HomeViews resident insights inform NLA Tall Buildings Survey 2021

HomeViews resident insights inform NLA Tall Buildings Survey 2021

Resident insights and a list of London’s 20 highest-rated tall residential buildings on HomeViews are included in New London Architecture’s Tall Buildings Survey for 2021. This key report by the NLA and Knight Frank is released today and assesses the future of London’s tall buildings, looking in detail at the impact of Covid-19 on both commercial and residential tall buildings.

For the first time, HomeViews data added to the report the resident’s perspective of what it’s like to live in London’s tall buildings. Despite regular negative headlines and controversy surrounding the capital’s high-rise schemes, HomeViews was able to offer an overwhelmingly positive conclusion: Residents of tall buildings rate their homes higher than those in non-tall buildings.

HomeViews for the NLA Tall Buildings Survey

“Residents of tall buildings rate their homes higher than those in non-tall buildings – across every category on HomeViews”

Residents of tall buildings (defined as those with over 20 storeys) rated their buildings higher across every review category on HomeViews: Star Rating, Facilities, Management, Value, Design and Location. The overall Star Rating given for London’s tall buildings was 4.29 out of 5, compared with 4.12 for non-tall and 4.23 for schemes with a mixture of tall and non-tall buildings.

Why do residents rate tall buildings so highly?

HomeViews data also revealed the key reasons why residents rate tall buildings so highly. Firstly, residents appreciated well-designed tall buildings that maximised the use of space, views and light. Good facilities were also widely praised by residents.

Reviewing Hoxton Press, N1

“Great design and views”

Verified Resident
Petros V
Nice design, views, high ceilings and materials. Balconies are really handy in the summer. The electrical appliances are also very high quality, as is the ventilation and underfloor heating. Lifts could be bigger given how often people move in/out in London Read All
Nice design, views, high ceilings and materials. Balconies are really handy in the summer. The electrical appliances are also Read All
Reviewing East Village, E20

“Something for everyone!”

Verified Resident
LucyTrudeau
Overall the buildings are in great condition. Living in the building the French athletes stayed in during the Olympics is a cool part of London history to be part of. Some of the parts are a bit dated (ie. the toilets) but other than that everything is in great shape. Read All
Overall the buildings are in great condition. Living in the building the French athletes stayed in during the Olympics Read All

Secondly, the benefit of having great views over the city was a common factor in residents giving buildings high ratings. 26 per cent of reviews for tall buildings contained references to views and balconies.

Lastly, management and community were seen to be important factors in residents’ satisfaction with their high-rise homes. Build to Rent developments in particular received high praise for the efforts of management in creating a strong sense of community.

Top 20 tall residential buildings in London

HomeViews also compiled a list of the 20 highest-rated tall residential buildings in London for the report. Many of the top-rated buildings on HomeViews are tall buildings, illustrating perfectly how the format is no impediment to the very best living standards for residents.

1. 10 George Street, E14

Vertus
4.41 (65 reviews) 4.41 (65 reviews)
Area guide to Canary Wharf
Image of 10 George Street, E14
10 George Street is a 37-storey tower located in Wood Wharf, Canary Wharf’s new district. The 327 waterside apartments for rent offer balconies with views of Harbour Quay Gardens and boardwalks. Amenities include a gym, wellness studio, bar, private dining room, and lounge opening to a large south-facing terrace with med-style day beds. VERTUS+ provides […] Read reviews and details of 10 George Street, E14

2. Hoxton Press, N1

Anthology
4.76 (23 reviews) 4.76 (23 reviews)
Area guide to Borough of Hackney
Image of Hoxton Press, N1
Anthology Hoxton Press is a selection of Studio, 1, 2, and 3 bedroom homes. It comprises of two landmark buildings, Mono and Duo, as well as a community café and landscaped gardens.  Nestled between Shoreditch Park and the Regents Canal, Hoxton Press will celebrate the heritage left by the sites former occupiers, The Mullord Brothers […] Read reviews and details of Hoxton Press, N1

3. The Eagle, EC1

Mount Anvil
4.64 (11 reviews) 4.64 (11 reviews)
Area guide to City
Image of The Eagle, EC1
The Eagle is a Mount Anvil development in the City of London. This high-rise building comprises of both residential units and commercial space. There are 276 apartments here, 70 of which are Family Mosaic affordable housing units. The Eagle is close to Old Street station and an easy walk from the vibrant London neighbourhoods of […] Read reviews and details of The Eagle, EC1

4. Elephant Park, SE1

Lendlease
4.36 (21 reviews) 4.36 (21 reviews)
Area guide to Elephant & Castle
Image of Elephant Park, SE1
A large-scale regeneration project in Elephant & Castle, Elephant Park by Lendlease is a mixed-use development which features 3,000 new homes alongside new shops, restaurants and cafes. It is the UK’s first climate-positive development, which includes an Energy Hub to provide net-zero carbon heat and hot water to all homes at Elephant Park. Read reviews and details of Elephant Park, SE1

5. Sailmakers, E14

Greystar
4.65 (157 reviews) 4.65 (157 reviews)
Area guide to Canary Wharf
Image of Sailmakers, E14
Greystar’s Sailmakers is a Build to Rent scheme, which comprises of 327 units. It is within the mixed-use Galliard Homes development, Harbour Central. The site is situated on the Isle of Dogs close to the River Thames, and less than a 10-minute walk from the heart of Canary Wharf. In addition, transport links come courtesy […] Read reviews and details of Sailmakers, E14

6. The Well House, SM1

Greystar
4.20 (137 reviews) 4.20 (137 reviews)
Area guide to Borough of Sutton
Image of The Well House, SM1
The Well House offers one, two, three-bedroom apartments and penthouses. Residents have access to facilities including a concierge and an on-site gym. Additionally, the development is a two-minute walk to Sutton station, providing rail services directly into Central London. Read reviews and details of The Well House, SM1

7. Elephant Central, SE1

Get Living
4.41 (138 reviews) 4.41 (138 reviews)
Area guide to Elephant & Castle
Image of Elephant Central, SE1
Elephant Central by Get Living is located in the heart of London’s Elephant & Castle. In zone 1, it has great connections to the City, and walking distance to London Bridge, and the South Bank. There’s a mix of, one to three bedroom apartments, duplexes and penthouses available fully-furnished. All with superfast WiFi included and […] Read reviews and details of Elephant Central, SE1

8. Nine Elms Point, SW8

Barratt London
4.50 (20 reviews) 4.50 (20 reviews)
Area guide to Nine Elms
Image of Nine Elms Point, SW8
Nine Elms, a development by Barratt Homes is a new residential, cultural and business quarter. 648 homes are located within the space and comprise of one, two and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses. The development is adjacent to Vauxhall Underground, bus and rail station offering rapid access to Oxford Circus via the Victoria line and Waterloo […] Read reviews and details of Nine Elms Point, SW8

9. Deptford Foundry, SE14

Anthology
4.34 (76 reviews) 4.34 (76 reviews)
Area guide to Deptford
Image of Deptford Foundry, SE14
Deptford Foundry is a mixed-use development by Anthology London. The development is set on the site of an old metal foundry, which was built in the 1800s.  The development offers more than 300 homes with a mix of private and social housing apartments. It welcomed its first residents at the end of 2018. In addition, […] Read reviews and details of Deptford Foundry, SE14

10. Fizzy Canning Town, E16

Fizzy Living, Greystar
4.33 (188 reviews) 4.33 (188 reviews)
Area guide to Canning Town
Image of Fizzy Canning Town, E16
Fizzy Canning Town E16, as of December 2021, is now managed by Greystar. On offer here are one, two and also, three-bedroom apartments in a multi-storey building. It actually forms part of the larger Vermillion development, which is a few minutes’ walk from Canning Town Station. Read reviews and details of Fizzy Canning Town, E16

11. Union Wharf, SE8

Essential Living
4.60 (197 reviews) 4.60 (197 reviews)
Area guide to Deptford
Image of Union Wharf, SE8
Union Wharf is a development from London property developer Essential Living. It features 249 rental-only apartments on the banks of Deptford Creek near Greenwich’s town centre.  It houses a collection of one, two and three-bedroom apartments. In addition, Union Wharf is close to the Cutty Sark DLR station for fast and frequent connections to Canary […] Read reviews and details of Union Wharf, SE8

12. Pan Peninsula, E14

Ballymore Group
4.20 (19 reviews) 4.20 (19 reviews)
Area guide to Canary Wharf
Image of Pan Peninsula, E14
Ballymore’s Pan Peninsula is also known as 1 Millharbour, and it’s situated next to Millwall Inner Dock in a prime River Thames setting. A mixed-use development, it encompasses 762 luxury apartments and commercial space. The South Quay DLR station and Canary Wharf and the Jubilee line are close by. Read reviews and details of Pan Peninsula, E14

13. East Village, E20

Get Living
4.42 (625 reviews) 4.42 (625 reviews)
Area guide to Stratford
Image of East Village, E20
East Village is a vibrant community in East London. It offers fully-furnished studios, one, two, three and four bedroom apartments and townhouses. All of these have Superfast WI-FI. In addition, parking spaces and storage pods are available for rent and free cycle storage is provided. Also, East Village is extremely well connected by the London […] Read reviews and details of East Village, E20

14. London City Island, E14

EcoWorld, Ballymore Group
4.20 (158 reviews) 4.20 (158 reviews)
Area guide to Poplar
Image of London City Island, E14
London City Island is a mixed-use 12-acre neighbourhood from EcoWorld and Ballymore. It includes Manhattan-style apartments, and the City Island Social Club. Both of these overlook the River Thames. As well as a wide variety of other amenities, and the English national ballet now headquarters here.  Furthermore, it is close to Canning Town station. This […] Read reviews and details of London City Island, E14

15. Lexicon, EC1

Mount Anvil
4.41 (14 reviews) 4.41 (14 reviews)
Area guide to City
Image of Lexicon, EC1
Mount Anvil and Clarion Housing Group partnered to bring Lexicon – also known The Chronicle Tower – to the Islington borough, and its 115 metres and 36 storeys make it the area’s tallest. There are 146 units here – a collection of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, set on City Road by Regent’s Canal, and […] Read reviews and details of Lexicon, EC1

16. No.4 Upper Riverside, Greenwich Peninsula, SE10

Greenwich Peninsula, Upper Riverside
4.05 (59 reviews) 4.05 (59 reviews)
Area guide to Borough of Greenwich
Image of No.4 Upper Riverside, Greenwich Peninsula, SE10
Find No.4 Upper Riverside in Greenwich Peninsula’s latest neighbourhood – Upper Riverside. Residents have access to a wide range of facilities. These include a state-of-the-art gym and pool with a view of Canary Warf, designed by Tom Dixon. As well as this, North Greenwich station is only a 7 minute walk away, with links to […] Read reviews and details of No.4 Upper Riverside, Greenwich Peninsula, SE10

17. The Lighterman, Greenwich Peninsula, SE10

Greenwich Peninsula
4.35 (22 reviews) 4.35 (22 reviews)
Area guide to Borough of Greenwich
Image of The Lighterman, Greenwich Peninsula, SE10
The Lighterman is located on the Lower Riverside, in the mixed-use Greenwich Peninsula development. This three storey Knight Dragon property in addition brags 225 residential units, comprising one, two and three-bedroom apartments. Out of the 225 units, 102 of these will be private. Convenient transport links come courtesy of close-by North Greenwich tube station, which […] Read reviews and details of The Lighterman, Greenwich Peninsula, SE10

18. Porter’s Edge, SE16

Sellar
4.32 (12 reviews) 4.32 (12 reviews)
Area guide to Rotherhithe
Image of Porter’s Edge, SE16
Porter’s Edge is Sellar’s addition to the wider Canada Water regeneration scheme. It features a mix of studios and one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments alongside office space, retail units, a cinema and a health centre. The development is located only 2-minutes away from Canada Water station with links to the Jubilee line and Overground […] Read reviews and details of Porter’s Edge, SE16

19. Folio London at Stratford Halo, E15

Folio London
4.13 (80 reviews) 4.13 (80 reviews)
Area guide to Stratford
Image of Folio London at Stratford Halo, E15
Folio London own and manage 401 apartments to rent at Stratford Halo by Notting Hill Genesis. The development borders the Olympic Park and the former Athletes’ Village, with great views of the Stadium and the Orbit Tower. Stratford station is only a 10-minute walk away. Read reviews and details of Folio London at Stratford Halo, E15

20. Greenland Place, SE8

Barratt London
4.33 (40 reviews) 4.33 (40 reviews)
Area guide to Deptford
Image of Greenland Place, SE8
Greenland Place by Barratt London is a mixed-use scheme in Rotherhithe, which features 679 residential units including one, two and three-bedroom apartments, studios as well as three, four and five-bedroom houses across a number of different buildings. The development also has a business centre, a children’s nursery as well as various commercial units. Surrey Quays […] Read reviews and details of Greenland Place, SE8

Tall buildings pipeline

The NLA report also looked at the current pipeline for tall buildings in London. With 587 tall buildings currently planned, the pipeline is up 7.9% on figures for 2019.

For more details, click the button below to view or download your copy of the NLA Tall Buildings Survey 2021.


HomeViews provides verified resident reviews of the UK’s housing developments. We’re working with developers, landlords and the Government to recognise high performers and help to improve standards in the built environment.

written by

Jan Moys

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