LONDON, A WORLD-CLASS CITY AN INTRODUCTION TO THE BERKELEY GROUP Our ambition on every site is to create a beautiful, successful place. TONY PIDGLEY, CBE CHAIRMAN, THE BERKELEY GROUP 2 LONDON, A WORLD-CLASS CITY London is an extraordinary city, a magnet for people I believe it’s the talent of our architects and the and a hub of creativity and enterprise. Its architecture clients who commission them that keeps London and public spaces play a huge part in this appeal. fresh. Together they continually create places that They define the ‘picture postcard’ view that makes flex to the changing needs of our workforce, our London such a big draw for visitors. education, and our lifestyles. Yet it is the city’s ability to refresh and renew itself, The best new development has a great sense of respect blending contemporary buildings and public realm for London’s neighbourhoods. Despite all the pressures with the historic fabric, that is so intrinsic to its that come with growth, it recognizes that we are drawn success. International headquarters sit alongside to beautiful, sociable spaces. Places that feel authentic Elizabethan pubs and modern homes. You find arts and truly designed for people. venues forged from heritage buildings to make Today, neighbourhoods throughout London are set space for our contemporary creative spirit. to change, driven by the urgency of providing more Above all, London remains a collection of villages. homes for everyone within a finite footprint. The quality Neighbourhood shops and restaurants, local parks and of architecture and new development always matters. attractions, all produce a global world city and yet still But perhaps now more than ever, it seems to me feel intimate, local and familiar at the same time. essential to retaining our status as a world-class, contemporary city, and keeping London a place that we are proud to call home. If you feel the same, I think you will be encouraged by many of the places illustrated in the following pages. We are drawn to beautiful, sociable spaces. Places that feel authentic and truly designed for people. Patricia Brown, Chair of the London Festival of Architecture 5 A HISTORY OF QUALITY For nearly 40 years, the Berkeley Group has been committed to the idea of quality – delivering it through hard work, an entrepreneurial spirit, attention to detail and a passion for good design. Beginning as a niche builder of high quality homes in Since then, the Berkeley Group’s five major the leafy suburbs, the Berkeley Group was established divisions – Berkeley Homes, St George, St James, back in 1976. The Group’s first venture, Berkeley Homes, St Edward and St William – have become widely was based in Weybridge, Surrey, and took its name acknowledged as pioneers in mixed-use brownfield from the beautiful and famous central London square regeneration across London and the South East. that bears the same name. That Berkeley continues to succeed in a volatile and Recognising that choice in the housing market was competitive sector is testament to its handling of a relatively limited, Berkeley Homes saw the opportunity cyclical property market, a strong balance sheet and to create a new and completely different type of careful allocation of capital to the right projects company. The formula was simple: meet demand at the right time. with supply, by offering buyers a bespoke approach Today, the Group has a diverse portfolio of projects, to superb quality homes as early as possible in the ranging from one-off executive homes in the Home development cycle. Concentrating on executive detached Counties, to large-scale regeneration projects that will houses in excellent locations, it proved to be a highly BERKELEY SQUARE take some 20 years to realise, and from the delivery MAYFAIR, LONDON successful strategy. of schools and transport hubs, through to luxury By 1985, Berkeley comprised a series of autonomous riverside apartments that redefine the London skyline. operating companies and was fully listed on the Berkeley’s autonomous operating companies are all London Stock Exchange, with a market capitalisation passionately committed to creating great places that of £67 million. The Group correctly anticipated and will thrive now and in the future. They are driven by reacted to the UK housing market downturn of the late relentless attention to detail and an ambition to ensure 1980s, placing it in a strong position to devote its people that, just like in the past, the hallmark of every Berkeley and resources to one of the most exciting challenges project is quality. of contemporary city living: urban regeneration. Berkeley took its name from the beautiful central London square that bears the same name. 1 2 3 6 FANTASTIC HOMES IN AMAZING PLACES... The idea of ‘placemaking’ is at the heart of what we do. It involves building a broad mix of homes and a wide range of facilities. Today, Berkeley builds for everyone: from families to first time buyers, students to older people, and luxury living to affordable housing. Our developments range from complex, mixed-use urban regeneration programmes to the restoration of treasured historic buildings and involve delivering train stations, schools, parks and community centres. 1 4 5 4 REGENERATION FAMILY HOMES Working in partnership with many London boroughs Through its operating companies in Oxford and and delivering some of the biggest regeneration Hampshire, Berkeley is continuing to develop in its programmes in Britain, Berkeley is creating entire new heartland in the leafy lanes of the Home Counties, communities with a mix of homes, new transport links creating a new form of executive home, which suits our and community facilities. We use a set of 13 criteria to customers’ needs in the 21st century. From homes on plan and measure the social sustainability of these single plots, to larger developments where amenities emerging places. such as cafés, gyms, and country parks are all created as part of the development. 2 STUDENT ACCOMMODATION 5 Berkeley is also creating award-winning accommodation for our university partners and RESTORING OUR HERITAGE postgraduate students in London and the South Many Berkeley sites involve the restoration of East. Often as part of a larger scheme these new historic buildings which are highly complex and time developments add vibrancy and amenities to the consuming. Berkeley has expert teams and craftsmen local communities. who painstakingly restore these derelict buildings bringing them back to life and creating new homes 3 for a new generation. PENTHOUSES 6 6 Berkeley is currently developing riverside apartments that will redefine the London skyline. Across the Group SPECIAL PROJECTS new luxury apartments and penthouses are being The Group is currently working on several schemes delivered in some of London’s most prestigious areas. where community amenities such as country parks, schools and community centres are all being delivered as part of the development solution. Many schemes enhance the local transport hubs or in some instances, such as Imperial Wharf and Royal Arsenal, Berkeley creates great places that enhance the lives deliver entirely new train stations. of the people who live on each development as well as the communities that surround them. 9 SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT BERKELEY The Berkeley Group builds almost 4,000 homes each year. Over 700 young people are in structured training across We build for everyone, from first-time buyers to senior the Berkeley Group. living, and social rented housing to private family homes. A growing body of independent research suggests that Berkeley has been ranked Britain’s most sustainable people feel safer, happier and more neighbourly living major housebuilder for the last 8 years in a row. on our developments than in comparable places. In 2014, Berkeley contributed nearly £1.4 billion to Britain’s Since 2011, we have committed over £6 million to support Gross Domestic Product. young people and their communities through the Berkeley Foundation. Berkeley supported 21,000 jobs in the UK during 2014, sustaining a total of 5.6 jobs for each home Berkeley was voted Britain’s Most Admired Company that we built. in 2011 across all industries and sectors, and has come second in 2012 and 2013. In 2014, Berkeley won the Over the last five years, Berkeley’s activity has Queens Award for Enterprise for the second time. contributed £1.6 billion to the UK’s public finances. Berkeley are publicly-owned and listed on the London Stock Exchange as a FTSE 250 company. Berkeley has never made a loss since we were first listed on the stock exchange in 1984. The Berkeley Group builds almost 4,000 homes each year. We build for everyone, from first-time buyers to senior living, and social rented housing to private family homes. 10 11 BERKELEY IN LONDON & Berkeley has been creating quality new homes in THE SOUTH OF ENGLAND London and the South of England for nearly 40 years. The Berkeley Group works through autonomous brands operating at a SOUTH LONDON natural size, ensuring our management teams can give each and every project the attention it needs to deliver a bespoke solution for each place. Out of London under construction London under construction 1 Ascot 11 Holborough 1 190 Strand 29 Riverlight, Battersea 2 Barns Green 12 Horsham 2 375 Kensington High Street 30 Royal Arsenal Riverside 3 Bath 13 Maidenhead 3 Abell & Cleland House, Westminster 31 Saffron Square, Croydon 4 Beaconsfield 14 North Bersted 4 Battersea Reach 32 Smithfield Square, Hornsey ire sh Cambridgeshire 5 Caterham