HOT PROPERTY 8 Eaton Lane, SW1

A Heritage Conversion In Belgravia Is Offering Buyers The Chance To Own A Piece Of London History

While any heritage conversion in prime central London tends to stir up a certain amount of intrigue, few developments of recent years have commanded quite the attention, or generated just as much anticipation, as 8 Eaton Lane. Perhaps that should be of little surprise, given that the building is part of the original Grosvenor Estate – with a history dating back to 1677 – and represents one of the last remaining parts of that estate to be fully restored.

Tracing a line back to the 17th century, the Grosvenor Estate was the product of the marriage of heiress Mary Davies to Sir Thomas Grosvenor. Davies had inherited the manor of Ebury – 500 acres of land west of the City of London. From the 1720s, the Grosvenors began developing the northern part of the estate, now known as Mayfair. A few generations later, the family’s focus moved south, to what is now Belgravia, creating Chester Square and a host of other famous addresses, among them Eaton Square.

The building at number 8, now Grade II* listed, dates back to 1863, when it was commissioned by the Marquess of Grosvenor to be London’s first-ever serviced apartment building, opening as Belgrave Mansions. It’s a beautiful structure, reminiscent of the grand European mansion houses of the 19th century. The architect, Thomas Cundy III, who was a close friend of Thomas Cubitt, ‘the builder of Belgravia’, drew inspiration from the Parisian styles of the French Second Empire, including details such as roof mansards, stone dressing and ‘oeil-de-boeuf’ windows. A key part of the development of 8 Eaton Lane includes fully restoring the original façade.

In 1921, the building was reimagined as the Belgrave Hotel, before becoming Grosvenor Gardens House offices in the 1930s. Now, it’s going back to its residential roots, expected to complete in 2024 as a collection of 42 residences and seven retail units.

Homes at 8 Eaton Lane, some of which enjoy views towards Buckingham Palace, will range from one-bedroom apartments to five-bedroom penthouses with interiors designed by Millier London, which is in the process of creating spaces that marry French Renaissance detailing with classically British sensibility.

Think marble flooring, fluted craftwork and freestanding baths in a palette of oak and limestone.

Inspired by the grandeur and proportions of the building’s distinguished history, ceilings reach heights of to 3.2 metres, while owners will also enjoy access to a 16-metre swimming pool, gym, spa treatment rooms, cinema and a business suite.

Developed by private equity group CIT, which was widely applauded for recently spearheading London’s only Grade-I* listed ‘new build’ – Regent’s Crescent in Marylebone. Given the success of that project, you can expect similar levels of demand for the new homes at 8 Eaton Lane. Indeed, 40 per cent of the residences have already sold – a sign that the property savvy know just how rare a development like this is.

Two-bedroom residences at 8 Eaton Lane start from £4.13 million. For more information please contact Mems Kannides at mems.kannides@savills.com or on +44 (0) 7815 027 286, savills.com