New Homes - Invest in the best

The market may be slowing but would-be investors are as keen as ever to make the right deal. Johnny Turner looks at the apartments, the incentives and the locations that are set to sway buy-to-let purchasers

The holy trinity of property investment is low capital outlay, attractiveness to good-quality tenants and the prospect of realising good capital gains once it comes time to sell. Sounds simple, really.  But it may seem to the novice investor that he is being asked to predict the future.
During times like now, when the housing market is the subject of so much speculation, so to speak, many are confused about whether it is wise to even consider entering the buy-to-let market, or extending their investment. And definite answers are not out there; any prospective investor has to think about his own position, and place the wisdom of any possible outlay within a wider context of the potential for a downturn. It’s always good to play ‘what-if’ over market variables such as interest rates, house prices and lender friendliness, as well as more personal considerations like future employment prospects, pension circumstances and your attitude towards risk.
For those who do decide to invest in property, aiming towards new build is an increasingly popular course of action, as it lends itself to a low-maintenance style of stewardship – something that sets it apart from the needy, less energy-efficient Victorian conversion flat, for instance. And with house prices having hit a period of much slower growth, the new homes market seems to have stopped racing ahead price-wise, the better for the average would-be investor to jump on board.
In a very up-and-coming part of London, Bermondsey Square is a mixed-use development with history as well as modern style. Centred around the site of the original Bermondsey Antiques Market, this will take the shape of 76 bespoke apartments, with other amenities including an art house cinema, boutique hotel, offices, restaurants and bars.
Those from around London and beyond will be glad to hear that the weekly Antiques Market will be back once the regeneration scheme is completed; the new space will have enough space for up to 200 market stalls, and will feature other regular markets such as fashion and farmers markets. There will also be one-off events including outdoor cinema, making this area even more than ever a destination for leisure-seekers.
Other nearby attractions, such as Zandra Rhodes’ Fashion and Textile Museum are evidence of a new ‘coolness’. Other nearby attractions, such as Borough Market, the Tate Modern and other South Bank must-sees, are firm London favourites, and the wealth of good transport ticks yet another investor-friendly box.
Bermondsey Square, situated at the junction of Tower Bridge Road and Long Lane, is part of what Southwark Council call a ‘strategic site’. A combination of archaeological interest and bomb damage in the area has meant the area has been underdeveloped – a rarity in London! The neighbourhood is currently home to a diverse mix of architecture, including Georgian, Victorian, loft apartments and 20th-century warehouse buildings.
Under the aegis of Igloo Regeneration Partnership, the new nine-story Bermondsey Square residential building will both have contemporary timber and perforated steel construction and display a section of the ancient remains from the 11th-century Abbey Church in a glass cube within one of the proposed restaurant units.
Bermondsey Square is due for completion in July. Call 020 7420 3023 or 020 7629 3344 or visit bermondseysquare.co.uk.
Milliners Place is the conversion of a former hat factory with the addition of three new buildings on Midland Road to create 119 luxurious one, two and three bedroom apartments. Situated in the town centre, Milliners Place is a five minute drive to the M1 making the North and South of England easily accessible and short walk to the train station, which offers the town’s commuters fast trains to London’s St Pancras in just 23 minutes and an easy commute to Luton Airport.
Redeham Homes has sensitively converted Milliners Place to retain the building’s original Georgian architecture, whilst creating stylish apartments that maximise the available space and light. The apartments have been built to a high specification including a choice of kitchen designs incorporating an integrated stainless steel oven, extractor hood, fridge / freezer and washer dryer. Redeham Homes recognises that different purchasers prefer different apartment layouts to suit their lifestyles and so have created properties that have open plan, semi-open plan and separate kitchens.
The contemporary bathrooms include Roca Laura wall-hung white sanitaryware complemented by Grohe fittings, thermostatic showers and heated towel rails. To provide purchasers with an added level of style and luxury, a range of the apartments include en suite facilities to the principal bedroom. A selection of the apartments benefit from balconies or terraces.
Private parking is also available at the development. Milliners Place is ideally situated for residents to take advantage of the facilities and amenities that Luton has to offer. The Arndale Centre, which has over 120 shops, is within easy walking distance, whilst Luton offers a diverse range of restaurants, bars and leisure facilities.
Prices for the remaining apartments at Milliners Place start from £130,000 for a one-bedroom apartment and from £170,000 for a two-bedroom apartment. Call 01582 456 692 or see redehamhomes.co.uk.
In Birmingham, a city that is seeing some exciting regeneration, Imagine Homes has just acquired The Exchange, an exciting new buy-to-let opportunity. This selection of stylish one-, two and three-bedroom new build apartments is in a highly sought-after location within the famous Jewellery Quarter. With a great selection of bars, restaurants and shops on the doorstep, the city centre hotspots are within easy reach. Birmingham New Street railway station is within walking distance and London is just an hour and a half away by train; road links are also comprehensive, with the M5, M6, M40 and M42 within easy reach. For frequent flyers, Birmingham International Airport is also nearby.
Birmingham has seen a £450 million redevelopment of the Bullring and Mailbox shopping centres. The Jewellery Quarter itself has undergone significant regeneration, with £250 million of public and private money invested over the last ten years, and its reinvention as a sustainable and inclusive urban village will be complete by 2010.
Grant Bovey, CEO of Imagine Homes, says, ‘We are delighted to offer property investors a rare investment opportunity in such a sought-after location. Continued regeneration and inbound investment will continue to encourage strong capital growth and rental demand.’
Imagine Homes offers its customers a worry-free way to invest in residential buy-to-let, sourcing quality new build opportunities in excellent locations with strong capital growth and rental prospects. Imagine Homes also finds the tenants, manages the property and guarantees the customer a unique rental return of 7.5 per cent of the purchase price per year for two years.
Prices at The Exchange currently start at £143,000. For further details and to register your interest telephone 0800 458 5050.
Imagine Homes has many other buy-to-let properties available throughout the UK. Visit imaginehomes.co.uk to find out more.
At Imperial Wharf in perennially popular Fulham, St George has released Parkside Apartments, which include beautifully specified two- and three-bedroom apartments and two stunning three-bedroom penthouses which offer exquisite river views over acres of landscaped parkland and courtyards.
Interior designed by Taylor Howes, winners of the recent Andrew Martin international interior design award, the apartments incorporate an all-new enhanced specification, including: comfort cooling; stunning contemporary designed fitted kitchens; luxurious bathrooms with stone paneled heated walls and floors as well as bespoke shower enclosures with feature chrome rain showers; and a new state-of-the-art integrated home entertainment system.
As with many of the better London developments, Imperial Wharf has on-site facilities that means lifestyle and entertainment options are right on your doorstep. It incorporates the popular Young’s Waterside bar and restaurant, along with a range of other fine restaurants. There is also a wine bar, a hotel, a family indoor play centre and a childcare and education centre.
Transport connections are great, which means good-quality tenants and owner-occupiers alike will find the location friendly. Connections with the City and West End include an enhanced local bus service, and the proposed new Imperial Wharf railway station, which will provide direct links with Clapham Junction for London’s railway network and West Brompton for the underground. Fulham Broadway and Parsons Green tubes are also within walking distance.
For further details contact the sales and marketing suite on 020 7610 9693 or visit imperialwharf.com.
In West Drayton, Middlesex, St George’s Parkwest is a stunning new development of one-, two and three-bedroom apartments that will be welcomed by prospective first-time buyers, particularly those who want to let a room in their flat in order to help with the mortgage.
The contemporary Manhattan Apartments and the versatile Duet Apartments both make sharing easy, offering two identical master bedrooms, each with an en suite and its own balcony. For the buyer who wants that bit extra there is a collection of stunning penthouses. These exceptional three-bedroom split-level apartments are situated on the top floor of the building and offer superb panoramic views of west London as well as a huge amount of versatile space.Parkwest’s specialty is modern, flexible accommodation with high specification at a surprisingly affordable price.Buyers these days are busy, a fact that is taken into account by St George in its provision of amenities at Parkwest. There is a residents’ gym, business centre, 24-hour concierge and landscaped gardens. And commuters will love its location: the M4, M25 and Heathrow are just a couple of miles away. The area is home to a wide range of big employers, with companies such as BT, Cisco, Apple UK, Marks & Spencer, Sharp and Hasbro only a few minutes away.
Meanwhile, West Drayton station offers direct links to London with trains to Paddington going every half-hour and taking approximately 25 minutes. And the recent announcement that Crossrail has been given the green-light means Parkwest will eventually have direct connections to Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road and Liverpool Street. For students, the world-famous Brunel University is just a few miles away.
And the best news? That you can buy an apartment in Greater London with this level of style, space and convenience at prices starting at £194,950. Get further information on 01895 449009 or visit park-west.co.uk.Bristol is one of the UK’s most popular spots. It offers a lifestyle that has big city elements without the constant thrum of pressure that London dwellers face. At Glaze, located just off Nags Hill in the sought-after St George area, Linden Homes is creating a development of just 22 one- and two-bedroom apartments.These properties are ideal for those who are ready to get on the property ladder, not to mention buyers looking for a secure investment opportunity.St George’s cosmopolitan atmosphere makes it a much-loved area of Bristol. It has an assortment of restaurants, shops and boutiques catering for every taste. Commuters are also well served, with services from Bristol Temple Meads reaching London in approximately an hour and three quarters, and Virgin Cross Country trains serving the North, Midlands and the South Coast. For drivers, the nearby A4 and M32 offer both easy access to the heart of Bristol and good links to the M4 and M5.Two bedroom apartments are priced from £146,995, and there is also just one one-bedroom apartment priced at £124,995. For further information visit lindenhomes.co.uk. Also from Linden Homes, the Verve development on Mill Street in Slough offers just the type of sleek, modern apartments that investors are looking for – and with a new buy-to-let incentive on offer, investment purchasers will be even more impressed.
The developer has joined with Campsie Estate Agents to offer an innovative assured rental scheme, which offers customers £950 a month for two years.
This will enable investors to enjoy a hassle-free buy-to-let experience providing not only two years’ guaranteed rental income – whether the apartment has a tenant or not – but also a free management service from Campsie, a free furniture package which becomes the property of the landlord after two years and a fully fitted kitchen complete with oven, hob and stainless steel chimney hood to make the two-bedroom apartments even more sought-after.
Helen Todd, sales and marketing director for Linden Homes Chiltern, says, ‘We are the first company in Slough, if not the country, to offer such a fantastic incentive to investors. With the average age of first-time buyers now 34 and many older customers looking to buy for their pension or children, the rental market is set to increase massively over the next ten years. And what better way to guarantee excellent returns than to take advantage of assured rental scheme.’
Matthew Seamons of Campsie Estate Agents in Slough, says, ‘We are delighted to be able to offer this scheme with Linden Homes – and investors can rest assured that we will offer our fantastic management service, as well as a furniture package to a high specification. This really is too good to miss out on and I would recommend investors to visit the show apartment at Verve today.’
The scheme is s ubject to scheme rules and on selected homes only. Two-bedroom apartments start at £217,950. These include parking and a high internal specification. Find out more about the assured rental scheme call the sales and marketing suite, open daily, on 01753 577277 or visit lindenhomes.co.uk.
Inspace Homes, known for its very affordable and investor-friendly London schemes such as EastSide, has now moved into Birmingham with its Mica Point development. This collection of 62 one- and two-bedroom apartments is housed in a four-storey building located on Great Colemore Street in the Lytham Croft area of Birmingham. Designed by architects BM3, the exterior blends brick, render and wood to create a contemporary structure perfect for the target markets of young professionals and buy-to-let investors.
Birmingham is becoming increasingly known for its provision of a luxury lifstyle, with its branches of Selfridges and Harvey Nichols – and of course it is still famed for its curry houses, award-winning restaurants and a host of exclusive bars and clubs.
Birmingham City centre is within easy reach, with Birmingham New Street station only a five-minute walk from the development. Here busy professionals will find fast and frequent services into London Euston with journey times around 90 minutes. Other destinations include Manchester, Nottingham, Edinburgh and Plymouth. For drivers, the M6 is just ten minutes away with its access to Staffordshire and the North. Birmingham International airport, which is only a 20-minute drive away.
Donna Smith, board of management partner at Connells, says, ‘The Birmingham City centre market still represents excellent value for money and a real opportunity for first-time purchasers or even seasoned investors to take advantage of the capital growth being recognised in regeneration locations. Inspace Homes are an extremely forward thinking developer who are determined to buck the trend and keep city centre apartments affordable to both owner occupiers and investors alike, with low headline prices that will attract the savvy buyers.’
Fraser Wells, managing director at Inspace Homes, says, ‘We expect Mica Point to be very popular. The development offers stylish properties at affordable prices in a vibrant and cosmopolitan area which will appeal for young professionals and investors alike.’
Building work has begun and the apartments will be launching early this year. To register your interest please contact Connells on 0121 54 4861 or visit mica-point.co.uk.
Uxbridge is yet another up-and-coming spot, thanks to a concerted regeneration effort that mixes residential property and retail and office space – the formula for success these days, both in terms of providing a convenient lifestyle and bringing would-be buyers the housing stock that the current market so badly lacks.
Over the years the town of Uxbridge in Hillingdon has evolved from a historic market town into a thriving metropolitan centre. The town is a hotspot for commercial property with a number of vibrant retail outlets and offices, first class educational opportunities and now a stunning new residential development located its heart called The Heights by leading developer Oracle Residential.
As home of the world’s busiest airport and one of London’s most successful centres for shopping, the Borough of Hillingdon is well positioned to increase its successes. There is a continuous demand for homes, shops and leisure facilities and with excellent transport options the area is set to grow and continue developing. On average, house prices in Hillingdon are 14 per cent lower than London, while prices for apartments are 37 per cent lower.
Darryl Flay, Managing Director Oracle Residential, comments: ‘Traditionally, government funding is diverted towards fashionable inner-city regeneration in areas such as Elephant and Castle and Croydon, however, in Uxbridge there has been a clear move towards regeneration and renewal of resources. We have spotted this trend and have positioned our newest development ‘The Heights’ at the heart of it all.’
At the centre of Uxbridge sits the local Borough of Hillingdon’s government and public services, while nearby are the campuses of leading schools Brunel University and Uxbridge College. The town benefits from excellent transportation links with the M40 and M25 motorways close by, a comprehensive bus network and Metropolitan and Piccadilly Line services via the London Underground. Heathrow Airport, the world’s busiest airport, is just 20 minutes away.
With over one million square feet of retail space, the town features two covered shopping centres, The Pavilions and The Chimes, as well as a large number of independent shops, a ten-screen cinema, three gyms, a nightclub, a and variety of bars, eateries and restaurants.
Darryl continues: ‘The Heights is perfectly positioned at the centre of Uxbridge for commuters to take advantage of the town’s excellent transportation links as well as the shops, restaurants and leisure facilities throughout. Uxbridge is expected to continue to develop and to become even more popular. New-build homes such as those at The Heights, that are bought early tend to rise in value faster than the national average and early investors in areas such as Uxbridge will benefit from the financial advantage of having a home that could be worth more than you paid for it when you move in.’
Uxbridge is a dynamic town; the town itself and the regions around it are changing and evolving to become high quality, highly skilled economies. The town benefits from a diverse workforce and an average of over 10,000 people from outside the Borough visiting daily. There are over 500 businesses in Uxbridge town centre and nearby including a significant number of UK and European headquarter offices such as Coca Cola, General Mills, Unisys and Xerox.
‘The Heights’, is a collection of one and two bedroom apartments that have been launched off plan and are located above The Pavilions, the award-winning shopping centre with a daily market and craft fair. An ideal location for quick and easy access to the local shops and nearby Uxbridge tube station, beautiful country parks, golf clubs and the Grand Union Canal are also within easy reach. Properties start from £199,950 and are ideal for investors and young professionals looking to take advantage of the great location and investment opportunity.
Apartments at The Heights have been designed to provide purchasers with everything they need for a modern home with ALNO designer fitted kitchens, stainless steel appliances and integrated dishwasher, fridge/freezer as well as a washer/dryer.
For those looking for a good commuter location, The Heights is ideal with nearby Uxbridge tube station (Zone 6) providing regular services into the City via the Piccadilly and Metropolitan Lines. International travellers will also benefit from the easy access to Heathrow via the Piccadilly line service. The West London Tram service should be ready in 2013, with a speedy link into London and White City’s exciting new Westfield London development.
Prices for The Heights start from £199,950 for a one-bedroom apartment. For further information contact Hamptons on 0845 643 0060 or visit theheightsuxbridge.com.
In sought-after Bristol city centre, Barratt has seen a lot of interest in its newly released phase of apartments at The Zone. More than 200 people registered interest in The Zone before its launch, a testament to the desire for both owner-occupiers and property investors for more apartments in the area. Visitors queued for the launch event and several homes reserved on the spot, says Barratt sales director Louise Ware.
’The Zone has been a huge success for Barratt since we first launched in Temple Quarter,’ she says, ‘and this latest phase of development has really wowed potential buyers. In addition to traditional apartments we launched the new citi-pads which have really captured the imagination.’
In addition to setting new benchmarks for city centre living, The Zone has the city’s first residents-only gym, available from move in date, as well as a car club and roof terraces which are adjacent to the cycle paths.
Once complete, The Zone will have 407 units – a mix of citi-pads, apartments and town houses. Its location, close to shopping, transport and leisure facilities, is proving perfect for first-time buyers, young professionals and investors. Prices range from £127,500 to £215,000. For further details call 0117 930 0705 or visit barratthomes.co.uk.
Following the huge success of its previous phases at Waterstone Park in Greenhithe, North Kent, Countryside Properties is now selling a range of homes at Fusion, its brand new collection of modern one- and two-bedroom apartments and two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom houses set in the centre of this parkland development.
Waterstone Park has been proving extremely popular with London buyers looking for a highly specified and spacious home in an impressive location, yet at an affordable price – something now rarely found in London. The development is situated close to one of the UK’s most ambitious new regeneration schemes, Ebbsfleet Valley, which is set to become the South-East’s most sought after living environment outside of London.
Ian Hepworth, Sales Director for Countryside Properties, comments: ‘The response to our last phase at Waterstone Park has been outstanding selling over 80 properties in less than 12 months. As such, we wanted to give keen purchasers the opportunity now to buy off-plan for 2008 completions, to ensure that they don’t miss out on the chance to own one of these well-located, high quality homes.’
Waterstone Park offers a winning combination of impressive landscaping, great transport connections, convenient shopping and stylish architecture, far enough away from the pressures of city life, but with excellent facilities.
Waterstone Park enjoys an ideal location, with Bluewater on its doorstep, offering over 330 shops and with 40 cafés, numerous bars and restaurants, a Molten Brown day spa and a 13-screen multiplex cinema all under one roof, Bluewater offers a choice of shopping, dining and leisure facilities that is unrivalled outside of central London.
Residents also benefit from excellent transport connections, the M25, A2, M2 and M20 give convenient motorway access and Stone Crossing and Greenhithe railway stations are just minutes away, offering journey times to London of approximately 40 minutes. Furthermore, the new international and domestic station at nearby Ebbsfleet, due to open in 2009, will bring London within 17 minutes and from autumn this year the international services commence making Paris and Brussels reachable within two hours.
Prices at Waterstone Park currently start at £174,000 for one-bedroom apartments, £208,000 for two-bedroom apartments, £320,000 for three-bedroom houses and £385,000 for four-bedroom homes for all 2008 occupations.

Case study
Lee and Saori Kuroda-Perks are no strangers to property investment, having invested in several buy-to-let properties throughout the country in Wales and the North West over the past few years. With their latest purchase, at City Lofts Admiral House in Cardiff, which they bought off-plan, they are now enjoying a good rental yield and are on track for healthy capital gains.
Lee says the fact that the apartments were basically tenant-ready – and were sure to be attractive to prospective tenants – were two main reasons for the couple purchasing at this particular development. ‘City Lofts Admiral House appealed to us as it is well positioned to the city centre, with high-quality specification – I would live there myself! These combined benefits have been a great selling point to our tenants. As a result, we have had no problems in finding a tenant for the apartment and are pleased to say we achieve an average yield of about six per cent.’
Like many other smart investors, Lee and his wife prefer buy-to-let property that doesn’t require effort on their part. ‘We have always invested in new apartments so that we have not had to make any changes to the décor. City Lofts has provided us with a high-quality blank canvas so that all we have had to do is purchase furniture, saving us a lot of time and money.’
Cardiff has been the subject of major renewal over the past few years and property prices have been rising steadily. Recent research undertaken by Knight Frank, the selling agents for City Lofts Admiral House, has revealed that the South Wales market rose by five per cent in 2006, which, when the totals are tallied, is likely to be matched by last year’s rise.
City Lofts Admiral House is a collection of 167 one- and two-bedroom apartments set in a 15-storey refurbished office building on Newport Road in the city Centre. Designed by Conran & Partners, City Lofts Admiral House raises the style stakes in the Cardiff market.
Apartments are built to an very high standard and feature contemporary designs, with generous space and natural light adding to the feeling of luxury. All apartments benefit from Conran-designed kitchens and bathroom furniture, along with stone worktops, solid oak screens, custom designed fittings, ceramic tiling, laminated timber and carpeted flooring. Security is another plus, with a solid core oak-veneer entrance door, video entryphone system and concierge service.
The last remaining apartments are available, at prices from £210,000 for a two-bedroom apartment. For further information please call the selling agents Knight Frank on 02920 472447 or visit citylofts.co.uk