Plans submitted to Camden Council reveal ambitious basement plans for the Highgate mansion and star of Fame Academy, including an underground swimming pool, cinema, car park (for 24 cars), and living/dining room for servants. It's believed to a be a record-breaking project, and the Highgate Society is described here as cautious here about setting a precedent that could see an underground building spree around Hampstead Heath. Interestingly, the piece, in Camden New Journal, describes the owner as "currently anonymous". Does that mean Elena Baturina has flipped the property already?

Witanhurst - flipped, but slowly [July 16, 2008]
Witanhurst - ready to flip? [September 4, 2007]
Plans for London's most expensive home [July 19, 2007]

Technorati Tags: London, property, real estate

Londonist reports on the state of play at Highbury, where hardcore Arsenal fans have the opportunity to buy a bit of the beloved, in a football to residential conversion. The story is that - with the development due to open tomorrow - there are still 80 flats to sell, and little chance of them going in a hurry. More interesting, and worrying, is the suggestion that the mix of luxury and affordable housing is likely to create some kind of unpleasant two-tier green-space regulations.

The Mail has been examining the Land Registry for the details of Boris Johnson's recent move.

His new neighbours include Angus Deayton, with whom Johnson appeared on the TV show Have I Got News For You, while pop star Lily Allen used to live around the corner. Boris bought the property from Daniel Done, director of a City recruitment agency.

Apparently, he shifted his previous Highbury home to his estate agent, and spent £2.3m on his new one, after knocking £600,000 from the asking price.

Technorati Tags: celebrity, London, property, real estate

Madonna plans Wiltshire mansion duplicate in NY... yeah, that'll work [The London News]
The PM's Top Ten Financial Blunders [Times]
Up-and-coming... Dalston [Independent]
Thank God, it's business as usual in Prime London [Forbes]

The Rat and Mouse - it's about your house

Technorati Tags: London, property, real estate

The Rat and Mouse has had several comments in the last 12 months along the lines of want to sell a house? Drop the price. It's all in the asking price, apparently, and Savills appear to agree.

Estate agents Savills put the success of the scheme down to "sensible pricing" - the flats started at £175,000 for a one-bedroom apartment, going up to £450,000 for a three-bedroom property. Ed Lewis, head of London new homes for Savills, said: "People can judge for themselves whether this represents green shoots but the reality is this is the most successful new homes launch we have had for a couple of years."

The apartments in question are at (warning: pdf) Hornsey Road Baths, and according to the agents 29 out of the 40 properties have been reserved in less than a month of reaching the market. One-bedroom apartments in the building have gone on sale for £175,000.

Technorati Tags: London, property, real estate

The construction of 186 flats on the site of the stadium is close to completion at a cost of £76.7m. Only £58.1m of that total had been covered by agreed sales as of November 30 and the club admitted that loans related to the project would have to be refinanced.

Match-day turnover is, however, up, and the chairman is quoted as saying the property dealings are "largely" independent of the football business.

Will Arsenal development get the big walk-away? [June 20, 2008]
Flipping feeding frenzy or wave of sentimentality at Highbury? [November 25, 2005]

Technorati Tags: London, property, real estate

Rankin - one of the country's most gifted photographers (and, more recently, an engaging TV documentary maker) - is, according to the Telegraph - a little over-exposed to London property.

"One and a half years ago I put all my money and the money for this year's show into a building in Kentish Town."

I'm scratching my head right now about what development consists of 11 apartments and an art gallery, but apparently it's not shifting... zero buyers.

Technorati Tags: celebrity, London, property, real estate

Thanks to the Rat and Mouse reader who drew my attention to this. Keira Knightley has apparently spent £2.3m on a Shoreditch townhouse.

“Keira was fed-up of West London. She wanted to move somewhere more bohemian and arty."

Really? Is Shoreditch still bohemian?

Technorati Tags: celebrity, London, property, real estate

The recession here is a mere mouse-squeak in the roar of fame and infamy that rolls round these megalithic houses.

Blimey. The Telegraph's Caroline McGhie is in Hampstead, visiting a few properties that start at £25m on Courtenay Avenue and The Biships Avenue. Nor - apparently - is it just journalists visiting... the developers say they're getting viewings, and lots of them.

Technorati Tags: London, property, real estate

... makes me reflect on research that came out several years ago about the young professional classes being attracted to more culturally mixed areas, attracted by their ethnic diversity and vibrancy... A visit to London's Hoxton and Shoreditch over the weekend confirmed this view. The run down streets were full of 20 somethings seeking pleasure and experiences all attracted by the places slightly edgy feel... These areas can often provide landlords with some great letting opportunities as properties tend to be cheaper than in more established areas but rents are strong and there is always the potential for more rapid capital appreciation as a result of gentrification.

Something tells me PropertyHawk's not from 'round here... but if he can find some of those cheap Hoxton or Shoreditch properties, I'm all-ears. (Not literally, obviously.)

Technorati Tags: London, property, real estate