Muhyiddin Razack, a property analyst at brokerage HG Asia in Singapore, says about 20% of apartments bought at pre-sale launches end up with speculators.

CNN: How the government is cracking down on speculators

Lord Berners had a celebrity circle of friends including Salvador Dali, Siegfried Sassoon, HG Wells, Gertrude Stein and John Betjeman.

BBC: Faringdon's Lord Berners honoured with blue plaque

"On the basis of that deal, the highway looks like a very valuable asset, " says Declan Magee, manager for regional research at HG Asia.

CNN: HANGING ON AT HOPEWELL