At the heart of East London Tech City, ascendant Shoreditch is a hotspot for commercial and residential investment
Shoreditch's long climb from Victorian slum to prime London property market isn't only a welcome challenge to Central London dominance, it also reflects the changing fortunes of the East End at large. Transformed by technology, Shoreditch is at the heart of the UK's leading digital cluster, the so-called 'Silicon Roundabout' that's home to the world's leading tech brands and countless ambitious startups.
With heavy public and private investment continuing to fuel growth in the years ahead, the Shoreditch property markets are among the fastest growing in London as businesses and professionals make their new homes in the East End. Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) forecasts residential sales and rental price growth to outperform Central London in the coming years, contributing to East London being one of the UK's most important growth drivers by 2030.
A further boost in house prices is expected with the opening of the new high-speed Crossrail Elizabeth Line at nearby Liverpool Street, Moorgate and Whitechapel stations. Currently scheduled for 2021, Crossrail will improve journey times across London and to major airports, making a Shoreditch address even more attractive for international business, entrepreneurs and other professionals.
The rise of Tech City
Like London's financial center Canary Wharf and other regeneration success stories, Shoreditch has humble origins. In the 19th century it was the site of one of London's most notorious slums, but even back then, its artisan traders earned the area a reputation for creative enterprise.
Technology and media companies arrived at the end of the 20th century, but it wasn't until the 2008 global financial crisis forced older businesses to close that fresh blood could enter Shoreditch, taking advantage of its excellent transport connections and property discounts to establish a new innovation hub centered around Old Street station.
The last decade saw investment pour into the emerging East London Tech City, which became the world's third largest startup cluster after San Francisco and New York, with co-working spaces such as IDEALondon, TechHub and WeWork supporting small business growth and encouraging collaboration. Soon, the startups were joined by the likes of Amazon, Cisco, Facebook, Google and Intel, cementing Shoreditch as a leading technology center in Europe.
Old meets new
Even with the area's digital rebirth and growing wealth, many aspects of life in Shoreditch have remained resolutely unchanged. The historic markets of Brick Lane and nearby Spitalfields still draw the crowds, while traditional restaurants and independent boutiques sit side by side with contemporary coffee shops, microbreweries and Boxpark, the eye-catching pop-up container mall.
Convenient access to the London Underground and Overground puts the city center and Crossrail services from Liverpool Street just minutes away, including international connections to London Heathrow and City airports. Living in Shoreditch means having convenient access to all the British capital has to offer, from world-class schools and universities to iconic attractions and nightlife.
Modern city living
With demand high and supply limited for Shoreditch property in convenient locations close to stations and business facilities, developers are busy bringing high quality residential property onto the market with furnishings and services that will satisfy the discerning modern professional.
One of the stand-out new developments is The Makers, a collaboration between developer Londonewcastle and the London Borough of Hackney that offers 175 new homes, five-star resident amenities and a co-located college in a quiet residential area off City Road. A limited number of units have been made available for overseas property buyers who are eager to invest in one of London's best performing areas.
