Best New Build Apartments Under £1M in Prime London
Buying a new build apartment under £1 million in Prime London is increasingly rare — but not impossible. In 2026, the strongest opportunities sit in prime-fringe neighbourhoods, regeneration corridors, and highly connected Zones 1–3 locations, where modern developments offer strong lifestyle appeal and long-term capital resilience.
According to Savills Prime Central London Residential Research and Knight Frank London Forecasts, new build apartments below the £1 million threshold perform best when they combine:
excellent transport connectivity,
limited comparable supply,
modern amenities and concierge services,
and strong rental demand from professionals.
Below are the best new build apartment options under £1 million that meet those criteria.
1. City Road / Old Street New Builds (EC1 / N1)
Typical price range: £750,000 – £950,000 (1-bedroom)
This corridor remains one of the strongest prime-fringe markets in London. Developments around City Road benefit from proximity to the City, Shoreditch, and Angel, alongside premium amenities such as resident gyms, pools, concierge services, and rooftop terraces.
Why it works under £1M
Zone 1 location
Extremely strong rental demand
Modern towers with hotel-style amenities
Limited new supply in future phases
Buyer profile: professionals, investors, international purchasers seeking liquidity.
2. London Dock & Wapping New Builds (E1W)
Typical price range: £700,000 – £900,000 (1-bedroom)
Wapping remains one of the few locations where new build apartments near the City and the river can still fall below £1 million. These developments offer concierge services, landscaped courtyards, and excellent walkability to financial districts.
Why it works under £1M
Prime riverside location
Walkable to the City and Tower Bridge
Strong corporate and executive rental market
Scarcity of comparable new builds
Buyer profile: City professionals, buy-to-let investors, pied-à-terre buyers.
3. Southbank / Waterloo Fringe New Builds (SE1)
Typical price range: £850,000 – £995,000 (1-bed or compact 2-bed)
The Southbank remains one of London’s most culturally rich locations. Select new build schemes near Waterloo and Southwark stations still offer apartments under £1 million, particularly at early sales stages or for efficient layouts.
Why it works under £1M
Exceptional transport connectivity
Cultural and lifestyle gravity
Strong rental demand from media and corporate tenants
Limited future land availability
Buyer profile: owner-occupiers, cultural professionals, long-term investors.
4. Canary Wharf & Marsh Wall New Builds (E14)
Typical price range: £700,000 – £950,000 (1–2 bedrooms)
Luxury towers in Canary Wharf continue to offer some of the best value new builds under £1 million, particularly for apartments with premium amenities such as pools, concierge, lounges, and workspaces.
Why it works under £1M
Elizabeth Line connectivity
High-rise lifestyle appeal
Consistent professional tenant demand
Strong net rental yields relative to entry price
Buyer profile: yield-focused investors, international buyers, professionals.
5. Queen’s Park / Kilburn New Builds (Zone 2)
Typical price range: £500,000 – £850,000 (1–2 bedrooms)
Zone 2 developments around Queen’s Park and Kilburn represent one of the last genuinely affordable prime-adjacent new build markets. With excellent rail and underground connections, these schemes offer space and value.
Why it works under £1M
Zone 2 pricing advantage
Village-style neighbourhood appeal
Fast access to Paddington and West End
Broad buyer and tenant appeal
Buyer profile: first-time buyers, young families, long-term holders.
6. Woodberry Down & Manor House New Builds (N4)
Typical price range: £600,000 – £850,000 (1–2 bedrooms)
This large-scale regeneration scheme has matured into a well-established residential district with lakeside views, concierge services, and fast links into Zone 1.
Why it works under £1M
Significant regeneration uplift already realised
Attractive lifestyle environment
Strong rental demand from professionals
Competitive pricing relative to amenities
Buyer profile: value-driven owner-occupiers and long-term investors.
7. Emerging Prime-Fringe Regeneration Zones (Zones 2–3)
Across areas such as Stratford, Blackfriars Road, Colindale, and parts of Peckham, select new build schemes continue to offer apartments under £1 million with strong fundamentals.
Why they work under £1M
Infrastructure-led growth
Increasing lifestyle and retail provision
Entry pricing below established prime areas
Long-term capital growth potential
Buyer profile: growth-focused investors, early-stage buyers.
What “Prime London Under £1M” Really Means
True Prime Central London locations — Mayfair, Knightsbridge, Belgravia — are now largely out of reach under £1 million for new builds. However, Savills and Knight Frank research confirms that prime-fringe and well-connected inner-London zones often deliver:
better rental yields,
higher liquidity,
and stronger long-term capital performance
than overstretched trophy locations.
Key Buying Tips for Under £1M New Builds
Focus on transport first
Elizabeth Line, Overground, and major interchange stations matter more than postcode prestige.
Prioritise amenities
Concierge, gyms, lounges, and workspaces materially improve rental and resale performance.
Avoid oversupply pockets
Choose developments with limited competing phases or unique positioning.
Think liquidity, not just lifestyle
Smaller, well-designed units in strong locations resell faster.
Final Thoughts
In 2026, the best new build apartments under £1 million in London are found not in traditional ultra-prime postcodes, but in strategic, highly connected neighbourhoods where lifestyle, infrastructure, and demand intersect.
City Road, Southbank fringes, Canary Wharf, Wapping, and select Zone 2 markets offer the smartest entry points — combining modern living with long-term growth potential.
For buyers willing to think strategically rather than sentimentally, these developments represent some of the strongest value opportunities in London’s new build market today.