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London Dock releases discount homes for Tower Hamlets locals

St George and Tower Hamlets Council are set to showcase a collection of 16 properties at Saffron Wharf in the former’s Wapping development

An artist's impression of Saffron Wharf at London Dock in Wapping - image supplied by St George
An artist’s impression of Saffron Wharf at London Dock in Wapping – image supplied by St George

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St George is set to showcase 16 properties at its London Dock development over two weekends this month.

The one and two-bedroom apartments are located in the scheme’s Saffron Wharf block close to Gauging Square and are being made available at a below market value discount to qualifying locals.

St George, part of Berkeley Group, is working in partnership with Tower Hamlets Council to offer the properties to borough residents and workers who are looking to buy their first home.

To be eligible, households must earn less than £90,000 with buyers allocated available properties based on their circumstances.

Under the scheme the apartments are jointly owned with the council which retains an equity stake in the property although charges no rent on its holding and this can be bought out.

Owners seeking to sell in the future must first market their property through the authority for a time before they can offer it more widely.   

The apartments at Saffron Wharf feature open-plan design - image supplied by St George
The apartments at Saffron Wharf feature open-plan design – image supplied by St George

inside the apartments

The apartments all feature open-plan layouts with floor-to-ceiling windows and electric underfloor heating.

Many also feature private balconies or terraces. Interior features include fitted kitchens with graphite-coloured units and white marble-effect worktops plus bathrooms with bespoke wall-mounted basins in mirrored vanity units, black fixtures and fittings and Crittall-style shower screens on the baths. 

Saffron Wharf rises to nine storeys at the heart of the development with buyers able to access  a host of residents’ amenities.

These include access to The Club with its gym, squash court, virtual golf suite and swimming pool.

There’s also a jacuzzi, steam room, sauna and treatment room as well as a private screening room and a 24-hour concierge service.

The development’s Mauretania Lounge includes a double-height floor-to-ceiling aquarium, spaces to relax, co-working facilities and a private dining room.

The properties come with fully fitted kitchens and integrated appliances - image supplied by St George
The properties come with fully fitted kitchens and integrated appliances – image supplied by St George

getting on the ladder

Gordon Readman bought his first home at London Dock through the discount market sale scheme.

He said: “When I first started looking to buy, I’d stopped considering new builds because they always seemed out of reach, the prices were either ‘on application’ or ‘to be confirmed’, and never affordable. 

“But at London Dock, the discount market sale option made buying possible.

“It’s surprising how quiet and peaceful it can be despite being just minutes from Tower Bridge and the City. I walk to work in Liverpool Street – the location is incredible.”

St George said these final homes at Saffron Wharf were currently available below the current stamp duty threshold and that Rightmove’s figures showed a first-time buyer in London could potentially save £240 per month when taking out a mortgage in comparison to last year at “a positive time for those looking to get on the property ladder”.

London Dock – a development built on a site formerly occupied by the offices of The Times, the News Of the World and The Sun newspapers – is already home to a community of more than 2,000 residents.

The area has also seen businesses open locally including Urban Baristas, Wapping Sourdough Bakery, Motherdough pizzeria and fizz-focused wine bar Champagne Route.

For health and wellbeing there’s E1 Crossfit, Club Pilates and City Dock Pharmacy.

London Dock is well located for public transport with Tower Hill, Wapping, Aldgate East and Shadwell stations within walking distance offering access to the DLR, Tube and Overground services.

Tower Pier – a short stroll through St Katharine Docks past Tower Bridge and the Tower Of London also offers residents the option of travelling by river bus via Uber Boat By Thames Clippers’ vessels.  

To be eligible for the discounted apartments, Tower Hamlets residents must have lived in the borough for 12 months or more.

Those working locally must be employed in the borough or have accepted a job there. 

One and two-bedroom apartments are available through the scheme - image supplied by St George
One and two-bedroom apartments are available through the scheme – image supplied by St George

key details: discount apartments at Saffron Wharf

Prices at Saffron Wharf start at £255,000 for a one-bedroom apartment.

Eligibility criteria apply to all of the 16 properties on offer.

Those wishing to attend one of St George’s open weekends on October 18-19 and October 25-26 should book their place online, call 020 3966 6164 or email sales@londondock.co.uk to secure a spot.

Find out more about the events here

Read more: Amazing Grace set to open second location in Canary Wharf

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London Dock unveils homes at Jade Wharf in Wapping scheme

Development’s latest phase includes landscaped gardens as 2,000-home scheme rolls out

An artist's impression of London Dock in Wapping
An artist’s impression of London Dock in Wapping

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The translucent hues of a semi-precious stone much prized across Asia and readily imported over generations by the British, have given the latest phase of residential development London Dock its name.

Jade Wharf in Wapping is part of St George’s 2,000-home scheme and presents buyers with 99 apartments to choose from ranging in size from studios to three-beds.

The properties, which feature open-plan design and outdoor space as standard, are available to purchase off-plan now.

Prospective purchasers can expect floor-to-ceiling windows and kitchens set out with oak herringbone flooring, stone-effect worktops, a choice of colours and integrated smart appliances.

There’s also a Curators Collection of apartments that feature add-ons such as app-controlled security and Alexa-controlled lighting and music.

Bathrooms will boast free-standing marble basins and stone floors.

St George, which is part of the Berkeley Group, will also be undertaking extensive landscaping for residents to enjoy, promising a “calming and tranquil” communal garden with water features, trees, plants and places to sit.

Facilities at the development include The Club, which boasts a gym, squash court, virtual golf suite, swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room as well as a private screening room.


Properties at Jade Wharf feature balconies overlooking landscaped gardens
Properties at Jade Wharf feature balconies overlooking landscaped gardens

lounge around

Freshly launched alongside Jade Wharf is the scheme’s Mauretania Lounge, offering residents a wealth of facilities themed on a 20th century ocean liner.

Extending to some 6,000sq ft of space, these include a private dining room, an observation lounge, a drawing room and a Palm Room dedicated to relaxation.

St George managing director, Marcus Blake, said: “The London Docks was a bustling area of discovery and travel in its heyday and we have carefully honed this spirit into the creation of our latest collection of homes in Jade Wharf. 

“The combination of artfully designed apartments, private gardens and hotel-style amenities, nestled between two of the largest financial centres in the world, creates a captivating offer for buyers. 

“An established and friendly community, London Dock is already home to many residents who love the harmonious balance of living amongst 7.5acres of tranquil open space, just moments from the hustle and bustle of some of London’s most dynamic neighbourhoods.”

The Mauretania Lounge will open alongside Jade Wharf
The Mauretania Lounge will open alongside Jade Wharf

building a community at London Dock

As a major regeneration project, London Dock already offers a selection of on-site amenities including established hospitality businesses such as Champagne Route, Urban Baristas, Slurp Noodles and Motherdough for pizza.

As well as a pharmacy, there’s E1 Crossfit and the recently launched Club Pilates (see Page 12) for those seeking to boost their fitness levels. 

Located within walking distance of Shadwell DLR and Overground stations and Tower Hill Tube, the development also benefits from its proximity to the attractions of St Katharine Docks, Tower Bridge and the Tower Of London. 

Residents can also easily walk to Whitechapel or Aldgate East for more restaurants, bars, shops and connections to the Elizabeth Line and District and Hammersmith And City lines respectively.  

An artist's impression of the main staircase at the Mauretania Lounge
An artist’s impression of the main staircase at the Mauretania Lounge

key details: Jade Wharf at London Dock

Prices at Jade Wharf range from £715,000 to £1,335,000. Interested parties can call the sales team on 020 3966 6164, email sales@londondock.co.uk or visit the London Dock Sales and Marketing Suite at Arrival Square for more information.

Find out more about the development here

Read more: Will you take on the Santa Stair Climb in Canary Wharf?

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- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com
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Wapping: How Urban Baristas has opened its largest branch with a coffee lab

Brunch cafe offers flat whites and space to work at London Dock’s Gaughing Square

Urban Baristas cafe and coffee lab is now open in Wapping

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“Oat flat white,” is Huw Wardrope’s instant response when asked his preferred coffee order. It’s not a surprise.

The Australian co-founded Urban Baristas in response to the disappointing cafe scene in London that he and his mate from uni in Sydney – Jono Bowman – endured while working in the finance industry.

The plan was to recreate a bit of Aussie hospitality and, crucially, quality, on this side of the world – and it all started in Bounds Green.

“In 2016 it was very difficult to find retail units from landlords who were willing to give space as a startup,” said Huw, who worked for Canary Wharf-based firms HSBC and BGC Partners.

“I had a business plan and everything  – I was sending it out to people. But they wanted Caffe Nero or Pret.

“Then TfL said they had a site in Bounds Green – to be honest I didn’t even know where that was.

“But we went up there and said: ‘Let’s do it’. From day one it was a massive success.

“There was a line out of the door – people were saying that we’d increased their house prices.

“Then we knew we had a good product and that we were onto something.”

Today things are a little easier on the real estate front.

Urban Baristas recently opened its latest branch in Wapping’s Gaughing Square – part of property developer St George’s London Dock scheme.

Urban Baristas co-founger Huw Wardrope

It’s the brand’s 12th location – and also the largest – offering brunch, coffee and even a training space for enthusiasts keen to sharpen their brewing skills or to help staff to develop professionally.

“We’ve expanded over the years and we moved to the Wapping area partly because I live locally,” said Huw, who left finance to open three 24-hour gyms, before co-founding Urban Baristas.

“We have a kiosk at Wapping station, a branch on Wapping High Street, one at Devon House in St Katherine’s Way and one at Thomas More Square.   

“It makes things easy operationally when we can move people around the different sites. Growing a brand is also easier if you’re focused in one area.

“The kiosk model is a good one because the staff costs are low and it’s easy to manage – it’s just coffee and pastries.

“When we opened at Wapping High Street we decided to add a bit more of an Aussie vibe with smashed avos for brunch and things like that on the menu.

“We’ve now decided to focus our food operation at London Dock because it’s a bigger space – 2,000sq ft.

“When you’re talking about that kind of size, I think  you have to offer a little bit more than just coffee and pastries.”

Specifically, that means customers at the newly opened branch can expect the likes of Eggs Benedict (from £12.50), a Full Aussie (£14.50), Parmesan Folded Eggs (£10.95) or Green Goodness – a melange of kale, peas, broccoli, avocado and micro herbs – for £12.50.

There’s also an Avo Bar, offering three types of the ubiquitous bashed up toast topping to choose from, starting at £10.95.

The new branch is Urban Baristas’ largest site

“People will find what we think is the best flat white in London when they visit – it’s a happy place to come and chill out with your friends or maybe work a bit,” said Huw.

“We offer people a little bit of happiness in their day. It’s a tough time at the moment, especially with the economy and the cost of living crisis – but you can still go out and grab a coffee with a mate and have a catch up.

“Our house espresso is from Brazil – which is also where my wife is from.

“I’m lucky because I get to go out quite a bit and source the beans, meet the farmers and check the working conditions to ensure they are producing ethically.

“I’ve just booked a trip in February for two months.

“We also have a rotating series of coffees for the filters and the V60 Drippers  – we have some Colombians and Guatemalans, but they rotate due to the seasons.

“We make sure we buy really special coffees from smaller producers.

“Brazil is the biggest coffee producing nation in the world and, for our shops, we need a steady supply.”

Urban Baristas’ latest branch is about more than just eating and drinking, however. It’s also about education.

Huw said: “The Coffee Lab is a new addition to the brand. I’ve always wanted to have a place to train staff.

“This is the biggest space we’ve taken and I was looking at the design and thinking about what to do with it.

“We hosted our first course just last week and we’re getting quite a bit of interest already – especially from corporates.

“I think companies are looking for alternatives to the pub.

“Not everyone drinks, organisations are looking for activities to do with their teams and I think it’s going to be a good place for that.

“We also have more than 70 staff who constantly need training on our different coffees.

“Eventually we want to be recognised by the SCA – the governing body for the speciality coffee industry – to give professional level classes for clients and our staff as part of their development.

Urban Baristas’ latest site is located at St George’s London Dock scheme in Wapping

“We’ve just started franchising as well, so the lab will also be a training hub for franchisees. That’s really future-proofing the business.

“Participants on our public courses will be learning how to make flat whites, espressos and latte.

“There’s also different brewing methods – V60 Drippers, Aeropress and filter.

“They cover all the basics – quantities of coffee, temperatures and how to do a heart on a latte.

“People should go home with an idea of how to replicate the quality they get at Urban Baristas.”

Huw said that while the coffee business was tough, especially given the pressures of the current labour market, he much preferred working for himself to his career in finance. 

He said: “We’ve made mistakes along the way – there’s been a lot of trial and error, but we think we now know the formula and the positive is you meet great people along the way in this industry. 

“I’d like to thank St George for supporting us to open at London Dock – we’re definitely in it for the long term as the area continues to develop.”

Find out more about Urban Baristas here

Read more: How Level39-based WyzePay offers discounts at MMy Wood Wharf

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- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com
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