CBRE Launches Flagship London Residential Research – Borough by Borough

Last Updated on: 22nd November 2023, 12:26 am

Global real estate advisor, CBRE, today launches its annual residential research report, Borough by Borough.

London Living 2018: Borough by Borough measures everything from sales and rental growth to the average population and salaries throughout each of London’s 33 boroughs, as well as the number of Michelin starred restaurants and amount of park land.

Once again, London’s outer boroughs have showed considerable growth across both house prices and in the rental market. Harrow is showing average annual house price growth of 14%; seven times higher than the London average. Meanwhile, major investment in to regeneration and development of boroughs such as Waltham Forest and Barking and Dagenham are having a demonstrably positive impact on long-term house price growth. Waltham Forest has shown an 83% increase in house price growth over the last five years; almost double the London average. The combination of regeneration, affordability and improved transport links has attracted more and more buyers to the capital’s outer boroughs, particularly first-time buyers and young families looking to take advantage of the high levels of affordable residential developments.

The past year has also seen inner London’s most central boroughs show signs of significant recovery and improvement, following two years of political uncertainty in the UK. Kensington and Chelsea, which currently has both the highest average house and rental prices in London, has shown an annual property price increase of 9%. In addition, Hammersmith and Fulham and the City of London have forecasted to see rental prices rocket 29% and 25% respectively over the next five years. Overall increases in rental prices reflects the demand for high quality rental accommodation in the capital. This is further demonstrated by growth in the private rented sector (PRS). In London overall, 28% of households currently live in PRS accommodation, but in the last five years some boroughs have invested heavily in PRS and have experienced well over 100% increase in levels of PRS. Sutton, Islington and Tower Hamlets have seen the biggest growth.

Central London borough Westminster, which incorporates some of the capital’s most iconic districts such as Covent Garden, Mayfair and Soho, unsurprisingly has the largest number of Michelin Star restaurants, retailers and office space in London. The average price of a new build home reflects this; it is the highest in the capital at £2111 per sq ft.

Jennet Siebrits, Head of Residential Research at CBRE UK, comments: “This year’s Borough by Borough captures the London property market at an incredibly interesting time.

“Brexit uncertainties make it challenging to predict the future, but our research proves that London is continuing to evolve and develop. Improved infrastructure, new homes and better transport links are creating diverse neighborhoods in new pockets of the City, and major regeneration projects are finally coming to fruition. These changes are having a tremendous impact on where people are buying property. Outer London boroughs in particular are showing significant growth, with areas such as Barking and Dagenham, Croydon and Waltham Forest leading the way. We anticipate growth in these regions to continue in alignment with further investment and development.

“The figures in this report suggest that London’s population will grow 12% over the next decade, as people continue to flock to the one of the world’s top cities for education, business and heritage. We estimate that nearly 65,000 new homes are currently under construction and it is crucial that this rate continues if we are to safeguard the future of London as a thriving home for people from all over the world.”

Mark Collins, Chairman of Residential at CBRE UK, comments: “Each year, CBRE’s Borough by Borough research reports on the property market in every corner of our capital. It serves to celebrate the rich diversity of each region, as well a highlight the opportunities and changes that present themselves over the course of a year.

“Particular ‘hotspots’ for me this year include Hammersmith and Fulham. A well-established neighborhood with a robust property market, it is an excellent example of the impact that continual investment and improvement can have. The development of White City will bring 1400 new homes, as well the creation of what is arguably London’s most progressive higher education campus, in addition to the existing major retail outlet. The scope and range of this project will no doubt continue to attract high numbers of students, investors and visitors to the borough.

“At the other side of the city, Barking and Dagenham remains a truly exciting area that continues to go through unprecedented transformation; the result of one of London’s biggest regeneration projects. The long-term investment plans create a fantastic opportunity for first-time buyers who will benefit from the affordable housing offering, ongoing regeneration and prospective price growth, as well as excellent transport links.”

https://www.cbreresidential.com/uk/sites/uk-residential/files/CBRE0652%20Borough%20by%20Borough%202018%20v18.pdf

New homes in London’s top Boroughs: