Overseas investors snapped up £2.2bn of central London property in 2012

A total of 52 nationalities bought £2.2bn of central London property in 2012, according to new figures from Knight Frank.  

In 2011, international investors ploughed in £1.8bn with UK buyers owning 27% of new properties. London’s investment hotspots, education opportunities and the currency differential attracted buyers from all over the globe.

Buyers from Singapore garnered 22% of the market share followed by Hong Kong at 16%, China at 5%, Malaysia at 4% and Russia at 3%

Gráinne Gilmore, head of UK residential research, told The Independent: “International interest in London property is not a new phenomenon, but the economic and financial changes since 2007 have created a fresh model for overseas investment in new-build property.

“Agents report that the appetite for London property remains strong, and there is an increasing interest in London property from a widening range of overseas buyers, especially some emerging economies where economic growth has remained robust during the downturn.”