Those with demanding City jobs are finding a host of well-located and well-built homes to ensure a smooth commute and an easier life, finds Johnny Turner.
Those who gravitate towards the Square Mile on weekdays will be looking for a home that guarantees as stress-free a commute as possible. Whatever method of getting to work you prefer, the current crop of new homes offers something for everyone.
Walk this way
For many, the ideal commute would involve a pleasant stroll. This cuts out dependence on timetables and the transport infrastructure and allows you to ease into your day with a bit of light exercise. London is one of the world’s great walking cities – and the City of London is accessible on foot from a number of high-quality current developments.
Starting just off City Road, Goldcrest Homes is selling a very interesting project, Britannia Walk. This collection of 14 one- and two-bedroom apartments and 18 two-bedroom live/work duplexes is ideally suited to a part of London that is at once cool and connected. The apartments, located on the third and fourth floors of this beautifully designed building, range in size from 646 sq ft to 1,539 sq ft, giving prospective buyers plenty of choice.
One of the wonders of Britannia Walk is that you can quite easily mosey on into your office at your own speed – in fact, if your own speed is a moderate clip you can be in Moorgate in less than half an hour. No need to think about where to park the car, worry about the congestion charge or even whether your Oyster Card is current. This frees you up to concentrate on the workday to come. And it lets your mind wander after a hard day’s work as you stroll back to your superbly appointed apartment – or to one of the many nearby bars and restaurants.
The options for relaxation at Britannia Walk itself are very generous indeed. Not only is there a large communal roof terrace providing stunning views across the capital but there is also a spectacular high-tech movie suite, in which you and over a dozen friends can watch a DVD with the latest sound technology. And the communal residents-only gym helps you keep yourself mentally relaxed and physically fit.
Exploring the area is extremely rewarding. Britannia Walk is amazingly well located, with nearby Upper Street providing literally hundreds of dining and drinking options, funky Hoxton just next door, and the many delights of the Barbican Centre also just a short walk away.
Prices at Britannia Walk start at £350,000 for a one-bedroom apartment. Find out more by calling the marketing suite on 020 7731 7679.
Another development in the same excellent area is to be launched very soon by Telford Homes. Estilo, in Wenlock Road N1, will feature high-specification apartments as well as commercial units. The location, on the edge of the Wenlock Basin, is fantastic for those who work in the Moorgate area; just a stroll down City Road and you’re there.
Estilo is expected to be completed in 2006, although it would be a good idea to register interest now, as this development will definitely get a lot of attention from owner-occupiers and investors alike. One-bedroom apartments will be available to investors this autumn. Call 0870 872 0987 or visit telfordhomes.plc.uk.
Tubing it
One of the great things about the Underground system is its reach; its tentacles put homes in several Home Counties within a very reasonable commute of the City. Buckhurst Hill in Essex is very popular with City commuters, who are attracted by the proliferation of golf courses, the relaxed atmosphere and the direct half-hour Central Line journey to Bank and Liverpool Street stations.
Laing Homes offers Iceni, a gated development of 24 two-bedroom apartments only a mile from Buckhurst Hill station. The homes boast a designer specification and feature attractive open-plan living areas. The prospective buyer has a wide choice of sizes, with the apartments ranging from 862 to 1,397 sq ft.
Prices at Iceni start at £300,000. For more information call the sales office on 020 8506 1116 or visit laing-homes.co.uk.
By DLR
The Docklands Light Railway is a quick and extremely convenient way to zip around the east side of London, from the ever-expanding Docklands to the financial centre, from the capital’s newest business hub, Canary Wharf, down to the more suburban reaches of Lewisham.
With the DLR constantly growing, both in terms of the number of people who use it and the variety of destinations it offers, those who are seeking a new home that allows for easy access to the City would be wise to look along its route.
An upcoming scheme, Tequila Wharf by Telford Homes, looks promising – and eminently affordable. With prices starting at approximately £190,000 these one- and two-bedroom apartments are sure to be a hit. And when you factor in a location that is equidistant between the City and Limehouse DLR station, you can imagine the response it will get from buyers when it launches on 15 October. Find out more about the apartments – and the launch – by calling 0870 872 0987.
Meanwhile, those whose budgets know no bounds will be interested in a stunning home in historic Greenwich, another very desirable point on the DLR route. The Tower is a landmark building which offers dynamic, creative living space with 360-degree views of the London horizon. The successful merger of a Victorian water tower with a contemporary steel and glass structure linked by a glass bridge, The Tower was designed by architects Loates-Taylor Shannon and built by the developer Chickenfeed.
There is completely open-plan living on the ground floor, with beautiful, modern interior design. The large kitchen has high-gloss white units by Nicholas Anthony with black glass splashbacks, while the soft natural tones of limestone and walnut floors on this level contrast with a deep pink staircase. The living space, accessed via steps from the reception hall, features glass on two sides and its simple, square proportions provide an excellent blank canvas; the courtyard garden beyond the glass provides a visual extension of the space.
The first-floor master bedroom suite is well proportioned and flooded with light, while an adjoining wet room has Philippe Starck white sanitary ware and chrome fittings. A second room offers the choice of providing an additional bedroom or study space. There is also a second slate-tiled bathroom and a laundry room which, with its further range of cupboards, acknowledges the need for storage in a way that open-plan homes don’t usually do, while keeping the untidy side of life out of the way.
Flexible space continues as you go upward, as a lift makes moving up and down easy. There are three further rooms which can be used as bedrooms, studies or hobby rooms. A bathroom with a central Odissi stand-alone white bath and a Starck tap is situated on the fourth floors, while an additional cloakroom and kitchenette are located on the sixth. The eighth floor is dedicated to a glass viewing observatory, situated in the space formerly occupied by the original 80-ton water tank. The views are breathtaking; both sunrise and sunset can be marvelled at and London and the surrounding Home Counties can be seen in all their glory. The lighting system is by Lutron, and allows 16 different lighting scenes to be remotely programmed to match mood and style.
Offers are being invited in excess of £1.2 million. Further information is available from John Payne Residential on 020 8318 1311; email blackheath@johnpayne.co.uk.
Rail life
Homes with a quick, reliable rail link into the City are very sought-after, as they give those who work in the centre of London access to all the excitement and business opportunities of the metropolis while also allowing for an escape into a more peaceful environment. A good example of this best-of-both-worlds situation can be found in Watford, where Linden Homes offers Cassio Metro, a collection of outstanding homes.
Watford is extremely convenient for City-bound commuters, with trains from Watford Junction station reaching Euston in less than half an hour. From there it’s only a few stops on the tube to the financial centre – and the entire commute takes less time than many spend crossing the capital during rush hour.
At the recently released Milan Quarter phase of Cassio Metro there are 24 two-bedroom apartments, following on from the apartments and town houses available at the previous phase, Paris Quarter. Many of the apartments in Milan Quarter have south-facing balconies overlooking the landscaped central square, perfect for a relaxing coffee-and-newspaper session to start the day. The apartments are highly specified and the development offers a number of excellent lifestyle bonuses, including on-site health and leisure amenities and a concierge service.
Prices at Cassio Metro range from £249,950 to £475,000. Find out more by calling 01929 229229 or visiting lindenhomes.co.uk.
Here in my car
Proximity to the motorway system is a must for many buyers. Those who drive into work would do well to have a look at a current collection of homes in the renowned ‘stockbroker belt’. Kingswood Place in Caterham, Surrey is a development by KingsOak consisting of one- and two-bedroom apartments. These homes are ideal for young professional buyers, as well as for downsizers or investors.
The location is excellent. Situated just half a mile from the town centre, Kingswood is very near the A22 and therefore well placed for access to Croydon and the M25, as well as central London. Public transport is also extremely well provided for. Shopping is particularly excellent, with a great mix of high street names and boutiques. Caterham is an established, mature residential town on the North Downs, which means that after a taxing day at the office you can relax and enjoy being in an environment that offers all the amenities you expect and at the same time a much less hectic feel than in London.
The one- and two-bedroom apartments are priced from £174,995 and £234,995 respectively. To register your interest call 01883 349858 or visit kingsoakhomes.com.