73 flats in Uxbridge town centre were sold in just five hours for over £16 million, even though building work hasn't yet begun.
Keen property buyers began queueing to get their hands on one of Howarth Homes' apartments up to 36 hours before the launch.
The housing block, nicknamed Panorama, will provide 73 new studios and apartments, at a starting price of £224,995 - for completion in early 2019.
Hillingdon Council approved the application to go ahead, including the demolition of the Fassnidge Community Dining Hall, currently on site, at a major planning application hearing on March 3.
Just one week later, Howarth Homes sold all 73 apartments and even exchanged contracts, at their launch on Thursday (March 10) at the Sheraton Skyline Hotel by Heathrow Airport .
Couple queue for 36 hours to bag a flat
First time buyers, Marina Kosleva and her husband, arrived at 5am the day before to ensure they got a place at the front of the queue, having rented for the last few years.
Mrs Kosleva said: “We really wanted to buy a Panorama apartment as they are beilng built in a great location.
“It's very convenient for me as I work at Heathrow and my husband also works locally.
“We see this as a long term investment for our future - because we are buying it off plan and it won’t be finished for a couple of years, it should have hopefully increased in value before we even move in.”
When plans for the apartments were announced, around 60 residents signed a petition urging the council to reject the application as it was an 'erosion of the ethos of the Fassnidge [Memorial] Trust'.
The dining hall serves round 20 people aged over 60 use the facility, which is staffed by one paid cook and three volunteers, and will have no venue for 18 months while the block is built.
As part of the application approval, Howarth Homes must provide a replacement community dining facility in the block, along with undercroft car parking, a new vehicle access point, communal and private amenity areas, and landscaping.
'Unprecedented demand for housing'
Howarth Homes says it has experienced an “unprecedented demand” for their developments in the South East, with nearby Albany House, a collection of 12 apartments in West Drayton , all sold in just one hour.
Mary O’Sullivan, Head of Sales at Howarth Homes, said: “The fact that our last few development launches have sold out within a matter of hours on each launch day proves there is a real appetite for competitively priced, high quality homes in the South East.
“For anyone who missed out on getting an apartment at Panorama, Howarth Homes have a number of other developments coming up later this Summer.”
Ms O'Sullivan says the 'stylish, contemporary' apartments, 'enhancing the Uxbridge skyline' were priced to appeal to “purchasers who need easy access to central London but cannot afford to pay the premium of living in the capital city.”
She added: “They offer exceptional value, and with the properties being launched off plan, there is the potential for a rise in capital value prior to their completion in 2019.
“Panorama ticks all the boxes, high quality of the homes with fast transport links into central London, yet within reach of first time buyer budgets too.”
Uxbridge is a 'prime location'
Due to the striking elevation, Howarth Homes say many of the new properties will enjoy unrivalled views across Fassinidge Park. The apartments will offer intelligently crafted living spaces with quality fixtures and fittings, with the majority benefitting from their own private balcony or terrace to make the most of the surrounding vista.
The new properties enjoy a prime location just a couple of minutes from a wide array of shops, restaurants and culture – with two major shopping centres, The Pavilions and Intu both filled with high street brands.
Uxbridge is a proven growth zone with research published by Rightmove and Zoopla at the end of 2015 showing property values in the area increased by 14%, with local agents anticipating even higher growth rates this year.
The student rental market is also booming, with Brunel University , the internationally renowned facility which hosts around 16,000 students every year - has seen huge influx from overseas students, triggering an even higher demand for rental properties in the area.
Bucks New University also has a campus in Uxbridge which provides cutting edge theatres enabling nursing students to take a more hands on approach to their education.
For information on upcoming Howarth developments, visit their website or view more information about the Uxbridge site .
