The 2005 property market has some real treats in store, says Johnny Turner. And a good area to start your search is Middlesex.
The county of Middlesex is filled with convenient connections, natural beauty and well designed neighbourhoods. For those in the market for a new home, the area that lies west and north-west of London is alive with wonderful newly built options.
Barratt Homes has a number of very buyable properties in the county. Among them are two upcoming sites in Hounslow town centre. At Reflexion, interest is high way ahead of construction, which is due to start this year. The development will include 334 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, as well as shops and leisure facilities. Alexandra Place boasts 17 one- and two-bedroom apartments as well as two three-bedroom semi-detached town houses. These homes are set in landscaped grounds. Price guides for Alexandra Place start from £190,000 for a one-bedroom apartment, from £250,000 for a two-bedroom apartment and from £370,000 for a three-bedroom house.
Meanwhile, the second phase of Barratt’s Axiom development in Feltham town centre has been released, following the early sell-out of the first phase. At Futura, one-bedroom apartments are priced from £164,995, while two-bedroom apartments start at £199,995. In total, Axiom will include 807 new homes, as well as a supermarket, shops, library, health and fitness centre and a hotel set around landscaped plazas.
In Isleworth, a further Barratt scheme offers spacious two-bedroom apartments with balconies, with prices from £254,995 including carpets and a range of integrated appliances. Monterey Place is located within 400 yards of Isleworth railway station and close to shops, restaurants and bars in the town centre.
To find out more about any of these developments – and about special offers currently available on selected plots – contact the Barratt central sales office on 020 8326 7171 or visit barratthomes.co.uk.
Home seekers should also know about two Barratt sites in Harrow. Byron Court offers two-bedroom apartments aimed at those seeking a contemporary lifestyle and including such touches as en suite to the master bedroom, audio/video entry system and private allocated parking.
Prices at Byron Court range from £230,000 to £250,000. Call 01923 297311 for more information.
Also in Harrow, a new development called The Grange will soon be available. Homes will include one- and two-bedroom apartments and three- and four-bedroom town houses in an exclusive location set in mature landscaped gardens. Only 16 miles from the heart of London, The Grange provides a mix of entertainment, shopping and transport options – and nearby schools are famously first-rate.
Prices range from £240,000 to £530,000. Get more information about this exciting new development by calling 020 8423 8047.
In popular Hayes, George Wimpey offers The Grove in Botwell Lane, a modern development of one- and two-bedroom apartments offering the finest in practical contemporary living. With prices starting at £194,995, this development will appeal to first-time buyers who are looking for contemporary style, convenience and affordability.
Hayes is one of the most convenient locations outside the capital; commuters are drawn to its access to both the M25 and M4 motorways. Shopping is plentiful and leisure pursuits are well provided for.
Get more information on The Grove by calling 020 8589 7810.
In Northwood, Fairclough Homes is now offering Viceroy Court, a lovely development of 16 spacious one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and eight four-bedroom town houses. 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. The last one-bedroom apartment is available at £249,995, while two- and three-bedroom apartments are priced from £349,995 and £425,000 respectively. 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 or visit faircloughhomes.co.uk.
In Stanmore, Amber House offers exclusive apartments within walking distance of shops, restaurants, bars and the Underground network. This development of just 15 two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments is close to both Canons Park and Stanmore tube stations on the Jubilee Line – and for motorists, both the M1 and M25 are a short drive away.
Helen Todd, sales and marketing director of Linden Homes Chiltern, says, ‘With Baker Street and Oxford Street within just half an hour on the tube, commuters and shoppers alike will love Amber House. The development itself is highly specified with a traditional exterior design and private communal gardens.’
Each apartment has two bedrooms, with the master bedroom boasting fitted wardrobes and an en suite shower room. There is also a pristine white bathroom, a fully fitted kitchen and a spacious living room in a variety of layouts. Some apartments have their own private balcony and all have allocated parking.
Prices for the apartments at Amber House start at £249,950. For further information call 020 8952 5712 or visit lindenhomes.co.uk.
Many who have raised families in London locations such as Finchley, Hendon and Wembley are moving to the outskirts of the capital, to various locations in the county of Middlesex. Banner Homes is aware of this trend and is currently providing high-quality new homes at Marsh Point in Pinner and Argent House in Hatch End.
In these developments, purchasers can find all the convenience of more central London locations but with considerably more breathing space. At both Marsh Point and Argent House residents can walk to the tube or train station within minutes, yet are still able to enjoy a round of golf at a nearby golf course. Both developments are located in highly desirable streets in elegant surroundings.
Those who are downsizing needn’t worry that they’re giving up internal space or spec for more wide open surroundings, either. The accommodation is generous at these Banner developments, and the specification and finish of the properties is superb.
Marsh Point is a quality development of 18 two-bedroom apartments located in a leafy part of Pinner. The homes feature balconies or patios to the living/dining areas, en suite bathrooms to the master bedroom and plenty of essential storage space in the wardrobes and dressing areas. Each has private parking and enjoys a picturesque setting within established communal gardens.
Marsh Point offers privacy and luxury, as well as proximity to the exclusive Pinner Hill Golf Club nearby. Pinner High Street, arguably the most attractive and historic village on the outskirts of London, is just a short walk away. The setting is superb, the homes a cut above. The homes at Marsh Point are ready for occupation.
Prices range from £339,000 to £475,000. Contact the sales office between 10am and 5pm daily on 020 8966 9129.
Argent House comprises just eight spacious two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments in a location just a stone’s throw from Hatch End mainline train station and the many other amenities of this highly sought-after residential area.
Hatch End is a cosmopolitan place with several excellent restaurants, brasseries and fine eateries, all easily accessible from Argent House. Nearby leisure opportunities include The Grim’s Dyke Golf Club in Pinner, the David Lloyd Club in Bushey Heath and the riverside Centre in Northwood.
Rail journey times from Hatch End are approximately 37 minutes to London Euston and seven minutes to Watford mainline station, while the tube network can be accessed from Pinner and Harrow and Wealdstone stations. Convenient access to the M25 will please car commuters.
Prices at Argent House start from £375,000, and Banner Homes is currently offering five per cent paid on selected plots. Call the marketing suite, open Thursdays to Mondays 10am to 5pm, on 020 8421 4691.
Finally, the Kings Gate development in Harrow-on-the-Hill has recently been launched. The scheme, by Macleod & Fairbriar, is still very much in the early stages of development, but is already creating a stir among those seeking a quality home.
The conversion of a fine Georgian listed coaching inn and its Victorian neighbour will provide 33 homes arranged in an attractive courtyard setting. There will be one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, as well as three- and four/five-bedroom three-storey town houses in the epicentre of this elite village.
The development’s location allows for spectacular views from the hill and offers the chance to live in highly elegant buildings which boast both leafy surroundings and very convenient commuting distance to London.
‘Kings Gate is the ultimate new address because it offers all the charm and character of period buildings, married with the latest building skills, energy efficiency and added “extra benefits” that only a new home can provide,’ explains Julian Macleod of Macleod and Fairbriar. ‘It would be hard to find somewhere else as appealing that offers sleek, contemporary accommodation within a historic building, yet within a tube and mainline train ride of central London. Judging by the comments arising from the open day, potential buyers certainly agree.’
Prices at Kings Gate start at £325,000. Full details are available from the marketing suite on 020 8423 6727 or from selling agent Stephen J Woodward on 020 8864 8844. You can also find out more online by visiting kingsgate.uk.com.