Maconochie's Wharf (left) and Clipper's Quay

The derelict warehouses and smelly factories on wharves around the Island's three mile waterfront have been swept away in a wave of new housebuilding that has seen more than 6,000 new homes built in a 12 year frenzy. Only a handful of "unregenerated" wharves are left.

Many of the wharves and shipping related industrial sites were polluted, so the chances of getting a newbuild suburban "semi" are few and far between. Growing potatoes and iceberg lettuce in the back garden is not an Isle of Dogs pastime! Instead, the developers put up condominiums with fitness centres and swimming pools and surrounded them by hard landscaping and potted shrubs to stop residents growing their own bionic veg...

Living on the Island revolves around the condo pool, gym or a suitable waterside pub. The nightlife is terrible, despite the efforts of hard working arts venues.

With Canary Wharf at its heart, the Island is a major finance and media centre with international banks queuing to lease glittering office towers. Most of England's national newspapers are published and printed in Docklands, many based in the 50 floor, 800 foot, Canary Tower of Ink.Locals and suits mix in well and the Island has few muggings or crimes of violence. Many women execs who have moved into Burrell's Wharf and Cascades say they have never felt threatened as they walk to and from their apartments.

One Government Department that relocated to the Island's business district gave staff extra money and the women rape alarms as part of a trade union negotiated deal. They were never used in anger and the batteries ran out.The elevated Docklands Light Railway weaves around the wharves linking Island homes to Island offices and others in the City financial district.

The Jubilee Line Tube station at Canary Wharf is buried beneath the Dock, so as not to use up valuable land needed for offices or corporate open space.

There are 130 shops on the Island with a good Asda superstore and Tesco Metro due to be joined by Waitrose in 2002. Around 50 pubs and restaurants, some on the waterside, offer every cuisine from Indian to Tex Mex. A waterside restaurant boulevard built at West India Quay will add 20 more. All it needs now is a water taxi service to link them all - and to homes to offices...

If you and your family or friends want to see how East London has been transformed by the £11 billion regeneration and see how the home of your choice fits among the historic trading districts, restored wharf sides and 55 miles of waterside get aboard one of the guide tours on available for housebuyers, construction professionals or sightseeing visitors.
First take our property tours of each district's most popular residential developments.
Some of the best Isle of Dogs homes for your short-list:

ANCHORAGE POINT riverside condo
It was billed as an "exclusive development" when it was marketed in 1993 with adverts that emphasised the leisure facilities rather than the attractive building sitting next door to Cascades on the riverbank. That the pool is one of the poshest is without dispute, but the elevation of Anchorage Point from the street or river is among the best in recent years and the spacious, wellrun reception supports this. Launch prices of under £100K for a 860 sq ft 2-bed, 2-bath Dockview apt was a bargain, but some early buyers had second thoughts when asked for an extra £35K for the same with a river view. Its build quality has helped Anchorage look good still with its German-made kitchens and quality bathrooms.

 

BOARDWALK marina and Canary Wharf
Sandwiched between Canary Wharf and the Millennium Dome, the Boardwalk enjoys one of the best Docklands locations - and residents get boaty vistas that come with a brand new marina as a bonus. The waterside site overlooks Poplar Dock and the Blackwall Basin and apartments have good views of Canary Wharf and the Dome. Landscaping emphasises the water that surrounds the site on three sides and includes restored vintage Dockside cranes. The Boardwalk has become the focus for yachting and boating and with 150 new berths going into the Dock residents will be able to have their own boat moored close by.

 

CANARY RIVERSIDE Mayfair on water
One of the closest developments to Canary Wharf, the Canary Riverside development will have a luxury hotel, cafes, top-notch bars and restaurants. Four apartment buildings of various heights are grouped around the hotel, a health club and an infinity swimming pool. Apartments appear to be selling well, with many being snapped up by far-east investors. Top price is £2.62m for a penthouse of 3,680 sq. ft. This development has benefited greatly with the Jubilee Line opening. From Canary Wharf journey times are 11 minutes to Waterloo and seven mins to London Bridge. Lunch at The Ritz is 15 minutes away.

 

COMPASS POINT riverside townhouses
From the River Thames it looks like Old Amsterdam with its 18 in a terrace pointy-topped townhouses flanked by four-storey apartment towers. There's a riverside walk in front of the Dutch houses of Mariners' Mews and landscaped terraces of 125 other homes, including three and four bed villas, behind them.The international touch was emphasised when French film makers startled neighbours when they left a coffin prop in the garden of the house they had rented for the month-long shoot of Cement Garden. Then Dutch firm, Unilever shot a series of food commercials for Nigerian tv in another house. Otherwise, it's a typical Island community with a lake at the centre and neighbours to look out for. The Dutch style homes were among the first on offer and went for less than £130K.

RATINGS INDEX					Docklands original. Wide choice of homes
Location	8	Parking	7	Transport	DLY 5 mins
Quality	8	Ambiance	8	Security	Normal suburban, blocks more secure
INVESTMENT		Developer		£107K £125K	1989 2 bed, suburban view 1989 3 bed townhouse
CURRENT PRICES		Buying Renting		£235K £350 pw	3 bed townhouse 2 bed maisonette

 

CUMBERLAND MILLS riverside apts
Perched on the southern tip of the Island, this unique 88 apt development offers panoramic views of Maritime Greenwich from penthouses and most of the other apts. The first penthouse on offer (in 1989) sold within two hours for £520,000 and the development went to the top of the Docklands Digest Hot Property Chart. Quality build brings few complaints from residents who praise the porter service and good security. Early buyers in 1988 paid from £110K and there has been strong demand ever since. Close to Island Gardens and foot tunnel to Greenwich.

CYCLOPS WHARF riverside condo
Unusual name, unusual background for this 200 apartment condo on the western bank of the Island. One, two and three bed apts are on offer and there are 26 mews homes with their own courtyard. Legend has the funding to build this condo came from a Brinks Matt heist, but the public company developer smiles denial. Site centrepiece is the leisure complex on the ground and first floors of a nine-storey block. There's a pool, sauna, gym and tales of strange goings-on being captured on security video, copies of which are circulated privately. Security is a strong point and eagle-eyed porters are popular with residents. Canary Wharf's Jubilee and DLR stations are within walking distance.

 

FRIARS MEAD pagoda-style on the farm
You would never guess it, but this 72 home development is an island on an island. It was designed before the Thames Barrier, so the architects had to borrow earth from the Mudchute Farm to provide a flood barrier around the four acre housing site, shown on maps as high risk from Thames flooding. The oriental pagoda look of each "house" is topped by a mini belfry designed to carry all the pipework and venting of the four separate houses sharing the same roof. The quad homes were designed to be affordable family homes with gardens and early buyers in 1986 snapped them up at prices ranging from £30K-£40K. Residents see themselves as living on the 32 acre Mudchute Farm, which starts right outside their homes.

 

GLENGALL BRIDGE live/work Dockside
The pretentious designers dubbed it "an opportunity to create a unified axial pedestrian spine which will give a consistency among the neighbouring disparate buildings". No wonder it has taken 12 years to make it a success and one of focal points of the Island. It straddles both sides of the mile long Millwall Dock, linked by a cute Dutch-style lifting bridge. Offices, shops and live/work units mix in with cafes and restaurants. Apts built on two bridge spurs into the Dock offer one, two and three bedroom and duplex homes. Balconies give southerly views to Greenwich or water views to Canary Wharf and the IslandÕs business district. The creatives who live there are difficult to prise out of their watery eyries so few apts come on the market.

JAMESTOWN HARBOUR historic docksider
Site of the departure of America's Virginia founders, this development offers 11 different house types - from one-bed apts to large townhouses with four bedrooms. Most homes have a water view and balconies, with landscaped courtyards for the rest. Homes on Bridge House Quay overlook grounds of an 18th century Dockmaster's House. Moorings are available, but there aren't many in use, although the quayside walks and bridges are a popular route for residents and visitors. Distinctive red or blue balconies and quality build by housebuilders Wates give Jamestown Harbour a balanced feel. Best views across Poplar Dock to Canary Wharf and some apts overlook the Millennium Dome across the River Thames.

RATINGS INDEX					Docklands original. Spacious townhouses to smaller apts in landscaped blocks.
Location	8	Parking	7	Transport	DLY 5 mins
Quality	8	Ambiance	8	Security	Normal suburban, blocks more secure
INVESTMENT		Developer Developer Resale		£95K £250K £77K £162K	1989 1 bed, waterview 1989 4 bed townhouse 1994 2 bed 1994 4 bed townhouse
CURRENT PRICES		Buying Renting		£K £350 pw	3 bed apt

LOCKES FIELD courtyard homes
No water views enhance this development, but the River Thames and Greenwich are close by. 90 traditionally-built two, three, and four bedroom houses with garages, one and two bed apts and townhouses with secure underground parking should keep cars out of sight - but the architects didn't foresee the crammed access roads caused by parked cars. When launched in 1987, these homes were seen as the best value around (£85K-£165K) and this value for money is still appreciated by today's buyers and renters. The kitchen and bathroom fittings were at the top end of what was being provided generally in 1988, but many owners have refurbed with even better stuff. Most of the properties are set in courtyards or mews which gives a bijou feel.

 

LONDON YARD riverside with beach
After the London Docklands Development Corporation (LDDC) spent £millions on creating a beach, a river wall and eradicating methane pollution from the site, Dutch developer VOM stepped in with an exciting plan for a large-scale, 311 home, riverside community. A man-made lake provides water views for residents who couldn't buy on the riverside. Apts are larger than most in Docklands because of a soft financial deal with the LDDC. Always a popular location for owner occupiers and renters, London Yard offers the widest choice of apts in Docklands and the demand is always strong. Early buyers were rewarded by one bedroom apartments for just £35,000, The summer sight of deckchairs on the beach is a head turner for tourists on passing riverboats.

 

LURALDA WHARF jewel riversider
The first of Barratt Homes schemes on the Island and still considered one of the firm's jewels.
48 homes built around a lavishly landscaped courtyard facing onto the Thames, most residents enjoy spectacular views of Maritime Greenwich. Many of the first buyers in 1985 are still living there and enjoying a successful investment. Famous riverbank Island Gardens are alongside with the Greenwich foot tunnel handy for flea market shopping and restaurants in Greenwich Village, a bonus for residents. In 1988 the Docklands Light Railway Island Gardens Station was opened nearby. 10 years later and the station has closed as the line dived under the river to Greenwich - confirmation that fast growing Docklands changes every few year

PIERHEAD LOCK headline-making
Close to the Blue Bridge on the east side of the Isle of Dogs, this is a unique new development. Its Millennium Dome views are unrivalled and it's on the Meridian Line. The tall white towers development and curved terraces has attracted many new customers and lots of press coverage, with more than 80 percent of the apartments sold. One early resident spent a cool £500,000 for a penthouse and was offered £850K a month afterwards. Celebs, including Notting Hill's Hugh Grant and Liz Hurley were interested and considered putting in a bid for £1M, but didn't.

 

VANTAGE 2000 bijou on riverbank
This is one site with a view worth the asking price. Vantage 2000 is in a conservation area covering both sides of Blackwall Lock used once by boats to get into the Blackwall Basin. Phase one of the development is made up of townhouses and apartments enclosing a landscaped courtyard, along the length of which runs a water feature. A key feature is the pair of elegant towers - 14 storeys and eight storeys - designed to echo the towers created by Sir Christopher Wren at the Royal Naval College just around the bend in the river. The Vantage 2000 towers frame the Canary Wharf Tower behind and the Millennium Dome in front. The penthouses are spread over two floors with four balconies and all apartments have garages or allocated underground parking.

Househunters will come across other developments, but contact us before you commit! Your amendments to our ratings/price realisations are welcome by email or fax.
See also Take a Tour sections on Wapping/City East, Tower, Surrey Quays, Greenwich and the Royal Docks. See the latest Hot Property Chart in this property section.
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