Variety and convenience are hallmarks of north London. And these days the area offers some of the South East’s most desirable newly built homes. Anna Bowden investigates.
One of the pleasures of living in north London is the connectedness to where the action is. With a comprehensive tube and train system, the various areas of north London give you all the convenience of a London lifestyle while still allowing you to switch gears into a less frenetic pace for the evening. Nature is all around and the landscape is beautifully varied. And whether you are in or out of the London postcode area, the north side of the capital is full of surprises – especially for today’s home buyer.
Linden Homes is celebrating a double sales success with the recent opening of two show homes at Linden Mews in Garston and Benskin Mews in Watford. With just two homes remaining at the former and four at the latter, customers are urged to visit the show homes to see the benefits of town house living for themselves.
Helen Todd, sales and marketing director for Linden Homes Chiltern, explains, ‘Since the launch of the show homes and the advanced progression of the build, customers have been able to see exactly what we are building and can envisage their new low-maintenance lifestyle in a Linden home.
‘The homes are well-designed with spacious interiors and a mixture of traditional and contemporary exterior designs that will appeal to a wide range of buyers including professionals, second-time buyers and families. The town houses at these two developments are well located for the town centre, while Benskin Mews is also within walking distance of Watford tube station.’
Both show homes display the high-quality finish and attention to detail afforded by Linden to every home. Prices start from £275,000. Call 01923 639259 for further information regarding Benskin Mews and 01923 674855 for Linden Mews.
Linden Homes is also offering Amber House on Honeypot Lane in Stanmore, Middlesex. This exclusive scheme of just 15 two-bedroom apartments offers convenient transport links to London, the A1, A41 and M1. However, despite its proximity to the capital Stanmore benefits from a country feel, with a host of parks and leisure facilities nearby.
Set within an established residential area with a real mix of family homes and more modern apartments, Amber House is in a highly sought-after location, as well as being within easy walking distance of Canons Park underground station.
Launched six months ago, the development is already 60 per cent sold and remaining two-bedroom apartments are priced from £299,000.
Linden Homes has also acquired more than 30 brownfield sites in and around Greater London and the M25 and is working with regeneration partners to bring new life to the environment, something for which the developer has won many awards. The developments are also all conveniently placed close to transport links, making them ideal for commuters.
Two sites of particular note are in Stanmore and Finchley. The Stanmore development will be the conversion of a former pub into an exclusive collection of 15 highly-specified two-bedroom apartments, with private parking and landscaped communal grounds, and Finchley will see the regeneration of a derelict church into 12 luxury two- and three-bedroom apartments with private balconies.
For further details on these and other Linden developments visit lindenhomes.com.
Banner Homes is now offering Compass Place, a gated development of 18 two-bedroom apartments close to Edgwarebury Park in Edgware. The scheme is perfect for those who need to ‘lock-up-and-leave’, with security cameras, infra-red outside lights and doors with cylinder deadlocks as well as private basement parking. At Compass Place Banner Homes is currently offering to pay the three per cent stamp duty for purchasers, or will include carpets, curtains, blinds and a modern mounted electric fire. It is also offering a package aimed at investors and is guaranteeing income in the form of a financial contribution towards the mortgage in the first year.
Prices at Compass Place start from £299,000 and rise to £435,000. For further information contact the sales office, open daily from 10am to 5pm, on 020 8958 0739.
Bellway North London has launched a new development at the heart of Southgate, comprising 24 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments ideal for young professionals or empty nesters looking to move to a smaller, more manageable home. Southgate Central has been so successful already that 25 per cent of the apartments have been reserved off-plan, including both one-bedroom apartments.
Most apartments have lift access, balconies and en suite facilities to the master bedrooms. One of the main advantages is secure, gated parking in the heart of a busy London village; however, residents do not have to rely on car transport as the development is just minutes away from Southgate tube station, which is serviced by the Piccadilly Line and which can take residents into central London within approximately 30 minutes.
Southgate Central is also conveniently placed for access to excellent shopping, entertainment and leisure facilities, with Marks and Spencer, Pizza Hut and LA Fitness within short walking distance.
Only two- and three-bedroom apartments remain for sale at Southgate Central, with prices starting from £284,995 for two bedrooms and £334,995 for three bedrooms. Occupation is expected by summer 2005. Call selling agent Lanes Property Agents on 020 8882 8068 to find out more.
Following the amazing success of the first phase at New River Village, St James Homes has now announced the launch of the Emerson building. This second phase of the Hornsey development will incorporate 94 studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments and continues the scheme’s trend of providing contemporary design and cutting edge specification.
The 15-acre collection of homes will see the redevelopment of a former Thames Water site into 620 apartments. The Emerson building is set over six storeys and provides secure underground parking, balcony space and a communal roof terrace.
Each apartment benefits from full-height windows in the open-plan living and kitchen areas, with most properties boasting sliding doors to the balcony space. Full-height windows are also a feature of the bedrooms in the one- and two-bedroom apartments, with some enjoying sliding doors to the balconies from the master suites as well as the living space. Incorporated into all apartments are separate storage cupboards, while a large proportion of the properties also include integrated wardrobes, resulting in a spacious, clutter-free environment.
Internally, the apartments offer open-plan kitchens, fitted with a choice of units, worktops and fully integrated stainless steel appliances, while all of the bathrooms incorporate contemporary white sanitary ware and floor tiles.
The Emerson Building provides a strikingly modern exterior that has been carefully designed to complement the surrounding urban landscape. Dedicated to making use of open, public space, St James Homes has also included extensive landscaping at the scheme, dramatically transforming large amounts of land into gardens and open spaces that can be enjoyed by residents and members of the public alike.
Paul Hopkins, managing director of St James Homes (North Thames) comments ‘Every element of New River Village takes us one step closer to our overall ambition of creating a community that offers a village feel, combining large open spaces with shops, social establishments and public art. Following the success we have achieved with the first phase, the Emerson Building offers a stunning new collection of apartments that provide something for everyone.
‘To complement the launch of this second phase we have redesigned the marketing suite and show apartment to reflect the updated specification in the Emerson Building properties.’
Prices for apartments in the second phase of New River Village are priced from £174,000 for a studio apartment. Call 020 8347 4139.
Buyers at KingsOak North London’s St Michael’s Park in Bushey are being offered an amazing deal: a special 3.99 per cent mortgage rate on selected plots for the first three years.
‘This is a fantastic deal for young buyers opting for their first home or, indeed, anyone who is looking for the best way in which to maximise their money,’ explains sales manager Nina Fitzgerald. ‘This further supports our confidence in the strength of the housing market and the quality of our homes. An excellent rate like this will help buyers plan ahead with confidence.’
St Michael’s Park features a choice of just 22 two- and three-bedroom apartments as well as prestigious three-, four- and five-bedroom family style homes, all carefully designed to offer individual, contemporary living accommodation.
The apartments come in ten different designs with stylish internal features, including designer kitchens fully fitted with a range of integrated appliances, classic white bath suites, energy-efficient heating, double glazing and gated private parking. Individuality is highlighted by inclusions such as terraces, balconies or angular room layouts, and extra features to some apartments, such as a study, increase the potential for truly flexible living.
St Michael’s Park is situated just one mile from the cosmopolitan town of Watford, Hertfordshire, and its vast array of shopping, restaurant, employment and nightlife options. Just 22 minutes by train from London, Bushey is ideal for commuters who want the best of both town and country worlds. The village and the surrounding area boast restaurants, antique shops, bistros, inns and a wealth of leisure options including an 18-hole golf course.
Prices start from £284,999 for a two-bedroom apartment. Call 01923 238137 to find out more.