Royal Gateway is an upcoming residential development by Barratt London in Acton, UK. (Picture: Barratt London)
British property developer Barratt London — a real estate division under UK property group Barratt Developments — launched its newest project, Royal Gateway, in Singapore on May 4. The 300-unit development is in the residential suburb of Acton in the West London Borough of Ealing. The developer has appointed JLL to market the project to Southeast Asian buyers.
Royal Gateway capitalises on the growing demand for affordable homes in proximity to Central London, and in suburbs where public transport connectivity has been greatly enhanced due to the opening of the Elizabeth Line two years ago, says Craig Carson, managing director, West London, at Barratt London.
The opening of the Elizabeth Line saw new stations that connect West London areas like Slough, West Ealing, and Acton to central hubs like Heathrow Airport, Paddington, Bond Street, and Canary Wharf in central London.
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Carson adds that some areas in West London, such as Ealing, have also been earmarked for regeneration and new residential development as London and its neighbouring suburbs struggle to match housing demand.
The development of Royal Gateway in Acton is the second residential project that Barratt London has undertaken in the area. This comes after the developer has sold all 365 residential units at Western Circus, a mixed-use development in nearby East Acton that was completed last year.
Located on a four-acre (1.6ha) brownfield site, the 300-unit Royal Gateway will eventually comprise six residential blocks of up to 16 storeys, and each block will have a mix of one- to three-bedroom apartments.
Royal Gateway will offer one- to three-bedroom units. (Picture: Barratt London)
One-bedroom units range from 419 sq ft to 678 sq ft, while two-bedders range from 695 to 874 sq ft, and three-bedroom units are 1,146 sq ft. Prices start from GBP450,000 ($763,400) for a one-bedder and GBP600,000 for a two-bedroom unit.
In a nod to the development’s regal title, each block is named after a different gem cut — Emerald, Marquise, Peruzzi, Magna, Navette, and Mazarin. The maiden sales launch of Royal Gateway will release units at the 125-unit Marquise block. It is also the first building that will be completed at Royal Gateway in 2026.
According to Carson, Royal Gateway also has 10 penthouses distributed across the six residential blocks. These units will be launched for sale at a later date.
The development will feature a resident’s gym, a resident’s lounge, concierge services, communal gardens and three private roof terraces. “While these facilities and amenities may be commonplace in private residential developments in prime central London, it is much less common to see them included in a project in Zone 3 (where the project is located),” says Carson.
Amenities include concierge services, a resident’s lounge (pictured, above), a resident’s gym, communal gardens and three private roof terraces. (Picture: Barratt London)
The impact of the Elizabeth Line on uplifting the property markets across West London boroughs has been significant, says James Puddle, head of the international residential team for Southeast Asia at JLL.
“Since work on the Elizabeth Line began in 2009, housing prices in W3 (the postal areas covering Acton, West Acton, North Acton, South Acton, East Acton, Park Royal, Hanger Hill Garden Estate and Gunnersbury Park) have jumped 117% over the past 15 years to an average of GBP675,000,” says Puddle, citing data from JLL UK.
Neighbourhoods along the Elizabeth Line have also recorded a steep increase in residential rental yields, with a 19% hike in rental yields for homes near the Acton Main Line in 2023, says Puddle. Royal Gateway is an eight-minute walk to Acton Main Line Station on the Elizabeth Line, and a seven-minute walk to North Acton Station on the Central Line.
“Acton is one of London’s most well-connected spots, with a plethora of fast transport links that will only be boosted once Old Oak Common Station opens,” says Carson, referring to the railway station that will be part of the upcoming High Speed 2 line from London to Birmingham.
Gardens and landscaped courtyards front each of the six residential blocks. (Picture: Barratt London)
Moreover, approximately GBP26 billion is being poured into a regeneration master plan covering 1,600 acres around Acton. Alongside plans for new homes to be built across the area, the regeneration includes plans for a new high street and two major campuses for Imperial College.
According to a Town Regeneration Framework published by the Ealing town council in February, it has plans to deliver a pipeline of 7,000 new homes for Acton, as well as maximise the benefits of its proximity to the Elizabeth Line to attract new jobs.
“Property values in Acton have experienced consistent price growth over the last five years, rising by 40% and outperforming Greater London by 13%. With GBP26 billion being invested in the local area, and direct rail links to Heathrow via Crossrail, we believe that real estate in North Acton will continue to offer a solid investment proposition,” says Puddle.
Royal Gateway in Singapore is the latest new UK project that Barratt London is eager to roll out to Asia Pacific-based buyers and investors. At a consumer event in Singapore last year organised by the developer, Carson noted that buying activity from Asia Pacific-based investors contributed significantly to the London property market as domestic demand has faltered in recent quarters due to high mortgage rates.
“Royal Gateway will build on an already vibrant community, providing a diverse range of housing options for everyone from young professionals to investors. With the potential for good capital growth and high rental demand for investors, we anticipate strong demand for Royal Gateway,” says Carson.