All 19 properties available for sale at Norwich's new high rise, Westlegate Tower, have sold, subject to contract, it was revealed after the very last townhouse was snapped up earlier this week.
The runaway success of a building originally earmarked for demolition has been attributed to the fact the tower offers something unique in city living – particularly the specially created penthouse pad 40 metres high on two extra floors built onto the existing building.
The penthouse was sold for offers about the £1 million mark. Its new owner will enjoy a three sided palatial roof top terrace with its own bar and possibly a hot tub or even a plunge pool.
Formerly offices, Westlegate House was built in 1959. The structure had lain empty and neglected for more than a decade.
When the plans for the development launched last May, the £8 million investment was seen by some as a gamble, but has turned out be a sell-out.
Richard Aldous, of Savills New Homes, selling agents, said: 'There is just nothing like Westlegate anywhere else in the city.
'A huge amount of people want to move into the city centre and want to downsize. But I have to be honest, even we have been surprised at the success but we just hit the right market.' People paid from £400,000 to about £1 million to live in the tower.
Ian Fox, of FW Properties, which co-owns the building together with London-based Soho Estates, said: 'Westlegate is unique. Interestingly, most of the people who have bought are couples, all have come from Norfolk and it's the location, right in the city centre, which seems to have appealed.'
Co-director at FW Properties Julian Wells agreed, adding: 'No Norwich City footballers have bought here but I think there is at least one person who has bought an apartment as a second home because they wanted a place in the city.'
Interesting features include the fact that the nature of the compact site means car parking will be created from a specially installed 'stacked' drive in lift and although the glass in apartments is not self-cleaning, there will be a team of window cleaners who will abseil from the very top, made available to keep it looking good for occupants.
All of the city's landmark icons from the cathedral to the castle, Carrow Road and the brightly coloured tops of the marketplace are visible from the apartments.
In fact, buyers of the top floors will be able to watch, bird-like, over the entire city.
The developers decided against creating high volume units, instead giving apartments and lots of space on their own floors.
The site includes 17 luxury apartments, two townhouses and three commercial units at the base.
Some of the apartments are only a few weeks away from being finished with the project on schedule to complete by late spring/early summer this year.
For more on this story visit www.homes24.co.uk
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