You may well have tired of politicians and their election campaigns, but it is difficult to imagine tiring of the view across the River Thames towards the Palace of Westminster.
This view is one of the main selling points for a group of residential developments being constructed on Albert Embankment, opposite Tate Britain art museum, on the south bank of the river. Those who buy here will be able to see many of London’s main landmarks — looking north, they will see Lambeth Palace, Westminster Bridge, the Houses of Parliament, Elizabeth Tower with Big Ben, the London Eye and the BT Tower; to the northeast there are views of the Shard; to the west Tate Britain; and Battersea Power Station to the southwest.
It requires those looking for a new-build flat to resist the temptation to head west from Vauxhall station towards the gleaming towers of Nine Elms. Instead they must go east, past MI6, and on to Peninsula Heights — a residential building famed for the parties held there by the writer and former politician Jeffrey Archer. Other past residents include the composer John Barry and Bernie Ecclestone, the former boss of Formula One. The penthouse featured in many a film, when Barry owned it, from The Italian Job to Get Him to the Greek.
Peninsula Heights is the last building before you have a clear view of the river. Just beyond are a series of residential blocks in various stages of development. The first, with its brightly coloured balconies, is the Merano Residences, designed by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. This is finished, with all 40 apartments occupied.
The next development is the Corniche, designed by Foster + Partners; its curves are in stark contrast to the angles of the Merano. Sean Ellis, the chairman of St James, the developer, says the curvature allows residents to imagine “they are standing on the stern of a yacht” when they are on their river-facing balconies. This vision evidently appeals to buyers — sales off-plan have been robust, with only three-bedroom flats in the premium Skyline Collection (£3.6 million to £7 million), and the Penthouse Collection (starting at £20 million) on the 24th and 27th storeys of the towers, still for sale.
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In between the Merano and the Corniche, builders are laying the foundations for the Dumont, the final part of St James’s triptych on the Albert Embankment. Designed by David Walker Architects, the majority of the 168 apartments are twisted east to make the most of the view towards parliament. The Dumont show flat, by the interior designer Spinocchia Freund, shows how the view envelops some of the flats, which cost £655,000 to £2.74 million.
Three different designers, three very different buildings housing 455 flats — hardly your usual prime London development by Berkeley Group (the owner of St James). Ellis says it was an unusual situation with the three plots, formerly 1960s office blocks sandwiched between the river and the railway behind, coming to the market at different times. When the final, middle plot became available, the developer held a competition to find an architect capable of turning the structures into a coherent whole. Residents in the Dumont and the Corniche will share facilities. The Dumont will have a tenpin bowling alley and a games room that it shares with its neighbours, plus its own residents’ lounge and roof terrace.
The Corniche has a swimming pool, gym and spa, which will be shared, plus a residents’ lounge. The Merano’s facilities remain separate, although the site will be linked by ground-floor landscaping with restaurants, offices and shops. And if the computer-generated projections are anything to go by, the three will look as one when they are completed in 2020.