Introducing John O’Neill, founder and CEO of Lifestyle Residences
As works progress at pace on Mulberry Court, our latest development, why not find out a little more about John O’Neill, one of the family behind the company, someone with an impressive track record in the property industry, and a clear vision that has guided his career over many decades.
Mulberry Court, a stone’s throw from the banks of the Thames in Hampton Wick, is a collection of 34 one and two-bedroom apartments for independent retirement living, where buyers can downsize to their dream lifestyle. Set in beautiful landscaped gardens and offering welcoming shared spaces including a café, club room and flexible event space, as well as an on-site salon, the concept is more ‘village within a village’ allowing buyers to ‘downsize to their dream lifestyle’ than just a series of separate apartments.
John established his place in the industry with an impressive roster of high-profile projects. His track record includes working on iconic sites such as the Palace of Westminster, prestigious hotels including the Dorchester and the Hilton Park Lane and world class restaurants: Corrigans of Mayfair and Alain Ducasse to name just two. Today, with his team at Lifestyle Residences John focuses on homes for first time buyers, town centre homes, and apartments for independent retirement living.
From the very outset of his career, John wanted to develop a different approach to building projects. In 1986 he completed his thesis, entitled the Economics of Adapting Buildings in Obsolescence to New Uses. Throughout his career John has remained passionate about improving town centre locations and existing estates, and considering how a development can best integrate with its local environment. Every Lifestyle Residences development is an opportunity to bring to life the ideas he explored in his thesis – with developments which form the heart of new communities and breathe life into otherwise underused urban sites and locations. It is only possible to complete work that achieves these aims with a real understanding of the history and demographics of an area. This sort of understanding forms a foundation for successful projects that are a good local ‘fit’ – as recognised when one of John’s early builds with Lifestyle Residences, the conversion of Churcham House to residential apartments in Teddington, was given an award by the Teddington Society, the local group that aims to preserve and enhance the quality of life of those living and working in Teddington.
With Lifestyle Residences John also builds on other key principles that have always been important to him: in the first instance, the power of establishing enduring partnerships, and the value of a personal approach to those relationships. The owners of Mulberry Court for example had longstanding connections to the local community. They did not want to sell up and move on, for them, the chance to form a bespoke joint venture with Lifestyle Residences which would see the site enjoy a new chapter of life and continue to be a useful asset was exactly what they needed. The careful, respectful model that John has created for partnership working has proven a successful way to deliver residential developments that are firmly rooted in their neighbourhood.
Secondly, from his decades long track record delivering high-end commercial projects for demanding clients, John brings to Lifestyle Residences developments a recognition of the value of quality design throughout, and an incredible attention to detail and finishing. John uses his long years of experience to ensure that the Lifestyle Residences team works as one to create beautiful places that people will enjoy calling home. John brings together his substantial experience across multiple strands of the construction industry: as contractor, operator and developer to deliver desirable places to live.
Every week brings the completion of Mulberry Court one step closer. Here in Hampton Wick, John and the Lifestyle team’s vision was to build somewhere that buyers could ‘downsize to their dream lifestyle’, enjoying friendships on their doorstep and the convenience of concierge style services as well as care when they need it. The location had to be exactly right – close to the village high street with excellent transport links and an abundance of green space. As to the build itself, there is an elegance to the interiors and shared spaces that will give the finished development a club-like feel, and every detail from the separate garden ‘rooms’ designed for socialising, peaceful relaxation or events, to the carefully furnished library and café are shaped to bring people together in their active, happy retirement.
As the way the UK lives changes due to COVID-19, the demand for quality homes, with the space to work as well as enjoy life will continue to rise. Watch this space for more news on our latest developments, and updates about Mulberry Court.