The key facts
- 120 residences are being built on the 2.2-hectare site; the first residents are expected in 2028
- The show apartment is listed for £14.895 million, with starting prices for residences from £35.5 million
- According to a YouGov survey, 63% of Gulf buyers plan to purchase London property within the next 12 months
From the Royal Horse Artillery to luxury residences
For almost two centuries, the north London district of St John's Wood was associated with military service: the barracks, founded in 1812, housed the Royal Horse Artillery and later King's Troop, which was visited by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II. The mounted unit held its last ceremonial parade along St John's Wood High Street in 2012 before relocating to Woolwich. Now, on the 2.2-hectare site, construction cranes have replaced the stables and parade ground: the St John's Wood Square complex of 120 luxury residences is being built, reports The National, which was shown the site, including the first show apartment and the restored historic riding school, which will become a gym and leisure area.
Timelines, prices and the project team
The first homes have already been released to the market, with the first residents expected to move in in 2028. The complex includes townhouses, apartments and penthouses; starting prices are from £35.5 million for an average area of about 3,260 square feet. The show apartment, designed by British designer Portia Fox, is listed for £14.895 million. The project was conceived by Malaysian entrepreneur and philanthropist Ananda Krishnan, the man behind the Petronas Towers and the Kuala Lumpur City Centre complex; he acquired the site in 2012 and died in 2024. The project is now led by executive chairman Sir George Iacobescu and chief executive Garrett Stow, who worked with Krishnan for many years.
Security as the main selling point for Gulf buyers
The project team commissioned YouGov to survey 758 'motivated buyers' from the UAE and Saudi Arabia interested in UK property. Security proved to be the most important characteristic of a home for 33% of respondents, 29% named security as the leading factor when choosing a neighbourhood, and concierge and security services topped the list of attractive amenities by a wide margin — 56%. In addition, 63% of those surveyed said they were actively looking for property in London over the next 12 months, and 21% highlighted quick access to central London, Mayfair, the West End and business districts. St John's Wood Square sales and marketing director Tom Mann called security the 'cornerstone' of a home and stressed that it must be 'effective but unobtrusive'. On site this is achieved as follows: more than 400 AI-powered cameras for behaviour recognition, floor-by-floor access control, entrance doors weighing around 185 kg, a 'airlock' parking entry system with two gates that close in sequence, and a Category 3 alarm system in every home.
What the complex includes
Alongside security, residents are promised a wellness centre with a 20-metre pool, a spa, sports courts, a private dining room, a cinema, a games room, a business suite and a children's play area. The showings of the apartments have been entrusted to Portia Fox, whose portfolio includes projects in the Middle East, notably in Dubai — AVA on Palm Jumeirah and Regent Residences in Business Bay. The publication also recalls its earlier article on the The Bay project by Hyde Park, where Gulf buyers' interest in London regeneration was already considered as a separate topic.
