This is the sporty season, as tennis and football take over our screens. But what if you want to see the sporting action live – or even participate? Johnny Turner sees some new homes that are well placed for your favourite games.
Whether you are a sportsperson or a spectator, this is the season to get excited about games of all kinds. London has a wealth of places to play or observe ALmost any sport you care to name. And living in an area that’s convenient to a sporting venue, whether it’s your local leisure centre or a world-class stadium, ups the quality-of-life ante considerably.
With Wimbledon, that combination of tradition and competition, we are given the chance to not only watch the world’s finest players serve and smash, but also take part in a social festival. It’s wonderful to watch the sporting action on television but actually being there is a whole different experience. Those who make a habit of turning up in SW19 year after year will know that the ticket lottery for this month’s event closed at the end of last year; they will also be aware that the championships turn what is normally a fairly quiet patch of the capital into a mêlée for a fortnight each year.
If you are a tennis nut who wants to be near one of the world’s great tennis clubs – all year around, not just during the tournament – you’ll find a wonderful selection of apartments and penthouses from Goldcrest Homes. Lanherne Gate comprises 30 spacious, elegant apartments and six stunning penthouses in exclusive Wimbledon Village. One clue as to the demand for such homes can be found in the fact that 13 of them were sold on launch day! Therefore, prospective buyers at Lanherne Gate should hurry – whether you’re there for the proximity to the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club or simply want to live in one of the capital’s most sought-after village environments.
A further sporty aspect of this development is the fully equipped gym, which is available only to residents. And a wealth of convenient features – from underground parking to private library, from 12-hour concierge service to residents-only screening room – will make daily life more easy and enjoyable. Each property is pre-wired for CAT5 cabling and a home automation system, making the function of the homes as sleek and up-to-the-minute as the visual design.
Lanherne Gate is located on The Downs, a mature tree-lined residential street, and Goldcrest’s design has created a scheme that is visually pleasing as well as complementary to the surrounding area. At night the building is lit by soft low-level balcony or terrace lights.
Each penthouse has floor-to-ceiling windows that open out on to fully decked terraces, while some apartments also have large glass windows and balconies.
Trish Henderson, Goldcrest’s sales and marketing manager, comments: ‘There will be a fantastic feeling of community here at Lanherne Gate and we are delighted that the scheme has been so well received by everyone. It is easy to see why the properties have been snapped up by local buyers, investors, those wanting to downsize from larger properties and young professionals too.’
Prices start at £365,000 for a one-bedroom apartment and rise to £936,000 for a penthouse with large roof terrace. Find out more by calling the marketing suite on 020 8947 0940.
The River Thames is not only London’s most loved treasure but also a great sporting resource. The stretch of the river in the west of London is known for its rowing, and developers currently offer a range of developments that will give river-sport enthusiasts excellent proximity to the best the Thames has to offer sport-wise.
Barratt Homes offers Kew Meadows, a new development on a tree-lined street in Townmead Road, Kew. The homes were created by DHA Architecture to match the Dutch and Flemish styling that characterises much of the quality homes in this part of Kew.
Another big plus with the homes at Kew Meadows is their enviable location, only two minutes by foot from the Thames, which makes a range of water sports very convenient. The site is lined with mature lime tress and overlooks playing fields and allotments as well, according to Adam Lawrence, managing director of Barratt West London. ‘It is a rare find in London, and it has sparked tremendous interest from the home-buying public,’ he says.
The town houses each extend to over 1,880 sq ft and directly face the river. Materials include yellow brick with white render, stone detailing and black ironwork. All homes have landscaped rear gardens, an integral garage and additional parking to the front.
Prices start from £674,995 for the town houses, while the one remaining apartment is priced at £394,995. A sales office is open Thursdays to Sundays from 10am to 6pm and Mondays 2pm to 6pm. Call 020 8487 9680.
St George is also offering a good choice of riverside properties at Royal Quarter in sought-after Kew. Current availability includes two-bedroom apartments from approximately £275,000, as well as very luxurious penthouses with a stunning amount of beautifully designed outdoor space, priced from roughly £500,000.
This location is ideal for those who enjoy rowing, sailing and other watery activities. And of course there is the famous Royal Botanic Gardens, one of Britain’s real treasures, as well as nearby Richmond Park, a huge expanse of natural landscape, complete with its deer park and countless sporting possibilities.
These homes are suitable for a broad range of buyers, including first-time buyers, investors and those who are downsizing from a larger home. The marketing suite is open weekdays 10am to 8pm and weekends 10am to 6pm. Call 020 8547 2100 to find out more.
The Island, a joint venture between Crest Nicholson and Charles Church, is not only set to be one of west London’s most desirable developments but will also be the ideal location for fans of Brentford FC. The latest phase of this fantastic waterside development is a series of striking three- and four-bedroom town houses which are sure to be a hit with buyers, whatever team they support.
Known as the River Houses, these town houses offer private gardens stretching to the edge of the River Brent and have delightful views beyond over the historic Butts conservation area.
Find out more about The Island online at island-life.co.uk. The homes run parallel with Tallow Road, The Island’s central tree-lined thoroughfare, and are designed to offer spacious living accommodation over four floors. The front elevation of each River House is characterised by a distinctive curved stairwell which rises the full four storeys and incorporates a highly individual linear glazing treatment. To the rear, the kitchen and family room, as well as the lounge above, benefit from a similar two-storey bay window treatment.
There are currently two River Houses on release, each priced at £799,950. For further information visit the marketing suite, open daily from 10am to 5pm, call 0870 758 1010 or visit island-life.co.uk.
Keen golfers will be very interested in Swan Hill’s latest scheme, located in Weybridge, Surrey. Lockestone will consist of 24 individually designed five-bedroom family homes set among no fewer than 30 acres of private green belt land that will belong to purchasers.
Surrey is prime golf country and there are several quality courses, including St George’s Hill, nearby. Those for whom good schools is also a major factor in deciding where to buy will find a range of high-quality educational establishments, both state and private, within easy reach. For commuters, the fact that Lockestone is within walking distance of Weybridge station means a simple and quick journey to London and surrounding towns.
The homes at Lockestone offer spacious and flexible accommodation. Many have studies that can be used for working from home; the majority also have rooms in the roof, which are ideal for use as a child’s playroom, a nanny annexe or an additional living room.
Remaining homes range in price from £1.35 million to 1.65 million. For more information call 01932 850665.
Weston Homes has sold over 80 per cent of the apartments at Anderson Heights in Norbury, south London, an area that is growing in popularity with professionals. The development emphasises city-style living in an out-of-town environment – one that still makes it easy to get into central London for work each day. From Norbury station, just a five-minute walk away from Anderson Heights, trains into Victoria take just 20 minutes. There are also convenient links to London Bridge.
The conversion of a former office block yields two-bedroom apartments as well as duplexes. The homes are grouped around an inner courtyard, with lifts and stairs to all levels. Further perks of buying here include car parking either above or below ground, with electric gates and a sophisticated security system. And those who like to keep fit will be interested to know that residents have access to a high-tech gym. There are also many tennis courts in the area, as well as a public golf course at Mitcham.
Prices for the remaining apartments at Anderson Heights start at £200,000 for a two-bedroom apartment, rising to £285,000 for a two-bedroom en-suite duplex. Call the Weston Homes sales department on 020 8679 0666.