As a keen gardener I love my garden (a corner plot so it’s a good size). The location of an outdoor tap for watering is a godsend. Far better than filling up the watering can in the kitchen sink. I cannot understand why there is no lighting in the gardens. It seems like a large oversight.

The doors in and out of Bagshaw are difficult to use. I’m disabled and either use a crutch or wheelchair. It is extremely difficult to get out of the building and I normally have to wait for someone passing by to open the door in my behalf. It is entirely impossible in a wheelchair. The building is definitely not suitable for those with disabilities. Even minor ones.

Each hall door to the apartments closes with a violent bang. I suspect this could be attenuated by management of the spring closure system. This should be attempted for every apartment. It is a significant noise disturbance to all neighbours.

There has been a variety of concierges at the concierges desk. Some are amazing. Some decidedly not. One refused to speak with me because I was disabled and dismissed me with a flick of their hand and a wrinkled nose. This astonished me but sadly it is not unique. When the building is not disability friendly the staff subconsciously pick up on that sentiment and magnify their responses accordingly. Some formal training regarding the treatment of disabled people is essential. I look forward to hearing that it has taken place.

When the weather is windy the pipes in the apartment creak and groan like nothing I’ve heard before. I’ve told shocked guests it’s the ghost of someone who died in the construction. Obviously they know I’m joking but it is so loud and disconcerting as to be highly remarkable. I would dearly love this to be resolved. It has led to sleepless nights and this is disgraceful. As hot air heating is something I cannot use as it causes asthma attacks and is the only heating in my apartment. I’m going to have to buy mobile plug in heaters for the apartment. Could the pipes be sealed to stop the noise? I don’t know the solution.

The persistent lack of hot water has led to too many tepid if not cold showers. This is unacceptable. When will this be resolved?

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

The area around The Wardian is undergoing a great deal of development and redevelopment. There has been a tremendous amount of noise pollution as well as air pollution resulting from these building sites and also a budget hotel close by Hobart. Thankfully I’m in Bagshaw but on the east side where I live there has been a tremendous amount of noise and air pollution from a Berkeley development. This has resulted in loss of sleep as well as an increase in asthma attacks. I have a marble table and chairs in my garden/balcony and every day you can wipe away a thick layer of airborne dust and grit from the surface. In fact you cannot sit on the chairs without cleaning them first on a daily basis. There are some shops and restaurants around but not many and I’m disappointed that the promised restaurant in The Wardian seems to have been forgotten. This was a big draw for me. For good restaurants you still need to head to Soho, Mayfair and Marylebone areas. The shopping is negligible in the area. Given the changes following on from Covid it remains to be seen what will transpire in the environs. I feel it could become a shopping desert but I hope not. Parking is impossible in the area causing problems for delivery firms and friends alike. I am on 14th floor on the east side of Bagshaw and initially the DLR passing by was deafening. Happily it is true that with time you barely hear it at all. It shocks any new visitors.

The bin area seems inadequate for the Bagshaw building. It normally smells foul when passing by the closed door and of course worse when you enter the tiny room. The chute system frequently malfunctions and people end up leaving their bins on the floor in frustration. On one occasion I could not get into the room as bins and boxes had piled up and needed to be cleared before entering properly. As much as it malfunctions there are still many residents who do not use the system correctly and a physical note in each letter box detailing exactly what can and cannot be disposed of on site and how to bag it, is now necessary. This should be done periodically given that there is high turnover in some apartments. Access to the Observatory has been sporadic and limited. I’m hoping it becomes near permanently open. It could be an amazing space to visit frequently but I have gone up only to find it closed for no given reason.

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

I wish I had known about the hot air heating system. I would not have bought it if I had known it was not underfloor heating as had been described to me.

The gardens attached to every apartment are a delight. A great bonus in a built up environment. I feel some residents don’t take advantage of their balconies at all. There should be some evening/weekend courses for the horticulturally challenged to let them know that you can make a lovely space for yourself without much input. Also those of us who are experienced gardeners, could do with an evening/weekend course on gardening at a height which is radically different from a normal garden.

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

I have had significant issues when asking for large items to be brought up to me when they have been delivered. On one occasion I was told that if I could not collect the item in person (40 litres of compost for the garden) then I could not have it. This was very distressing. Using a crutch makes trying to move the luggage cart impossible for me. Friends who visited and used it on my behalf say it’s difficult enough when you are fully capable. When I mentioned this situation to neighbours they were surprised as they said they always had the larger items brought up to them. So it appears that the issue is again my disability. This is dispiriting.

Lyle Street is far from the thriving thoroughfare presented in the slick marketing brochures. It is bleak and sterile and most shops have not taken the lead shown by the Gallery and Dress Shop with their inviting window displays. The Kent Lounge is supposed to be a social space but screen junkies impart withering glances at anyone who disturbs their workspace by daring to have a social meet-up. The Grocer in the Kent building has been a shambles since IlBianco sadly departed.

There are far too many off leash dogs running rampart, too many inconsiderate fast food drivers and no-one seems to consider that the speed limit is there for a reason. Ballymore needs to up their game and take a long hard look at how things might be enlivened and upgraded and residents need more than a little encouragement to stop their littering, dismal attempts at recycling and cannabis use. Promoted as a “resort” it is more Benidorm then Biarritz.

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

Lately there has been some improvement in local shops and restaurants with new openings in the Hallsville Quarter and a new cocktail bar on City Island. Transport links are generally good but Canningtown Station is under stress already and the new development directly next door will exacerbate this situation.

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

Read the above. Spend an afternoon/evening here before deciding to move in or buy.

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

I would recommend my private landlord but not Ballymore as a landlord. Management seems to have a default position of it’s not their problem. Reluctant to take responsibility. Ballymore focuses too much on trivial and vanity projects and needs to reasses the basics such as a reliable supply of hot water.

I find LCI perfect for young professionals with the amenities it offers. It is great having a gym and an outdoors heated pool on site, and the Italian restaurant downstairs offers the tastiest pizza I’ve had in London!
I like the design of the common areas, especially the ping pong and the pool tables, which are a great way to pass time on the weekend.
The only negative is that the facilities, especially the gym, often get overcrowded in peak hours, since it is quite small and the resident numbers keep growing.

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

Within a walking distance, there’s a big Morrisons, where we do our weekly shopping, a Co-Op, Nisa, a small Superdrug, a few fruit and veg shops and Post Office. The area also offers a few small cafes with delicious and cheap all-day breakfast, a couple of pizzerias and, my favourite, a really tasty Turkish restaurant on the main street in Canning Town.
Right across the street from the development entrance, you can enjoy a walk on the river path with great views of the Thames and the O2.
You can easily get involved with the LCI community. We have a Facebook group which is updated daily and there’s often residents events organised, including Friday drinks once a month.

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

If the apartment is on a lower floor facing the inner yard, you will almost never get any natural sunlight in which can start to bother you after a while. On the other hand, I moved to a flat higher up with windows throughout and now my flat is boiling all throughout summer – sometimes it gets to over 30 degrees inside.
Most balconies are incredibly windy, which means you can rarely use them, especially if on a higher floor.

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

Johns & Co are the main estate agent who operates in London City Island and we have the displeasure to be their tenants.
We had multiple issues when we first moved in and our property manager were very inefficient in dealing with those. In the end, I met with their Property Management Director to share my concerns and complaints and we received our tenancy fees back as compensation, but fixing everything still took a whole month.
Later in our tenancy there was an issue with a communal pipe which had to be resolved with LCI’s building management. Both teams were incredibly slow and not proactive at all – I probably spent weeks chasing when it should have been our estate agent who was supposed to move the issue to resolution.

That said the building location is excellent with commanding views of London and Canary Wharf. In the main personnel try their utmost to provide a good service and respond to requests. Communication with residents and owners is made through regular announcements sent via email. Facilities, when open and working, are good. The exterior aspect of the building design is positive. The interior is also generally positive. There are insufficient working elevators at any one time to deal with the volume of traffic leading to extended delays in getting to one’s floor. More emphasis on getting this right needs to be placed. Overall a good building when everything is working properly.

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

Canary Wharf is a pretty condensed area with a range of architectural gems and concrete type squares. There are a wide range of places to eat, drink and socialise with the ever present river to add additional character.
Transport links are generally good. There are a range of hotels close by for any guests to stay in. Parking is an issue. While there is little need for a car, in principle, if you do have one it is difficult and expensive to park. There is little traffic noise or anti social behaviour. There is however a lot of building noise and dust in the area as development continues apace.

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

As stated previously, I found Ballymore to be a first class developer with a degree of humanity I did not expect.
Excellent pro active customer service during the sales phase
Was unaware of the poor after sales rectification of problems. Bad for buyers and ultimately bad for Ballymore.

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

They have repeatedly failed to rectify problems and I still have an outstanding issue after over a year. They have, to my mind, let down the entire Ballymore team and the exceptionally high standards set by te senior management.