Wharf Life's Property Supplement, Sept 20-Oct 4, 2023

The Vetro tower next to the DLR at Westferry contains the Luminesce properties on its lower floors as well as the UK’s tallest Premier Inn

live right on the

by Jon Massey

Acollection of newly built shared ownership properties has been unveiled beside Westferry DLR station. For the sake of clarity, Luminesce is the name the nine homes are being marketed under by property services company SiteSales and Gateway Housing Association, the organisation that is delivering them.

The one and two-bedroom apartments are located in the 30-storey Vetro tower, a joint development by Rockwell and Whitbread, which houses 68 homes in total as well as the UK’s tallest Premier Inn, with 400 beds. Its location, as well as being extremely handy for the DLR, puts it a few minutes’ walk from both the amenities of West India Quay and Canary Wharf.

The shared ownership apartments themselves are located on the second, third, fourth and fifth floors and range in size from 564sq ft to 702sq ft.

They all feature open-plan living areas and come with fully fitted kitchens, integrated appliances and private balconies.

Residents’ facilities at the development include a communal seventh floor podium garden and a fitness area.

The scheme has been designed by architects SimpsonHaugh, known for Dollar Bay at West India South Dock and One Blackfriars, and boasts a combination of brickwork and glazing that aims to reflect both the look of Canary Wharf to the east and older parts of east London to the west.

The tower’s proximity to Westferry DLR makes for journeys into the City in less than 10 minutes via Bank, as well as linking residents directly with the likes of Greenwich, London City Airport,

Royal Docks and Stratford. The building sits in the historic area of Limehouse – Westferry only being the station name, taken from the road that travels down one side of the Isle Of Dogs – meaning local amenities are plentiful.

The tower is a short walk from Narrow Street, which boasts ancient pub The Grapes, a branch of Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street Kitchen and the Holy Cow Indian restaurant.

Other notable venues to explore include The Star Of The East Pub in Commercial Road, Mario’s Cafe in Three Colt Street and near neighbour Three Colt Gallery, which serves up art, coffee and cakes in a dog-friendly space.

The apartments are also close to the Museum Of London Docklands on West India Quay, which offers a wealth of information about the local area in its multiple free galleries.

Housed in a former Georgian sugar warehouse, the museum also has a dedicated gallery for kids offering a rolling programme of activities and hosts special exhibitions on site.

For more active types, the scheme is located next to Cycle Superhighway Three for access into the City and the CanaryWall Climbing Centre is just across the road under the brick built arches that carry the DLR tracks. It specialises in bouldering.

Prices for a Luminesce shared ownership property start at £134,999 for a 25% share of a one-bed, based on a full market value of £539,996 Go to site-sales.co.uk for more information or to register an interest in these properties

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how Luminesce offers a collection of shared ownership homes a within minutes of the Canary Wharf estate

Shared ownership properties in the Luminesce collection at Vetro beside Westferry DLR station

Prices for the Luminesce, marketed by SiteSales and delivered by Gateway Housing Association, start at £134,999 for a 25% share of a one-bed

The homes come with an open-plan design and each has its own balcony

Things to check when charging the battery for your e-bike or e-scooter – l Never charge while asleep or not around l Unplug when charging is finished l Always use the correct charger and source replacements from a reputable supplier l Never block your escape route with a bike or scooter

Protect your property: ensure you are charging good quality batteries with care

Fire can quickly take hold in residential properties with damaging and sometimes fatal consequences

Council are warning of the dangers posed by charging batteries for electric scooters and bikes in homes without due care and attention

The London Fire Brigade and Tower Hamlets

warning safety

why the utmost care should be taken when charging electric batteries in the home

by Jon Massey

Electric bikes and scooters are everywhere. Delivery riders cruise the streets and pavements on them, commuters travel to and from work without getting a sweat on and Londoners zip along on them with ease as a way to explore and traverse the capital for leisure pursuits.

They’re a revolution in transportation and one that has swept into everyday life with apparently little meaningful regulation. For example, it remains illegal to ride an e-scooter anywhere except on private land in the UK – a law that is largely ignored and an offence seldom prosecuted. Similarly e-bikes cannot be ridden

anywhere except on the road, provided they meet the relevant classification.

However, the reality is large numbers of people now use them and that brings with it significant danger. On average, an e-bike or e-scooter catches fire every month in Tower Hamlets alone and the London Fire Brigade (LFB) is reporting a 60% increase in such incidents for the 12 months to July year-on-year.

Tower Hamlets borough commander Richard Tapp said: “It’s incredibly concerning that we’re continuing to see a rise in incidents involving e-bikes and e-scooters.

“When these batteries and chargers fail, they do so with ferocity and, because the fires develop so rapidly, the situation can quickly become incredibly serious. There is a signifi-

cant risk posed by e-bikes which have been converted. We are predominantly seeing fires where batteries have been purchased online, which may not meet the correct safety standards.

“Our advice is to store and charge these items in a safe location if possible, such as in a shed or a garage. Do not leave them to charge unattended. If you are charging them indoors, please ensure everyone in your home knows what to do in the event of a fire. If you find a fire in the home, never tackle it yourself. Shut the door, leave the property and call 999.”

The escalating situation and the death of a man from such a fire in March has prompted Tower Hamlets Council and LFB to call on the Government to do more to tackle

the issue. Locally, the organisations have also launched an awareness campaign to promote safe charging.

Mayor Of Tower Hamlets Lutfur Rahman said: “Given that 80 per cent of homes in Tower Hamlets are flats, it’s a particular concern because of the rapid rate at which fire could spread from home to home.

“Doing nothing is simply not an option. We have taken steps locally to warn people of the dangers but we need the Government to take action.” Go to towerhamlets.gov.uk for more information

Scan this code for more about charging your battery safely