Stoke-on-Trent's self-made billionaire John Caudwell hopes three flats he is building in one of London's poshest postcodes will sell for £200 million - each. The 71-year-old comes from humble beginnings growing up in Shelton and Bentilee before making his fortune with Phones 4U. He now concentrates on his charity work and international property development empire.
And one of his biggest projects is building 29 homes at 1 Mayfair, around the corner from where he lives when he's not at his mansion near Eccleshall. The development will include three penthouses with a £200 million asking price each. The other properties - built on what was once home to a petrol station, car park and aparthotel - will start from £35 million.
If successful, this would make the apartments significantly pricier than any such home in British property history. In fact, £200 million for one flat would buy a staggering 1,389 houses in his home city of Stoke-on-Trent where an average property costs £144,000. Despite the hefty price tag, John told The Times that 450 parties have already expressed an interest in the 29 properties.
Each residence will have ultra-luxurious interior flourishes galore, and the development will include a 'crystal gallery' modelled on the hall of mirrors in the Palace of Versailles. Speaking about the development, John told The Times: “Everything about this building will be timeless — timeless architecture, timeless quality and timeless build structure. There’s no reas.