New Homes - Gateway

South London currently has some very attractive newly built properties. Johnny Turner has a look.


The ODPM and its national regeneration agency, English Partnerships, has chosen chosen SixtyK - a consortia consisting of developers Crest Nicholson, off site manufacturers Kingspan and architects Sheppard Robson - to deliver another design-led range of 148 homes, 45 of which are affordable, at the former Linton Hospital site in Maidstone, Kent.

Crest Nicholson was originally amongst one of the first developers to be selected to deliver the Design for Manufacture homes as part of the competition at Renny Lodge in Newport Pagnell. Crest Nicholson and the SixtyK consortia has again been chosen to deliver the new homes – along with a new local community building - as part of its wider proposal to transform the former Linton Hospital site.

Stephen Stone, Crest Nicholson’s Chief Executive, commented on the appointment: “We are delighted to have been appointed again to deliver a range of striking, energy efficient new homes at a second Design for Manufacture site with our consortium partners, as well as English Partnerships and Maidstone Borough Council.”
“Having participated at every stage of the competition for three separate projects, we have been able to continually fine tune our proposition to create significant efficiencies in the design and build process which, together with a thorough understanding of working in partnership with local authorities and other key stakeholders, has enabled us to propose homes that will become a benchmark for design-led affordable new homes in the future.”

“In fact, our two-pronged approach to this competition – a dedicated core team working on the technical and production elements for each project with the back up of one of our regional offices capable of being able to draw upon a vast wealth of local knowledge – has brought about an internal shift in how we manage the design and build process for each of our sites, and I know that the expertise we have learned throughout the competition is already teaching us how to create efficiencies throughout the business.”

All of the new homes at the former Linton Hospital site will be delivered using Kingspan’s unique off-site TEK system to maximise economies of scale and create efficient homes that are individualised using a variety of features such as corner windows, conservatories and balconies. The team has evolved the design from stage two of the competition to incorporate new features including amongst others, a refined roof design and a revised façade. Glazing has been carefully positioned on all housing to ensure that views and daylight are maximised to living areas whilst preventing unwanted solar gain and heat loss. All of the new homes will be delivered to an EcoHomes ‘Excellent’ standard, a further indication of the team’s commitment to continuous improvement.
“At the outset we focussed on developing housing models that are adaptable and responsive to change, whether demographic, technological, or environmental,” said Alan Shingler project director for Sheppard Robson. “Throughout the competition we have continued to build on this core concept developing housing models bespoke to each site, learning from our detail development at Renny Lodge and continuing to focus on passive environmental design.”

Trevor Beattie, Corporate Strategy Director for English Partnerships, responsible for running the Design for Manufacture competition on behalf of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, said,  “Despite tough competition from all of the bidders in this stage of the competition, the SIXTYK consortium has emerged as winners for two sites so far, thanks to its innovative, challenging and contemporary approach to home design.

“It has clearly embraced the aims of the competition to drive down construction costs without sacrificing quality and we look forward to seeing its exciting concepts become real homes in the near future.”

Persimmon Homes’ exciting new development Century + has opened its doors to the general public as a number of properties have been released for sale.

The development, which will comprise 110 units when complete, offers a selection of two bedroom apartments and two and three bedroom houses in the popular residential area of Barkingside.

And in an effort to get local youngsters on to the property ladder, the leading housebuilder is offering a range of incentives including five per cent deposit paid, carpets, part exchange and stamp duty paid on selected plots.

Adrian Garrood, sales manager for Persimmon Homes Essex, comments: “Century + is a very exciting addition to Barkingside, and we are encouraging house hunters to pay us a visit before the launch of our two showhomes next month to benefit from our pre-showhome prices.”

Ideally situated just a ten minute walk from Fairlop tube station central line, Century + is expected to prove popular with commuters, with journey times to central London around the 20 minute mark.  Meanwhile, the development’s proximity to Fairlop Waters, Epping Forest and the local primary school are all factors bound to entice families.

Century + will comprise public open space to the back of the development while selected properties will overlook woodland.

Prices currently start from £349,950.  For further information on the properties available contact the marketing suite, open 10am-5pm Thursday-Monday, on 0208 550 2544.

Bellway Homes is currently offering a pair of high-quality residential developments in the Thames Gateway area. Town Wharf scheme in Grays is perfect for those who enjoy the outdoors. With a riverside walkway and cycle path running from the scheme, residents will have immediate access to the Thames for outdoor pursuits – or just to sit and enjoy the great views.
Located at Argent Street, Town Wharf is a development of 261 apartments set across five apartment buildings. One-bedroom studio apartments are priced from £129,995 and two-bedroom apartments start at £163,000. And first-time buyers will be interested to know that Bellway is offering an attractive paid-deposit incentive.

Water-facing apartments will provide stunning views along the Thames. The majority of apartments will have balconies (and selected ground floor apartments their own gardens), providing residents with plenty of outdoor space. Communal landscaped gardens will be included for everyone to enjoy.
Town Wharf is a few minutes walk from the shopping area of Grays and the mainline railway station, from where regular trains run to London’s Fenchurch Street with a journey time of only 40 minutes. There are road links to the M25, A13 and the Dartford Crossing. Two furnished show apartments are open and first residents moved in during the spring of 2005. Call 01375 372715 to find out more.
Meanwhile, houses and apartments are also available at Bellway’s Church Hollow scheme of 365 new homes on London Road in Purfleet. Two fully furnished show houses are open daily to enable purchasers to experience the appeal of homes at the new development – which, incidentally, is located only a five-minute walk from the banks of the River Thames.
Church Hollow has been designed to appeal to purchasers across the house-buying spectrum, from first-time buyers to those who are downsizing after their children have left home. A landscaped green with play area will be included in the centre of the scheme.
Houses are priced from £199,000 for three bedrooms and £270,000 for four bedrooms. Two-bedroom apartments start at £135,000. Call the sales office, open daily, on 01708 680450.

Recent reports and statistics highlight the reluctance for young people to put money towards their pension until much later on in life. Paul Davie, 30, has instead decided to put his money into property with the intention of renting it out in later years and living off the rental income. Having thoroughly researched up and coming areas within commuting distance of central London, Paul has recently purchased a two bedroom duplex apartment at Higgins Homes’ Vector development in Ilford, which comprises 24 highly contemporary two bedroom, two bathroom apartments.

Paul, marketing manager for top London hotels including Claridges and the Berkeley, comments: “I wanted to buy a property which I can rent out and put into my pension pot in a few years, so it was important for me to buy in an up and coming area where I can take a long term view. I used to live in Cardiff where I was able to afford a great lifestyle, including a large apartment in a central location and when I recently moved back to London, I decided I didn’t want to compromise on design or space. I originally looked at properties in zone one and two, but realised I would get a lot more for my money if I bought somewhere slightly further out.”

Paul was attracted to Ilford for its excellent transport links and commutability – the journey to his Mayfair office is approximately 30 minutes – and also the substantial regeneration plans for the area. The creation of a new landmark town square in Ilford is already underway as the £160-200 million first phase of a 30 year vision called ‘Progressive Ilford’. This includes a major change in the access from the A406 into the town centre, as well as upgrading areas and increasing high and medium rise development within the area, and improving cultural and leisure facilities. Public transport proposals include a new bus network linking key development areas. In particular the East London Transit and Greenwich Waterfront Transit schemes will cover the Redbridge area and are expected to be developed into an extensive regional Thames Gateway Transit in the longer term.

Vector is a striking, modern development which combines sloping, angular architecture with designer-inspired interiors including spiral staircases, mezzanine floors and overlooking galleries, maximising space and style. There are a variety of apartment and duplex configurations, all of which feature a private balcony and designer kitchen including Smeg appliances, an integrated fridge/freezer and a washer/dryer. The gated development is set within landscaped communal gardens and parking spaces are available to purchase.

Ilford town centre is close to the development. The mile long high street offers an extensive mix of trendy designer shops and traditional retailers as well as a large indoor shopping centre. There is a varied selection of restaurants and a lively bar, pub and club scene, and the Kenneth More Theatre provides year round entertainment ranging from opera to pantomime. A sports ground and swimming pool are close by at Valentines Park, as well as an Esporta Health Club and several good golf courses. The proposed new town square will feature extensive retail space and leisure amenities and the Grade II listed town hall will have a new ‘glazed’ exterior to form a ‘light box’ where large and prominent works of art can be displayed at night.

Ilford train station is less than a mile from Vector and provides excellent transport links to central London, the City and Canary Wharf. Journey times to Liverpool Street station are approximately 18 minutes away and Stratford train station is just two stops away, providing links to the Jubilee Line and Docklands Light Railway, as well as the Olympic Site. Gants Hill and Newbury Park, both on the Central Line, are approximately 1.5 miles away from the development. For road travel, the A406 North Circular Road provides access to the M11, A12 and the A13 for Docklands. The M11 also has direct access onto the M25.

Only three apartments remain for sale. Prices start from £259,950 for a two bedroom, two bathroom duplex – less a 5% assisted deposit. For sales enquiries, contact Higgins Homes on telephone: 020 8478 2020 or visit www.higginshomes.co.uk.

The East Village, Reede Road, Dagenham, RM10
Prices: from £134,995 for a one bedroom apartment and from £164,995 for a two bedroom apartment – both less a 5% assisted deposit
Contact Higgins Homes: 020 8517 7887 or visit www.higginshomes.co.uk
 
The East Village comprises 179 contemporary one and two bedroom apartments in Dagenham. The one bedroom apartments are situated on the top floor, providing views of the surrounding area, and many feature balconies at the front and the back of the property. The apartments include designer kitchens featuring stainless steel appliances and include an integrated fridge/freezer and a washer/dryer.  A number of the two bedroom apartments also benefit from a balcony and they all include an allocated parking space.
 
The East Village is situated near to Dagenham Heathway tube station (District Line). Monument tube station is 15 stops away, providing easy access to central London and the City, and only 7 stops from West Ham tube station and its Jubilee Line tube connection.
 
Dagenham is located in the heart of the Thames Gateway, the largest regeneration zone in Western Europe. The area has so far received £446m of investment for new schools, sports facilities, business opportunities, nature parks, theatres, and sustainable transport links.
 
The surrounding area includes local shops and a selection of restaurants as well as several primary schools and a doctor’s surgery. Open green space is nearby, with Pondfield Park just metres away.