The Islington Square development was unveiled to potential buyers on Thursday at a special preview evening.

The 500,000 sq ft development at the site of the former North London Sorting Centre off Upper Street, includes plans for 263 homes (a mixture of both private and affordable), serviced apartments, retail outlets, restaurants and leisure facilities.

These wil be located in and around the four existing Edwardian buildings on the site: 8, 11 and 17 Esther Anne Place and the former Mitre Public House.

Developed by private investment company Cain Hoy and its joint venture partner Sager Group, the £400m development will provide a range of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, along with penthouses and maisonettes. Prices for private homes will start at £715,000.

Kitchens will come kitted out with an in-built electric oven and hob, extractor hood and integrated dishwasher, fridge freezer and freestanding washer and dryer.

Bathrooms and ensuites will also be finished with mirror concealed vanity units, underfloor heating and heated towel rails.

Residents will also have access to landscaped external gardens, in addition to separate private gardens and terraces to some apartments. Penthouse apartments will have access to roof-terrace space, offering views around London.

The development is set to be completed in 2017.

Giris Rabinovitch, CEO of Sager Group, said: “From Upper Street there will be two arcades leading to the public square, one of which will run through the central arches in the former general post office counter building on Upper Street and the other, next to the Mitre.

“Walking through the retail arches and into the public square, visitors and residents will be met by the imposing Edwardian facades, which will contain a mixture of retail at ground level and residential units above.”

The preview will be followed by a free Festival of Culture at the site. Running from Friday December 4 to Sunday December 6, the festival will showcase music and comedy acts, an exhibition about Islington, community gardening, children’s entertainment and a street food market.

A pop-up cinema will also screen a range of films and gardener, writer and photographer Naomi Schillinger will hold a bulb-planting workshop in a pop-up garden.

Entry to the Festival of Culture is from Upper Street, next to the former Mitre pub, 130 Upper Street, Islington, N1 1QP, opposite St Mary’s Church.

Further acts and details timings will be announced via the website, the Islington Square Twitter feed @IslingtonSq and Facebook page.