Blackheath welcomes new residential development, Forbury


Set in the thriving village of Blackheath and taking inspiration from original Victorian buildings, Forbury is a charming new development by the Berkeley Group


An intimate collection of 14 apartments and 10 villas, Forbury is a new development in the heart of Blackheath – a village only seven miles from central London, but with the feeling of being in the quaint British countryside. Located on Lee Terrace, Forbury lies within the Blackheath Conservation area and is moments away from the village’s delightful high street, train station, and the well-known Blackheath Common.

One of Berkeley Group’s latest developments, Forbury holds the high standards that this thriving developer is renowned for; the architecture in both the apartments and the villages has been carefully thought over, and the buildings have been designed to reflect Blackheath’s distinct character. Though they have been built with modern techniques and a 21st Century feel, each of the villas takes its inspiration from the design of a traditional Victorian house, with large windows and a light stone façade.  

Attention to detail has been paramount throughout the design process, including within Forbury’s interiors. This is especially true in the development’s show home, which was designed by bespoke design studio Nick Auston Design. We spoke to studio director Nick Auston, to find out more about how the design team created the stunning interiors, which effortlessly complement Forbury’s architecture…   

Tell us more about the Forbury project?

We really enjoyed working on Forbury; Blackheath is a beautiful area with a lovely feel to it and we loved creating a home that echoed the atmosphere of the area. The home has an emphasis on quality and understated luxury with a refined palette of elegant colours, creating a sophisticated home.

What was the inspiration behind the project?

We wanted the property to appeal to a range of people, from those commuting daily into central London to those beginning to start their family. The interior of the home has a five star feel to it, which we felt matched with the property’s traditional villa layout. We chose a palette of rich, but muted tones and textures that run throughout the home, from the warm greys and deep blues in the kitchen, to the burnished copper highlights in the master bedroom.

Did Berkeley give you a brief?

We have worked with Berkeley before and we have a close working relationship with them. With our designs we always try to build a picture of what life will be like in the property, which this property does really well from the relaxed family kitchen and dining room, to the more formal entertaining space of the living room and the imaginative space of the children’s bedroom.

What was your favourite part of the design process?

I always enjoy the moment that our designs move from specification stage to reality. It is wonderful to see our concepts come to life and see individual pieces moved into place. For example seeing the kitchen come together: the room has a solid wood dining table with a herringbone inlay across the top, the table has gold legs, which pick up the gold thread shot through the curtains and the metallic mirror, this is all complemented by soft blue velvet chairs which echo the colour of the walls and the family sofa.

The most challenging part?

Forbury is an exceptionally well laid out property, which made it a wonderful space to work with. All the rooms are well designed and have lovely proportions, so there were no real challenges with this home. It was an opportunity for us to create something special.

Were there any unusual design elements involved?

The homes at Forbury have interesting internal features such as a stepped coffered ceiling in the entrance hall. This stepped design is echoed in the design of the doors and the cornicing and skirting of each room. We liked this detail and you can see echoes of this structure reflected in design elements across the home, such as the kitchen mirror and the structural light and patterned rug in the formal living room.

What products/brands did you use?

We always focus on choosing high quality pieces that suit the individual home. At Forbury we used quintessentially British brands such as Cole & Son for the playful air balloon wallpaper, and Andrew Martin’s subtle wild animal print linen for the curtains in the children’s bedroom. Other stand out pieces include the Eichholtz dining table in the kitchen.

forbury-blackheath.co.uk








Progressive Media International Limited. Registered Office: 40-42 Hatton Garden, London, EC1N 8EB, UK.Copyright 2024, All rights reserved.