VALUE THE STRONG SENSE OF NEW COMMUNITY
AN EARLY Royal Docks settler, Tom O’Connor bought a 40 per cent share of a two-bedroom flat at Royal Albert Wharf for £178,000 in 2016, and has since upped his share to 70 per cent of the £445,000 home.
Tom, 34, who works in marketing and data analysis, lived alone at first. But at the start of the year he was joined by his girlfriend, Alma Goralski, 28, who is a chemical engineer.
Working at Canary Wharf means Tom’s commute is easy, while at weekends the couple enjoy exploring the docks by bike. They would like more restaurants and a bit more nightlife, but Tom says the sense of community is strong.
A Facebook group allows locals to exchange advice and information, and Tom and Alma recently joined a Bow Arts Trust project, painting Royal Albert Bridge in rainbow colours to thank the NHS for its work in combating coronavirus.
Work on the £474 million Royal Albert Wharf project is ongoing and its 1,856 homes are due to be finished by 2025. A spokeswoman for developer Notting Hill Genesis says buyers have been mainly “young professional thirtysomethings” plus a “scatter of families”. And because about 40 per cent of the homes are designated “affordable”, being sold on a shared-ownership basis, it has been particularly popular with first-time buyers. Two-bedroom flats are for sale from £482,500, and some shared-ownership homes are priced from £108,750 for a 25 per cent share. More homes will be launched on July 25. ⬤ Visit nhgsales.com/royal albertwharf.