What can you get for under £300,000 these days? Johnny Turner looks around and finds a surprising level of quality for the money.
Guessing the future direction of house prices is one of the South East’s favourite pastimes; indeed property speculation, in both senses, has attained the status of Olympic event. Although price rises have now slowed to a crawl, this comes after years of full-on inflation which rendered property unaffordable to many. However, in today’s new homes market there is still a wide selection of property with price tags that please.
Laing Homes has several very buyable developments currently available, offering a wide range of sizes and a choice of sought-after locations. In Welwyn Garden City, Creswick Place is a development of 109 one- and two-bedroom apartments, set over three and four storeys and located within landscaped gardens. The location in Howlands, one-and-a-half miles south of Welwyn town centre, is convenient and peaceful. Some properties at Creswick Place have two bathrooms, while all have their own allocated parking as well as spaces for visitors.
All of the one-bedroom apartments are now sold but the two-bedroom apartments are priced from £159,950. Laing is also offering a choice of five per cent deposit paid, stamp duty paid, legal fees paid (up to £500) and fully fitted carpets. These offers are subject to conditions; call to find out more. Visit the two-bedroom show home or call 01707 351330 to find out more.
The Triangle in Cambridge is another Laing development where affordability rules. This long-awaited landmark development of stylish one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses is situated on Station Road, just minutes’ walk from Cambridge mainline railway station, with its direct link to London King’s Cross in under 50 minutes.
The Triangle information centre has now moved to The Gallery, another excellent Cambridge development in Rustat Road. The marketing suite and show home are open daily from 10am to 5.30pm (except 10am to 2pm Mondays). Prices at the development are available upon request. For further information call 01223 245953 or selling agents Savills on 01223 347147.
Speaking of the Gallery, Laing has now launched the second phase at this stylish collection of apartments and penthouses. The Gallery II consists of a range of contemporary one- and two-bedroom apartments and penthouses located within two miles of the bustling city centre and one mile of the main station.
There are many outstanding deals on offer with these designer apartments, including Laing’s new Easymover scheme – ideal for first-time buyers, who can benefit from the choice of incentives mentioned above with Creswick Place. Alternatively, a unique Homestyle voucher is also available, enabling purchasers to upgrade the specification of their home to their particular taste.
Prices for one-bedroom apartments start at £182,500, while two-bedroom apartments start at £214,950. Call 01223 247669 for more information.
Lovely Enfield is known as an area of choice, with its leafy views and exclusive feel. So it is quite a surprise that home buyers will find apartments for as little as £156,950 in this location. Jerome Walk is Laing’s collection of stylish one- and two-bedroom apartments and three-bedroom houses. First-time buyers will of course be very interested in the apartments, while those looking to trade up to a larger home – and do so without breaking the bank – will want to see the houses.
The location is fabulous and convenient, with Brimsdown station and the bus terminus just two minutes’ walk away. And purchasers have the opportunity to upgrade the specification via the Homestyle service.
Prices for one-bedroom apartments at Jerome Walk currently start at £156,950; two-bedroom apartments are priced from £177,500. The new two-bedroom show home is now open. Call 020 8804 1036 to find out more.
Meanwhile, another north London location with a lot to offer is the setting for Laing’s Shires Lodge, a development of 14 two- and three-bedroom luxury apartments in secluded landscaped grounds. The setting is sought-after Hendon, adjacent to the synagogue on Brent Street. The green expanse of Hendon Park is very nearby, as is Hendon Central tube – so both natural beauty and quick commuting are on the cards. For drivers, the North Circular is just moments away, delivering great motorway connections.
The beautifully designed three-storey block has such features as gables, ornate brickwork and bay window. Convenient pluses include basement parking and gym facilities for the exclusive use of residents and their guests.
Interiors include superb décor, contemporary lighting and elegant feature such as French windows, terraces and large balconies on selected homes. High spec includes designer integrated fitted kitchens, granite worktops, luxury bathrooms with Hansgroe taps. To many of the apartments there are utility rooms and stylish en suites and showers to master bedrooms.
These beautifully designed two- and three-bedroom apartments are priced between £299,950 and £750,000. Call 020 8202 9458.
In up-and-coming Peckham Rye, Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward offers Mary Magdalene in Goldman Road. Dating back to 1900, this former school has been converted into five three-bedroom houses and eight apartments. Situated in Peckham Rye, within close proximity to Rye Lane and Nunhead's local amenities and overland railway stations, it is ideal for commuters.
All units within the development are finished to a high standard, with solid oak wood flooring and fitted carpets, modern bathroom suites and fully fitted kitchens with integrated appliances.
This development is in a regeneration area and as such has seen much interest from investors who are attracted by the capital growth potential. And one surprising aspect of this collection of homes is the price – one two-bedroom apartment is available for sale priced at £219,950, and one three-bedroom house is on the market at £299,950. For sales enquiries contact Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward’s Land and New Homes department on 020 7491 2055.
KingsOak Southern Counties has recently launched The Quadrant in popular Addlestone, near Weybridge, where the superb new show apartment was officially unveiled.
Created by leading interior design consultancy Trend Design, the show apartment at The Quadrant has been finished in dramatic shades of deep red along with taupe colour. Rich and luxurious, the show apartment also features striking furniture in brushed metal and glass.
The Quadrant features a selection of just 24 very modern high-quality apartments, 22 two-bedrooms and two one-bedrooms.
Prices start at £194,995. For further information on homes at The Quadrant and to view the newly launched show apartment, telephone 01932 842046.
George Wimpey South Midlands is offering home hunters the opportunity to live mortgage-free for a year at its inspirational Zodiac development at Fairford Leys in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. The purchaser of Apartment 6, a stylish second-floor two-bedroom home, will have their mortgage repayments paid for by the leading house builder for a full 12 months, to a maximum of £13,000.
Alternatively, if the purchaser prefers, George Wimpey will pay their five per cent deposit and stamp duty. Whichever option they choose, their new home will come complete with carpets and flooring throughout.
The apartment is on the market for £189,995 and features a large combined lounge/dining area and a thoughtfully-designed kitchen. There are also two spacious bedrooms, one with en-suite shower room, as well as a family bathroom, separate entrance hallway and airing cupboard.
Like all designs at the development, Apartment 6 enjoys a high standard specification, including gas central heating, double glazing, audio entry system and a fitted kitchen with built-in stainless steel oven, hob and hood and washer/dryer.
Zodiac features a total of 28 one and two-bedroom apartments set in six stylish buildings, all offering extremely well-designed and spacious layouts to meet the needs of modern-day living.
Also currently available are a range of two-bedroom apartments from £151,995.
Fairford Leys is a brand new community offering an excellent range of everyday amenities including a supermarket, hairdresser, nursery, pharmacy, community centre, health centre and veterinary surgery. For leisure time there is also a private leisure club with swimming pool, while just a short distance from the development is a golf course. The surrounding beautiful Buckinghamshire countryside offers plenty of opportunity for walking and cycling.
Find out more by contacting the Zodiac sales executive, available seven days a week from 11am to 5pm, on 01296 399754. And get information on other well priced George Wimpey developments across the region by calling 01908 544800 or visiting georgewimpey.co.uk.
Bow is a London location that has truly come into its own in the last few years, with a truly amazing variety of quality new homes at affordable prices. The proximity to the City, good tube and DLR connections and a wealth of high-quality leisure options have combined to make the E3 area very popular.
EastSide is a collection of 132 apartments developed by Widacre Homes and Circle 33 Lifespace, offering everything from studios to two-beds, set in a location that is hard to beat in terms of proximity to the City and West End.
And as it is just a short walk from the future site of the Olympic village and stadium, EastSide will also offer further benefits that will accrue from London’s selection as host city: new swimming, cycling and hockey facilities in Stratford (just four minutes away by DLR) and the upgrading of Mile End Stadium. The local economy in Bow is also due to benefit immensely during the run-up to the Games. EastSide also offers that irresistible benefit – very affordable prices. The apartments start at £157,500 for a studio apartment, £179,950 for a one-bedroom apartment and £242,450 for two-bedrooms. For further sales information call Strettons Residential on 020 7422 0989.
Also in Bow, a new development by Lovell, called Heart of Bow, offers a range of flat types, including one- and two-bedroom apartments, as well as houses. Located on the corner of Tradegar Road and Parnell Road, its closeness to the City and Docklands will be a major draw to buyers.
Another irresistible aspect of Heart of Bow is price. One-bedroom apartments start at £204,950, while two-bedrooms are priced from £268,950. The scheme will provide over 200 homes for private purchase, and demand is already brisk: the first phase sold out within days of the opening of the show flat and sales office. The site sales office is open daily from 10am to 5pm. For further information call Copping Joyce New Homes on 020 7288 0330.
Sutton is a well-connected suburban location that is growing in popularity year-on-year. Its proximity to the Surrey countryside, great connections to London and wide range of shopping and leisure activities have meant it has been sought-after by a wide range of buyers, from first-timers who don’t have a million pounds to spend to growing families in search of space.
One particularly good current development is Antler Homes’ Christchurch House, a collection of nine one- and two-bedroom apartments just a short walk from Sutton station.
Designed and built to a very high specification, all properties feature luxurious custom-built fitted kitchens with a range of integral appliances such as stainless steel hob, oven and extractor canopy. In addition, a fridge/freezer, dishwasher and washer/dyer are integrated seamlessly within the overall kitchen layout. Bathrooms, meanwhile, have classically designed pure white sanitaryware, offset by handsome chrome fittings. There are also ladder-style heated towel rails, thermostatic showers, and ceramic floor and wall tiles.
Antler Homes’ The Designer Collection makes it easy to personalise your home and add those finishing touches. They have a wide selection of products and services available to ensure that your new home is quickly made your own; everything within the range has been carefully chosen to complement and enhance the high-quality fixtures that are standard in all Antler homes. Ask a sales representative about The Designer Collection.
Two-bedroom apartments are currently available, priced from £250,000. The show home at Christchurch House is open daily from 10am to 5pm. Contact joint selling agents Connells on 01403 282520 or Frost on 020 8642 6686 to find out more.
Rushmon Homes has opened a three-bedroom view home at Kingswood Close at Wrens Avenue in Ashford, Middlesex. Such is the popularity of the scheme, which is located close to the town centre, that only three of the 13 houses remain available.
Remaining homes include two three-bedroom end terrace houses, priced at £252,500 and £255,000. There is also a three-bedroom detached home priced at £319,950.
Commuting into work in central London is straightfoward, with a 40-minute journey from Ashford station to London Waterloo. There is easy access to the M25 and Heathrow is also nearby. The first residents moved into their homes last month.
Alan Taylor, sales and marketing director of Rushmon Homes, says, ‘The excellent commuter links to London and ease of access to the motorway, together with a good shopping area and the fact that Ashford is close to open countryside and the River Thames, have all worked to add to the appeal of Kingswood Close. Now the view house is open we’re sure the three remaining properties will be snapped up.’
The view house and sales centre are open Thursdays to Mondays from 10am to 6pm, when a sales advisor can be contacted by phone on 01784 244551. At other times contact selling agents Townends on 01932 784171 or the Rushmon New Homes hotline on 01932 586777. Visit rushmonhomes.co.uk.
KingsOak is offering excellent prices at two developments in popular Reading. Kings Reach is located adjacent to the green open space of Kings Meadow and yet is very well placed to take advantage of the countless amenities, shops and entertainment facilities of Reading town centre.
Featuring 162 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments set within an architecturally exciting new landmark, the striking scheme makes an individual impact on the townscape and also affords fantastic views, maximised in true KingsOak style by floor-to-ceiling glazing and a light, airy internal ambience.
Prices for homes at Kings Reach currently start at £192,934 for a two-bedroom apartment, while three-bedroom apartments start at £341,995 and two-bedroom penthouses are priced from £474,995. For further information contact 0118 939 3611.
Another Reading development, Shinfield Park, will feature an exclusive choice of 310 homes on an exciting new development created in conjunction with Barratt Maidenhead and George Wimpey plc. The M4 is only a mile away, giving great access to a wide range of destinations. Prices currently start at just £164,995 for a one-bedroom apartment, £209,995 for a two-bedroom apartment and £314,995 for a four-bedroom town house offering flexible accommodation. Call 0118 975 1267. For more information on any of KingsOak’s high-design, low-price developments visit kingsoakhomes.co.uk.
Telford Homes is a developer that is rapidly becoming known for offering good design in a well-connected location at an affordable price. And a glance at the price list at The Sienna Building, its new venture in Barking, confirms that Telford’s gameplan hasn’t changed.
The high-spec apartments will be perfect for first-time buyers or investors who want a property that requires not only minimal capital outlay but also minimal maintenance in the future. The development consists of just 14 contemporary one- and two-bedroom apartments. There is gas central heating, two-year 24/7 emergency cover, gated parking (parking is an optional purchase on two-bedroom apartments) and an interior specification including kitchens by Urban Myth and modern white bathrooms.
The development is located where Goldings Hill, Church Lane and Rectory Lane meet. Barking Park and Loxford Park are all within easy walking distance, while the nearby tube and train stations means good commutability.
Prices start at an amazing £150,000 for a one-bedroom apartment, while two-bedroom apartments are priced from £177,500. Completion is expected in autumn 2006, by which time these homes are unlikely to be on the market. Register your interest at telfordhomes.plc.uk or by calling 020 8498 6789.