Good for both commuting and relaxing, Essex is a first-choice area
for many buyers. Johnny Turner takes a look at the latest new homes in this
popular county.
One of the virtues of Essex as a place to live is
that it is within commuting distance of London; another
positive is that it is not London. For those who prefer to draw a line under the bustle of the workday
by escaping to quieter surroundings, this county is ideal. Boasting lovely
market towns, bustling suburbs, new towns and rural villages, Essex is sure to
provide the type of environment in which you will feel at home. And today’s
developers, having spotted the immense potential for quality of life, are
providing excellent homes suited to a wide variety of lifestyles.
Starting in Ilford, a well-known commuter
location, Fairclough Homes has some good deals on the last phase of one- and
two-bedroom apartments at The Parks. The range of offers includes
repaying the purchaser the five per cent deposit needed to secure an apartment.
Fairclough will also pay the stamp duty and, to top it off, £300 towards legal
fees.
With seven different apartment designs, The
Parks gives buyers a good choice of sizes and layouts. Some have open-plan
kitchens and living rooms to maximise the feeling of space, and some have en
suites to the master bedroom as well as a guest bathroom. All have balconies
which are accessed through glazed doors off living rooms, adding to the light
and airy feel of the interiors.
Specification is high. Kitchens are ready equipped
with all modern conveniences, including a washer/dryer. Bathrooms have Roca sanitary
ware and Aqualisa showers. Gas-fired central heating is standard, as are an
audio entryphone system and a communal satellite TV system.
Ilford is very well served by both road and
rail. There are excellent connections to the M11/M25 and City Airport is
accessed directly via the A1020. Frequent trains get you to Liverpool Street in
approximately 20 minutes.
For further information on the final
apartments at The Parks call the on-site sales centre on 0845 676 0161.
Higgins Homes has a number of developments
in Essex which cater for the busy professional. By offering homes in convenient
locations with elegant modern design, high specification and very likeable
prices, Higgins has ensured sales success.
In High Road, Loughton, Connaught Mews
is a gated development of just ten two-bedroom apartments with one retail
outlet. Just minutes from the Central Line tube station, these homes are sure
to be snapped up quickly by buyers for whom a straightforward journey to work
is a must. These same purchasers will also be swayed by the tasteful traditional
architecture and the level of interior design and spec.
For those who demand the modern touches in
technology and design, there is a communal satellite TV system, along with
chrome downlighters to both the kitchen and bathrooms and ample power and telecom
sockets.
Prices range from £225,000 to £249,500. The
sales centre and show apartment are open daily between 10am
and 5pm. Call 020 8418 9933.
Also in Loughton, Higgins is offering the
second phase of homes at The Boundary, which consists of two-bedroom,
two-bathroom apartments. These homes boast a fabulous interior specification,
with comprehensive fitted kitchen and sleek, contemporary style bathroom. Each
has also been intelligently designed to make maximum use of interior space –
ideal for entertaining friends or just relaxing.
The location, on the boundary between
Loughton and Buckhurst Hill, offers excellent access to these two towns, both
of which are well known locally as leisure and entertainment destinations. From
restaurants to pubs, from shopping centres to areas of natural beauty, this
area has got it all. Transport connections are very convenient as well;
residents can walk to either Loughton or Buckhurst Hill tube station within ten
to 15 minutes.
The apartments, which are scheduled for completion
this summer, range in price from £229,950 to £249,950. Contact the sales
office, open Thursdays to Mondays from 10am to 5pm,
on 020 8508 1011.
Another Essex location with good tube links is Dagenham, where Higgins is
offering On The Square. This new development of 70 two-bedroom
apartments is set, as the name would suggest, around a landscaped square. The development
is at the western edge of the highly regarded 1920s-built Becontree estate,
which means purchasers get to be part of a new community within a proud,
established one.
Becontree District Line station is within
walking distance, and lovely Mayesbrook Park is just a short stroll away. Those who work in Canary Wharf will
find an easy commute, with a change at West Ham for the DLR.
Apartments are priced at £165,000 and
completion on these homes is expected by April 2005. The sales and marketing
suite is open daily between 10am and 5pm. Call 020 8517
7887.
Countryside Properties’ latest development
is situated in Barking, in the heart of the Thames Gateway, one of the most
exciting regeneration projects in Greater London. St Anns is already
proving extremely popular with first-time buyers and investors.
The 37 one- and two-bedroom apartments are
set in three buildings around a landscaped inner courtyard. The homes come in
12 different styles, most of which have their own outdoor space with either patios
or balconies.
Barking is a lively and cosmopolitan place
to live, full of bustle and activity with a variety of shops and fantastic
nightlife. With Barking station less than five minutes’ walk away, commuting into
London is easy, yet the area offers plenty of green space in which to walk
and relax.
Prices at St Anns start from £151,995 for a
one-bedroom apartment and £172,995 for two bedrooms. Countryside also offers
five per cent deposit paid on selected plots. Contact the marketing suite on
020 8709 8657.
Telford Homes is selling its latest
project, Aquarius Riverside, located off the town centre in Chelmsford. This
joint venture with James Smith Estates is a four-storey development offering
one- and two-bedroom apartments overlooking the River Chelmer, as well as
commercial space to the ground floor. The homes are set within a converted and
extended former office building and are due to be completed this autumn. The
scheme offers spacious and varied living accommodation and most apartments
feature river-facing balconies.
Chelmsford is only 20 minutes from the M25 and half an hour from Stansted Airport. There
is also a frequent train service providing a 30-minute journey into London Liverpool Street. In short, the ideal location for commuters to London.
‘Chelmsford is an
ideal location for someone who wants to be in the proximity of London but not
swallowed up by the big city,’ says Sheena Ellwood, sales and marketing
director of Telford Homes. ‘Telford Homes’ previous development in Chelmsford, Little
Docklands, was very popular with both investors and private buyers because the
apartments were well priced and offered high-quality London-style living in a
thriving commuter town. Aquarius Riverside follows the same highly-rated
formula.’
Current availability at Aquarius Riverside includes
one-bedroom apartments priced from £150,000 and two-bedroom apartments from
£207,500. The sales centre is located on Baddow Road and
is open Wednesdays to Saturdays from 9.30am to 5.30pm. For more details call Telford on 0870 872 0987 or visit telfordhomes.plc.uk.