Ebury SW1, Westminster: a new neighbourhood right beside Belgravia
Reach us on WhatsApp straight away using the button at the bottom left
Hello everyone. Right beside Belgravia and Chelsea, within the boundaries of Westminster, a brand new neighbourhood is being built. Today, Ebury SW1 is what we are looking at today!
For prices, taxes and the whole buying process, see our guide: UK Property Guide
Apartment types, current price range and location: see the project page
Do you know what the SW1 postcode means in London? Buckingham Palace, Westminster, Belgravia. The most established and most expensive part of the city. Finding a new build apartment in this area is almost impossible, because there is no land. That is exactly why Ebury SW1 is special: a comprehensive regeneration scheme is building hundreds of new homes in the middle of SW1, around four large landscaped gardens. Yes, you read that correctly: a brand new apartment in the heart of Zone 1.
Prices
- One bedroom apartments: £825,000and up
- One, two and three bedroom apartments and duplex options
- Apartment sizes: 50 m²and up
- More than one residential building, hundreds of homes in total
- Address: Victoria Street, Westminster, London SW1E 5JL
The scheme is large in scale and proceeds in phases. That is an advantage for a buyer: as the transformation of the area is completed, the value of those who bought in an early phase is supported. the advantages of buying a new build home is a rare opportunity to catch in London’s most prestigious postcode.
Why Ebury SW1?
SW1: demand where there is no supply: almost the whole building stock of Belgravia, Pimlico and Westminster is 100 to 200 years old. Buildings with no lift, no parking and a low energy rating. Owning a modern, energy efficient apartment with a concierge in this area is a structural advantage, because competing supply cannot be produced.
- Victoria istasyonu: the Victoria Line, District, Circle, national rail and Gatwick Express. Within walking distance.
- Sloane Square and Pimlico, within walking distance
- On the Victoria Line, Oxford Circus 4 dakika, King’s Cross 8 minutes
- On the Gatwick Express, 30 minutes to the airport
- Belgravia, Chelsea and King’s Road within walking distance; Hyde Park and St James’s Park a few minutes away
A design set around four landscaped gardens: the scheme is designed not on tower logic but according to London’s classic "garden square" tradition. In other words the buildings are arranged around the gardens. In terms of both quality of life and long term value that is a different category from towers.
Daily life: being the palace’s neighbour
In the morning Oxford Circus in 4 minutes on the Victoria Line, the City in 10. A walk in St James’s Park at lunchtime. The restaurants of King’s Road or the quiet streets of Belgravia in the evening. At the weekend shopping on Sloane Street, with Tate Britain, Westminster Abbey and the Saatchi Gallery all within walking distance. On a business trip, the airport in 30 minutes on the Gatwick Express.
Ebury SW1 rental yield
Tenant demand in SW1 is the steadiest in London: embassy staff, government and institutional employees, professionals working in the offices around Westminster, and executives posted to London by international companies. One bedroom apartments usually let for £2,700 to £3,100, 2+1s £3,600 to £4,000 a month. That puts the gross rental yield in the 3.9-4.5% band.
These rates are normal in prime London; the argument here is protection of value and the quality of the tenant. If you are after a higher return, high yield buy to let areas is worth a look.
The shared areas and the details that set Ebury SW1 apart
- Four large landscaped gardens: green space open to residents, designed according to London’s classic garden square tradition. A private garden on this scale is very rare in SW1.
- Concierge service: management of parcels, security and greeting guests.
- Social spaces: shared living spaces designed for entertaining or working from home.
- Duplex options: for anyone looking for a two storey apartment; a type becoming steadily scarcer in London’s new schemes.
- A sustainable living concept: energy efficiency and green infrastructure sit at the centre of the design.
- Modern interior fit out: integrated kitchen appliances and premium bathroom details as standard.
Energy efficiency and comfort
This is the most concrete gain from buying new build in SW1. While the typical period flats in Belgravia and Pimlico are in the EPC D and E band, new schemes such as Ebury are at EPC B level. The difference in the bill can reach thousands of pounds a year. It is critical if you let the property as well: minimum energy standards for rented homes in the United Kingdom are tightening, and in older buildings that means a serious refurbishment cost later.
Who is buying?
Buyers who are aiming at the SW1 postcode but do not want to live in a 200 year old building. Business people aged 40 to 65, executives looking for a central apartment to stay in during the week, and international investors after a prestigious address. Families whose children will attend the schools in Westminster and Chelsea are drawn to this scheme too.
Frequently asked questions
What is the tenure? Leasehold, with newly sold apartments typically given a term of up to 999 years, which in practice gives security close to freehold ownership.
The project is phased, which phase should I buy? The early phases are generally more affordable, the later phases have a shorter time to handover. We can decide together according to your budget and your timing.
Can I buy remotely from abroad? Yes. For the details, our remote property purchase guide page.
Can I use a mortgage? Foreign buyers can normally borrow up to 65-75% of the value. UK mortgages for foreign nationals sets it out.
What is the tax cost? For buyers resident outside the United Kingdom, stamp duty carries a 2% surcharge is added; on a second home there is also 5%. The detailed calculation is in the table below.
How much is the service charge? On SW1 schemes with a concierge and maintained gardens it is in the band of £6 to £10 per square metre a year. Do put it in the budget when working out the net yield.
Total cost: what you actually pay when you buy at Ebury SW1
Many overseas buyers look only at the apartment price and meet a surprise at completion. Let us work out the real cost on an £825,000 apartment. Stamp duty (SDLT) in the United Kingdom is banded: 0% up to £125,000, then 2%, 5%, 10% and 12%. On top of that, non-residents pay a 2% surcharge, and if you already own another home, a further 5% additional dwelling rate applies.
| Item | If it will be your only home | If it will be an additional home |
|---|---|---|
| Property price | £825,000 | £825,000 |
| Stamp duty (SDLT) | £47,750 | £89,000 |
| Legal fees | £1,500 to £3,000 | £1,500 to £3,000 |
| Searches and Land Registry fees | about £800 | about £800 |
| Approximate total | £875,050 | £917,800 |
With a mortgage there are also valuation and bank charges, and if you let the property, management commission and income tax. The figures above are indicative, based on an £825,000 entry price; we prepare the exact calculation for your own scenario.
The Ebury SW1 buying process, step by step
If you are buying from another country, the process runs like this:
- 1. Choosing the apartment and reserving it. We go through the floor plans, the aspect and the view. The apartment you choose is usually held with a reservation fee of £5,000 to £10,000.
- 2. Appointing a solicitor. An independent English property solicitor (conveyancer) is appointed. That solicitor acts for you, not for the developer.
- 3. Identity and source of funds checks. You will be asked for a passport, proof of address and documents showing the source of your funds. This step is compulsory in the United Kingdom, and having the papers ready shortens the process.
- 4. Exchange of contracts and deposit. Contracts are usually exchanged within 21 days of the reservation, with a 10% deposit. The signature can be given digitally from abroad.
- 5. Stage payments. In off plan projects these follow the payment schedule; for completed apartments the step is skipped.
- 6. Completion. The remaining balance and the stamp duty are paid and the title is registered in your name. For completed apartments this stage can take four to eight weeks.
You can run the whole process from your own country; you do not have to travel to the United Kingdom.
Risks and what to watch for
We have set out the strengths; in fairness there are points to watch as well. For Ebury SW1, these are the ones worth pausing on:
- High price band: the SW1 postcode carries a premium; expect long term protection of value rather than a quick short term gain.
- The project runs in phases: the phase you buy determines your handover date; construction nearby will continue for a while yet.
- Rental yield at prime level: the gross 3.5-4% band; if you are targeting a high yield this scheme is not mathematically the right choice.
- Victoria Street is a busy artery: there is a noise factor on the aspects facing the main street; the inner aspects and the apartments facing the garden are quieter.
None of this makes the project a bad one, but there is a wide gap between buying with your eyes open and finding out afterwards. We give every client this list up front.
How does Ebury SW1 compare with the alternatives?
Before you decide, it is worth looking at the other projects in the same budget band:
- 100 Kensington: for anyone after a prestigious postcode and a concept with a pool in west London.
- Trillium Paddington: the assurance of Berkeley in Zone 1 and a Heathrow Express connection.
- King's Road Park: next to Chelsea, inside a park and with more generous floor areas.
We can work out together which project fits your goal, judged on budget, intended use and exit plan. For an overview, our guide to UK property investment for international buyers is worth reading too.
Answers to the most common questions on this topic: Is Buying a Home in London a Good Idea?
