Living by water has always been popular, but is generally the preserve of the rich and famous. We’ve all thought, with some irritation, of those smug celebs looking out over the Thames while we buy our lottery ticket; but now we too have the chance to fall asleep to the sound of the river gently lapping at our home. New home developers have seen the demand for quality housing by and overlooking the river, and are constructing excellent new apartments and houses that are not only high in specification, but affordable too.
CALA’s Oak View development has proved so popular with buyers that CALA has launched three show homes there in as many months – and the third is expected to be snapped up as quickly as the other two. The Oak View scheme now consists of attractive four-bedroom traditional semi-detached and detached houses in a variety of sizes in the pretty village of Purley-on-Thames, Berkshire. There are also stunning two-bedroom apartments ranging from 667 to 1,076 sq ft.
The location is a major asset; the development backs on to an area of outstanding natural beauty and is near good schools such as the Long Lane Primary School and Purley CoE Infants School. Good local amenities are also nearby, as are transport links, including a rail service to London Paddington.
Prices for an apartment at Oak View start at £199,950; houses range from £349,000 to £499,950. Contact the sales suite on 0118 945 3171 or selling agent The Romans Group on 0118 943 9400.
Barratt is currently offering Thames Walk in Thamesmead, London, a stunning development of luxurious apartments situated in a great riverside location. The Crescent, a crescent of apartments that sweep around a stunning riverside garden, is the latest release at the development; the one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments there are luxurious, stylish and excellent value for money.
Typical two-bedroom apartments at The Crescent include spacious living/dining room, fully fitted open-plan kitchen, two double bedrooms and an en suite shower room off the master bedroom, as well as a separate fully fitted family bathroom to make the apartment ideal for those who entertain guests or who want to take a lodger. There is also a balcony that runs the width of the living room as well as an allocated parking space. And this superb riverside development stands in impressively landscaped grounds accessed through secure, electronically controlled gates.
Thames Walk is accessed from Warepoint Drive, a few minutes from the confirmed site of the new crossing to Beckton which will put Thamesmead within minutes of Canary Wharf in a few years. The Blackwall Tunnel is less than four miles away and the Woolwich Ferry, which is free of charge, is also nearby, linking to the north bank of the Thames.
Plumstead mainline station, from where London Bridge, Charing Cross and Waterloo stations are approximately a 30-minute journey, is three-quarters of a mile away, and there is a proposal to extend the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) from City Airport to Woolwich Arsenal.
Prices start from £215,995 for a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment. Call 020 8316 5876 for further information.
LCR Developments and FairBriar PLC are together providing residential moorings at Wandsworth’s mixed-use Riverside Quarter development, helping to create a complete waterside community of a standard associated with the world’s leading urban marinas.
According to the Residential Boat Owner Association, some 15,000 people live afloat, along the UK’s rivers, canals and coastline; but residential moorings in metropolitan areas, particularly London, are hard to find. These moorings will form two jetties at Riverside Quarter, offering space for 16 craft on individual 60-year licenses. Houseboats in the range of 18–30 metres can be accommodated. There is also the opportunity to purchase a parking space as well as membership of the exclusive Riverside Quarter leisure club – which boasts an indoor pool.
When complete, Riverside Quarter will provide a new waterside community, including over 400 homes, commercial and leisure space, specialist shops, offices and waterside restaurants. Residential space will comprise one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, duplexes and three-bedroom penthouses, most orientated towards the river. Their design has been cleverly arranged to ensure that a maximum number of apartments have waterside views, enhanced by tiered façades with a high ratio of glazing to wall and incorporating large balconies with glass balustrades.
John Mitchell, sole agent for the sale of the moorings, says, ‘The residential moorings at Riverside Quarter are a virtually unique opportunity in today’s market to be part of a new waterside community where the developers seek to create a contemporary hamlet on water, with best quality modern houseboat design, to complement their outstanding land-based development.’
Guide prices are £6,000–£7,500 per metre. Call 020 7629 6700 for information on the moorings and 020 8877 2000 for information regarding Riverside Quarter itself.
Following on from the success of Abbotts Wharf last year, Telford Homes has released its latest residential scheme – Tequila Wharf. Situated on the banks of the Regent’s Canal, where it flows into the Limehouse Basin beneath Commercial Road, this is an exciting flagship development of 123 one- and two-bedroom apartments with exceptional views along the canal.
Sheena Ellwood, sales and marketing director at Telford Homes, says, ‘We are very excited about this scheme. With Tequila Wharf, Telford Homes is moving on in its knowledge of urban regeneration and is taking its specialist skills and knowledge of the sector to new heights. Tequila Wharf is an exceptional scheme that will provide purchasers with an excellent opportunity to invest in one of the capital’s most up-and-coming areas.’
The architecture of the scheme is contemporary yet fits in perfectly with the eclectic surrounding environment. The building follows the line of the canal, rising from five to ten storeys against the London skyline. A fusion of light sandstone brick, clean pale render and expanses of glazing and steel, the design of this scheme is dynamic yet complements the industrial stock, water and plant life that make up the surrounding locale.
Tequila Wharf is the second major project that Telford Homes has undertaken in the area. Abbotts Wharf, a showcase urban regeneration project comprising 101 stylish one- and two-bedroom apartments, is now 99 per cent sold despite being launched only 12 months ago.
Prices at Tequila Wharf start from £192,500 for a one-bedroom apartment. Call 0870 872 0987 for details.
Antler Homes is now offering Taplow Quay, a development of just eight three-bedroom apartments and one three-bedroom house in the lovely town of Maidenhead. Built on the site of a period villa, Antler Homes has sought to recapture the atmosphere of the time by recreating some of the original features. Most notable are the wrought-iron pillars and balustrades that have been commissioned from a blacksmith in Yorkshire and which form the ornamental balconies and wrap around the terraces of the apartments. In addition, Taplow Quay has stunning views across the river straight out onto the towpath running alongside the Thames.
Karen Lee Brindle, sales director of Antler Homes Southern, comments, ‘At Taplow Quay the objective has always been very much about recapturing the traditional exterior while creating a modern, sleek interior. The atmosphere inside the properties is one of relaxed waterfront living, with views straight out onto the river.
‘It really feels like you’re not in town, yet the development is centrally located in the smart suburb of Taplow.’
Interiors at the development are clean and contemporary. The homes feature large kitchen/breakfast rooms with modern integrated appliances, a spacious reception room, a master bedroom with en suite bathroom and two further large double bedrooms, one of which could be used as a second reception room. The quality of the fittings is high and the emphasis is on luxurious living.
Prices at Taplow Quay start from £435,000. Call 01628 777395 for details or to arrange a viewing.
George Wimpey Central London has launched a flagship mixed-use scheme of apartments and penthouses in Battersea, London, overlooking the Thames and close to the heart of the capital. Located off Lombard Road, the 18-storey building comprises iconic architecture and intelligent design and consists of four crescent shaped glass, aluminium and timber façades, rising up to form a new Thameside landmark surmounted by large private penthouse terraces and communal rooftop gardens.
Falcon Wharf contains 124 impeccably designed one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, including stunning duplexes and a three-bedroom penthouse, with the crescent façades allowing direct and oblique river views for most apartments.
Graeme Dodds, managing director of George Wimpey Central London, comments, ‘Falcon Wharf is a flagship scheme which will form a new architectural landmark beside the Thames at Battersea. Avant garde and forward-looking in terms of architecture and styling, it will be one of the most exciting places to live in London.
‘We build for Londoners and the homes at Falcon Wharf are highly aspirational yet easily within the sphere of everyday buyers. Well located and connected, cleverly designed and fitted to a superb specification complete with parking and lifestyle facilities, Falcon Wharf provides all the essential elements needed for London living at its best.’
Prices at Falcon Wharf start from £245,000. To find out more call selling agent Hamptons on 0870 990 7599.