About Berkeley Homes

Cons:

The build quality is poor, and the heating and cooling system is dodgy, which means I’m forced to pay for it even when I’m not using it (!!!) – The heating, hot water, and cooling systems are a rip-off because you have to pay for them on top of your energy bills. Also, it takes time to top up, which means you could be out of hot water for hours while it’s being processed (isn’t it insane 😮 lol). You also have to pay for cooling, even in winter.

Unfortunately, the corridors are almost never cleaned, and the windows are always extremely dirty, lifts don’t work very often; The refuse chute is always broken, and a permanent collection of trash smells very bad. The spa and pool are worn out very quickly, and the steam room is broken all the time.

The staff is super nice but overstaffed and useless. The management is clueless and unable to help with any issues.

Even though the level 56 facilities are nice, accessing them is impossible if you’re working. The cinema system is often broken.

Additionally, the cracking sound in the flat caused by the wind was insane. It was definitely stronger than in most of the towers I’ve ever lived in. Given that it’s very windy in Canary Wharf in general, the cracking noise was a very common occurrence in the flat 🙁

What made me move out was the smell of food from the pizza restaurant downstairs that has recently opened. Even with the windows closed the smell was so strong in my flat (16th floor) and even in the lobby of the building, no one seems to care despite the complaints.

Pros:

Some pros of my living situation were the design of the flat, which I found to be aesthetically pleasing. The view of Canary Wharf from my flat was also cool. Another nice aspect of the building was that it was brand new. I enjoyed the facilities that were available anytime, I loved the gym that was available almost 24/7.

So after +– 2 years, the building has become very tacky and cheap.

Please tell us what you like and dislike about this area:

The location of the building is a great transportation hub, with the DLR only 2 minutes away, and the metro a mere 5 minutes away. This convenience made commuting a breeze. However, the area has become quite overcrowded due to its small size. Another tower is being built right next to it, which may cause concern for existing tenants.

Despite this, there is a small Tesco shop only 1 minute away from the tower, which is a convenient place to do some quick shopping. Unfortunately, the Tesco is poorly managed and can become quite overcrowded at times. However, there is a pizza restaurant located in the tower which is a great option for a quick bite to eat.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

I wish i knew about the cooling / hot water system – it is a real rip off . And in winter you still feel extremely cold.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

Unfortunately, I found that the management team was not very helpful during my time living there. Whenever I had any issues, I felt as though I was left to deal with them on my own without any support or assistance. It was a frustrating experience to feel unsupported by the people who were supposed to be managing the building and looking after the residents.

The design of the development is flexible for both shopping and socialising, whilst also allowing easy access to explore areas slightly further afield – when you need a bit of escapism.

The buildings are clean and well kept and the Property management team will always do their best to help with any problems – even if it sometimes isn’t always an instant response.

Although aesthetically pleasing, some of the communal areas around the development (Especially the water features) can attract an influx of excited children throughout the Summer days which (although lovely) can sometimes make working from home a very noisy experience due to the noise amplification of many buildings close together.

It’s been great to see a bigger security presence in recent months. We generally feel quite safe living here, but as isolated incidents do happen – it’s reassuring to see well lit walkways, CCTV and extra security presence.

Please tell us what you like and dislike about this area:

We love the local transport links – bus, DLR and train all close by and being able to catch the Thames Clipper to work from the pier is a real dream! The local pubs are good but it would be great to have a bigger variety of places to eat too.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

That the delays to cross rail would be so significant!

If there is one thing you would change about your flat or property what would it be:

We’d love to have the ability to change heating supplier as we pay a high charge currently but are locked into the community heat project.

With regards to building and property management, Rendall & Rittner tend not to be the most transparent with their costings, which seemingly continue to increase the service charges year on year. Many residents have appealed to Berkeley to review their tenure as a great number who attend regular residents meetings find it difficult to communicate or get straight answers to simple questions. Given the ever increasing number of buildings on the development, there should be certain economies of scale which we just don’t seem to ever see.

The community heating scheme is my biggest bugbear, however. I don’t see why residents should be forced into a monopoly, with SSE charging whatever extortionate rates they please for both standing charge and unit energy cost. Residents should have options, especially when the reliability of the unit has been so appalling over the past ten years. It may well be green, but it certainly must have paid for itself many times over by now – the standing charge alone is three times what it would be for those on the national grid.

Please tell us what you like and dislike about this area:

Woolwich could always benefit from more mid market food options. There are plenty of pubs around, however these tend to be the lower end of the market and most do not offer food. The only real options are the Great Harry (Wetherspoons), the two Youngs pubs on the development which offer almost identical menus and then the Tap Room which although nice enough, only offers pizzas due to its smaller size. It would be nice to see the Dial Arch and the Guardhouse owned by different breweries to increase the variety of both beer and food options – they’re literally opposite each other so I can’t really understand the purpose.

Open spaces are done well – there is sufficient green space to make the area not feel too overcrowded, though I do see that the later phases of development seem to be going higher and higher as the available land finally starts to dry up.

Transport links are good in Woolwich, with access to buses, the DLR, overground railway and cycle routes over to Greenwich etc. The delay in Crossrail as been a significant disappointment, particularly as it was used as a major selling point for the property – distance from the city is a bit of a persistent problem as it just takes far too long to get anywhere!

The street outside my flat is pedestrianised, so immediate traffic noise isn’t too much of an issue, though the nearby road is still audible. Parking is fairly limited, though I have been able to find a space for visitors when necessary by requesting a temporary pass from the concierge. We occasionally have anti-social behaviour, but this is generally dealt with fairly promptly on reporting to development security.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

The true ongoing cost of the community heating scheme and when Crossrail was actually likely to arrive.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

A bit of a mixed bag really – some issues get tended to fairly swiftly, but then some require continual follow ups and chasing. Often you are told something will be resolved soon or that a certain individual or department will get back to you, but then you hear no more.

As a resident of One Tower Bridge, the development provides a number of benefits. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and manned by full-time personnel, the concierge desk is conveniently located at the lobby for me to quickly stop by and arrange gourmet food deliveries, request the booking of theatre tickets, dinner reservations or chauffeur driven service to get me to the airport or anything else that I might need. There is a fully equipped gymnasium and spin studio. To me, business never sleeps. One Tower Bridge houses a business lounge that residents can reserve offering fast access of broadband, photocopying, printing and other vital services. Situated in the Cambridge House within One Tower Bridge development, the business lounge is the perfect environment for a workaholic like me to stage an early morning meeting, or put together the finishing touches to a crucially important presentation.

Travelling to work is not a hassle at all. London Bridge Station is located 7 minutes’ walk from my apartment and I can reach my office at Canary Wharf in just under 10 minutes. After work, I can enjoy my dinner and drinks at The Ivy Restaurant which is located near my apartment. There is a piazza with some of Londons most exciting new restaurant.

Overall, these luxury homes provide a five-star living experience by the banks of the Thames, which is also located close to global businesses, Michelin-starred restaurant and other attractions that are the focal point of Londons social and business elite.