For those lucky enough to live in the Embassy Gardens development located in Nine Elms and have access to the sought after Sky Pool, it seems like the perfect city pad.
The modern luxury apartments boast stunning views overlooking London’s city skyline, as well as a 35-metre-high swimming pool that gives people “a swim like no other”.
The Embassy Gardens development by EcoWorld Ballymore includes 2,000 homes and luxury apartments, a retail space, office space, as well as bars, restaurants and landscaped gardens.
The crowning feature is the new 82-foot-long heated pool, which stretches across two flat roofs of the five-star hotel-like Embassy Gardens.
Prices for apartments in Embassy Gardens start at £650,000. But what’s the inside story and is it really as good as it looks?
There have been mixed reviews from some residents living in the development who have taken to the site Home Views to express their opinions on the property and give us an inside view on what we’re all missing.
Ratings for the properties range from two to five stars and it seem there are a few downsides to living in the multi million pound development.
One said: “Residents are not really involved in development mostly ignored. Property management extremely poor. Building management very poor.”
They also expressed concern about the quality of the building.
“Design and build of flat very poor not enough sound proofing,” one resident said. “Things damage and break very easily.
“The management are awful. When you want something they are extremely unhelpful but when they need something from you they hound you.”
Another was impressed with the facilities and the staff but was disappointed by something else.
“Facilities are great and luxurious and (most) concierge staff is very friendly. However, management of facilities and property management is poor.
“The facility booking system is not working properly and especially the gyms are not utilized as it is advertised.”
And as for access to the Sky Pool, it seems that even those living in the development are finding it difficult to go for a swim.
“Anticipated Skypool is a Ballymore marketing pawn and residents are only allowed limited access,” one said.
Another, who gave the development a low rating of two stars, said: “We were sold the dream with no delivery.
“Great location – but too much style over substance.”
Others offered more glowing reviews
“We love the development. It looks great, the out and inside are very well maintained and clean,” one resident said. “The gardens are well managed and blossom beautifully. Staff is super nice and helpful, with many working here for years.
“The gym, cinema, pool (soon Sky Pool!) and lounge are great. We use all of them regularly.”
Another added: “Embassy Gardens has high design standards and some amazing shared facilities (sky pool, cinema etc.), albeit unavailable during lockdown. Concierge staff are super friendly. Generally, stuff works well.
“There have been teething troubles e.g. little or no window cleaning. Property managers have been impossible to get hold of to respond to persistent issues. But these are first world problems.”
Residential Service Manager, Darryn Johnson, said: “My objective is to make sure that all residents receive the best service from myself and my team and are proud to be part of such an amazing development.”
