_London's new luxury developments with on-site schools and nurseries
The phenomenon of new schools being delivered or upgraded by developers is relatively new and on the increase as the race to provide a wide range of new housing for Londoner intensifies.
A top priority for parents when it comes to moving home, new schools and education facilities are being built on-site in a bid to woo families to the new neighbourhoods springing up in London's key regeneration zones.
Woven into the fabric of the diverse new communities being created by residential and mix-use schemes, many already offer excellent leisure facilities such as shops, community spaces, parks, play areas, restaurants and gyms.
Community spirit
With population growth comes an imbalance in pupil-to-place ratio alongside shrinking catchment areas for the top-performing schools; aside from alleviating the mounting pressure on the availability of pupil places, residents find convenience in having their children attend nursery or primary school within earshot, with convenient drop-offs and pick-ups bolstering a new housing scheme's appeal to working parents keen to secure a high-spec home and a school place.
Thinking of moving off to a new development with an on-site school in order to beat the competition? We take a look at some of London's best new developments with education facilities creating new urban villages for families.
Royal Wharf - Woolwich
Masterminded by developer Ballymore as part of the 3,800-home Royal Wharf development, the 450-place Royal Wharf Primary School will offer places for children in Reception to Year 6, as well as part time nursery places for three and four-year-olds.
The first cohort of Royal Wharf reception pupils will begin in September 2019 with the main primary school opening the following year.
Royal Wharf in Woolwich is the ambitious site of new riverside homes including townhouses, one, two and three bedroom apartments and studios. The design of every residence in this new neighbourhood combines the principles of the new Georgian revival with the expansive thrills of contemporary riverside living.
Twelve minutes from Canary Wharf, the ambition at Royal Wharf is to create London’s next great estate, a successor to the districts that have for centuries given the capital its world-famous character.
Residents will have the benefit of a world class 20,000 sq ft leisure facility designed by David Morley Architects including spa, gym and swimming pool. Other amenities include a vibrant high street, market place, shops and restaurants.
A new Crossrail station, Custom House, will be a ten minute walk away when it opens in 2020 and City Airport offers international connections in under five minutes by DLR. There will also be access by boat with a new pier being constructed to provide access to The Thames Clipper service.
Lollard Street - Kennington
Lollard Street in Kennington is a new development revitalising an area just south of Albert Embankment. An eight-minute walk from Kennington Underground, the site is focused around communal gardens, public spaces and a new nursery which is rated OFSTED 'outstanding' at time of writing.
On the market through Knight Frank are twelve beautifully designed apartments and seven spacious townhouses overlooking Lambeth Walk Open Space.
Royal Arsenal Riverside - Woolwich
A private day care facility within the impressive, river-fronting Royal Arsenal Riverside helps working parents better manage work/life balance.
On offer here is an award-winning blend of old and new properties - historic listed buildings meet contemporary one, two and three bedroom apartments.
Amenities include a 24-hour concierge service, a forthcoming hotel (at time of writing), doctor and dentist surgeries, an onsite Tesco Express, pharmacy, and a Zipcar Car share club. Residents also have access to the Waterside Club which includes a 20m swimming pool, spa, 24-hour concierge, cinema room and more.
Crossrail arrives at Royal Arsenal Riverside in 2020, providing fast connections from east to west London, making central London only minutes away.
Royal Arsenal Riverside already benefits from DLR, and rail plus an on-site Thames Clipper pier.
Plimsoll Building - King's Cross
One of London's most significant and inspiring regeneration sites, King's Cross, is one of the capital's big success stories when it comes to placemaking.
Having completely re-written the profile of a once down-at-the-heel pocket of London, the area now offers a mix of glossy new homes, shops, restaurants, public spaces and sought-after office buildings.
Marketed through Knight Frank is the hugely popular Plimsoll Building - new canal and parkside apartments at the heart of the vibrant and ever evolving King’s Cross.
Opened in 2015, King’s Cross Academy is a new primary school for King’s Cross. The purpose-built school is located in The Plimsoll Building at the heart of the King’s Cross development alongside the Frank Barnes School for Deaf Children.
Both offer a state-of-the-art learning environment to the backdrop of an exciting area that is rich in amenities and opportunities for residents, visitors and businesses.
Wood Wharf - Canary Wharf
Wood Wharf is a new district from the Canary Wharf Group transforming the historic West India Docks. Once part of the world's busiest port during the 1800s, it now welcomes 120,000 office workers every day and is one of Europe’s largest centres for finance, business and tech, with more than 16 million sq ft of office space.
Expected to complete in 2023, Wood Wharf will offer a mix of commercial, educational, residential, retail and leisure spaces.
Currently in the pipeline are new homes, shops, new parks, offices, a GP surgery, leisure centre and restaurant, as well as a two-form primary school for 420 children, spread over 23 acres.