Developers are getting wise to the green message as they present homes that help the local area.
Planning and following through the creation of a new development is a complex business. And these days more is expected than a perfunctory nod to the wellbeing of the locale in which the homes are going up. Indeed, there are a number of very environmentally friendly schemes currently on the market.
With Aspex, located in Finsbury Park, London, Higgins Homes has demonstrated the benefits that new homes can bring to an area, aesthetically and culturally. Aspex is a contemporary collection of 25 two and three bedroom apartments, duplexes and penthouses. The development comprises two buildings, one of which houses a former run-down synagogue which was demolished and re-built as part of the development. It has now been transformed into a modern venue which is an integral part of the area.
Previously, the site contained the former synagogue and an old storage block covered in graffiti, and a large tarmac area which was overgrown with weeds. Bespoke developer Higgins Homes has completely transformed the entire site into two highly modern four-storey apartment buildings which are set within landscaped communal gardens adjacent to the West Reservoir.
‘There was huge potential to create something really special on the site, and the location of Aspex was deliberately chosen for its views and central location,’ comments Jeremy Marcus, sales and marketing director of Higgins Homes. ‘The area has been earmarked for regeneration and we believe that Aspex is at the forefront of this transformation.’
The apartments offer contemporary interiors with a range of layouts which have been designed to optimise its space. Completion is expected this summer.
All apartments feature a patio or balcony and the penthouses have fantastic balconies which wrap around the entire living room. Each apartment features designer kitchens by Urban Myth, with Smeg appliances including stainless steel oven and gas hob. A fridge/freezer, washer/dryer and dishwasher are also included.
Finsbury Park is an ideal location with excellent sporting, entertainment and transport facilities. And Stoke Newington, a unique urban village with a fantastic selection of shops, restaurants, bars and pubs, is within walking distance. The West Reservoir, which many of the apartments overlook, features a modern aquatics club which offers a range of watersports including canoeing, kayaking and sailing. Also nearby is The Castle, one of London’s premier indoor climbing clubs, which is housed in a former Victorian Gothic-style pumping station.
Manor House tube station is within walking distance, putting commuters within just five stops of King’s Cross. Prices start from £285,000 for a two-bedroom apartment and £425,000 for a two-bedroom penthouse – less a five per cent assisted deposit. Contact Higgins Homes on telephone: 020 8802 8620 or visit higginshomes.co.uk.
One area that is seeing the benefit of a well-thought-out environmental policy is the Medway Towns. And it is in Maidstone that Gillcrest Homes is showing that a scheme with good green credentials can be sexy!
At 10, located in the heart of this vibrant town, buyers will find a smart, stylish and technologically advanced set of just ten two-bedroom apartments. The show home will give prospective buyers a good idea of what forward-thinking design and high spec can do to create an enviable lifestyle. The fact that the homes are also extremely energy-efficient adds an attractive extra dimension.
10 was designed by the renowned practice ctmarchitects, who received a top award at the prestigious Kent Design Awards for their commitment to innovative and sustainable design practices.
The development features an innovative under floor heating and cooling system that is approximately 25 per cent more efficient than a conventional heating system. Homes offer the very latest in terms of internal design layout, quality fitted kitchens, and sparkling, contemporary bathrooms.
Each apartment has a secure car parking space and benefits from the use of the spectacular communal rooftop garden, which allows residents panoramic views over the surrounding area as well as a valuable external space to enjoy. Some flats also boast a private balcony.
The development is situated within walking distance of Maidstone’s town centre with its variety of shops, bars, restaurants, sports facilities and nightlife, not to mention its convenient – and very green – ease of access to trains to London and elsewhere.
Prices for two-bedroom apartments start at £179,995, while penthouses start from £189,995. For more information and a chance to visit the show apartment contact Ward and Partners on 01622 683737 or Regal Estates on 01622 755558.
Fairview New Homes offers a wonderful collection of homes that demonstrate the lasting improvement that can be effected by the clever reuse of a historic structure. Its Ovaltine Apartments at Grand Union Gardens in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire will be distinguished by the art deco façade of the former Ovaltine factory on the banks of the Grand Union Canal. Here a truly impressive green project is taking place, in which a wonderful 1913 structure is saved and desperately needed new homes are provided – the essence of the green ethos.
The latest phase to be released comprises one- and two-bedroom apartments, including a third-floor apartment and a fourth-floor apartment that will provide extensive terraces overlooking the canal to the weSt The latter apartment is very spacious and will benefit from a wrap-around terrace on three sides, accessible from the main bedroom via French windows from the main bedroom and the open-plan kitchen/living/dining area. A stunning, light and airy home for a lucky buyer.
Commuters are very well served by the Ovaltine Apartments, as Kings Langley station is only a few minutes’ walk away, providing regular services to London Euston that take less than half an hour. This means residents will be able to move at will between the fresh air of the countryside and the hustle and bustle of the metropolis.
One-bedroom apartments start at £184,995, while two-bedroom apartments are priced from £229,995. Four- and five-bedroom town houses are also available at the adjacent Grand Union Gardens, priced from £334,995. Call 01923 268921 or see fairview.co.uk.
Persimmon Homes Essex is designing its Bloomsbury Mews development in Colchester as an environmentally friendly blueprint for future developments in the region. From purchase, the development has been carefully designed. The location was chosen for its proximity to Colchester railway station, which Persimmon is hoping will encourage its residents to opt for public transport and cycling instead of the car. In addition, the installation of bike sheds and cycleways similarly encourage eco-friendly transport.
The landscape at the development reflects a wealth of expertise, nurtured by a team of landscape architects, arboriculturists and ecologists. Residents will benefit from wide belts of woodland, several mature oak trees and quintessential English hedges, ensuring that the public space at the development is a breath of fresh air, while each quarter of the development will be linked through landscaped walks and paths.
A grassland area is to be established as a wildlife reserve and country walk area, and Persimmon is also proud to announce existing birds and wildlife on the land are to be protected while the landscape has been designed to encourage ecological diversity.
Adrian Garrood, sales manager for Persimmon Homes Essex, comments: ‘Our strapline for this development is ‘More than just an address’ – simply because of the amount of thought, planning and care that has gone into the design.
‘At Persimmon we realise we need to act now to save our planet for future generations, and we hope to implement the developments made on-site at Bloomsbury Mews, at further schemes in the future.’
Persimmon Homes Essex has been lauded for its green credentials before; it was the winner of the Gold Environmental/Wildlife Garden award at the New Homes Garden Awards 2005 for its Grove Park development in Tiptree.
Bloomsbury Mews is the first of four phases at New Braiswick Park, each of which will boast its own unique identity and character, drawing on ensuring styles from the past, reinterpreted with flair and attention to 21st-century living. Each phase will be themed in accordance with the environment, and varying styles of build will feature in each phase, with plants, trees and even lampposts fitting the theme. All properties at the development are bespoke designs by architects Melville Dunbar.
New Braiswick Park will eventually comprise over 700 units to suit buyers from across the spectrum, from one- and two-bedroom apartments to three-, four- and five-bedroom detached houses.
Prices currently start from £151,950. Contact the marketing suite, open seven days a week from 10am to 5pm, on 01206 845903.
St James Homes is an award-winning, design conscious, creative and sustainable developer with a record of culturally successful and diverse projects. The developer transforms former Thames Water sites and other land into sustainable and attractive developments.
Its latest development, Kennet Island, is currently underway in Reading. The scheme, which involves the complete regeneration of Manor Farm adjacent to the A33, will be the largest new private sector residential community ever built in this major town.
A number of environmentally friendly devices and ideas are now making their way into the property sector, and St James are keen to incorporate these features into real homes rather than just creating a one-off showcase.
St James Homes is creating a 'demonstration unit' at the 850-unit Kennet Island site, which will show buyers a range of possibilities. The development, which will be the largest new private sector residential community ever built in the town, will incorporate a number of energy-saving features in the Enviro-home, including some which are believed to be the first to ever be in use in the UK. These include waste pipe heat-exchanger ‘Powerpipe’ and the latest technology roof tiles, which are used to generate electricity.
Eco-planting, grey water systems and solar heating are also being included in the Enviro-home. These will provide an interactive visitor experience to illustrate the effects of global warming and natural resource usage, as well as ways that our homes can be designed to generate lower carbon emissions.
St James will be using the Enviro home at Kennet Island to evaluate the features for future use across their developments. Find out more about Kennet Island by calling 0845 603 4043.