London Square
Returning to London in August 2025 feels different. The last time I was here, Keir Starmer had just been appointed Prime Minister and hope was in the air. A year on, the world feels unusually dangerous. I came to reconnect—and to see the city through fresh lenses. With so much noise in the world right now, it felt important to pause, to look closely, and to ask: what will truly stand the test of time? And, more personally, what will London be when my daughter comes here for her uni?
Some say London is mired in doom and gloom simply because the rest of the world is. Flip through the papers and you’ll hear the drumbeat: commentators calling tops and troughs; developers saying it’s too expensive to build; government missing housing targets; the Chancellor squeezing taxes left, right and centre. But after decades in the international property market—through the Asian Financial Crisis (1997–98), the Global Financial Crisis (2008), and the uncertainty of Covid-19—I respectfully and strongly disagree. London’s resilience is recorded, again and again, in its history.
London is correcting, not collapsing. London adapts and evolves. It’s built for adaptation; it keeps finding a way: it falls, it rebuilds. The Great Fire of 1666 burned it down; it rebuilt. The Blitz bombed it; it rebuilt. That cycle of reinvention is the city’s edge. Yes, there’s an undeniable supply crisis—and that is exactly where the opportunity lies. Working through the shortage will take time—some say a generation, even a century at the current pace. Right now, it’s undoubtedly a buyers’ market, and for the astute that means golden opportunities. We all know the saying: “London is London”. Policies may need to be more investor-friendly, but London still sits firmly in the minds of high-net-worth individuals worldwide—the global playground everyone wants a turn on. The streets aren’t empty, and the desire to own here has not disappeared.
On this trip, London Square stood out and truly resonated with me—affirming that London is London. The strategy—and the follow-through—of aggressively acquiring sites across Greater London sparked real conviction. They are, quite literally, putting their money where their mouth is. Since the GBP 230 million acquisition by Aldar Properties (Aldar) in December 2023, London Square is well-funded and driven to create world-class developments, anchored in high-quality design, sustainability, and customer-service excellence. I visited a range of their projects: some with local appeal, like Twickenham and Fifty Brook Green, and others with more international draw, like Wandsworth Common and Woolwich. Upcoming sites in Wimbledon and Dollis Hill are particularly exciting—each within easy reach of Tube stations. The range of products makes them a very dynamic player in the London property scene.
London Square’s confidence in the city mirrors my own: buy well, buy in the right location, and the asset will stand the test of time.
I’ll be in Malaysia from 23 October to 03 November 2025, visiting Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, and Kota Kinabalu. If you’re around, let’s catch up. We can exchange thoughts on the latest market developments — not because you should take my word for it, but because staying informed always pays. Especially if, like me, you share a love for London.
Warm regards,
Jazmine Goh
Founder, Cipina Consultancy