More and more people are opting to buy in Hertfordshire. Johnny Turner sees what’s available in this lovely, well-connected county.
One of the South East’s fastest-growing counties is Hertfordshire, a location long known for its mix of market towns and modernity, historic sites and commuter ease, this is seen as one of the premier areas in which to live. The current crop of newly built homes consists of all types of homes, offering something for every kind of buyer.
Near Watford town centre, award-winning house builder Linden has launched The Avenue, a select development of just 13 one- and two-bedroom apartments. Prospective buyers can now view the stunning show apartment and reserve their chosen plot.
The Avenue has already shown its popularity: four of the apartments have already been sold off-plan. The nine remaining apartments are ready to move into and are expected to sell quickly, so home buyers should act fast to avoid disappointment
The apartments feature Linden Homes’ usual high quality, with Symphony designer kitchens including integrated stainless steel appliances and stylish tiling. The luxurious bathrooms have pristine white sanitaryware and contemporary chrome taps. The apartments also benefit from private allocated parking.
Getting into the capital is simple. Watford Junction station is within easy reach, from where journey times to London Euston are under 20 minutes. Watford underground station is a short distance away, with its tube services into central London in less than one hour. The M1 and M25 are convenient for motorists.
Prices start at £199,950. For further information call Heather Davies on 01895 827447 or visit lindenhomes.co.uk.
In Oxhey, Laing Homes presents Oaklands, a development of 13 three- and four-bedroom houses, six two-bedroom apartments and one bungalow. The location is in the heart of a sought-after area and Oaklands benefits from an acre of public open space set among established oak trees.
Shops and schools are nearby, and transport is convenient, with a station approximately three-quarters of a mile away. There is vast green space very nearby, as well as golf courses and other leisure facilities.
Home types include the Astor.
The three- and four-bedroom homes will all have en suite bathrooms and the majority will have garages. Currently available houses include the Bluebell, which features a kitchen/dining room and is priced at £404,995. The two-bedroom apartments, which are age-exclusive, are priced from £234,995. Register your interest in Oaklands by calling 01923 233708. Visit laing-homes.co.uk.
Beechwood Homes has a strong presence in the county of Hertfordshire, where the company is based, and the latest offerings combine high quality and maximum affordability – to say nothing of the wonderful locations.
The Ridings, located in Woolmer Green, offers beautifully designed apartments and bungalows. Woolmer Green is a small village of fewer than 1,000 people surrounded by rolling countryside, located less than a mile from the larger village of Knebworth and just three-and-a-half miles from Stevenage.
Here you’ll find it’s your choice whether to enjoy the leisurely pace of village life or avail yourself of the commerce, nightlife and leisure opportunities of the larger communities. Stevenage has shopping centre, a well-known leisure park with cinemas, ten-pin bowling and a good choice of restaurants. Woolmer Green is wonderfully connected for London commuters, with the A1(M) only two miles away and Knebworth station providing easy links to the capital and beyond.
Within The Ridings, Stable Mews is a unique scheme of just six converted apartments, each with its own entrance at street level. The variety of layouts ranges from one-bedroom apartments at 400 sq ft to two-bedroom apartments of approximately 750 sq ft. There is gas heating, double glazing, equipped kitchens and bathrooms with Roca sanitaryware. First-time buyer packages are available on selected plots, and on two of the plots carpets and fridge/freezer are included. Guide prices for one-bedroom apartments range from £124,950 to £189,950, while two-bedroom apartments start at £159,950. These homes are ready to move into.
Meanwhile, Blacksmith’s Court is a second scheme at The Ridings which is expected to see completion this year. The new apartments and a rare two-bedroom bungalow are designed around a courtyard setting. The bungalow is designed to Lifetime Homes standards for space and mobility. The apartments have their own front doors at street level and are of varying sizes and accommodation. Gas central heating, double glazing and equipped kitchens will form part of the comprehensive specification. Price guide is £159,950 to £194,950 for apartments and £275,000 for the bungalow.
Further schemes from Beechwood are coming soon. These include two new executive five-bedroom detached homes in Harpenden, as well as a prestigious development of five luxury five-bedroom town houses and one five-bedroom detached home in St Albans. For further information on any of these homes call 01707 664432 or visit beechwood.co.uk.
Rialto Homes has been awarded a prestigious NHBC award for quality at its Canada Fields development in Turnford – one of only five development in the whole of Hertfordshire to be selected. The award is in recognition of the design as well as the attention to detail project manager Luke Heslin and other devoted to making that design a reality.
Canada Fields provides 479 homes, including one- and two-bedroom apartments, and features an attractive programme of landscaping, grassed areas and cycle paths, as well as a wildlife area. Commuters will be especially pleased with the location – it is just 35 minutes to central London via nearby Broxbourne and Cheshunt stations. By road, the development gives easy access to the A10, M25 via junction 25, A1(M) and M11. Stansted Airport is within convenient reach.
Each home has allocated private parking, some in the form of a garage. There is also the invaluable plus of good storage space. Prices at Canada Fields start at £159,995 for one-bedroom apartments and £171,995 for two-bedroom apartments. There are currently generous incentives on offer from Rialto. Call the marketing suite on 01992 442087 or Rialto Homes on 0800 731 4477.
Fairview New Homes is selling Sparrows Herne, a new development near the village of Bushey Heath that is ideal rural retreat for those whose work requires them to travel into the city. Sparrows Herne offers 27 stylish one- and two-bedroom apartments set within landscaped grounds complete with mature trees.
The apartments are contained within five three-storey buildings with warm brick and stone façades. Each light and spacious apartment has an open plan kitchen to the living area, and many offer delightful features such as Juliet balconies, terraces and French windows. Each apartment offers an allocated parking space.
The high level of specification is typified by the fully fitted kitchens with stainless steel appliances such as oven, hob and cooker hood. There is also an integrated fridge/freezer, dishwasher and washer/dryer, as well as oak-effect laminate flooring. Bathrooms are elegant, with contemporary white sanitaryware, chrome taps and fittings, heated towel rails, contemporary mirrors and vinyl flooring.
One-bedroom apartments start at £214,995 and two-bedroom apartments start at £249,995. Call the sales and marketing suite on 020 8950 7894 or visit fairview.co.uk.
From City Developments comes Minerva Heights, a collection of stunning two-bedroom apartments with beautifully appointed kitchens, modern décor and an allocated parking space. Currently the developer is offering a very attractive package of incentives – the ‘move in for £99’ scheme, in which the five per cent deposit, stamp duty and some legal costs are paid.
One of the great strengths of Minerva Heights is its connectedness. Communications from St Albans are excellent; the district is encircled by the M1, M25 and A1 motorways, and Hemel Hempstead and Watford are each within ten miles. St Albans station provides a frequent service to King’s Cross in only 20 minutes. There is also a service to Luton Airport Parkway taking less than 15 minutes.
Two-bedroom apartments start at £224,995. To find out more contact the marketing suite, open Thursdays to Mondays 10am to 5pm, on 0845 676 0188. Visit persimmonhomes.com.
Fairclough Homes is offering some exciting incentives on its last three remaining homes at Aventine, located on Holywell Hill in St Albans. These are all two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments, ready to move into and available at prices from £299,950.
Purchase one of the remaining homes at Aventine and, subject to terms and conditions, Fairclough will pay the legal fees, including the search fee. It will also pay the three per cent stamp duty on completion, which represents a substantial saving.
Aventine’s ‘walk to everywhere’ location is a definite plus. It is opposite Verulamium Park, a swimming pool and the Abbey Theatre. You can walk to the cathedral in five minutes and the town centre in ten – and there is a supermarket just around the corner.
For longer journeys, Abbey station is just minutes away, from where you can take the Abbey Flyer to Watford. From St Albans station there are fast Thameslink trains direct to London. For those who drive, there is straightforward access to the M10/M1, the M1(M) and the M25.
For further information and an appointment to view call 0845 676 0168 or selling agent Connells on 01727 856781.