Kent is a great combination of lush countryside and commuter convenience. And its wide choice of new homes includes everything from reimaginings of Victorian splendour to luxury apartments, finds Johnny Turner.
Kent is both well connected and cosy, offering easy and convenient access to London and a green and pleasant environment in which to live. There are some fantastic new property options around, with both new homes and redevelopments on the agenda for prospective buyers this year.
Rydon Homes has created an inspired collection of seven homes in Tunbridge Wells, including six four- and five-bedroom villas and one three-bedroom coach house. These homes were designed by award-winning architect Philip Andrews and influenced by the renowned 19th-century architect Decimus Burton, bringing a 21st-century version of fine Victorian style that will be sure to please prospective buyers.
Known as Decimus Place, this development offers classical design combined with the abundance of space that today’s buyer demands. The villas reflect the palladian ideal of the four-square villa, with carefully considered proportions that emphasise dignity and quality. Detailing includes semi-circular fanlight windows as well as circular ones. The main entrance leads to an impressive hallway, which in turn gives way to a generously proportioned drawing room that is flooded with light from large windows. A second reception room, also on the ground floor, is suitable for use as a study, family room or music room.
In the four-bedroom villas, set over three storeys, the ground floor also offers a kitchen separated from the dining area by concealed sliding doors; both rooms have French windows leading out on to a patio area, ideal for dinner parties on summer evenings. The five-bedroom villas, which have four storeys, offer the choice of a separate kitchen and dining room, as well as a utility room. All principal bedrooms have access to a balcony via French windows, generous fitted wardrobe space and an en suite bathroom. Four-bedroom villas provide principal bedrooms with an en suite room that can be used as a walk-in wardrobe or nursery. Second bedrooms in all the villas have an en suite shower.
Decimus Place is situated in a mature landscaped setting in the heart of a conservation area. Tunbridge Wells is a charming and very popular Georgian spa town with beautiful surrounding countryside, upmarket restaurants and bars, and fantastic commuter connections by both road and rail. To find out more about Decimus Place, call the Rydon Homes marketing suite on 01892 521919.
Another Rydon development in Tunbridge Wells is proving a hit with buyers. At Molyneux Place the developer has restored the town’s highest residential building to its full Victorian glory, creating 40 luxury apartments. ‘The interest has been tremendous,’ says Ann Fulker, Rydon Homes’ sales and marketing director. ‘We are receiving dozens of appointments for viewings every day.’ Get more information about Molyneux Place by calling the marketing suite on 01892 616186, and see what other residential treats Rydon Homes offers, both in Kent and throughout the South East, by visiting rydonhomes.co.uk.
Luxury apartments are also available at Swan Hill’s Sovereign House. Each of the six individually designed two- and three-bedroom apartments has a range of special features, including granite work surfaces in the kitchen and en suite facilities to both the master and second bedrooms. There is the latest in home technology, including high-speed data and digital satellite cabling, as well as alarm-linked smoke detectors. Most apartments offer secluded balconies or terraces.
Prices for the remaining apartments start at £299,950; the development also includes one splendid four-bedroom penthouse, priced at £950,000. Interested purchasers may contact selling agent JDM on 020 8325 8000 for a personal appointment.
With today’s high demand for new homes, buying off-plan is becoming more and more common. At Roman Heights, Bellway Thames Gateway South’s development in Maidstone, prospective purchasers are viewing plans of the development with a view to purchasing now and moving in after the development’s completion later this year. The 36 two-bedroom apartments are priced from £132,000; there are also 16 two-bedroom houses priced from £152,000 and 20 three-bedroom houses at prices starting from £163,000.
Roman Heights is located off Postley Road, within walking distance of Maidstone town centre’s wide range of supermarkets, boutiques, restaurants, cafés and pubs. With the added bonuses of walks along the River Medway, Maidstone Castle and many other great ideas for days out, the town offers a varied and vibrant lifestyle. This is also a very convenient commuter location, with frequent trains to London Victoria taking just over an hour. For motorists, the M20 is nearby. To view plans of the apartments and houses, contact a sales consultant on 01622 766030.
With the modern focus on high-density house building, brand new bungalows are something of a rarity these days. The single-level house style, however, remains popular, and RPC Land & New Homes offers something special near Maidstone with White Cottage Mews. This collection of three-bedroom bungalows on the edge of Harrietsham village represents excellent value for money; priced from £249,000, they are traditionally styled and offer well-planned accommodation.
The homes incorporate the latest technology in terms of energy efficiency, with modern insulation, uPVC double glazed windows and a security system. The interior layout includes a spacious living room with feature fireplace, conservatory/dining room opening on to the rear garden, quality fitted kitchen with integrated appliances, luxury en suite shower room to the master bedroom and a principal bathroom. And subject to the stage of construction, buyers have a choice of sanitaryware, kitchen units and worktops. Each bungalow will have a garage, located in two blocks at the front of the development, as well as a private garden.
Harrietsham is a superb location, with orchards, strawberry fields and hop gardens, and the village vibe is very much alive in the shops, pub, primary school and train station. The homes at White Cottage Mews also boast very easy connections to both London and the Continent. Obtain more information by calling RPC Land & New Homes on 01622 691911.
Interest is high in Appledore Developments’ Elmfield Place, a new collection of just ten two-bedroom luxury apartments in Tenterden. Located just outside the town centre and designed in the Arts and Crafts style, the development combines great design with convenience.
There are four duplex garden apartments on the lower ground and ground floors; four apartments on the first floor; and two large penthouse apartments on the second floor. Balconies, courtyards and landscaped gardens add character, another reason that Appledore doesn’t expect these homes to be on the market for long. For further information on specification and prices, contact selling agent Humberts on 01580 765858 or Appledore Developments on 01732 469888.
In Ickham, near Canterbury, Asprey Homes has unveiled its stunning new Ickham Court Farm development, the first new-build scheme to be built in the village for a number of years. The homes boast a mix of appealing external designs to make each home unique, combined with state-of-the-art internal specification and imaginative layouts. Some designs feature vaulted ceilings, full-height windows and white shiplap boarding, and three of the homes also have additional accommodation above the garages, offering handy flexibility for busy families or those who wish to work from home.
Prices for the remaining homes at Ickham Court Farm range from £750,000 to £1,135,000. Contact selling agents Strutt & Parker on 01227 451123 or Cluttons on 01227 457441.
In West Wickham, the listed former stables of the impressive Wickham Hall have recently been converted into four smart one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. Featuring original architecture believed to be from the late 1890s, these distinctive homes have been created adjacent to six newly-built one- and two-bedroom apartments. All of these homes are now available for sale through Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward, at prices ranging from £219,950 to £242,500.
West Wickhan adjoins green belt countryside and woodland and provides an excellent range of local amenities, including restaurants, pubs, a post office, a library and a church. Croydon and Bromley, both approximately four miles away, give local residents even greater choice of shopping and entertainment facilities. For those commuting into London, the journey from West Wickham train station into Charing Cross is approximately 40 minutes.
For sales enquiries contact Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward on 020 8777 2381 or visit kfh.co.uk.
Looking to the future, FairBriar has announced the purchase of three properties in Tunbridge Wells, which they will renovate and convert to provide 43 luxury new homes. Garden House in Calverley Street is currently a four-storey office building, which FairBriar proposes to convert into 24 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments including three stunning penthouses with extensive views over the town and the countryside beyond. The first units are expected to be completed this summer.
Victoria House, also in Calverley Street is an early 20th-century red brick school building, which will become seven one-, two- and three-bedroom houses and apartments. A summer completion is expected for the first of the units there.
And finally, Concord House, a Grade II listed three-storey Georgian House in Pembury Road will be converted into eight one- and two-bedroom apartments. An additional two three-bedroom houses will also be built in a space set apart from the redeveloped house. Work commences this year and the first homes will be completed in 2005. For information on current FairBriar developments call 01753 655375 or visit fairbriar.co.uk.