If you could pick the next big must-have for high-end home shoppers, would an electric vehicle (EV) charging point make the list? In London, a city intent on becoming carbon neutral by 2050, developers are banking on just that. According to industry body The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), electric vehicle take-up accelerated faster than any other sector last year, with sales up 185.9 per cent from 2019, despite new car sales overall falling by 29.4 per cent. Lucian Cook, head of residential research at Savills, sees this trend being reflected in what people look for in a home. “The size and style of the houses, the goods in the shops nearby – all this can help build a picture of the relative affluence of a neighbourhood,” he says. “Now it seems we can add the number of electric cars to the mix.” EVs might still only account for less than one per cent of all existing vehicle registrations in London, but their higher production cost means a lot are targeted at the top end of the market . “Even those models produced by non-luxury brands still carry a significant upfront premium compared with their more traditional equivalents,” notes Cook. “Partly for that reason, such cars are increasingly being seen as a status symbol.” Savills’ research shows that, on average, levels of private ownership of electric vehicles and hybrids in neighbourhoods with an average house price of over £500,000 (US$690,000) are more than four times those seen in cheaper areas. The New Zealand property market is currently ‘on fire’ thanks to Covid-19 In the five £1 million-plus boroughs of Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster, the City of London, Camden and Hammersmith and Fulham, they account for one in 27 privately registered vehicles, compared with fewer than one in 500 privately registered vehicles in eight local authorities, including Middlesbrough, Blaenau Gwent and Hull. “And while 40 per cent of private ultra-low emission vehicle (ULEV) registrations are in London and the southeast, their highest concentrations are in some of the most affluent areas in each of the 11 regions of the country, with Harrogate topping the list in the North of England, Rushcliffe and Stratford-upon-Avon doing so in the Midlands,” Cook continued. Initial purchasing cost aside, widespread adoption of EVs relies on having the infrastructure to support them, he notes. In addition to the provision of public charging points across the country, Cook believes that in coming years, charging facilities at home will be critical. “In the meantime, the extent of electric vehicle ownership in an area is as good a measure as any of the affluence of the neighbourhood,” he says. “So if the growl of a V8 is being replaced by the whizz of an electric motor where you live, the chances are it is on the up.” Developers revving their engines at the prospect include St James, part of the Berkeley Group, whose west London development White City Living will have an electric car charging point for each one of its 586 parking spaces. This will be an amenity enjoyed by around one in four of the residents of more than 2,300 new homes in the scheme, including suites, apartments and penthouses. Neil Ramsdale, managing director, St James: White City Living, says this initiative aligns with the company’s efforts in tackling climate change. “Encouraging a sustainable and healthy way of city life is at the heart of White City Living,” he said. The scheme offers nature-inspired outdoor spaces incorporating a five-acre park, a quayside and public squares, along with indoor facilities including a residents’ club with pool, spa, lounges, cafe, private dining and cinemas. With both White City and Wood Lane Underground stations by the entrance, residents can reach Bond Street and the West End within 15 minutes. The area also neighbours Holland Park, Notting Hill and Kensington, with Imperial College London’s new campus nearby. The latest homes at White City Living, priced from £727,500, should be ready for occupancy by the first quarter of 2023. Asia Pacific property in the Year of the Ox At Kings Road Park by St William – part of the Berkeley Group – 20 per cent of the car parking spaces in the first phase include EV charging points, with the remainder all equipped for future connectivity. Breathing new life into a former industrial site, King’s Road Park is a new landscape-led neighbourhood set to deliver more than 1,800 new homes, six acres of public parkland, 100,000 sq ft of commercial space and a suite of world-class residents’ facilities. Residents will also have access to a private courtyard with various features including an atrium with Wi-fi-enabled outdoor workspaces. Fulham Broadway Underground and Imperial Wharf Overground stations are both within 10 minutes’ walk of the property. Apartments designed to maximise the landscape views – many with private balconies or terraces – are priced from £700,000. Completion is estimated in July 2022. Other upcoming developments with provision for EV charging at every home include The Brentford Project by Ballymore. Set beside the West London waterfront where the Thames and Brent rivers meet, the 11.8-acre scheme in the heart of Brentford will revitalise the town centre, delivering 876 new homes alongside commercial, retail, cultural and leisure spaces. Along the high street, pedestrian lanes will connect with the waterfront and a new foodie destination, Workhouse Dock, lined with restaurants, pubs and cafes. A sense of community will be encouraged in a dedicated space for outdoor markets, performance and public events. Supercar in your lounge? How these luxury homes are purpose built for petro lheads The first apartments slated for completion in 2022, are priced from £445,000 for a one-bedroom suite. Taylor Wimpey Central London is similarly allowing for EV connectivity for many of the 681 new homes at Postmark, a phased development in the university district of Farrington. The latest phase, Signature Place, incorporates 109 apartments across two striking buildings, alongside a wellness centre. While rubbing shoulders with institutions like the London School of Economics, King’s College London, University College London and SOAS University of London, residents will find five London Underground stations within walking distance. Prices at Postmark start from £955,000 for a one-bedroom apartment. Apartments in the first phase are available to move in now, with completions at Signature Place scheduled for 2022. At One St John’s Wood, a boutique collection of 112 apartments and penthouses in affluent postcode NW8, valet parking is offered along with EV charging at the secure underground car park. Architecturally designed by Squire & Partners, this Regal London development enjoys one of the city’s most sought-after residential locations, overlooking the Lord’s Cricket Ground and with Regents Park on the doorstep. Inspired by the Victorian mansion blocks of the surrounding area, the homes will feature classic architecture and high spec construction. Resident amenities include a spa and wellness centre with swimming pool, gym, sauna and steam room; an opulent 14-guest private dining room; business and club lounges; a cinema and roof terrace. Apartment prices start at around £1 million. What you can buy from £755,000 (US$1 million): A new apartment at Prince of Wales Drive, located moments from Battersea Park and the River Thames. EV charging points will be provided for residents who will share use of a pool, sauna, steam room and roof garden, and be within walking distance of London’s new Northern Line Underground station at Battersea Power Station due to open this year. What you can buy from around £1 million (US$1.4 million): Bragging rights to a bird’s-eye view over the famous Lord’s Cricket Ground without leaving home. Apartments at One St John’s Wood range from studios to four bedrooms, all with high-spec finishes befitting their prestige status. Resident amenities include a spa, pool, gym, business lounges and cinema, with EV charging in the basement car park. Want more stories like this? Sign up here. Follow STYLE on Facebook , Instagram , YouTube and Twitter .