Are you attracted by the promising new build homes in South East London? A little cheaper than Central London but still crammed with famous landmarks, amazing markets, and world-class dining opportunities, the region has a lot going for it. But how can you zone in on the right neighbourhood – and development – for you? Time to learn more about the area and its Top 10 new builds, as decided by verified resident reviews.
New builds in South East London: 10 highest rated developments
Now let’s reveal the best new build homes in South East London. How do we know which developers deserve a place on our list? Well, we couldn’t have done it without the candid ratings and reviews left by the residents themselves. Time to discover what they really think!
*PLEASE NOTE these rankings take into account how many reviews a scheme has and how recently those reviews have been submitted, so may not match the overall star ratings shown. Buildings with a larger number of more recent reviews are given a greater weighting to reflect current building performance.
Taking top spot in our Top 10 is Union Wharf, a development by Essential Living that features 249 rental-only apartments in a prime location on the banks of Deptford Creek near Greenwich’s town centre. The development comprises two towers that are 23 and 12 storeys high, which house a collection of one, two and three-bedroom apartments. Union Wharf is close to the Cutty Sark DLR station for fast and frequent connections to Canary Wharf.
At number 2, Bale & Anchor is a new BTR development situated in Lewisham, with studio, 1, 2 or 3 bedroom apartments available to rent. Bale & Anchor is ideally placed to put you right in the thick of central London within minutes. Additionally, the National Rail and the DLR are on your doorstep for commuting. Residents can enjoy lounge areas, roof terraces and private dining spaces. By Spring 2024, even more amenities will be available, including access to Ampersand on the 34th and 35th floor in Bale House with panoramic views over London and beyond.
The bronze medal goes to Elephant Central, which is located in the heart of London’s Elephant and Castle. The development offers a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, duplexes and penthouses, which are available fully furnished. Residents praise the spacious, attractive accommodation and superb location. Elephant & Castle mainline and Underground stations are within a quarter of a mile. London Bridge, Borough Market, and the cultural attractions of the South Bank are also all nearby.
4th place goes to Fizzy Lewisham, a contemporary residential development, managed by Greystar as of December 2021. They offer one and two-bedroom flats to rent. In addition, they are pet friendly, and come with free award winning Broadband. It also has a prime location close to Lewisham Station, with good connections to central London.
The middle spot on our list goes to Vida House, managed by Way of Life. It’s a residential development just a stone’s throw from central London. The development is only a short walk away from Surrey Quays Overground station as well as Canada Water Underground station. Each of the 138 one and two-bedroom apartments on site have an open plan layout. Residents also have access to a secure car park and ample underground bike storage area. There’s also a dedicated management team on site with 24 hour CCTV security.
In 6th, Trinity Walk is a large residential development of 445 apartments and 13 townhouses in Woolwich, London. Properties are available as affordable rents, private purchases or as part of the London Help To Buy scheme. In addition, the development is a six-minute walk from Woolwich Arsenal station. Also, it is a mile away from the new Crossrail station at Woolwich.
Hail to the chief at number 7! Situated on London’s South Bank, opposite the Royal Festival Hall, The Whitehouse Apartments offers a selection of one, two and three-bedroom apartments. The development is within a four-minute walk to Waterloo station with its vast transport links via both Rail and Underground services and residents on site can enjoy rooftop gardens and a health and fitness suite.
The Vive Living development at Childers Street, SE8, comes in at number 8. It provides residents with a host of amenities under one roof including bike storage and repair, co-working spaces, a cinema, café, roof terrace, ping pong tables, Sonos music systems, an on-site relationship manager, and dedicated maintenance. The apartments offer 1GB Broadband availability as well. The locality, Deptford, is noted for its vibrant spots like Deptford Market Yard. With convenient overground transport, it’s just 6 minutes to London Bridge and 13 minutes to Cannon Street, ensuring easy access to the wider city
9th place goes to Marine Wharf West, which is a residential development from The Berkeley Group, in the Surrey Quays area of London Docklands. Apartments here are separated by landscaped grounds, and they’re close to the River Thames and London’s largest working marina – South Dock. London City Airport, Surrey Quays station and the Thames Clipper riverbus services are all nearby.
Last but certainly not least, The Dumont is a mixed-use St James development in Southwark, which overlooks the River Thames. It’s home to a selection of studios and one to four-bedroom apartments. Vauxhall, the nearest station, offers brilliant links to the City via National Rail services and the Victoria line.
South East London stretches from the Albert Embankment to West Heath and the nearest edges of Sidcup and Selhurst. The main boroughs in the region include Southwark, Lewisham and Greenwich, plus sections of Croydon, Lambeth, Bexley, and Bromley. The River Thames borders the area to the north, with Kent and Surrey neighbouring to the south.
Living in South East London
From bohemian urban villages to riverside real estate, South East London has bags of appeal. Starting in Greenwich, you could explore the carefully restored Greenwich Market, complete with Victorian inscription, delicious food and an array of antiques, arts and crafts, and fashion stalls. Get further lost in local history along the riverside, where you can view The Old Royal Naval College, pop into Trafalgar Tavern or discover stories of epic adventures in the National Maritime Museum.
Just to the west, Deptford offers a scattering of live music venues, art galleries, and its own market on a diverse high street known for its Vietnamese cuisine. A touch further south, Brockley boasts a long association with the bohemian counterculture of the 60s. This lives on in the creative community that fuels the shops, restaurants, and open spaces that earn its reputation as an urban village. Check out the famous retro Rivoli Ballroom, the South London Gallery, and Jack Studio theatre when you’re nearby.
Keep heading east to soak in Lewisham’s edgy vibe. Meanwhile, in Rotherhithe and Surrey Quays, you’ll discover an engaging mix of Victorian and contemporary architecture alongside traditional public houses. South East’s London position also allows for a quick escape to the Surrey Hills or Kent Downs AONBs.
Other than a host of rail and bus services, the region is well connected by A-roads linking South London to the M25 and across the river, as well as to the bordering counties of Kent, Surrey, and Essex (via the Dartford Crossing). Work in Canary Warf or the City but rather avoid the train? Choose the scenic river bus for a more relaxed commute or cross the Thames via the Blackwall Tunnel or the Woolwich Foot Tunnel.
South East London property prices
So, how much will a home in South East London set you back? If we look at Zoopla’s current data (March 2024), it shows that properties cost around £572,000 on average.
While cheaper than Central London, the region is more costly than East London. At £699,000, Southwark was at the higher end of the scale, with Bexley providing cheaper homes around the £515,000 mark. Assessing the averages by type, we see that flats sold for £424,000, terraced houses for £670,000, and semi-detached properties for £833,000.
Rental prices can fluctuate quickly depending on the number of homes on the market at any one time. They also vary by area within South East London. A flat in Bermondsey, for example, might set you back on average £3,000 PCM according to Home.co.uk. Sidcup, on the other hand, has rental properties for an average of £1,550 PCM.
Did any of our new build homes in South East London give you pause for thought? Don’t decide until you’ve seen the full range of ratings and reviews we have for each contender. Just click the link below to get stuck in.
South East London stretches from SE1 down to SE20, encompassing the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Lewisham and Southwark. Such a huge slice of the capital naturally has lots of different guises and offerings; from out-of-this-world dining scenes to riverside living and everything Read more about South East London
HomeViews provides verified resident reviews of the UK’s housing developments. We’re working with developers, house builders, operators, housing associations and the Government to recognise high performers and help improve standards in the built environment.
