The Hyde Farm Estate in Balham has £100,000 in the British Gas Green Streets competition and will now spend it on making the row of Victorian terraces a showcase for energy-efficient, but traditional, London housing. A number of solar panels are expected to be fitted, and the community's looking into easy solutions for drafty sash windows.

Technorati Tags: London, property, real estate

There's a Press Association piece here about Ocean... this extremely striking houseboat moored at Cadogan Pier, and currently marketed by Foxtons, at £1m (illustration, above). They're saying it's the most expensive houseboat they've ever had on their books, and it comes with a swimming pool, a sunken (literally) utility room, three bedrooms with bathrooms and that kick-ass location. It's not, however, the most expensive houseboat currently on the market. Check out this Putney-moored four-bedroom extravaganza, with a 30ft reception room and a guide price of £1.3m (illustration, below). I've always thought there was a real romance to the houseboat, but that may well be because I've never lived on one. Anyone have any London houseboat experiences, good or bad?

Technorati Tags: London, property, real estate

It's a six-bedroom detached house, built in 1912 for an army officer, and - although it's been properly refurbished - still has a few nice features (colonial-style veranda... presumably ordered by the India-based army officer who commissioned it, log-burning fire in hallway). Other features? A rare mulberry tree in the garden. It's with Marsh & Parsons, £3.35m. Particulars here.

Technorati Tags: London, property, real estate

The London market's set to blow up in an extravagant excess of top Capital property values, according to London Central Portfolio, a property search and management company. Expect - according to LCP chief Naomi Heaton in conversation with the Standard here - Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea prices to rebound 80% from recent lows.

Technorati Tags: London, property, real estate

Our friend Melanie - house historian for Chesterton Humberts - makes a couple of stops in Putney, focussing on a house on the Upper Richmond Road I've passed and wondered about on many occasions, and a nice pale brick place at the Roehampton end, with an impressive roster of former owners. Read it here.

Technorati Tags: London, property, real estate

Let me introduce you: Rat and Mouse reader, 68 Old Church Street; 68 Old Church Street, Rat and Mouse reader.

Regular readers will know the Rat and Mouse has a penchant for things modern. When I say "modern", I mean Modern... and this three bedroom flat in SW3 has proper Modern credentials. The property is a part of a larger house, commissioned by playwright Benn Levy, and built by Bauhaus founder Walter Gropius himself in 1936. It shares cutting edge construction material with the Empire State Building. The flat itself was separated off shortly after the war, with additional work by architect Jane Drew. It's with Chesterton Humberts, at £1,500 a week. Particulars here.

Technorati Tags: London, property, real estate

They cause flooding, they effect the "architectural balance" of properties, they put tall trees at risk, according to the preservationists, who - after a little local flooding - hired consulting engineers to look have a look. (No evidence... they said.) Anyway, the news is that after a last super-ambitious underground development, the council has announced a moratorium on future burrowing.

Technorati Tags: London, property, real estate

Back in September, we wondered where now for Battersea Power Station? Yesterday, the BBC attempted to answer.

Wandsworth Council have received a planning application for the £5.5m redevelopment of the 40-acre site.

Offices, shops, restaurants and no less than 3,700 homes. No details of the architect, or architecture.

Battersea Power Station... national treasure pillar to post [September 1, 2009]
Battersea Power Station plans... round... er... we've lost count [June 20, 2008]

Technorati Tags: architecture, London, property, real estate

It's a slim three-bedroom house detached in Streatham... should she take advantage of current upward trends and sell while the going's good not bad? Or add it to their current rental portfolio, making a hat-trick? Details here, and if you can bring yourselves to care, drop me a line or comment below. Agent comments more than welcome.

Technorati Tags: London, property, real estate

Remember The Curved House... on Channel 4's Grand Designs? The story was: David and Anjana needed to expand their tiny Clapham coach house, so they could fit in a family. They hired architect Peter Romaniuk and built a curved wood and glass house around a protected horse chestnut tree. It was, is, lovely. And it's for sale. Guide price: £1.5m, particulars here.

Technorati Tags: architecture, London, property, property TV, real estate