London City Island opens bridge, partners National Ballet

LONDON (July 2): Eco World Ballymore Holdings Co Ltd celebrated the completion of the new London City Island bridge and its partnership with the English National Ballet here yesterday.

The 80m bridge across the Lea River in East London links the Leamouth Peninsula (now rebranded London City Island) and Canning Town. The bridge was designed by Davies, Maguire and Whitby and has been on the cards for over a decade.

Eco World Ballymore chairman Tan Sri Liew Kee Sin, who was in London for the opening ceremony, said the bridge will allow easy access by commuters “to and from the city, West End, Canary Wharf, the airports, and every other major destination in London”.

Residents of London City Island will also benefit from  the development’s direct access to the London Underground Jubilee Line and the Docklands Light Rail at Canning Town Station. The upcoming Crossrail Station at Canary Wharf will be under 10 minutes away.

Meanwhile, the English National Ballet partnership with Eco World Ballymore, which was announced in May, will see the company relocating to London City Island in 2018. It will share a 69,000 sq ft  building sponsored by Eco World Ballymore with the English National Ballet School.

The event yesterday follows the launch of the second phase of London City Island in May, which offers 417 units over two blocks. Selling at about £800 (RM4,719) psf, 85% of the units have been taken up.

The London City Island development, which has an estimated gross development value of £614 million (RM3.62 billion), spans 12 acres in total. Its second phase comprises six blocks of apartments with 1,145 units.

Eco World Ballymore is a joint venture between Eco World Investment Co Ltd, a private company controlled by Liew, and the Ballymore Group, a UK-based developer of over 20 years’ experience in the London property market.