A diverse mix of rural delights and cosmopolitan chic, Middlesex and north London are proving to be a tempting proposition for today’s purchasers. Anna Bowden looks at the developments making their mark.
Middlesex is a county known for many things, among them cricket, charm, industry and suburban ease. Stretching from the River Thames, west of London at Teddington, to directly north of the capital at Enfield, you will find all sorts of environments within the borders, with a multitude of benefits to the home buyer. Enfield is a lovely location steeped in Victorian charm and it is also a very modern, highly convenient place to live. With its varied mix of shopping possibilities, famously good schools, great transport connections and thousands of acres of green space, it is easy to see why it’s such a sought-after residential area.
North London too has really taken off in the past 15 or so years. For house hunters looking to buy in the area the types of properties and settings are overwhelming. From family homes in the suburbs to swanky apartments in the hub of trendy ‘cappuccino land’, buyers looking for a brand new home never had it so good. The gentrification of Islington started back in the mid-1980s when the chardonnay-swilling set would pose outside one of the many coffee shops. Although the area is dominated by Georgian and Victorian architecture, the demand to live there has led to an influx of new build that can display the necessary ‘wow’ factor to complement the surroundings. There are several excellent developments in both north London and Middlesex.
Fairclough Homes is now offering Viceroy Court in Northwood, a lovely development of 16 spacious one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and eight four-bedroom town houses priced from £250,000. All apartments come with a parking space and the town houses have their own private garage.
All homes at Viceroy Court are high specification, with en suites to the master bedrooms, fully fitted bathrooms and kitchens and, in the town houses, separate living and dining rooms. Prices for the town houses, which range in size from 2,107 to 2,249 sq ft, start from £660,000. For further information call 0845 676 0164.
Laing Homes North Thames has now released a new phase of homes plus a show home at its Brockley Park development in Stanmore, Middlesex, following the success of its off-plan releases. Brockley Park is located within one of Stanmore’s more exclusive areas, with far reaching views over green belt countryside and six acres of adjacent open space, which is being landscaped by Laing with a pond and will soon be handed over for general public enjoyment.
Homes at Brockley Park are being built in a wide range of detached house types and have all been designed to offer maximum use of living space as well as to fit in with the local vernacular. The new show home is an example of the four-bedroom Heather house type; this comes with two extra rooms and an integral garage.
Buyers at Brockley Park can choose to upgrade the specification of their new home to include state-of-the-art extras such as integrated audio systems, with ceiling speaker, wall control panels and security cameras. However, all kitchens come fully fitted with Siemens or Bosch appliances, granite worktops and pre-wiring for the latest communications and home cinema systems.
Prices at Brockley Park start from £615,000 for a four-bedroom detached Bergamot house type with bonus room and rise to £1.1million for a six-bedroom Fern house type. To find out more call 0870 240 4563 or visit laing-homes.co.uk.
Banner Homes is offering three new developments in Middlesex: Compass Place in Edgware, Marsh Point in Pinner and Brooks Hall in Harrow Weald.
The former is a stunning gated collection of 18 two-bedroom apartments with private basement parking. Conveniently located in the sought-after and affluent London suburb of Edgware, the development occupies a prominent position off the Edgware Way, opposite Edgwarebury Park.
The apartments at Compass Point provide unique, beautifully designed accommodation which makes optimum use of available space. Each apartment reflects a high quality of build and finish and a superior interior specification.
Edgware itself is a thriving community boasting an excellent range of local amenities, including The Broadwalk shopping centre, home of many high street chains. Brent Cross shopping centre is also close by and the area benefits from a vast array of excellent restaurants, offering everything from Middle Eastern to Mediterranean cuisine.
Transport-wise the area is very well connected by underground, bus and motorway links. The nearby A5 connects to the City, the A41 to the M1 and Canons Park station is on the Jubilee Line.
Prices at Compass Place range from £325,000 to £435,000. Call Banner Homes on 020 8958 0739 or selling agent Preston Bennett on 020 8954 8626.
Marsh Point, also by Banner Homes, is a development of 18 high-specification apartments currently under construction on Marsh Road, priced from £375,000 to £445,000. A show home, open daily from 10am to 5pm, has recently opened at the development. To find out more or to register interest call sales advisors Sandie Anderson or Jenny Brahams on 020 8966 9129.
The third banner Homes development, Brooks Hall, is a luxury collection of 14 two- and three-bedroom apartments set in mature grounds on Brooks Hill. Just one plot now remains, priced at £985,000. Call selling agent Preston Bennett on 020 8954 8628 to find out more.
Barratt is currently offering several developments in north London, including Burleigh Place in Southgate, Fallow Gate in Finchley, The Chambers in Friern Barnet and two in Harrow: The Grange and Byron Court.
Burleigh Place is a scheme of two-, three-, four- and six-bedroom houses ranging in price from £280,000 to £525,000, superbly designed to offer a high specification for today's modern family lifestyle, including a contemporary fitted kitchen with integrated stainless steel oven, hob and hood, plus a fridge/freezer and washer/dryer; modern family bathrooms; en suites to many master bedrooms; downstairs cloakroom; feature fireplace to the lounge; gas central heating and double glazing and private or garage parking.
Southgate itself is a sought-after location for those looking to escape the bustle of central London without sacrificing their leisure time to long hours of commuting. The town centre has developed into a superb mix of speciality and local shops alongside a broad choice of restaurants, bistros and bars and leisure is well catered, for with the famed Trent Country Park. The latter offers huge open spaces, wooded walks, fishing ponds, picnic and BBQ areas as well as a public golf course. For sports enthusiasts the Bourneside Sports Centre offers a wide range of facilities. Education-wise both state and independent schools are available along with a campus of the Middlesex University.
Burleigh Place is located just 30 minutes on the Piccadilly Line from King's Cross/St Pancras. Call 020 8361 7276 to find out more.
Situated close to the North Circular on Finchley High Road, Fallow Gate offers a superb collection of stylish one- and two-bedroom apartments. Designed for the modern lifestyle, homes boast contemporary kitchens with stainless steel oven, hob and hood, en suite shower rooms to most master bedrooms, private parking and video/audio entry system. Prices range from £192,000 to £284,000. Call 020 8371 6809 to arrange a viewing.
Barratt is bringing a unique collection of one- and two-bedroom apartments to the heart of Friern Barnet with The Chambers, the conversion of the Grade II listed town hall and old fire station. The homes will retain many of the original features together with a contemporary specification – including designer fully fitted kitchens, en suites and private gated parking – creating the ideal combination of traditional but stylish living.
With the North Circular under a mile away, there is easy access to most of north and central London. Here you will find some of the most diverse shopping, entertainment, restaurants and nightlife in the world. Transport links are good: King's Cross mainline station is only fifteen minutes away by train from New Southgate station. Call 020 8368 5781.
George Wimpey (West London) now has two new developments available in Middlesex: The Grove and Heathside. The former is a selection of 33 one- and two-bedroom apartments in Hayes. All homes at The Grove include good sized lounge, diner with offset kitchen, double master bedroom, bathroom and storage space off the hallway. The two-bedroom apartments also boast en suite shower room to the master bedroom. Prices at The Grove start from £194,995. Call 020 8532 7810 to arrange a viewing.
Heathside will, when complete, comprise one- and two-bedroom apartments as well as six two-, three- and four-bedroom terraced houses and town houses, with prices starting from £249,995 for the two-bedroom terraced Bolney house type. And as an added bonus purchasers at Heathside can, depending on stage of construction, personalise their new home by choosing from a range of options. To ensure priority potential buyers should subscribe to the George Wimpey mailing list by calling the sales office on 01256 745203.
Linden Homes has one plot remaining at Suede, its development in Hillingdon Heath, Middlesex. The two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment overlooks the communal grounds at the rear of the development and is offered (subject to terms and conditions) with stamp duty, five per cent deposit and legal fees all paid, a saving of around £14,000.
For further information call Kay Floyd at Linden Homes Chiltern on 01895 827447.