This article first appeared in City & Country, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on November 21, 2022 - November 27, 2022

SMC Property, a London and Hong Kong-based property developer, is set to unveil Chelsea Riverview, a 1.14-acre mid-rise residential development in William Morris Way, London SW6.

According to SMC Property’s Malaysian representative, JLL Property Services (M) Sdn Bhd (Global Residential Agency) head of sales Chong Shu Ling, the 10-storey modern-contemporary riverside apartment overlooks the River Thames.

“The project was designed by London-based architecture and interior design studio Arney Fender Katsalidis (AFK Studios). The team has worked on various residential and commercial schemes across London, the US, Italy and Canada. The idea for this development was inspired by the River Thames.

“If you look at the façade, it has plenty of curves in the design, which follows the flow of the water. The building’s large outdoor terraces showcase the elegant curvature and maximise views across London and over the iconic River Thames, providing residents within Chelsea Riverview a sense of immersion in nature,” she says.

Chelsea Riverview will be launched during a two-day event (Nov 26 and 27) at the Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur. The development will comprise 73 studios and 1- to 3-bedroom apartments, with built-ups ranging from 430 to 1,474 sq ft. The selling price starts from £675,000 (RM3.6 million). The 999-year leasehold project will have a service charge of around £5.50 psf. 

The 1- and 2-bedroom units will have private balconies, oak floors, semi-fitted kitchens, built-in wardrobes and fitted plush carpets in the bedrooms, as well as Villeroy & Boch sanitaryware, grey marble-effect porcelain wall tiles, mirrored cabinet with halo lighting, integrated storage and shaver socket in the bathrooms.

The 3-bedroom units make up The Terrace Collection. “Units in The Terrace Collection will have specifications that are slightly upgraded and located on the higher levels of the development. These larger-sized apartments with huge wrap-around terraces offer more spectacular views of the River Thames and the London skyline,” Chong shares.

Upgraded specifications for The Terrace Collection include large private terraces, built-in wardrobes with mirrored doors, and internal lighting and semi-fitted kitchens featuring Miele’s integrated wine cooler, frameless black glass induction hob with touch control, multifunction single oven, integrated extraction hood, integrated fridge freezer, integrated dishwasher and washer/dryer in utility cupboard, among others.

Chong says SMC Property has also future-proofed its development by incorporating several green features, including air source heat pumps that help reduce energy costs and carbon footprint, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery that reuses up to 90% of the waste heat within the property and electric vehicle charging points. The developer forecasts Chelsea Riverview will achieve an average carbon reduction of 61%.

Residents will enjoy a myriad of facilities at Chelsea Riverclub on the ground floor of the building. Among other facilities, it will have a 24-hour front desk, concierge and security services, a gym, a yoga studio, a cinema room, a pet grooming room, parcel reception storage, bicycle storage space, underground parking bays as well as a residents’ lounge that offers co-working spaces, sections of the room that can be partitioned for meetings and private rooms.

Chong says Chelsea Riverview has high rentability prospects with yields of over 4%, adding that the development is competitively priced compared to other similar residential properties within the area.

“The development has an edge over its immediate competitors that have no direct views of the River Thames. The [maintenance fee] for this project is also slightly lower than other surrounding developments, which appeals to buyers.”

In a recent press release, JLL director of prime residential development Alex Carr said SW6 had gained popularity in recent years and ave-

rage prices for new-build properties are up 5.8% compared to pre-pandemic times, further cementing the area’s reputation as a property investment hotspot.

To this end, Chong says Chelsea Riverview will be marketed to both owner-occupiers and investors primarily because of its location.

“Chelsea Riverview is located between Fulham and Chelsea, two of London’s most affluent neighbourhoods. It is also one of London’s most prestigious addresses, set in 10 acres of parkland with picturesque river views. The homes enjoy a tranquil setting on the north bank of the Thames, not far from the well-known Chelsea Harbour development.

“Being situated in West London, which is among the most sought-after locations for properties, is another plus point. Buyers would definitely be interested because a property investment opportunity in West London such as this rarely arises. Some 15 units have been taken up so far prior to the launch.”

The development is near hospitals, educational institutions, F&B outlets, retail stores and famous landmarks such as Clapham Junction, Battersea Power Station, Buckingham Palace, Houses of Parliament and the city’s very own Chelsea Football Club headquarters.

From Chelsea Riverview, the Imperial Wharf station is only a five-minute walk away, the Chelsea Harbour Pier is seven minutes away and the Fulham Broadway station 21 minutes away. 

A bicycle ride from the development takes residents to Stamford Bridge in eight minutes, Battersea Park in 13 minutes and Kensington Gardens in 22 minutes. On top of that, Heathrow Airport is only a 35-minute drive away.

Chong is optimistic about the take-up of Chelsea Riverview after the project launch in view of its prime address and the current market demand for newly built residential properties in London. 

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