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Middle East buyers keen on Lodha UK project

dubai - Lincoln Square is situated close to the London School of Economics

Lodha UK's Lincoln Square in London attracted a significant number of buyers from the Middle East, especially from the UAE, according to a top executive of the company.

The subsidiary of India's Lodha Group managed to sell 20 per cent of the total units released so far to Middle Eastern investors since its launch earlier this year.

Lodha UK announced that it has sold over 50 per cent of apartments in the first sales phase of Lincoln Square. The scheme was officially launched in Dubai last week (October 9 and 10) for Middle East buyers and investors.

Charlie Walsh, director of sales, Lodha UK, said: "The Middle East is an important market for us. We have already received strong interest and sales from Middle Eastern buyers who have recently visited London and want a home for their children while they are studying or for themselves while they are doing business in the capital."

Walsh said: "The response was very good from Middle Eastern buyers and investors during the two days of the launch here [in Dubai]."

He mentioned that the company has already sold 20 per cent of the released units to the regional investors and he expects more bookings in coming days on follow-up meetings after the Middle East launch.

"Particularly, they look for big units," Walsh informed. Two of the larger apartments, for example, have been reserved by a Dubai buyer who is purchasing on behalf of his two grandchildren - one grandchild has completed his studies at the London School of Economics and the other is hoping to attend LSE.

The majority of buyers are from the UAE and there are also a few buyers from Qatar, he added.

Initially, the company released 60 units out of the total 202 in the project. The total value of the project is £500 million. "We released another 40 to 50 units for Middle Eastern buyers," he said. Unit prices start from Dh4.6 million. The project is expected to be completed in Q3 2018.

Lincoln Square is situated opposite the Royal Courts of Justice and Lincoln's Inn Fields with the cultural hub of Covent Garden to the west and the financial district of Square Mile to the east. The development is located in an area where new homes are a rarity and offers a unique opportunity to live in a district associated with the UK's prestigious legal profession.

The development is located adjacent to the London School of Economics and a short walk from King's College London.

Knight Frank's 2016 Wealth Report stated that 80 per cent of advisers to ultra-high net worth individuals expect increased demand for international education among their clients over the next decade.

Last year, £1.1 billion was invested in prime central London by buyers motivated by education, according to Knight Frank.

Walsh said Lodha UK is creating homes for those wanting a residence close to blue-chip companies, law chambers and the Royal Court of Justice, along with those studying who want to remain in London to live and work after university.

Lisa Hollands, managing director, CBRE Residential, said: "Lincoln Square represents one of the very best investment opportunities in London."

Situated just five minutes away from Covent Garden's array of Michelin-starred restaurants, theatres and boutiques, Lincoln Square is also located within close proximity of some of the most established higher education institutions in the world.

Seb Warner, head of international project sales at Knight Frank, said: "Lincoln Square is arguably one of the most exciting projects to come to the prime central London market in recent times. The on-site facilities, including circa 17,000 sq ft of amenity space, are some of the most inventive and thoughtfully designed we have seen. For decades, this heritage location has been largely under-supplied for such a residential offering..."

Lincoln Square comprises 10 storeys and two basement levels designed by PLP Architecture. The development will offer residences from studios to four-bed apartments and two penthouses.

Gustafson Porter, known for the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial in Hyde Park, has designed the private courtyard, providing a green space at the centre of the scheme.

- abdulbasit@khaleejtimes.com