After being given the title of the Best New Place to Live back at the 2017 London Planning Awards, the capital’s newest and most ambitious residential project has now taken full swing as London’s residents begin to flock to the exciting new build. A 12-acre cosmopolitan neighbourhood of homes, restaurants, offices and various other cultural spaces, London City Island has fast become the place to own or rent property in London.

Despite this wealth of space available, residential property is still in very high demand within London City Island. From one-bed suites to three-bedroom apartments, their new build homes have been designed with loft-style living in mind and provide a luxury metropolis lifestyle for all of its residents. Keep reading to discover the inspiration behind London City Island and how you could become part of the “City Island Arts Club”…

What’s The Big Deal About London City Island?

The purpose of London City Island Development was to provide a high-end residential and cultural space which mirrors the contemporary success of the neighbouring business district of Canary Wharf. This business development is built up of 20,000 square metres of office space and 1,700 residential units in total. 

The unique new riverside neighbourhood has received the endearing nickname of “Mini Manhattan” to go alongside its luxury living and wholly 21st-century charm. 12 acres of cosmopolitan development have been invested into London City Island, providing the likes of homes, offices, restaurants, boutique shops, pedestrian and cycle routes, cultural spaces and even waterside parks.

Another huge pull of the London City Island development is the excellent transport connections available, to help alleviate the strain of inner city commuting and travel. Residents will ultimately be given easy access to the major areas throughout the capital, including the likes of Canary Wharf, The West End, the City and beyond. Those living within London City Island will be merely a 2-minute walk away from the new connecting bridge to Canning Town station, which is on both the Jubilee Line and DLR.

Of the diverse 1,700 residential units, the apartments are all brought together by their versatile, bright and modern open-plan living. This versatility was purpose-built to allow for residents to have the opportunity to create a living space that mirrors their own unique lifestyle and personality.

The “Mini Manhattan” truly will be a cultural cosmopolitan hub, with the English National Ballet moving into new headquarters at the development. Many of London’s well-known landmarks will be visible from the apartments as well, situated on the river gazing over the likes of Canary Wharf, the O2 Arena and St Paul’s Cathedral.

Friendly Neighbourhood Vibes

Whilst the contemporary London City Island development can undoubtedly be described as trendy and ultra-modern, this does not mean it hasn’t got a friendly neighbourhood feel. There are a wide array of exclusive onsite facilities, including the likes of an on-site restaurant, authentic Italian grocers, 24/7 concierge, thoughtfully designed clubhouse, high-spec gym, two pools, sauna and steam room. There are also further plans for a rooftop lawned sports pitch to be developed soon – look out!

This exclusivity is even given its own title, the City Island Arts Club, which every resident will automatically become a member of. This membership provides access to this range of luxury amenities, offering the residents a sense of community and togetherness within the multicultural space.

The Story Behind London City Island Development

Inspiration

This East London area has always been a vibrant and busy district, having once been one of the British Empires busiest docks. Moving into the present, commerce in the area has now transitioned away from the seafaring business it once supported and has been replaced with a pioneering economy of finance and technology.

The London City Island development plan has aimed to mirror this movement towards the technology industry by creating a space which oozed ultra-modernity and metropolitan excitement. Some of the world’s best cityscapes served as the inspiration behind the build itself including Tokyo and Chicago, with buildings ranging from 3 storeys to 27.

Architecture

In terms of design, the architecture itself is bold and mesmerising upon the first arrival. This architectural design has been purpose-built to tell a story, with the colour holding a nod to the area’s maritime history. The glazed-brick building is coated in colours of orange, red, blue, white and black. The red strands have been used as a means of navigating the route between living spaces, public spaces, amenities, shops and restaurants. 

Another design inspiration is in reference to the district’s endearing nickname. The world’s most famous island community, Manhattan, is well known for its tall and striking factory buildings. This architecture has been mirrored in the London City Island design itself, with apartments sitting behind a grid-pattern façade, which allow for wide windows and recessed terraces to provide partial shelter to residents from the weather.

Outdoors

The developers behind the project, Ballymore, had no intentions to neglect nature when it comes to the build. Trees have been planted in mobile containers which resemble the tea chest cargo boxes of the East India Dock Company. The apartments themselves have also been built in an attempt to resemble the original brick warehouses of the area. The interior design mirrors this chic throwback further, with open-plan interiors featuring engineered timber floors within the homes.

How We Can Help

JOHNS&CO is a fast-growing, innovative and modern London Estate Agency which can offer you a range of properties for sale and to let within the London City Island development. We currently offer over 60 properties for sale within this exclusive area, ranging from approximately £335,000 to in excess of a million pounds.

We consider it our responsibility to know the London property market inside out, and we’re committed to providing the very best service to everyone we come in contact with. Founded in 2013, we aim to bring the property market industry into the modern age. We started out specialising in London’s New Homes market, but over the years we’ve expanded and now offer a comprehensive range of services to those looking to buy, let, rent, sell or invest in the London property market.

If you have any questions about the London City Island, a particular property, the property market in general or anything else then please get in touch. We’d love to hear from you.