One Thames City has become the latest development in Nine Elms to reach the top as construction continues apace across the regeneration zone. Just over two years after the ground-breaking ceremony, developers R&F UK and CC Land topped out a 53-storey tower as part of a cluster of new buildings.

The tower is the tallest in One Thames City, and will hold 298 new homes with the first residents moving into the building in 2022.

Designed by internationally acclaimed architects Skidmore Owings & Merrill LLP and built by JRL/Midgard, the Number 8 building stands 180m tall and is due to be completed at the end of 2022.

‘Topping out’ is an ancient ceremony held when the last beam – or equivalent is placed at the top of a structure. At One Thames City, the topping out was also marked by a fireworks display next to the river.

The ground-breaking for Number 8 One Thames City took place in July 2018 and since then the development has created over 450 jobs, with 3,600 cladding panels installed, 72,000m3 of tonnes of concrete having been poured and a connection made into the Nine Elms district heating network.

One Thames City is formed of 12 buildings comprising 1,417 new homes, shops, restaurants and over 120,000 sq ft of commercial space, centred around 2.5 acres of public open space within the Linear Park.

Guan Zhixiong, Chairman of R&F Group UK, said: “Urban regeneration is at the heart of R&F’s DNA and our aspiration is for One Thames City to bring ever more life to Nine Elms. We believe One Thames City will set a new standard globally for mixed use projects.

“At the same time, we take great pride in the detail of what we build, and residents and their families are the focus for everything we do. Exceptional progress requires exceptional partners, and today’s topping out marks remarkable achievement by everyone involved.”

Councillor Ravi Govindia, Leader of Wandsworth Council, said: “We had a vision 10 years ago for derelict land at Nine Elms and the topping out of One Thames City is another milestone towards realising that vision.

“I am pleased that this development brings future opportunities for all of us – the jobs and apprenticeships for local people, the homes, offices, retail units and health centre which will open here, and the 14,000 sq metres of greenery and new public space that this significant section of the Linear Park will provide.

“R&F have put this part of Wandsworth, this part of London and this part of the United Kingdom on the map of the world.”

One Thames City is set to become a new landmark for London’s riverside skyline with a selection of one to five-bedroom apartments with open-plan living, large terraces and winter gardens.

With interiors by HBA Residential, the international residential specialist of Hirsch Bedner Associates, the new homes in No. 8 will offer prestigious inner-city residences with unrivalled views across the River Thames.

Residents of No.8 will have access to unparalleled amenities and services including a wellness centre, swimming pool, gym, private dining, cinema, business centre and 24-hour concierge, as well as a private entrance lobby and courtyard with secure valet parking.

Gillespies, the award-winning landscape architecture and urban design practice, will complement One Thames City with a Great Lawn and network of walkways, cycle paths and intimate green spaces along the river to provide a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Nine Elms is the most ambitious regeneration project undertaken in London. Taking advantage of its prime central and riverside location, it will transform the area, introducing new transport links and public spaces to create a vibrant destination.

One Thames City is perfectly positioned to access all that London has to offer with proximity to the new Nine Elms Tube Station and Vauxhall station so that the West End and City of London are less than ten minutes away.

About R&F

R&F Properties is an international leading property developer for Luxury Real Estate, established in China 1994.

It is listed in Hong Kong and has a market capitalisation of around £3.6bn, with a recent development pipeline equivalent to about 10% of the approximately 40,000 new homes expected to be built in London this year.

It aspires to provide positive real estate schemes across the world and works closely with local UK communities, businesses and stakeholders, to deliver the most appropriate schemes for the benefit of all boroughs.

R&F is today regarded as a leading property developer focused on the design, development, construction, sale, property management and property related services worldwide and officially licensed to develop high class property developments and provide Luxury Living.

Source: R&F Properties