• Access to transport links, especially when it comes to travelling to and from work, is a key theme among home buyers
• In London, 44% of respondents in a Knight Frank survey ranked proximity to transport links as more important than affordability of an area
• Southbank Place is one of the only central London developments with direct access to a London Underground station. The development's newly revamped entrance provides access to four Underground lines and National Rail services
• The 5.25 acre Southbank Place site will provide 48,000 sq. ft. of shops, restaurants and bars, plus 530,000 sq. ft. of office space
• Apartments at Southbank Place are available to purchase from £1,975,000

July 2019: For many house hunters, proximity to transport links remains a priority, with 44%[1] of Londoners citing transport and/or their commute as the primary factor, above staying within budget. With commuting times on the up and some 68% of London residents reliant on the London Underground, bus or mainline rail services for their main form of transportation, the importance of living near these links is ever pressing. Southbank Place, the 5.25-acre development surrounding the historic Shell building, has rare Underground access on site, one of only a handful of central London developments to do so.

According to research from Knight Frank, more than half of commuters in the UK live within a 30 minute journey from their place of work, while in London, this falls to 31%. However, even in the capital, 16% of respondents live more than half an hour from work, underlying the trend towards centrally located and well-connected properties.

Southbank Place, which occupies a prominent position on the South Bank, overlooking the London Eye, Houses of Parliament and County Hall, is being developed by Braeburn Estates, a joint venture between Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company and Canary Wharf Group. As part of a major overhaul to the area's public realm, Braeburn has refurbished and reopened an entrance to Waterloo Underground, adding additional escalators to speed up access to the main Waterloo Station.

Situated on the York Road side of Southbank Place, the entrance will benefit not only residents at the development, but local workers, tourists and commuters alike. The entrance provides access to four Underground lines and National Rail services, for links across and out of London.

Once complete, Southbank Place will feature seven beautifully designed buildings, including a prominent piazza and collection of public squares providing the perfect destination to live, work and relax. Once complete, Southbank Place will provide an additional 48,000 sq. ft. of shops, restaurants and bars, plus 530,000 sq. ft. of office space, cementing the area as one of London's most vibrant destinations. Retailers onsite include artisan bakery GAIL's, Marks & Spencer, boutique spinning concept Boom Cycle, artisan sandwich retailer Birleys and Italian to go Coco di Mama.

Brian De'ath, Director of Sales at Canary Wharf Group, comments; “Location continues to be a prime driver for many buyers and Southbank Place is one of, if not the best located residential development in central London. It is incredibly rare to find a residential development with such accessible transport links and although the Underground entrance will be a huge benefit for residents on their daily commute, it will help open up the area to local workers and tourists too.”

Richard Oakes, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer Europe & Americas, Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company said: “Southbank Place offers an exceptional lifestyle in a prime riverside location. The wider public realm improvements, including the revamp of the tube station have certainly helped transform this area of the South Bank into a leading residential and lifestyle destination.”

Southbank Place's first residential building to launch, One Casson Square, has proved a success, with over 90% sold to date. Designed by Squire& Partners, the buildings of Casson Square pay homage to the history of the area, aptly named after the British architect, and former director of the South Bank's Festival of Britain, Sir Hugh Casson. The building, which recently reached its full height of 127 metres above ground, is a collection of 213 one, two and three-bedroom apartments, including spectacular upper level units.

The development's latest residential offering is Belvedere Gardens; 97 apartments arranged across conjoined 10 and 20 storey buildings. Designed by the award-winning GRID Architects and leading interior designers Goddard Littlefair, the apartments in Belvedere Gardens have taken inspiration from the Festival of Britain; a national exhibition held on the site in 1951, with its emblem, the Festival Star, subtly replicated through masterful embossing and debossing across the façades.

Purchasers at Southbank Place will not only benefit from the on-site tube entrance but will have access to extensive residents-only amenities, which will include his and hers steam and sauna rooms, a gymnasium, a 25-metre swimming pool, treatment rooms, wet room and gym classes. Residents will also be able to make use of an outdoor terrace and residents' lounge, ideal for social gatherings and business meetings alike.

Prices at One Casson Square start at £1,975,000 and Belvedere Gardens from £2,145,000. For further information please call 0207 001 3600 or visit www.southbank-place.com.

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For all press enquiries contact Spider PR on Tel: 0207 403 6900 or email: southbankplace@wearespider.com

Notes to editors

About Southbank Place

Southbank Place is being developed by Braeburn Estates, a joint venture between Canary Wharf Group plc and Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company.

About Qatari Diar

Qatari Diar is a global leader in sustainable real estate, building landmark projects of unrivalled scope and vision. We create vibrant communities dedicated to capturing the hearts and imaginations of the people we serve. These developments are conceived from our commitment to preserving and reflecting local characters and traditions and our visions have created places with a sense of identity and purpose where people aspire to live, work and visit.

Qatari Diar's European operation is based in London, and boasts several key local projects, including a landmark residential development at the 12 acre Chelsea Barracks site in Belgravia; Southbank Place, a mixed-use joint venture between Qatari Diar and Canary Wharf Group situated in a prime central London location on the south bank of the River Thames; 30 Grosvenor Square, the current US Embassy in London, which will become a luxury hotel, retail and event space; and East Village & Elephant Park, a joint venture with Delancey and APG, offering more than 4000 private residential apartments for rent. 

Qatari Diar seeks to harness the world's greatest architectural and design talent in order to create sustainable communities that will stand the test of time. 

www.qataridiar.com

About Canary Wharf Group

Canary Wharf Group plc has overseen the largest urban regeneration project ever undertaken in Europe, designing and building more than 16.5m sq. ft. of London real estate, which now houses local and international companies and renowned retailers.

The Canary Wharf Estate is a major retail destination comprising around 1m sq. ft. across five shopping malls, including the award-winning leisure development, Crossrail Place, housing one of London's most stunning roof gardens.  It also has world-class, year-round arts and events programme offering over 200 diverse and culturally inspiring events performed throughout the Estate.

Canary Wharf Group is a wholly owned joint venture between Brookfield Property Partners and the Qatar Investment Authority.

Website: www.canarywharf.com

[1] Multihousing 2017 Report, Knight Frank https://content.knightfrank.com/research/707/documents/en/the-uk-tenant-survey-2017-4743.pdf