The Arc in London’s Fintech Quarter celebrates strong Asian connections as it opens its doors

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM –
Media OutReach Newswire – July 26, 2024 – Ghelamco, a renowned international project developer, proudly announces the official opening of
The Arc in Shoreditch, London, has welcomed its first residents and commercial tenants. The milestone is marked by a significant influx of Asian buyers, an on-site Tian Tian Market, a show home curated by Taiwanese-American interior designer Dara Huang and rooftop gardens designed by the creators of Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay – highlighting a quartet of high-profile Asian connections.

The Arc gym

Notably, over a third of the newly developed homes have been snapped up by Asian buyers, indicating significant international interest. Among the countries, Chinese buyers led the acquisitions, followed by buyers from Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. To date, The Arc has sold over £35 million worth of apartments to such buyers. Of these sales, 25% are to buy-to-let investors and 75% to owner-occupiers, including parents buying homes for their children attending UK universities. Buyers were attracted by The Arc’s ambitious design, wellness facilities, eco-friendly features and its prime location amid significant area regeneration.

Arc’s Asian connections extend beyond its retail buyers. Tian Tian Market, an Asian health food supermarket, has secured 3,600 square feet of retail space on the ground floor and committed to a 15-year lease. While the rooftop gardens, carefully designed by Grant Associates – the experts behind Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay – offer panoramic views, seating and BBQ areas. The gardens feature a diverse range of plants aimed at promoting urban biodiversity, including edible varieties and bee-friendly flowers.

The roof terrace of Arc

Meanwhile, world-renowned interior designer Dara Huang has transformed a 1,000-square-foot, two-bedroom apartment into a beautifully presented show home. Listed for £1.8 million, it boasts two terraces and stunning views of London, including St Paul’s Cathedral and The Shard.

Designed by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, the architects behind the Saatchi Gallery,
Inspired by both Star Wars and New York’s Meatpacking District, The Arc has seen its first residents move in and Tian Tian Market is about to open. The Arc will feature 100 one- to three-bedroom apartments, 150,000 square feet of commercial space and a host of amenities including London’s first UFC gym with rings and rope climbing, a yoga studio, treatment rooms, a golf simulator, a 13-seat private cinema, a 236-seat cycling hub with showers and lockers, and an outdoor event space. The development also boasts a range of certifications including DGNB, BREEAM, WELL, WIREDSCORE and SMART SCORE, underlining its commitment to sustainability and resident wellbeing.

Eco credentials include an all-electric building, a 30% reduction in carbon emissions, air source heat pumps, EPC-A rated homes and a ‘blue roof’ system for grey water reuse within the building. Communal areas have also been cleverly designed with features such as radiant heating and cooling systems to eliminate airflow and reduce the spread of bacteria and viruses. While the ventilation system guarantees 15 l/s of fresh air per person, far exceeding current standards and contributing to a healthier and more pleasant environment. Meanwhile, vertical pillars with recessed spandrel panels maximise the amount of natural light, creating a stimulating environment, while artificial lighting is 100% LED and designed to WELL standards.

Situated at the intersection of five vibrant districts – The City, Shoreditch, Old Street, Angel and Hoxton –
The Arc benefits from excellent connectivity, with Old Street station undergoing major redevelopment and high-speed Crossrail services from Farringdon. Residents enjoy proximity to Shoreditch’s creative scene and Clerkenwell’s boutiques, as well as 10 Michelin-starred restaurants and some of London’s most illustrious intellectual powerhouses, making it an ideal location for students and professionals alike.

The Arc is Ghelamco’s first development in the UK, with their second,
The HiLight, currently under construction in Battersea. Scheduled for completion in summer 2026, The HiLight will offer 113 luxury waterfront homes with EPC-A ratings and panoramic views, alongside extensive amenities including a clubroom, cinema, fitness and wellness studio, meeting and work spaces, sky bar, sports court, viewing deck and a sensory roof garden. The HiLight will also be carbon neutral and EDGE certified, minimising and reducing energy and water consumption by 20% compared to a standard structure. Sales will commence this autumn and interested buyers can register via The HiLight website.

International,
Ghelamco is renowned for its sustainability credentials, with all of its developments to date achieving BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Excellent’ certification. They recently became the first developer in Poland to build photovoltaic farms as part of their ESG strategy to ensure Zero Carbon buildings in operation. While Google, themselves at the forefront of innovation, recently acquired Ghelamco’s office complex, The Warsaw Hub, for their Polish headquarters in Warsaw in a €583 million deal. The family-run business was founded in 1985 by Paul Gheysens and is now led in the UK by his 30-year-old daughter Marie-Julie. As well as creating urban housing, offices and retail, the developer’s track record also includes branded residences, golf courses, football stadiums and hotels.

Marie-Julie Gheysens, Head of UK at Ghelamco, commented:
“The rapid sales to Asian buyers underscore the continued confidence in the London property market. The Arc’s appeal lies in its ambitious design, health and wellbeing facilities, eco-friendly features and strategic location in a rapidly regenerating area. These factors have certainly generated strong interest and confidence among this demographic.”

Harry Anthony, Associate in Knight Frank’s City New Homes team said:

“The London property market has historically shown strong appreciation over time, offering attractive returns to international investors. The Arc has certainly proven attractive to international professionals, who value its sustainable ethos and premium amenities. Situated in vibrant Shoreditch, it offers an eclectic mix of culture, dining and entertainment that appeals to a cosmopolitan audience, as well as its good transport links. This mix of sustainability, connectivity and amenities has made The Arc an exceptional investment opportunity.”

Sascha Moore, co-head of residential sales in East London at Savills, added:
“The perception of East London has changed dramatically in recent years – no longer a purely commercial location, its residential offering is highly sought after. The quality of the residential developments – not to mention the amenities included – has led to strong interest from a range of domestic and international buyers, many of whom are international owner-occupiers living in the UK for school or work and want to be in this exciting part of the city. In addition to the services on offer to residents, such as The Arc in Shoreditch, with its 24-hour concierge, golf simulator, gym and yoga studio, the edge-of-city lifestyle appeals to a wide range of buyers.”

Knight Frank and Savills have been appointed as agents for The Arc, with prices starting from £735,000 for a studio apartment.

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