Business & Money | Monday 30 May, 2016 2:48 am |

 

Qatar First Bank L.L.C. (QFB), a leading Shari’ah compliant bank based in Qatar and listed on the Qatar Stock Exchange, announces the completion of 7-12 Leinster Square, a residential real estate development in Leinster Square – London W2. The announcement was at the QFB & JLL seminar titled “London Real Estate Forecast”. The seminar was hosted at QFB’s private banking lounge in collaboration with the British Embassy in Qatar. It was attended by QFB corporate and private banking clients, alongside other institutional invitees interested in the London real estate. 

 

Leinster Square is QFB’s second completed real estate development in London. The project offers QFB shareholders and clients an opportunity to invest in five stunning three and four bedroom Townhouses and six lateral three bedroom apartments.

 

QFB acquired the building, in 7-12 Leinster Square, in August 2012, when it was a neglected, derelict hotel. Over the last four years, QFB has worked with the development manager, London-based Alchemi Group, to rebuild and restore the building to its former Victorian glory.  The building benefits from southerly views and access to a private garden square, very rare in central London. 

 

Nizar Ahmadi, QFB’s Head of Private Banking & Wealth Management, said: 

 

“The completion of our second residential real estate project in London complements the development of QFB’s pioneer open architecture platform. The platform is backed by our talented and highly experienced team who are well-equipped to meet the individual needs of our clients with high levels of confidentiality, professionalism and responsibility.”   

 

Ahmadi added: “QFB’s private banking team, including our dedicated world class female relationship managers, and real estate partners, JLL, are available to provide information about London residential market and market forecasts for the next five years with highlights on the important factors influencing the market.” 

 

Scott Strachan, Executive Director - Alternative Investments at QFB in charge of real estate projects, said: 

 

Leinster Square is a unique project in a great location in central London. It is very rare to find new developments like this, that offer modern facilities like air conditioning and underfloor heating in a Victorian building. The development is minutes away from Hyde Park and has excellent transport links, to both the Underground and Paddington station, which provides access to Heathrow and Crossrail. The development also benefits from 24/7 concierge services and all the homes have at least three bedrooms, which make them suitable for Qatari families.”

 

Reflecting the demand for these investments, the project only has two apartments left for investment on the top, fourth floor, of the building and 5 townhouses. The townhouses consist of accommodation on the first floor of the building, the ground floor, lower ground floor, and basement, and all have private terraces at the rear of the building as well as their own entrance and access to the private garden square, which has also been restored and replanted with lawns, flowerbeds and recreation areas.

 

Strachan added: Leinster Square is QFB’s second completed project in London, following the completion of the award winning “Westbourne House” completed in August 2015. Located in nearby Westbourne Grove, the residential real estate development consists of 20 luxury apartments ranging from one to three bedrooms, and an amazing duplex penthouse with unimpeded 360 degree views.” 

 

Created in collaboration with the award-winning architectural firm Stiff + Trevillion, and also developed by the Alchemi Group, “Westbourne House” project has only two, two bedroom, apartments remaining for investment. 

 

QFB, earlier this month, announced the signing of an agreement with JLL, in order to offer shareholders and clients the ability to source real estate opportunities based on their specific requirements and budget. Partnering with JLL, QFB, in line with the increased appetite for real estate investments in London and globally, shareholders, as well as private, corporate and institutional clients, have now the platform to identify real estate investment opportunities through more than 280 corporate offices with operations across 80 countries.