Dynamic developments: London’s property playbook

Homes with chromotherapy lighting for the health-conscious, plus designer playrooms for families? Zoe Dare Hall explores new developments

The Telegraph

If you’re a wealthy global buyer with a healthy sum to spend on a new apartment, what’s going to make you look at central London – where “sluggish” is the preferred descriptor of the current market – rather than hopping on the next flight to Dubai?

Would the answer lie in next-generation wellness amenities of the sort seen at The HiLight, a new residential tower on Battersea’s waterfront, whose rooftop promises to be a transformative experience? There are also chromotherapy lighting and vitamin C showers. And when your energy levels need a boost, mushroom drinks and vitamin gummies are available at the outdoor bar.

Or perhaps most persuasive are developments focusing on family. That is, taking care of the day-to-day hassles, so you can enjoy quality time. At Holland Park Gate, they’ll even do the school run for you (in a Mercedes, naturally).

With LonRes figures showing that sales are down by around 14% in the £1m-£5m price bands in the first half of this year, compared with the same period last year, and the amount of available £5m+ stock at a record high, knowing how to do things differently – not just as a marketing gimmick, but in a way that will genuinely resonate and add perceived value in buyers’ eyes – is the holy grail among developers.

And broadly, those who are breaking the mould are doing it in four clear ways: health, family, sustainability, and a sense of belonging.

Let’s take health. Almost every prime new development has beautiful wellness amenities. But Ghelamco is taking it to a new level at The HiLight, where along with all the high-tech hot and cold therapies on offer, residents will have access to full-body scan appointments, IV drips and 24/7 doctor access. “This isn’t just a rooftop,” says Ghelamco’s UK director, Marie-Julie Gheysens. “It’s a multi-dimensional wellness experience that’s never been seen before in London. A sanctuary in the sky designed for mindful living, peak performance and sensory rejuvenation.”