Essex’s mix of suburbs and county towns makes for a convenient, pleasant lifestyle – and its current crop of new homes means it is even more of a draw. Johnny Turner sees what’s on the market.
When I think of Essex, several things come to mind and no, I don't mean jokes. I think of countryside, coastline, market towns and country pubs. The last decade or so has seen unprecedented growth in the county, a fact that is not lost on new home developers. Builders have been busy catering for the many thousands of home buyers who have decided that London, however exciting, is not worth the hassle or the expense. After all, a commute from deep into Essex can be as quick as a tube ride across the capital. And the homes that are now being built have raised the bar, both in convenience and specification. So when canny buyers think of where they want to live, an increasing number of them think of Essex.
A good example of why this is can be found in Buckhurst Hill, where Laing Homes is now selling the first release of Iceni, a collection of 24 luxury two-bedroom apartments. Sophisticated and elegant, the homes at Iceni will appeal to young, busy professionals who demand style and have little time to devote to maintenance. Located just one mile from Buckhurst Hill Central Line tube station, this gated development is extremely convenient for those who work in the City or West End of London.
The apartments feature a choice of Symphony kitchens and the pick of Porcelanosa wall and ceramic floor tiles (subject to stage of build). High-tech wiring includes satellite and alarm, and there is a video entryphone. In short, all the modern apartment hunter needs to ensure convenience, security and style. Prices for apartments in this release start at £294,995. For more information call 020 8508 5424 or visit lainghomes.co.uk.
In Barking, there are two current developments of apartments that will have buyers rushing to get in on the action. First, Rialto offers Hewetts Quay, a collection of 120 stylish one- and two-bedroom apartments in seven individual buildings ranging in height from three to five storeys. The location, alongside Barking Creek at the mouth of the River Roding and just seven miles from the City of London, is fantastic for those who work in the capital but want a less stressful out-of-hours environment.
Transport connections are plentiful; motorists will find easy access to the A406 and A13, which in turn make for a quick route to the M25 and M11 motorways. By rail, Barking station offers a direct service to Fenchurch Street, and tube users can take the Hammersmith and City or District Lines into central London.
The design is a superb mix of traditional dockside-style exterior elevations and clean, contemporary interiors. Specification at Hewetts Quay is high, featuring extra-wide front doors, sliding patio doors, beech-effect laminate floors to the kitchen and living room, and bathrooms with modern chrome-finished fittings. Some apartments feature balconies and all have either an allocated parking space, undercroft parking or a garage. Vehicle access to the development is controlled through electronically-operated entrance gates. A show apartment and marketing suite are open daily from 10am to 5.30pm. Current prices range from £180,000 to £198,500. Call 020 8591 9566 to find out more.
Coming soon is another Barking bargain, Persimmon Homes’ Sixpenny Court in Tanner Street, where two-bedroom apartments are priced from an amazing £165,000. The first completions on the site are expected in May 2004. Get more information on Sixpenny Court by calling selling agent Bairstow Eves on 020 8591 3840. You can also visit persimmonhomes.co.uk.
Those looking for something a bit different should head to Chelmer Gate at Beeleigh Link in Chelmer Village, where Bellway is building 34 homes including apartments and two- and three-bedroom houses. The design is dynamic and contemporary, emphasising space and light. The three-bedroom Baddow house type, offering 1,798 sq ft of living space, is much roomier than most four-bedroom houses, and its extraordinary feature of a third bedroom, measuring 24’8 x 17’7 taking up the entire second floor with an en suite shower room, will appeal to buyers with teenage children - the parents have the choice of either using the second floor bedroom as their haven or banishing their teenager to this roomy hideaway! The Baddow is priced from £310,000, while the two-bedroom Downham house type starts at £230,000. Get more information from the Chelmer Gate sales office, open daily from 10am to 5.30pm. Call 01245 493796.
Laing Homes offers Quarles Park, a fabulous new development in Chadwell Heath, where all manner of shopping and entertainment options are tantalisingly close. Both Lakeside and Bluewater are easy to get to, and the weekly food shop is a breeze with a large Tesco just a short walk away. And don’t forget the wide choice of restaurants and bars, or the high street shopping available in Romford and Ilford. Set on Grove Road, at the heart of Chadwell Heath, Quarles Park is a tastefully designed collection of new homes ideally positioned to take advantage of excellent local amenities. Specification includes luxury fitted kitchens, integrated appliances and home entertainment facilities. There are two distinct phases to the development; the first, on sale now, consists of two-bedroom houses (priced from £215,000) and four-bedroom town houses (from £299,950). To get full details call 020 8586 4091 or visit laing-homes.co.uk.
Sales at Barratt’s new Clarendon Park development in Chelmsford have now reached the halfway point, as buyers become aware of the elegance and connectedness of the homes. In fact, all of the apartments have now been snapped up, although buyers are left with a wide choice of designs, including elegant four- and five-bedroom family homes, all in traditional red brick. Built on the site of the old Chelmsford isolation hospital, which had long been a derelict eyesore, both houses and apartments are now being built in a design style which echoes the features of a typical Essex market town. ‘Clarendon Place is great value for money and a super place to live,’ says Brian Bloomfield, sales director of Barratt Eastern Counties. All homes at Clarendon Park feature fully fitted kitchens and bathrooms, double glazing and energy-efficient gas central heating. The four- and five-bedroom houses also offer integrated kitchen equipment. First occupations are now taking place and completion of the development is expected next year. Call 01245 290013. Another Barratt development in Essex where sales have taken off is The Laurels in Witham. Weeks in advance of commencement of the construction programme, homes are being reserved by buyers who have an eye for an opportunity. The development offers a range of one- and two-bedroom apartments as well as two-, three- and four-bedroom houses. Feature include spacious living rooms, designer fitted kitchens, en suite and fully fitted bathrooms, double glazing, energy-efficient gas central heating and either garages or private parking. These superb homes are located in the heart of one of Witham’s most desirable and convenient residential areas, well regarded for its easy transport, good amenities and excellent educational provision; there are nursery, primary and secondary schools all within walking distance of The Laurels. Prices range from £139,995 for a one-bedroom apartment; from £162,995 for a two-bedroom home; from £209,995 for a three-bedroom home; and from £239,995 for a four-bedroom home. Call the sales centre at The Laurels, open daily, on 01376 503919.
Over to Ilford, where two new show homes have opened next door to each other at The Parks in Loxford Lane. At the Fairclough Homes development they are building a range of attractive three- and four-bedroom town houses in this largely residential area. The surrounding area is characterised by allotments and nearby school grounds providing surroundings with lots of space. New houses are comparatively rare in Ilford, so there is bound to be a great deal of interest in The Parks. The town houses are over three floors and offer good flexibility to suit modern lifestyles. The Worcester town house, for example, has three bedrooms, all of which can be used as doubles, together with two reception rooms - a family/dining room opening to the garden and a separate living room. The Clarendon town house has two double bedrooms (one with a walk-in wardrobe/dressing area), two single bedrooms and an integral garage. Prices at The Parks start at £234,950. Call the sales centre, open seven days a week, on 020 8911 8875.
Wilson Connolly presents its Nightingale Park development in Colchester, where there will be five different designs of four-bedroom homes and ten styles of three-bedroom homes. Examples of the latter include the Averham town house, priced from £169,995, and the Byford, which starts at £154,995. There is also currently a four-bedroom Stratton house released for sale at £210,995. Nightingale Park is located off Brinkley Grove in north Colchester, an area with good public transport into the town centre as well as good local amenities. Call the sales centre on 01206 752556 for further information.
At Countryside Properties’ Pelham Gate in Rayleigh, ten different styles of new home are on offer, which creates an attractive and interesting street scene. The development has been thoughtfully landscaped, with features such as a central tree-lined square. All homes at Pelham Gate have traditional-style exteriors incorporating both rendered and brick frontages with timber features. The interiors, by contrast, are contemporary and feature many modern details, including Philippe Starck sanitaryware. Two-bedroom apartments are on sale, priced from £152,500 to £170,000. Countryside also offers purchasers full value part-exchange as well as stamp duty paid on selected plots, subject to terms and conditions. Call 01268 786900 or visit pelhamgate.co.uk.
Buy-to-let investors will be interested in Hallmark Developments’ Logica scheme in Chelmsford, a collection of 12 select two-bedroom apartments with gardens and parking. Chelmsford is a popular and lucrative location for investors, boasting consistently high rental yields and high demand for luxury housing from professional tenants. Logica is situated on Lynmouth Gardens, just a ten-minute walk from the mainline station, which provides links to Liverpool Street taking only 35 minutes. There are currently six apartments remaining, priced from £170,000. Call selling agent Abbotts on 01245 293286 for more information.
Tabor Gardens, a smart new development by Fairview New Homes in Braintree, is offering not only a good choice of homes but some very attractive incentives as well. Comprising three- and four-bedroom houses and two-bedroom apartments, Tabor Gardens has been designed around attractive landscaped areas. The four-bedroom houses offer a spacious sitting room, a separate dining room and a fitted kitchen, as well as a master bedroom featuring an en suite bathroom. There is an additional guest bathroom and a garage. Braintree is an ancient Essex market town that enjoys excellent communications, with direct rail services from Braintree station to London Liverpool Street taking approximately one hour. The M11 is 16 miles away, offering access to London to the south and Cambridge to the north. Stansted Airport is approximately 14 miles away. Four-bedroom houses are priced from £222,000; three-bedroom mews-style houses start at £188,000; and four-bedroom town houses are priced from £235,000. Call 01376 328091 or visit fairview.co.uk.
At Redrow’s Trinity Mews in Ashingdon only a few properties remain – and the award-winning builder will also consider part exchange on selected plots. According to Elle Roberts, field sales manager for Redrow Homes (Eastern), ‘With our part-exchange scheme our customers can enjoy the peace of mind of knowing that there is a guaranteed buyer for their existing property without the anxiety and disappointment that can be associated with chains.’ Purchasers can choose from the Shelley II, an attractive four-bedroom family home, or the Eastney, a three-bedroom town house offering spacious living accommodation over three floors. Trinity Mews enjoys a peaceful, semi-rural location just 40 miles from central London. There is easy access to Southend and Basildon, and rail commuters will find a train journey of approximately 50 minutes from Rochford station to Liverpool Street. For more information about prices and availability call the sales office on 01702 548994 or visit redrow.co.uk.
And finally, from the ‘coming soon’ file, Bellwinch Homes is looking forward to two new developments in Essex. Subject to planning permission, the developer will be offering a wide choice of homes in Rayleigh, constructed in varying designs which will appeal to purchasers with different tastes and budgets. There will be a choice of 81 two-, three- and four-bedroom houses as well as one-bedroom apartments. These attractive new homes will adjoin 100 acres of open space. Also subject to planning, Bellwinch is to construct a further 63 two-, three- and four-bedroom houses and two-bedroom apartments at Chafford Hundred. The majority of these homes will enjoy views over Lions Gorge. This will be the developer’s second collection of new homes within the area. To register your interest and receive further information as soon as it is available, phone the sales hotline on 020 8902 7838. Find out more about other Bellwinch Homes developments by visiting bellwinchhomes.co.uk.