The block is well built (2016) and apartments well sound-proofed. Common areas are kept to a high standard and there is an employed cleaner who maintains the common areas each day. 24-hour concierge services are provided to ensure security, receive packages and help residents with day-to-day problems.
There is central air conditioning (maintained within the service charges) but this does result in quite high energy costs (also within the service charges)
Service charges are quite high, reflecting the staffing, location, air-con costs and available hotel facilities.
The building is managed by Knight Frank who are not felt by some residents to be very proactive in resolving concerns.
The building is clad in stone tiles and is a safe EWS A2 standard. That said, there is currently remedial work being undertaken by the developers Balfour Beaty on the cladding (with scaffolding at ground level to protect pedestrians) as some tiles have cracked over time.
Please tell us what you like and dislike about this area:
Amazing location – under 5 mins walk to the O2, over 30 restaurants and bars, 50 designer outlet shops and many entertainment venues including the arena, a huge cinema, a trampoline park and indigo at the O2. The building benefits from direct access in to the rear of the O2 (via the linked hotel) at most times.
Also directly on the Thames with amazing views not just over Canary Wharf but beyond that to the iconic buildings in central London.
Being linked (by a walkway) to the neighbouring 5* hotel (Intercontinental the O2), residents have access to the 17m pool, gym, and spa. There are also residents discounts at the hotel bars and restaurants and room service can be ordered directly to the apartments. Cleaning and laundry services are also available.
Parking is available on-site (behind the block) but unless a space is purchased, it can be expensive (£24 for 24-hours for residents). That said, the tube (North Greenwich) is 7 min walk down the road (or 10 mins through the O2 if it is raining). Other transport links include busses (also from North Greenwich station), the Thames Clippers (10 min walk) and the Emirates Airline (12 min walk) across to the Excel. Free bike storage is available in the building.
The building is securely located with access via the secure hotel car park so gets almost no disturbance from anti-social behaviour or traffic. As the freehold is owned by the hotel group, no short term lets are allowed which reduces the chance of short term anti-social residents or pop-up parties.
Bins are collected once a week and are problem free.
Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:
The service charges are on the high side and the cladding remedial works need concluding.
How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:
Yes but it has taken a lot of pushing from residents to get answers (mainly to gain an understanding of service charges etc or solve issues with hotel – like car park barrier access) and Knight Frank (the managing agents) are not proactive. Front desk staff are helpful however and there is a building manager on=-site who tries hard.