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About Battersea Park

Buying a house or flat in Battersea Park

People buying a property in the area around Battersea Park will be encouraged to hear that there is something for everyone, from impressive Victorian mansion blocks near Battersea Park to trendy riverside apartments and large terraced family houses.

Emma Hanks, sales manager of Douglas & Gordon’s UK Battersea Park office describes her patch – from the river down to Lavender Hill and from Stockwell across to Wandsworth roundabout – as well-established, “with people grading up within the area, even along Prince of Wales Drive, where there is a huge turnover.” Because of Douglas & Gordon’s location on Battersea Park Road, plus the fact that they’ve been there for over 30 years, their knowledge of the mansion flats in Prince of Wales Drive is second to none.

Although Battersea Park is a solid residential area with streets of Victorian terraced houses and flats – both conversions and purpose built – it also houses some historic landmarks: Battersea Power Station, currently being redeveloped into a shopping and cinema complex, Battersea Dogs’ and Cats’ Home, New Covent Garden Market and the former Price’s Candles factory among them.

Battersea’s industrial nature, with the river used to transport goods, was accentuated by the arrival of the railways. To this day, Battersea is criss-crossed with railway lines to and from Clapham Junction (actually in Battersea), Queenstown Road and Battersea Park into the West End and the City.

Gradually, though, Battersea has become gentrified, and now enjoys “a huge influx of Chelsea buyers, mainly Brits pushed out by the extraordinarily high prices being paid by foreign buyers. We also find a lot of relocation agents looking for property here.”

A significant trend has been the extraordinary rise in riverside development over the past few years, adding thousands of new homes to the area. Richard Rogers’ imposing Montevetro was followed by a series of luxury developments including Norman Foster’s Albion Riverside, Oyster Wharf, Battersea Reach, Falcon Wharf and Chelsea Bridge Wharf. Here, prices start at £350,000 for a one-bedroom flat right up to £4.5 million for a stunning penthouse apartment in Albion Riverside.

Like all Douglas & Gordon offices, Emma has seen price rises of 20-30% during 2006 and 2007. “There is huge demand for mansion flats, so these have registered a 30% increase. Prices in the area range from £200,000 for a studio flat right up to £3.5 million for the largest houses. A one-bedroom flat in Battersea usually achieves £280,000-£350,000; two-bedroom flats from £350,000-£500,000; three-bedroom houses start at £500,000 and four-bedroom houses range from £700,000-£1.2 million.”

Emma’s key areas are Albert Bridge Road, Prince of Wales Drive and the roads off the 83-hectare Battersea Park – one of London’s most popular green spaces with a zoo, art gallery and myriad sports facilities. “The park is a factor in attracting young families, who also appreciate the many good prep schools in Battersea, as well as young professional singles and couples who want one- and two-bedroom flats. A recently opened French school is enticing French buyers south of the river.”

People looking for a house or flat in Battersea also love the fact that they can simply walk over the bridge to Chelsea, they can park outside their home easily and there is no congestion charge. Much of the property is owner-occupied which, says Emma, gives the area a strong community feel.

The lettings market in Battersea Park

Like sales, Douglas & Gordon’s UK Battersea Park office is buzzing. And, like sales, there is a huge range of property to let in Battersea, from studios at £200 per week to the area’s best houses and top-of-the-range riverside apartments at £3500 per week, plus conversion flats in Victorian houses.

So who is renting in Battersea? Lettings manager Ella Newhouse says, “People relocating from abroad, students who’ve just left university and betweeners – families who have sold and are renting while they look to buy. There’s a huge variety of property and clients.”

The most popular area is Prince of Wales Drive with its spacious, portered Victorian mansion blocks – originally built to house the mistresses of noblemen living north of the river – overlooking Battersea Park. The size of the apartments varies so it attracts singles, couples and families.

Ella has noticed a shortage of larger family houses. “Landlords are selling, rather than renting, at the moment. Quite often they’re long-term investors who haven’t lived in the property for 15 years, but have decided to sell as prices for property are so great.”

Despite this, business is booming: the lettings department has seen increases in rental prices of 30%. “We have such a good mixture of property to let, from the mansion flats to trendy riverside developments such as Oyster Wharf and Chelsea Wharf, with one- or two-bedroom flats that appeal to young professionals, singles and couples. These flats also attract buy-to-let investors.”

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