New Build Investor Guide – Camden

Apr 2021

Buying a new build property off plan? Check out our Area Guide first

Are you considering purchasing a new build, off plan property in Brent? Want to get the latest information on house prices, demographics and other useful information before you commit to a deal?

Our Area Guides give you the latest relevant information from local governments, the Census and the Office of National Statistics (ONS) data. They’re designed for offshore, new build property investors to help you understand an area in detail so you can make informed investment decisions.

Read on for investor details specifically about Brent but if it’s more detail about the wider UK property market you need, you can download our latest report here. In our report we address two key questions:

1 Is investing in UK residential property still worth it?
2 If so, where are the best opportunities for property investors and why?

Camden, London

Camden is one of 12 inner London boroughs and is covers parts of central and north London. Covering an area of around 8 miles², Camden lies north of the river Thames and borders the City of London, Westminster, Islington, Brent, Barnet and Haringey. It includes the districts Bloomsbury, Camden Town, parts of Covent Garden, Hampstead, Highgate, Holborn, Kings Cross, Swiss Cottage, the West End of London and many more. Camden contributed £3.4BN to the national economy in 2018, an increase of 93% on 2008.

Hampstead heath PropTech Pioneer New Build Investor Guide – Camden

Central London from Hampstead Heath


Demographics

Camden’s population is forecast to grow by 5% by 2030

Population (2018) 252,637
Forecast Population 2030 266,386

Source: data.london.gov.uk


Economically Active Population

A largely young, diverse, mobile population.

Age Range Percentage of population
16 – 64 71%
Under 15 17%
Over 65 12%
Martial Status:  
Single 55%

Source: data.london.gov.uk


Average Life Expectancy

The average life expectancy for those born in Camden between 2016 and 2018:

Males 82 (UK average is 79)
Females 87 (UK average is 83)

Source: ons.gov.uk


Population Density (2011)

Camden is the 5th most densely populated local authority in the UK with 12,393 people per km2.

Source: ons.gov.uk

International Migration (2018-19)

16,514 new residents from overseas, the 2nd highest of all London boroughs.

Source: ons.gov.uk

Country of Birth

Location of Birth Proportion of Population
UK and Ireland 60%
EU 11%
Other countries 29%

Source: data.london.gov.uk


Crime & Safety

Crime Numbers (April 2017 – March 2018)   37,242
Crime rate per 1,000 population (April 2017 -March 2018) 151
Camden has the 3rd highest crime rate per 1,000 people of all London borough’s  

Source: data.london.gov.uk


Education

Schools

Primary Schools 74 (15 of which have an Ofsted rating of outstanding)
Secondary Schools      32 (2 of which have an Ofsted rating of outstanding)
Schools and Colleges (16-18 years) 22 (2 of which have an Ofsted rating of outstanding)

Source: compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk

Universities

University College London (UCL)
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS)
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
The University of London

Hospitals

University College Hospital
St Pancras Hospital
Royal Free Hospital
Great Ormond Street
Royal National Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital
National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine

General Wellbeing

Population considering themselves in very good health 53%
Population considering themselves in very bad health 1%

Source: data.london.gov.uk


Employment & Economy

66% of working aged people employed (compared to 75% across England 74% across London).

Top 4 Sectors of Employment

Finance, banking and insurance 37%
Public administration, education and health       22%
Transport and communication 14%
Distribution, hotels and restaurants 10%

Source: data.london.gov.uk

Major Employers

In 2020, there were 205 companies the borough employing more than 250 people and 675 companies employing between 50 and 249 people. (source: nomisweb.co.uk)

Jobs and Job density

Aproximately 36,395 residents of Camden also work in the borough. 191,077 people travel into the borough each day for work and 55,440 residents work outside the borough. The daytime population of borough therefore increases by 135,637 people each day. (source: data.london.gov.uk).

Median Gross Annual Pay for full-time employee jobs (2017) £31,365
Number of jobs in the borough (2019)            92,000
Jobs per resident        0.49 (London average 1.03 and UK average 0.87)

Source: nomisweb.co.uk and data.london.gov.uk


Housing

Number of residential properties in Camden 107,930

Source: data.london.gov.uk


Property Ownership (2018)

own property outright (no mortgage) 18%
own property with mortgage 17%
rent from a Housing Authority or the Local Authority 37%
rent from a private landlord (representing approximately 21,900 private rentals) 28%

Source: data.london.gov.uk

Household with no car or van (2011) 61%

Source: nomisweb.co.uk


Household Composition

One person households    40%
One family households     43%
Other  (sharers / students etc)   17%

Source: nomisweb.co.uk


Average House Prices

House prices in Camden are the 3rd most expensive of all London boroughs. Camden saw the 6th highest price growth of all inner London boroughs.

Average achieved price January 2020 £827,281
Average achieved price January 2021 £864,668
Increase/Decrease  +4.5%

Source: www.gov.uk


Volume of Sales

During the COVID pandemic, the number of property transactions fell by 10%.

Number of residential sales to year ending September 2019 1,637
Number of residential sales to year ending September 2020    1,480

Source: ons.gov.uk


Achieved Rents (January to December 2020)

Mean monthly average rents in the borough:

  London Median Rents
(per calendar month)
Camden
(per calendar month)
Studio     £950 £1,000
1 bedroom £1,200 £1,525
2 bedrooms £1,450 £2,167
3 bedrooms £1,750 £2,492

Source: london.gov.uk

kings cross 2 PropTech Pioneer New Build Investor Guide – Camden

Outside Kings Cross Station

New Build Developments in Camden

Several notable developments in Camden are currently on the market, many of which have been launched in Asia and the Middle East.

Asta House (Derwent London)

Total Number of Apartments 55 (40 private)
First Launched July 2019

Visit Website

Average Prices – Asta House

  Minimum Average Maximum
Price £1,325,000 £1,884,091 £2,400,000
Price per ft² £1,890 £2,014 £2,136
Area (ft²) 650 938 1,170

source: Molior

  Minimum Average Maximum
2 Bedroom £1,325,000 £1,639,286 £1,875,000
3 Bedroom £2,200,000 £2,312,500 £2,400,000

source: Molior


Hexagon Apartments (BNP Paribas)

Total Number of Apartments 53 (40 private)
First Launched Dec 2015

Visit Website

Average Prices – Hexagon Apartments

  Minimum Average Maximum
Price £1,100,000 £2,302,923 £4,830,000
Price per ft² £1,335 £2,128 £2,933
Area (ft²) 567 1,062 1,893

source: Molior

  Minimum Average Maximum
1 Bedroom £1,110,00 £1,293,167 £1,760,000
2 Bedroom £1,160,000 £1,884,863 £2,370,000
3 Bedroom £2,050,000 £3,540,417 £4,830,000

source: Molior


XY (London Borough of Camden)

Total Number of Apartments 265 (141 private)
First Launched October 2014

Visit Website

Average Prices – XY

  Minimum Average Maximum
Price £450,000 £679,993 £862,500
Price per ft² £747 £993 £1,178
Area (ft²) 553 690 883

source: Molior

  Minimum Average Maximum
1 Bedroom £450,000 £594,500 £680,000
2 Bedroom £660,000 £743,426 £862,500
3 Bedroom £740,000 £752,000 £770,000

source: Molio


Chapter House (Londonewcastle)

Total Number of Apartments 43 (40 private)
First Launched Sept 2019

Visit Website


Average Prices – Chapter House

  Minimum Average Maximum
Price £995,000 £2,171,667 £5,495,000
Price per ft² £1,644 £2,218 £2,988
Area (ft²) 452 936 1,997

source: Molior

  Minimum Average Maximum
Studio £995,000 £1,010,000 £1,025,000
1 Bedroom £1,130,000 £1,182,500 £1,250,000
2 Bedroom £1,750,000 £2,040,625 £2,475,000
3 Bedroom £2,375,000 £4,003,750 £5,495,000

source: Molior


Postmark (Taylor Wimpey Central London)

Total Number of Apartments 345 (263 private)
First Launched Sept 2018

Visit Website


Average Prices – Postmark

  Minimum Average Maximum
Price £900,000 £1,436,316 £2,595,000
Price per ft² £1,065 £1,457 £1,675
Area (ft²) 578 1,007 1,815

source: Molior

  Minimum Average Maximum
1 Bedroom £900,000 £978,333 £1,150,000
2 Bedroom £1,100,000 £1,424,792 £1,765,000
3 Bedroom £1,400,000 £1,833,333 £2,595,000

source: Molior


Kings Cross Central – Cadence (Argent)

Total Number of Apartments 163 (103 private)
First Launched February 2020

Visit Website


Average Prices – Kings Cross Central – Cadence

  Minimum Average Maximum
Price £1,245,000 £1,779,412 £2,435,000
Price per ft² £1,340 £1,726 £2,051
Area (ft²) 808 1,028 1,575

source: Molior

  Minimum Average Maximum
2 Bedroom £1,245,000 £1,623,333 £1,850,000
3 Bedroom £1,950,000 £2,154,000 £2,435,000

source: Molior


Environment & Leisure

With some of the most popular tourist destinations and iconic buildings in the world, some famous leisure facilities and landmarks include:

Covent Garden (also lies within Westminster)
The British Library
London’s West End (also lies within Westminster)
Theatres
Parks and green spaces including Primrose Hill, Regents Park (also lies within Westminster) and Hampstead Heath
Camden Market
9 libraries
9 outdoor gyms
5 leisure centres

Transport

The underground and overground in Camden are in Zones 1 and 2.

Overground Stations

Camden Road Finchely Road and Frognal
Gospel Oak Hampstead Heath
Kentish Town Kentish Town West
Kilburn High Road London Euston
London Kings Cross London St Pancras
South Hampstead West Hampstead
West Hampstead Thameslink  

Underground Stations

Belsize Park (Northern line) Camden Town (Northern line)
Chalk Farm (Northern line) Chancery Lane (Central line)
Euston (Northern and Victoria line) Euston Square (Victoria line)
Finchley Road (Jubilee line) Goodge Street (Northern line)
Hampstead (Northern line) Holborn (Central and Piccadilly lines)
Kentish Town (Northern line) Kings Cross St Pancras (Circle, Piccadilly,
Hammersmith & City, Northern, Metropolitan and Victoria line)
Mornington Crescent (Northern line) Russell Square (Piccadilly line)
Swiss Cottage (Jubilee line) Tottenham Court Road (Central and Northern line)
Warren Street (Northern line) West Hampstead (Jubilee line)

Local Government

The Labour Party

UK market report 1536x768 2 PropTech Pioneer New Build Investor Guide – Camden