This article provides an overview of property developments in Kensington, London from the perspective of Sami Robertson, a partner at Knight Frank. It discusses the rise in prices and demand for apartments in gated communities that offer amenities like concierge services, gardens, gyms and pools. Developments see mixtures of international and UK buyers. While post-war blocks were once less desirable, attitudes and prices have changed as seen in the doubling of prices in some blocks over the past four years. The future remains strong for new developments in Kensington, especially for large lateral apartments, with prices over £3,000 per square foot for new builds.

1. Exclusive

3. PALACE GREEN
Palace Green is a fully gated development situated on the private road of Kensington Palace Gardens, one of
London’s most secure and elite roads controlled by the Crown Estate which looks onto Kensington Palace.
Palace Green has 24 hour security, a concierge service, underground parking and views of Kensington Palace
Gardens and Kensington Palace. There are 21 apartments in this development.
Kensington Palace Gardens is home to some of the most sought after property in the world. A tree-lined avenue
half a mile long which is often cited as the most exclusive address in London. Located immediately to the west of
Kensington Gardens, Kensington Palace Gardens connects Notting Hill Gate with Kensington High Street.

4. ACADEMY GARDENS
Academy Gardens, comprising of 67 flats, is one of the most prestigious gated developments offering a full
concierge service, communal gardens, a gym, massage room and swimming pool.
The development is situated off Campden Hill Road.
Academy Gardens is situated on Duchess of Bedford’s Walk, a quiet street located at the top of the Phillimore
Estate in between Holland Park and Kensington Gardens, south of Notting Hill Gate and
North of Kensington High Street.

5. ONE KENSINGTON GARDENS
One Kensington Gardens is an exquisite collection of one to five bedroom apartments, private residences and
penthouses opposite Kensington Palace and Gardens in the heart of London’s illustrious Royal Borough.
This is an exclusive residential development of 97 apartments where residents can enjoy the benefit of a
24 hour dedicated concierge, valet parking, health spa, 25 meter indoor swimming pool, a private
health and fitness centre, sauna, steam room and private treatment rooms.
For illustrative purposes only - Computer Generated Image

6. YORK HOUSE
York House is a gated development accessed from the southern end of Kensington Church Street
and Kensington Palace Gardens with 30 units. There is a 24 hour porter concierge service
and parking (ground and underground). The building is well positioned for the transport
facilities, shops and restaurants of Kensington High Street.

7. CAMPDEN HILL
An exceptional new development of 72 apartments within a 2 acre site with stunning views over
Holland Park. This is fully gated with 24 hour security and Porters Lodge and concierge. Designed
by John McAslan and Partners, the development has many stunning features. Each apartment has
included an underground secure parking, storage and temperature controlled wine cellar. There is
a 20m swimming pool and full leisure facilities with spa treatment, gym, cinema, library,
function room and club room. The Gardens are designed by Gillespies.

8. HOLLAND PARK
Holland Park is a highly sought after residential area that provides an oasis of calm and
tranquillity in amongst the hustle and bustle of a prime central London address. The area is
conveniently located just moments from the picturesque and well renowned greenery of Holland Park.
The apartments with these Italianate villas provide the kind of voluminous lateral space that
many seek but find hard to find when searching for a London apartment.

9. THORNWOOD GARDENS
Thornwood Gardens is a gated development of 35 flats and 8 houses. It is an extremely
exclusive development offering 24 hour concierge, landscaped gardens and secure underground parking.
It is ideally situated within Kensington and lies adjacent to Holland Park. The development presents
the ideal choice for urban living, offering a perfect blend of city life and green peaceful spaces.

10. WYCOMBE SQUARE
Wycombe Square is a gated development of 19 houses and 48 apartments which is located on the corner
of Campden Hill Road and Aubrey Walk in Kensington. It provides 24 hour concierge and security,
underground parking all arranged around landscaped areas. Both Notting Hill Gate and Kensington
High Street are within easy reach as are the open spaces of Holland Park.

11. THE GATE HOUSE
A stunning building which was previously a Dunhill warehouse very close to Notting Hill park
with 8 units. There is an exceptional 3 bedroom penthouse extending to some 4,692 sq.ft (435.89 sq.m) with
a wrap-around roof terrace. The Penthouse has been finished to the highest of standards and benefits
from a double volume drawing room, lift access & parking. It is ideally situated close to the green
spaces of Holland Park and the fantastic transport links of Notting Hill Gate.

12. The Flat Specialist
HANNAH LEMON gets an update from Sami Robertson, Partner at Knight Frank’s Kensington branch, on the rise of developments in Kensington
PERIOD OR NEW BUILD?
Traditional or turnkey? Communal garden or swimming pool? The choice for investors looking at developments is endless. Sami Robertson, Partner at Knight Frank’s Kensington
branch, has 10 years of knowledge under his belt and a considerable insight into the high calibre of flats the area has to offer and the prices they are achieving. “These
developments fall into three categories: mansion blocks, new builds and post-war blocks,” he explains. “There are similar patterns in each area but the principal thing the buyers
are attracted to are the services they provide, such as a porter and security. For example, in Academy Gardens you have valet parking and a swimming pool along with 24-hour
concierge – it’s the lifestyle.” These exclusive investment opportunities attract a mixture of international and UK buyers. “The profile of buyers in the prime developments include
European, Middle Eastern, Asian, American and British – a real mixed bag,” says Sami. Historically, buyers have not been attracted to post-war blocks as the architectural design
hasn’t been considered aesthetically pleasing, although this attitude has changed. The investment in the post-war blocks has recently gone up considerably. Sami cites Plane
Tree House as a prime example.
In some cases, the pound per square
foot rate for certain blocks has doubled
over the last four years
“It has so much to offer. The exterior, which to many is not attractive, is in fact a fine example of Michael Lyell Associates’ award-
winning 60s architecture.” This change in attitude is certainly evident in the prices that are being achieved in Plane Tree House. “Every
block has its day,” says Sami.
“We have seen over the last few years, a shift away from four/five storey Victorian houses towards lateral living. The pound per square
foot rate for blocks such as Palace Green, Wynnstay Gardens and Plane Tree House have, in some cases, doubled over the last four
years.
So what does the future hold for the world of Kensington developments? “Kensington has never had such a large new build residential
pipeline with such an overwhelming focus on quality as it has now. Demand is especially strong for large lateral apartments, which
have traditionally been in relatively short supply in Kensington. Prices have already been achieved in excess of £3,000 per square foot
for the best new build schemes. Kensington and Holland Park are on track to reposition themselves as locations that are a match for
Knightsbridge, Belgravia and Mayfair.” If you are looking for expert advice then Sami is the man to speak to, in the meantime we let the
statistics of past sales do the talking.
Knight Frank, 52–56 Kensington Church Street, W8 4DB; 020 7938 4311 knightfrank.co.uk; sami.robertson@knightfrank.com buyers have not been attracted to post-war
blocks as the architectural design hasn’t been considered aesthetically pleasing, although this attitude has changed. The investment in the post-war blocks has recently gone
up considerably. Sami cites Plane Tree House as a prime example.
NEW BUILD
THORNWOOD GARDENS
This gated development
of 35 flats and 8 houses
is located off Kensington
Church Street. It is arranged
around an open garden
square with 24-hour
porterage, security and
secure underground parking.
Value in £/sq ft for
2009 £2,237
Value in £/sq ft for
2014 £3,272
Percentage increase
46%
THORNWOOD GARDENS
This gated development of 35 flats and 8 houses is located off
Kensington Church Street. It is arranged around an open garden
square with 24-hour porterage, security and secure underground
parking.
Value in £/sq ft for
2010 £1,931
Value in £/sq ft for
2014 £4,000
Percentage increase
107%
ACADEMY GARDENS
Academy Gardens, comprised of 67 flats, is one of the most prestigious gated
developments offering a full concierge service, communal gardens, a gym, massage
room and swimming pool. The development is situated off Campden Hill Road.
Value in £/sq ft for
2011 £1,871
Value in £/sq ft for
2014 £2,493
Percentage increase
33%
MANSION BLOCK POST-WAR BLOCK
CEDAR HOUSE
Cedar House is a portered mansion block of 15 flats on Marloes Road. It
is located minutes from High Street Kensington and the open spaces of
Kensington Palace Gardens.
Value in £/sq ft
2009 £943
Value in £/sq ft
2014 £1,800
Percentage increase
91%
CAMPDEN HILL GATE
This development offers 58
flats in a secure portered
building on the sought after
Phillimore Estate. Campden
Hill Gate is located near
High Street Kensington and the
open spaces of Holland Park.
Value in £/sq ft for
2009 £1,200
Value in £/sq ft for
2014 £2,275
Percentage increase
90%
PLANE TREE HOUSE
Situated on Duchess of Bedford
Walk overlooking Holland Park
and the Phillimore Estate, this
is a block of 22 award-winning
flats, designed by Michael
Lyell Associates in the 1960s,
complete with resident porter
and parking.
Value in £/sq ft for
2009 £1,200
Value in £/sq ft for
2014 £2,275
Percentage increase
90%
HAMILTON HOUSE
This development of 29 flats on
Vicarage Gate is situated just
off Kensington Church Street
in a quiet cul-de-sac close to
the open spaces of Kensington
Gardens, with views onto the
communal garden.
Value in £/sq ft for
2010 £1,211
Value in £/sq ft for
2014 £2,010
Percentage increase
66%
COTTESMORE COURT
The 67 flats comprising
Cottesmore Court are
conveniently located for
Kensington High Street and
Kensington Palace Gardens.
Value in £/sq ft for
2010 £907
Value in £/sq ft for
2014 £1,667
Percentage increase
83%
WYNNSTAY GARDENS
Wynnstay Gardens is located on Allen Street, just moments from High Street
Kensington, Kensington Gardens and Holland Park. The 70 flats have 24-hour
porterage and off-street parking.
Value in £/sq ft
2009 £1,000
Value in £/sq ft
2014 £2,074
Percentage
increase 107%
Above/ Prices achieved by Knight Frank for developments in Kensington
£persquarefoot
Year
Mansion
blocks
New
builds
Post-war
blocks
£
£500
£1,000
£1,500
£2,000
£2,500
£3,000
£3,500
£4,000
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

13. KnightFrank.co.uk
Kensington
020 7938 4311
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