London's new village

This is London's latest big property development: a slick multi-million pound architect's fantasy complete with penthouse apartments, restaurants and cafes, remarkably convenient for the airport.

So convenient, in fact, that planes will be taking off and landing less than half a mile from the new residents' front doors.

Just one word of warning, however: Do not feed the birds.

For the £100 million Royal Quay development is so close to the runway at London City airport that unless the developers are careful, there is a significant risk of planes hitting birds as they approach - with potentially disastrous results.

Developers Furlong City were restricted on the landscaping they could put around the site to discourage birds from nesting. Restrictions were also placed on the height of buildings, the distance from the runway and the amount of external lighting.

The "village" will have 446 homes, a shopping centre, health spa and a yacht marina at Albert Dock. Homes have to have soundproofing able to keep out the aircraft noise, with double glazing and insulated walls.

"But being close to the airport does have its advantages as well," said a spokesman for the London

Development Agency, Furlong City's partner in the Royal Quay development.

The village is part of regeneration around the Royal Docks which will create 5,000 new homes. The first phase of the Royal Quay development - which centres around the old Gallions Hotel - consists of two blocks of private apartments and one block of affordable housing.

The flats, which are priced from £219,500 to £532,500, have art-deco-style features inspired by ocean liners. In the words of the developers: "The planners insisted on imaginative architecture to set a new standard for the area, and this will be the flagship scheme."