The Whiteley London - A blueprint for future living?

Every day for the last few months I have walked past the huge building site on Queensway that will become The Whiteley London . Yesterday, @primeresi shared some of the first images to an expectant crowd - impressive stuff.

I wanted to share my findings and thoughts around what the building was, what it will become, who is behind it, what it will do for the local property market and what trends it might be setting.

The history of Whiteleys is that it was built in the retail space of the former William Whiteley Limited department store, which opened in 1911 as London's first department store, and was one of the main three department stores, alongside Liberty's and Harrods. It was rumored that Hitler had earmarked it as his London HQ - thankfully, he never got the chance. It was closed in December 2018 for redevelopment. Fast forward...

In the words of the developer, 'The Whiteley creates a distinctive blueprint for future-living defined by chic, sustainable luxury, simplicity of purpose, and an unprecedented amenities programme including London’s first Six Senses hotel and spa. This grand masterplan on the historic site of London’s first luxury department store heralds the coming together of some of the most talented designers and developers to one of the capital’s overlooked architectural gems'. It will deliver 139 residences, 20 new shops and restaurants, a cinema, a gym and London's flagship Six Senses hotel and spa with 110 rooms and "social wellness club".

The team behind the scheme is a force to be reckoned with and it is being designed by Foster & Partners who are responsible for some of the most iconic buildings on the London skyline. The JV partners CC Land and MARK (formerly Meyer Bergman) have appointed Finchatton in the development role - impressive stuff for a company just twenty years old and this will be their biggest project to date...What will the next twenty years hold!

The entrance to Whiteleys is on Queensway. Up until now, this curious road has become synonymous with pound shops, bric-a-brac/hardware shops and fast food chains. On the face of it, to plonk a 6* scheme and hotel in the middle of it is a bold move. However, the truth is that 100m in each direction is A1 property, retail and restaurants - not to mention Hyde Park. This road is the missing link between the surrounding 'good bits' and my view is that the gap will be filled very quickly. Unlike the placemaking exercises unfolding elsewhere in London (Nine Elms, Kings Cross for example) which have a Sim City feel and could takes decades, this gap will be filled like a wave on the on the shore and the past will be quickly forgotten - something which many of the local residents object to - another BLOG entirely.

The High Street in the UK is changing at pace, highlighted more acutely by the current pandemic - Jeff Bezos is on track to become the world's first trillionaire! It is highly unlikely that the big retailers will need the mega spaces they once had. Could The Whiteley London become a blueprint for the future use of these megastores?

The Whiteley is not 'coming soon', it will be coming in 2023 but, as a relative neighbour to the scheme and an agent who has a CV of new-build, traditional, sales and lettings I will be keeping close to it and look forward to keeping you posted.