INTEREST in the £9 billion (RM49.64 billion) Battersea Power Station development in London surged, especially for the residential units, early this year, the same month the UK officially severed its links with the European Union (EU).

Enquiries and transactions in January were the busiest start to a year in at least five years for the developer, Battersea Power Station head of sales and lettings Mark Hutton said.

Interested buyers, who have been speaking with the developer for the past one year, are ready to commit, Hutton said.

The sales recorded early this year were across both Phase 2: The Power Station, and Phase 3: Frank Gehry and Foster + Partners buildings.

Generally, sales for the Battersea Power Station tend to peak in the spring, between March and May, and autumn (September to November).

Roughly, 50% of buyers for the Battersea Power Station are locals, while the remaining 50% are international purchasers from Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

The integrated development recorded £120 million in sales last year, a figure which is expected to be eclipsed this year based on the initial responses.

Battersea Power Station is owned by a consortium comprising SP Setia Bhd, Sime Darby Property Bhd and the Employees Provident Fund (EPF).

The commercial assets within the Battersea Power Station building are now directly owned by Permodalan Nasional Bhd and the EPF following an acquisition in early 2019.

Brexit has seen three extensions since the UK-wide referendum in June 2016, where the majority voted for a divorce from the EU.

The uncertainties regarding the withdrawal took a toll on sales of the Battersea Power Station units. However, the Conservative Party’s victory in the UK snap election in December 2019 enabled the UK to finally ink the exit from the EU in January 2020.

UK house prices jumped 0.4% in January due to greater market certainty and optimism and are up 0.9% year-on-year (YoY), according to a recent report by the Home. co.uk Asking Price Index — the UK’s only independent forward market indicator.

It added that while an uptick may be anticipated on a seasonal basis, the YoY figures show that market conditions are improving over and above expectations.