hard on our two outstanding developments – The Broadway and No. 1 Palace Street.

We’re pleased to report that both schemes are progressing extremely well. With The Broadway’s towers taking shape, we can finally see just how good the views from these apartments will be – overlooking iconic landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, The London Eye and Westminster Abbey.

No. 1 Palace Street continues to raise the bar, as we reach completion the five architectural styles of the development are truly coming to life. Offering the very highest quality specifications, No. 1 Palace Street residents will enjoy becoming part of London’s historic landscape, with the finest amenities and services at their fingertips.

“We’re also thrilled to welcome Clifton Property Partners and JLL to the No. 1 Palace Street team. Both partners were recently appointed to help us bring the development’s final apartments to market; contributing exceptional expertise, foresight and understanding of what we’re trying to achieve with this landmark development. We’re delighted to have them onboard.”

– Simon Edwardson, Head of Sales

September marks one of the most stylish months in the capital’s cultural calendar, thanks in part to London Fashion Week, (13-17). As the international fashion crowd flock to the official venue, Store Studios on The Strand, over on Bond Street the luxury boutiques are more buzzy than usual. The worlds of architecture and design also collide this month as Open House London gives visitors unique access to 800 of the city’s best buildings including themagnificent Maughan Library at Kings College London and the stunning Spencer House in St. James’s. Here are some more suggestions for making the most of the heady September days and nights in the capital of cool:

The London Design Festival

For nine days each September (14-22), the city showcases local and international design talent over 11 official ‘design districts’. Spanning east to west, north to south, all can be traversed by foot. Marylebone, Mayfair and Pimlico Road are just a few of the areas covered and where design aficionados can experience exhibitions, workshops and talks covering a broad range of subjects including, jewellery, interior design and architecture. 

www.londondesignfestival.com

Siren at The Goring Hotel

Nathan Outlaw, the British Michelin-starred chef, brings his culinary expertise and passion for Cornish produce to Siren, the Goring Hotel’s first new restaurant in over 109 years. The menu is brimming with seafood delights including red mullet and devilled shrimp butter, Cornish crab and buttery Dover sole. Designed by Russell Sage, Siren’s elegant dining room features mythical sea creatures and chintzy furnishings and overlooks the Goring’s secluded garden oasis.  

The Goring Hotel, 15 Beeston Place, Westminster, London SW1

www.thegoring.com/food-drink/siren/

Frieze London and Frieze Masters

This October (3-6), over 160 of the world’s leading modern art galleries, as well as emerging and iconic artists, come under the spotlight at Frieze London. Frieze Masters runs concurrently and showcases several thousand years of art history from the ancient world to 20th Century Old Masters in a unique, contemporary context. And with impressive sculptures dotted around leafy Regents Park, Frieze is essential autumn viewing for art experts and novices alike.

Regent’s Park, London

www.frieze.com

Esquire Townhouse, St. James’s

Esquire Magazine, the British style bible for men, brings its pages to life this October (17-19), with a series of exclusive talks, performances, masterclasses, fitness sessions, drinks and supper clubs. Designed as a pop-up member’s club across one floor of the Prince Regent’s former London abode, Carlton House, guests can brush up on all things voguish for the price of an all-day access ticket.

10-11 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1

www.hearstlive.co.uk/esquire-townhouse-2019/

For further information, or to make an appointment for a private tour of No.1 Palace Street or The Broadway, please contact us.

When it comes to nourishing the mind, body and soul, a one-size-fits-all approach no longer applies, which is why No.1 Palace Street’s expertly curated wellness facilities provide residents with an urban oasis like no other.

Our quest for optimal health and wellbeing is insatiable. From the latest crop of adaptogen herbs to gong sound baths, we are it seems, prepared to try anything in a bid to feel good and look good.

Indeed, according to the Global Business Institute, the global health and wellness industry was worth $4.2 trillion in 2018, while the growing interest in the virtual fitness world and personalised nutrition shows no signs of slowing. Another lucrative area, health-focused wearables, fitness trackers and smartwatches, is expected to grow to $27 billion by 2022.

Wellness is still largely an urban-centric pursuit, especially when you look at the choice of boutique fitness, juice delivery services and mindfulness classes on offer around the capital. Take the upscale E by Equinox and Ten Health and Fitness gyms for instance. Both are located in St James’s, within easy reach of Northacre’s new No.1 Palace Street and The Broadway developments.

In nearby Kensington, Lorenzo Amoruso, co-founder of London’s boutique training gym, Spinboxx notes: “In one of the fastest paced cities in the world where time seems to be a challenge for most of us, the importance of self-love and watering your own grass is more important than ever.”

Meanwhile, at No.1 Palace Street amenities include a 6,500 sq. ft. wellness centre complete with a state-of-the-art private gym fully equipped with Technogym equipment and personal training studios. Other features include a stunning 25m swimming pool and luxury spa facilities, run by a dedicated Palace Street spa team. Each resident will also have exclusive access to the bespoke lifestyle services including personal trainers and nutritionists.

“The new luxury is going to be how you feel internally,” says Geeta Sidhu-Robb, founder of London-based Nosh Detox says: The lawyer turned successful health entrepreneur recommends taking one of her vitamin packed IVs on a regular basis. And as we turn our attention to Nutrigenomics, the emerging science that studies the way food and genes interact, you could also fine-tune your diet by taking a DNA gut biome blood test in the comfort of your own home. The latest kits by brands including U.S based Habit, are beautifully designed and packaged to look more like luxury gift items than generic medical supplies, further proof that a highly personalised approach to wellbeing is the future. We’ll raise a glass of raw juice to that!

Northacre hosted two experiential horse racing events in June to celebrate the nearing completion of our landmark development, No.1 Palace Street. Situated opposite Buckingham Palace, No.1 Palace Street is truly “the palace neighbour”, offering unrivalled luxury living in the heart of London. It was this royal connection which inspired both events which Northacre were delighted to host for our esteemed guests

The first event took place on 17th June at the prestigious Goffs London Sale, held in the grounds of Kensington Palace. Established in 2014, Goffs London is a boutique thoroughbred auction and exclusive racing celebration, which takes place on the eve of Royal Ascot. The thrill of buying a racehorse scheduled to run at Royal Ascot that same week, combined with a vibrant garden party atmosphere, makes Goffs London the ultimate curtain raiser to the most prestigious week in international racing.

After the sunshine of Goffs, Northacre and guests journeyed into the British countryside to enjoy the second day of Royal Ascot on Wednesday 19th June.

Royal Ascot is Britain’s most valuable race meeting and offers an exquisite mix of world class racing, spectacular heritage, sartorial elegance and of course, royalty – making it one of the most hotly anticipated racing events in the world.

Whilst the weather wasn’t quite as sunny as Goffs, the Northacre team and guests enjoyed a fantastic racing experience, bolstered by the occasional winning ticket and a close encounter with The Queen herself!

Northacre would like to thank all of our guests who joined these events, and also to our two racing experts, champion trainer Richard Hannon and leading bloodstock expert Hubie de Burgh, who joined us at both events and enhanced the whole experience with their exceptional racing knowledge and insights.

Stay tuned to hear more about Northacre’s events and activities, including the team’s journey to Deauville in August to visit the prestigious Arqana August Yearling Sale.­

On behalf of ADFG and Northacre, welcome to the Northacre Journal.

2019 signifies a landmark year for Northacre, and with this newsletter we plan to share insights and news throughout this exciting journey, which we hope you will find informative and enlightening.

When ADFG took a majority stake in Northacre in 2015 we did so with a commitment to investing in the most unique and iconic developments in London. We now have two fantastic projects underway: No.1 Palace Street, which is situated directly opposite Buckingham Palace and will offer a new benchmark in London living when it completes next year; and The Broadway, located nearby in the vibrant heart of Westminster, overlooking four world heritage sites. Both projects are testimony to the extraordinary expertise and commitment of the Northacre team, and we look forward to keeping you informed on their progress.

– Jassim Alseddiqi, chief executive officer of ADFG

The Diary

There’s nothing quite like a London summer. Perfectly positioned in the heart of Westminster, our No.1 Palace Street and The Broadway residencies are within easy reach of the capital’s luxury boutiques, galleries, restaurants and Royal parks. If the weather permits, a picnic is in order. Dukes Hotel will pack, and even set one up for you, in nearby Green Park or St. James’s Park. And as dusk draws in, where better to enjoy a cocktail than in one of the capital’s many roof terraces or a spot of alfresco dining at The Ritz London’s Secret Garden Bar. For more must do’s during over the summer, delve into our top picks:

Emilia at Bonhams

Housed in the Bond Street headquarters of auctioneers Bonhams, newly opened Emilia boasts a courtyard wine bar and bright mezzanine dining space. Head chef Stuart Andrew takes inspiration from Italy’s hearty Emilia-Romagna cuisine and puts a modern spin on classic dishes such as the smoked eel tortellini in brodo and crispy pig’s trotter with lentils.

Emilia, Bonhams, 7 Haunch of Venison Yard
www.emiliarestaurant.co.uk

St. James’s Sunday Morning Strolls – Art & Architecture Tour:

July 28/August 25

Best foot forward. St James’s is home to world-class galleries such as the Royal Academy of Arts, White Cube and The Institute of Contemporary Art. This organised walking tour promises to guide you through the heart of the London art world, stopping en route to admire centuries of Regency, Edwardian and Modernist architecture, galleries and other notable cultural institutions such as the London Library. 

www.stjameslondon.co.uk/events/st-jamess-sunday-morning-strolls

Chopard

London’s glitterati turned out in force for the opening of Chopard’s revamped Bond Street flagship last month. Designed to resemble a sumptuous London townhouse with cosy fireplaces and plush velvet sofas, the refurbished space now stands as the French jeweller’s largest boutique in Europe and houses the full line of fine jewellery, watches and other exquisite pieces crafted from sustainable gold.

Chopard, 12-13 New Bond Street