New Homes - Wednesday, May 28, 2008

The green agenda has taken centre-stage in the housebuilding industry. Johnny Turner looks at what that means for today’s buyer

The green agenda has found its way into many areas of our lives, but the way we build and run our homes is very high on the list of fast-changing practices. Building methods and energy-saving spec are not only on the government’s agenda, but buyers, too, are becoming more and more picky about green considerations.
Starting in Brighton, a joint venture between Crest Nicholson and BioRegional Quintain Limited will yield what is being called the UK’s most environmentally advanced apartments. One Brighton will comprise 172 studio, one- and two-bedroom eco-apartments along with a range of on-site facilities that follow the ten ‘guiding principles’ of the environmentally sustainable ‘One Planet Living’ concept.
Located on New England Street, within the Brighton’s exciting New England Quarter, One Brighton combines sustainability with stylish city centre living.
The key principles of One Planet Living have been major considerations at the development: zero carbon emissions, a zero-waste plan, use of sustainable materials, implementation of sustainable transport solutions and the application of measures to support local and sustainable food and wildlife. These have been applied in both the construction of the scheme and the functionality of the homes for its residents.
In order to optimise energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions, the scheme will be powered by energy from guaranteed renewable sources. Hot water and space heating will be provided by an on-site biomass boiler that will burn locally sourced woodchip from tree surgery waste, discarded wood pallets and saw mill cut-offs. The majority of the site’s electricity will be provided by off-site renewable sources. It will be supplemented with some unique eco-features including photovoltaic panels and eight small-scale wind turbines located on the roof.
Minimising waste at the development has been addressed in two key areas: during construction the developers have set a target of including 25 per cent recycled materials – for example, concrete used at the scheme contains 60 per cent recycled content including aggregate that is a by-product of the china-clay industry in Cornwall. In the homes, kitchens will be fitted with segregated rubbish bins to help residents divide their waste with ease. Organic waste bins will also be provided and the contents of which can be transferred to an on-site composter. Furthermore, all apartments will be fitted with water efficient fittings, taps and appliances.
Residents at One Brighton will be able to make use of several unique features of the development for an enhanced lifestyle: rooftop allotments and balcony planters will be an integral part of the development where residents will be encouraged to grow their own produce. A rain water harvesting system will also provide ample irrigation. For those who enjoy outside space in which to relax, sky and roof gardens along with Brighton’s newest square will provide the ideal places to unwind.
One Brighton aims to take away the need for a car by linking to local cycle routes into the city and to Brighton train station. For travelling further afield, the on-site car club means residents can hire a car as and when they require.
Prices start at £145,000 for a studio, £205,000 for a one-bedroom and £290,000 for a two-bedroom apartment. Contact 0870 752 1820 or visit onebrighton.co.uk.
In the village of South Nutfield, Surrey, Osborne and Raven Housing Trust officially open the Mid Street housing development, which is called the most energy-efficient social housing in the UK.
The development comprises the first 100 per cent affordable housing scheme to achieve Level 5 of the Code for Sustainable Homes.
The energy usage at Mid Street will be monitored by the Energy Saving Trust and records will be kept on how much energy – and money – is saved by the residents in utility bills over the next two years.
The new homes are very much in-keeping with the surrounding area and mirror the predominantly red-brick Victorian architecture of the village. However despite their conventional appearance, the properties boast a raft of green features such as photo-voltaic panels, biomass wood-chip boilers and UPVC windows. They were built using highly innovative structural insulated panels which contribute to a reduction in the homes’ energy consumption. Their tenants will therefore enjoy cheaper fuel bills and a more sustainable way of life.
The new scheme has been built on a disused piece of brown-field land owned by Tandridge District Council. The Council transferred the land to Raven Housing Trust at no cost, and will also be contributing additional funding to enable the scheme to achieve Level 5 of the Code for Sustainable Homes.
The Housing Corporation will be providing £157,000 in social housing grant, and both Osborne and Raven Housing Trust have provided supplementary funding to make the Mid Street homes a reality. Other funders involved include: BERR (former DTI) Low Carbon Building Programme Phase 2 and The Energy Saving Trust.
Nicholas Harris, chief executive for Raven Housing Trust, says, ‘Raven Housing Trust believes in delivering innovative developments that benefit our residents, the environment and creating sustainable homes for the future. The new technologies within these homes will provide our residents with lower bills for electricity, water and space heating and also lower water bills.’
In Felbridge, Surrey, Springfield Gardens comprises two four-bedroom detached properties and four three-bedroom semi-detached homes. The development combines cross gabled roofing with tiled frontage and pavilion-hipped roofing with traditional red brick, to create a visually diverse collection of properties. More than 50 per cent of the houses have solar thermal panels which reduce carbon emissions.
Each property comes fitted with a luxury custom built kitchen and appliances which include a Siemens stainless steel oven, a Siemens stainless steel gas hob, an integrated fridge/freezer, and an integrated dishwasher. All of the houses incorporate a contemporary open plan kitchen/dining area, which is ideal for socialising. There are also French doors which lead out onto the garden, flooding the space with natural light.
Springfield Gardens benefits from the towns of East Grinstead and Crawley being just a few minutes drive away, whilst residents can also enjoy the open country and wooded lands surrounding Felbridge. Crawley and East Grinstead train stations both have direct trains to London Victoria, which take about 50 minutes.
Prices at this development start from £329,950 for a three bedroom semi-detached home. For further information please contact Antler Homes on telephone: 01342 410802 or visit the website antlerhomes.co.uk.
St George is offering a range of green components to its developments, from innovative natural roofs to opportunities to get around with less effect on the environment.
The developer will be installing a green roof system in the next stages of their Imperial Wharf and Battersea Reach developments. This is basically a landscaped garden on the roof of a building, comprising everything from 100 per cent grass to combinations of shrubs, heather, wild flowers and trees. Its primary aim is to improve sustainability and biodiversity by increasing levels of oxygen, providing a safe habitat for birds and animals and reducing smog, carbon dioxide and dust.
Meanwhile, St George has incorporated the eco-friendly Electric Green car club at Imperial Wharf and St George Wharf, offering residents easy and convenient hire of the G-Wiz vehicle. Booked online, the vehicles offer significant cost savings, congestion charge free travel throughout the capital, free parking in the City of Westminster and City of London whilst also helping to reduce CO2 emissions. The Parkwest development has a simlar club but uses the Honda Civic Hybrids instead of the G-Wiz vehicles.
Finally, the developer is undergoing a three-year plan to turn a section of the bank of the River Thames into a tidal habitat on its Battersea Reach development in SW18. The innovative environmental scheme will transform an area of barren, lifeless mud banks into a haven for plant and wildlife - a valuable example of how a contemporary urban architectural scheme can work alongside the natural environment, ensuring its protection and continuity of flora and fauna. See stgeorge.co.uk below for more information.
Renaissance is a forthcoming Addlestone High Street site by Premier. Building has just started at Renaissance, the Surrey-based developer’s latest project in the area. Premier Properties is building 20 brand new environmentally-friendly apartments on the 0.6 acre site. Ten per cent of the energy used by the development will be taken from renewable resources; the roofing will incorporate solar panels which help to increase energy efficiency by cutting fuel costs and carbon emissions. Completion of the development is scheduled for November.
Every Premier home boasts that little extra edge that comes from using the best materials and fittings, most obviously in the kitchens and bathrooms. Reflecting the outlook of its typical buyer, the development has a unique contemporary design, which features large windows, glass balconies and warm red brick.
‘These apartments will be developed to our award-winning high standard,’ comments Matt Jelley, Sales and Marketing Manager of Premier Properties. ‘The location will appeal to those buyers who want good commuter links but prefer a village setting’.
From the development’s central High Street location, all amenities will be close at hand, with good communications links into London with its business, retail and cultural facilities. There is also easy access to Heathrow, the M25 and the motorway network. The surrounding countryside provides great leisure opportunities for all tastes.
Addlestone is a former hamlet, taking its name from ‘Attel’s Denu’ – ie, the valley owned by Attel, a Saxon figure. Situated on the outskirts of Weybridge in Surrey, it really started to grow when the railway arrived in 1848. Prior to that, however, and thanks to the nearby Wey Navigation and Basingstoke Canal, industry was found in the area from the 17th century. The George, the town’s oldest inn, dates back to the 16th century. Addlestone is also home to the Crouch Oak, reputedly one of Britain’s oldest trees at 1,000 years, and a place where Queen Elizabeth I is said to have stopped to picnic. The Oak used to mark the boundary of Windsor Forest, and was fenced around in 1810 to prevent young maidens stripping its bark to make love potions.
Prices at Renaissance in Addlestone will start from £215,000 for a one-bedroom apartment. For further information please contact Premier Properties on 01276 406765 or the selling agents, Curchods in Ottershaw on 01932 874488. Alternatively, visit premier-properties.co.uk.
Shanly Homes has launched Cressex Close in High Wycombe, where buyers will find a mix of tradition and modern convenience should consider High Wycombe, home of the famous Mayor weigh-in - and the new Eden shopping hub. There will be 13 two-, three- and four-bedroom mews, semi-detached and detached family homes on Cressex Road.
The location, in the heart of the Buckinghamshire countryside, has a street market that dates to the medieval era.
In keeping with the Greener by Design initiative, various eco-friendly features have been incorporated into the development, including solar panels that contribute to the supply of hot water, energy-efficient appliances (A-rated where possible), bird boxes and water butts in every garden, and RSPB membership for all households.
The homes have landscaped front gardens, double ovens with gas hobs and extractor hoods, fully integrated fridge/freezers, dishwashers and washer/dryers, thermostatic showers, flush eucalyptus doors, polished chrome ironmongery, and built-in wardrobes with glass sliding doors in almost all bedrooms.
A major new shopping hub, Eden, has just opened, offering a 12-screen cinema, a library, restaurants, state-of-the-art bowling alley and over 50 shops including a four-level House of Fraser and two-level Marks & Spencer. Eden will have parking spaces for over 1500 cars and a new bus passenger interchange.
High Wycombe station offers a regular service to London Marylebone in just over half an hour, making it possible for residents to get into the office in the greenest way possible. A show home is open Thursday to Monday 10am to 5pm. Prices start from £265,000. Call 01494 685822 or visit shanlyhomes.com.
With the government’s commitment to providing a high proportion of sustainable development on brownfield sites, Farnborough Central by Redrow Homes sets a precedent. Built on Farnborough Airfield, Hampshire, it’s part of a huge regeneration project which includes a mix of new homes, offices and shops, creating an exciting, sustainable new community.
The 12-acre residential development will eventually comprise a mix of 476 new homes including new and refurbished apartments and town houses. Central to the development is a 250ft long airship hangar frame which provides a striking piece of historic architecture, and the site’s design has been influenced by Farnborough’s aviation connections. The first phase of 32 one- and two-bedroom apartments has just launched, and is attracting a lot of attention.
Paul Hogarth of selling agent Knight Frank South East says, ‘This development offers purchasers a unique opportunity to be part of something with real historic significance. The regeneration is creating a really exciting mix of business and leisure opportunities. Several large businesses including BMW and IBM are now based here, so the apartments are great for young professionals who might work at the Business Park, or for buy-to-let investors looking at the opportunity for corporate lets. Its location close to the M3 and Farnborough railway station also means that Farnborough Central is within commuting distance to the City, so these apartments offer affordability for those priced out of the London suburbs. Eight sold at the launch, and we expect their popularity to continue.’
Phase I, Cathedral Court, includes 32 spacious one and two bedroom apartments and sumptuous duplexes in a conversion block with plenty of character. One of the former Royal Aircraft Establishment (REA) buildings, its exterior reflects the art deco period, whilst inside, it has been beautifully converted to offer distinctively designed contemporary apartments, seamlessly combining old and new.
Apartments include spacious, open plan kitchen / living areas with full height windows which create a light and airy feel. Kitchens are fully fitted with an integrated dishwasher, fridge/freezer and washer/dryer. One bedroom apartments include a separate bathroom, whilst there is an additional en suite to the master bedroom in the two bedroom apartments. In all apartments, the master bedroom has fitted wardrobes. Bathrooms are fitted with white sanitary ware and chrome effect taps, as well as full height tiles to wet walls.
Farnborough Central is part of a wider project to regenerate Farnborough Airfield, which is currently undergoing a transformation that includes a new business centre, contemporary offices, studio workshops, a cafe-bar, a heritage centre, a children's nursery, as well as a hotel and leisure complex.
Farnborough Central benefits from excellent communication links. Junctions 4 and 4a of the M3 are within easy reach, and Farnborough railway station is approximately two miles away, with services to London Waterloo and Bournemouth, via Basingstoke.
Farnborough itself offers plenty of leisure and entertainment opportunities with three shopping centres, a wide range of pubs and bars and the largest leisure centre in Hampshire. Alternatively, for rest and relaxation, Yateley Common Country Park which has 476 acres of heathland, woods, grasslands and ponds is nearby.
Farnborough Central is for sale through Knight Frank, priced from £175,000. Please telephone Knight Frank on 01483 564660 or visit the website knightfrank.com for further information

Amanda Shiel takes a look at the latest developments on offer

Stanmore      
This beautifully presented penthouse offers three-bedrooms and three bathrooms and boasts an array of convenient and appealing features. It benefits from two secure underground parking bays, entryphone system and direct lift access leading up to the spacious hall.
Low on maintenance and high on style, the property offers generously proportioned rooms. The impressive 38ft double aspect living room benefits from a feature fireplace and terrace - the perfect setting for relaxing on summer nights.
The fitted kitchen/breakfast room is equally impressive with an extensive range of useful wall and base units and integrated appliances. This ample storage space continues in the inner lobby, which features a further range of floor to ceiling cupboards.
The master bedroom is equipped with a central dressing table and features a range of fitted wardrobes and an en-suite bathroom. There is also a further bedroom with en-suite and a third bedroom, which is currently used as a study, complete with stylish office furniture.
With its enviable position in a sought-after development off Stanmore Hill, this stunning property provides a peaceful ambience, yet remains in easy reach of the hustle and bustle of daily life. It is conveniently placed within easy reach of Stanmore’s shops, leisure facilities and places of worship and is also well-placed for the Jubilee Line tube station and major motorway links.
On the market for £750,000. For further information or an appointment to view, please Preston Bennett on 020 8954 0044 or visit prestonbennett.co.uk.

Mill Hill
Mill Rise is a striking development of restored one- and two-bedroom, 1930’s bungalows and apartments set in the Mill Hill conservation area. The development benefits from mature landscaping and breathtaking views across London and has access to miles of pathways through the surrounding parkland.
Externally, properties have an Arts and Crafts influence, with red brick work, tiled gabled roofs and large bay windows. Interiors are more contemporary with fully fitted individually designed kitchens. Elegant bathrooms feature white sanitaryware and chrome fixtures and fittings. Security is of utmost importance and homes are fitted with a burglar alarm, police approved doors and audio entry systems. There is also an on site concierge service. 
Mill Rise is perfectly situated to take advantage of Mill Hill Broadway, which offers a wide variety of well-established shops, restaurants and cafes. Mill Hill East underground station is approximately 1.3 miles away and Mill Hill Broadway which is serviced by the Thameslink line is approximately 2.2 miles away.
Prices for a two-bedroom bungalow start from £299,950. The sales and marketing suite and show home are open every day from 10am-5pm.
For more information call 020 8906 2348 or visit millrisehomes.net.     

Kilburn
The Academy will combine 63 luxurious one- and two-bedroom apartments and duplexes across two high specification new-build developments and within a beautifully refurbished Edwardian college building from which the scheme’s name has been derived. 
Homes have large windows and open plan living areas that maximise the use of light and space, with sizeable living/dining areas and fitted modern kitchens enhancing the chic yet urban feel inside the new homes. The two-bedroom apartments will have en-suite facilities to the master bedroom, and typical interior specifications include stainless steel Bosch appliances in the kitchen and, in the bathrooms, white sanitaryware by Roca with chrome Hansgrohe mixer taps and fittings. The Academy will also benefit from secure underground parking. 
Subject to the stage of construction, Crest Nicholson offers purchasers the option to co-ordinate various additional features of the interior finish to create a more personal space that meets their individual requirements.
The Academy is superbly located for transport links into central London with both Kilburn and Queens Park tube stations, in Zone 2, only a short stroll away. Brondesbury Overground  station and additional bus services also offer fast routes around the capital.

Pinner
Featuring a collection of 38 one- and two-bed apartments, The Residence has been uniquely designed for privacy and security, with gated underground parking and a private resident’s garden.    
Typical layouts include an open plan kitchen-living room and, in the two bedroom apartments, en-suite facilities to the master bedroom.
The Residence is ideally situated just 16 miles away from the City of London and has excellent transport links via the Metropolitan Line to Baker Street or London Overground train services to London Euston or Watford Junction. As well as enviable rail links, Pinner lies at the heart of a comprehensive road network with access to the A40/M40, M4, M25 and M1 to Luton and Heathrow airports,  yet still retains a laidback café-culture and village ambiance that is unusual for such a centrally located area. 
Prices at The Residence start from £279,950 for a one-bedroom apartment, and £359,950 for a two-bedroom apartment. For more information or to book an appointment contact the sales and marketing suite on 0870 755 1626, or alternatively visit crestnicholson.com.

Hadley Wood
Situated amid the Tudor-style splendor of the row of detached houses on Cockfosters Road, Hadley House is a striking collection of ten individually designed two-bedroom homes by Manor Kingdom (Southern).
Every apartment has two generously proportioned bedrooms with an en suite to the master bedroom. Superior specification is consistent throughout the development, with each home fitted with designer Italian kitchens containing fully integrated appliances.
Prices at Hadley House start from £674,950. The sales office is open Thursday to Monday and is available on 0208 441 7275. Alternatively, call selling agents Statons on 0208 441 9555.

Hendon
Situated amongst a generous amount of green spaces and covering an area of 25 acres, Beaufort Park is one of the largest St George developments and will incorporate a large number of green, tranquil spaces and courtyards that make the perfect setting for relaxing at any time of the day.  In addition to the large central landscaped parkland the size of Berkeley Square, each block is built around its own central courtyard which is only accessible to those living in the apartments surrounding it. Many apartments on the development benefit from a balcony or terrace with fantastic views over landscaped parkland, private courtyards or the tree line avenues.
This new mixed-use development is situated on the historically important previous RAF Hendon Aerodrome site and named after the noted aviation pioneer and first woman to fly across the Atlantic, Amelia Earhart. It incorporates a number of contemporary studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses, in addition to a number of commercial outlets, such as Tesco and a Young’s pub.
Prices start at £174,950 for a studio. For more information contact the Marketing Suite on 020 8511 8600.

Watford
Queensgate is a development of 94 contemporary one- and two-bedroom apartments and duplex penthouses located just yards from the Harlequin Centre. Just six, two-bedroom apartments remain for sale, all of which can be purchased under the First Time Buyer Initiative. 
Prices start from £290,000.
For further information call the sales and marketing suite on 01923 256538, open Thursday to Sunday 10am-6pm, Monday 2pm-6pm. Information on all Barratt Homes developments are available on barratthomes.co.uk. 

Islington
London developers Modern City Living and Londonewcastle will be launching penthouse apartments in their landmark Islington development, The Wenlock Building.
Located on the banks of the picturesque Regent’s Canal and just a short walk from Islington’s trendy Upper Street, the Wenlock Building is perfectly situated for the amenities of surrounding Islington and Shoreditch as well as the City’s commercial centre and benefits from convenient transport links to the West End. All penthouse apartments benefit from views which take in London’s most famous landmarks including the London Eye, St Paul’s Cathedral, the BT Tower and the Gherkin.
Contemporary design specialists Johnson Naylor have been responsible for the interior design and all penthouses feature basalt or engineered hardwood floors; 80/20 chinchilla wool carpets to bedrooms and under floor heating throughout.
Generously sized kitchens feature Corian work surfaces in glacier white, Siemen’s integrated appliances and Hansgrohe chrome mixer tap. Bathrooms and ensuites have a natural stone floor finish and feature Kaldewei baths and shower units, and an Italian NIC Design Cult ceramic basin with a Bonomi spout mixer tap.
All residents will be able to enjoy an elegant glass fronted cultural space on the ground floor which will include a bar restaurant and gallery. A concierge along with a video entry phone offer security for residents whilst precabling is in place for the installation of Smart Homes technology.
Prices start from £1million.
For further sales information, contact agents Chesterton on 020 7288 0330 or Hurford Salvi Carr on 020 7791 7071.

 

As spring draws us outdoors, we see what wonderful outdoor space can do for quality of life. Johnny Turner finds much to admire in the current crop of new homes with access to nature

Outside space can take many forms: private, lush greenery, communal grounds, a cosy patio ideal for dining a deux, local parkland – or any combination of the above. As spring continues its welcome progress, it’s a good time for prospective buyers to look at what’s on the market that offers gardens, nearby countryside or other types of ways of being ‘out there’.
Starting in much-loved Hindhead, Surrey, The Beacon is set within 6.4 acres of beautiful mature landscaped gardens with private parking and tennis courts, and also offers a golfing green. With the exclusivity and privacy of a country estate, this Crest Nicholson development is a new gated collection of stunning apartments set among Surrey’s famous areas of outstanding natural beauty.
The homes have been designed to enhance their beautiful setting. Beyond the development’s wide, sweeping lawns and verdant parkland lay the breathtaking views of the Surrey hills, one of England’s finest landscapes. The development itself is situated on top of Gibbet Hill, the second highest hill in Surrey, affording residents spectacular country views across the Weald and, on a clear day, as far as Canary Wharf.
Residents can also enjoy towering above the impressive Devil’s Punchbowl, a large hollow of dry sandy heath in which, legend has it; the devil spent his time tormenting the God Thor by pelting him with enormous handfuls of earth, leaving the great bowl that exists today.
The quaint village of Hindhead offers a range of local amenities and excellent road links, which will be improved further in 2011 with the construction of the new A3 Hindhead tunnel. The pretty town of Haslemere, with its cobbled streets and selection of eateries, is approximately five miles away. Guildford, 15 miles from the development, offers leisure facilities and an array of restaurants and bars.
Three bedroom apartments are priced from £374,950. For more information on The Beacon contact the sales and marketing suite on 0870 751 0496 or visit crestnicholson.com/thebeacon.
The first collection of apartments has been unveiled at the recent launch of Springhead Park – and with over 100 visitors 12 reservations during that event, it is clear that joint developers Countryside Properties and Land Securities are on to a winner.
Set in the wonderfully connected Ebbsfleet Valley, Springhead Park will provide a mixture of one- and two-bedroom apartments and two-, three- and four-bedroom houses – over 600 homes eventually. The homes will be centred around a large two-and-a-half-acre new formal park known as Penn Green and a new 15-acre park which will run along the edge of development. There will also be a community centre, a place of worship and a doctor’s surgery. A total of around 150 homes will be available through a housing association as affordable homes and will be ‘pepper-potted’ throughout the scheme.
The first 22 apartments were released for sale last month. In total, 179 units will be available in the first phase of development. Residents will benefit from the huge investment and infrastructure improvements that continue to elevate and transform the area. Beautiful Kent countryside is on the doorstep, yet London and beyond are within easy reach via Ebbsfleet International station: indeed, Ebbsfleet will offer a 17-minute connection to St Pancras International station from 2009.
At more than 1,000 acres Ebbsfleet Valley will provide up to 10,000 new homes over the next twenty years, together with employment, retail, leisure and other facilities and will create in the region of 20,000 new jobs and around 400 acres of new parks, lakes, woodland and open space.
Springhead Park will have a clean, modern, yet classic feel to it. A tree-lined boulevard will run through the heart, branching into more intimate residential streets and spaces. At the centre of Springboard Park, the formal Penn Green will be beautifully landscaped focusing on a central plaza with play area. Further recreational space will be provided in a new park running the length of the development; this will include playing fields as well as informal parkland.
Prices at Springhead Park start at £165,000 for a one-bedroom apartment and £195,000 for a two-bedroom apartment; houses will be released in late spring. For further information contact the sales and marketing suite on 01474 335195 or visit springheadpark.co.uk.
At The Heathers in Priory Vale, buyers are able to reserve a home for just £99. Bellway Homes is offering this incentive with first-time buyers in mind. The developer is also offering to pay the 5 per cent deposit and legal fees up to £500.
Bellway Wessex sales director Sandra Barton says, ‘The offer is perfect for first-time buyers who, though in full time employment, find it impossible to save for a deposit and have to live in rented accommodation or at home with their parents. Money that would otherwise be lost in rent can be invested in a home of their own.’
The modern, vibrant site is within easy reach of Swindon town centre, while the new village of Priory Vale has a primary school and the Orbital Shopping Park boasts the largest Asda/Walmart in Europe. There is also a health centre, plus cafés and restaurants and other well-known retailers such as Next. There’s also a nature reserve and a country park and the site is close to the North Swindon Learning Centre.
Swindon town centre is approximately 15 minutes away by road. The area is also well placed for commuters to Reading, London and Bristol, as train journeys to Reading are within half an hour. London Paddington is within an hour and Bristol Temple Meads between 30 and 45 minutes.
There are currently one- and two-bedroom apartments, priced from £109,000. The marketing suite is open daily from 10am to 5pm. Call 01793 729283 or visit bellway.co.uk.
The Thatchams occupies a prominent position within the village of Priors Green, located on the outskirts of the popular village of Little Canfield. Two village ponds front the development and the two, three and four bedroom houses flank tree-lined boulevards. There are also two landscaped children’s play areas at the heart of the development.
Bishop’s Stortford is just over six miles away, with its wide range of high street and boutique shops, cafes, bars and restaurants, as well as excellent local schools. Priors Green is conveniently located just four miles from junction 8 of the M11, which offers access to London in the South and North to Cambridge and beyond. There are regular trains to London Liverpool Street from Bishop’s Stortford train station, taking approximately 43 minutes. London Stansted Airport is just under three miles away.
There are 11 different house types which combine red brickwork, buttermilk rendering, white weather boarding and red clay and grey slate roof tiles – all influenced by the local architectural vernacular. Varied rooflines, bay windows, dormer windows and porches give the development a strong character.
Internally each property has been designed with the buyer in mind. Great emphasis has been placed on creating well proportioned, light and airy living spaces. Houses feature open plan kitchen/breakfast or kitchen/living areas, with doors leading onto a garden. Master bedrooms have either fitted wardrobes or dressing rooms and an en-suite shower or bathroom fitted with sleek white sanitary ware and chrome fixtures and fittings.
Every property at The Thatchams has an EcoHomes rating of Good and incorporates eco-friendly features, including dual flush toilets and water butts in the garden, designed to help residents play their part in preserving the environment without impacting on their daily lives.
Prices at The Thatchams start from £200,000 for a two bedroom house, from £236,000 for a three bedroom house and from £350,000 for a four bedroom house. Contact the marketing suite on 0845 071 2072 or visit thatchams.net.
Bryant Homes’ Childsbridge Farm development in Seal, near Sevenoaks offers the best of both worlds: wonderful village life as well as great commutability.
The development is very convenient for the M25, meaning families and young professionals for whom time is of the essence will benefit greatly. The setting is also calm and picturesque. The development has just 17 three-bedroom homes, all with a distinct barn conversion feel which makes them stand out from similar properties in the area. The development has already seen floods of potential buyers register their interest.
Childsbridge Farm is about a ten-minute drive from Sevenoaks station, which provides services to London Charing Cross in about 35 minutes. Kemsing station is also a short walk away, offering routes to London Victoria. Both the M25 and M20 are about 10 minutes away, whilst for travel further afield, Gatwick airport is just over 30 minutes by car.
Families will find Seal C of E primary school and Wildernesse secondary and sixth form school within easy reach and at the weekend, Sevenoaks Leisure Centre is fully equipped with a 25 metre pool, gym, health suite, creche and catering facilities. Alternatively, there are plenty of parks and heritage sites in the area to enjoy including the National Trust's Knole Park.
For further information about Childsbridge Farm, visit the marketing suite, open daily, or call 0845 026 5710. See bryant.co.uk/southeast.
Explore Living has just announced the launch of New Meridian Village, an exclusive new family-friendly development located in the coastal town of Ramsgate, Kent.
Here a disused 6.9-acre site on Manston Road will become a vibrant residential destination, sure to be popular with a range of buyer types, from families to first-timers. When complete, the development will comprise 207 homes ranging from studios to four-bedroom town houses.
The homes have high-specification fixtures and fittings, while solid concrete floors and staircases plus double glazed UPVC windows minimise maintenance. Kitchens have high-performance integrated appliances and concealed pull-up power outlets to maximise usable work surface space. En suite bathrooms feature digital showers and apartments have an audio/visual entry system linked to the TV for that extra peace of mind.
There is underfloor heating, plus abundant telephone points, pre-wiring for satellite TV and provision for a wall-mounted flat screen TVs.
The development offers large amount of landscaped green spaces rich with trees, and has been designed to provide a safer, greener and altogether better environment for children and adults alike, as well as to foster a strong sense of community. Cleverly designed ‘home zones’ include roads laid out to discourage speeding and excessive traffic.
John Inglis, sales and marketing director of Explore Living, says, ‘New Meridian Village is one of the most exciting projects in the South East at the moment because of its location within a prime regeneration area and the wide variety of homes available. The development offers purchasers affordable homes with good potential for capital growth in years to come thanks to the new high speed rail link expected to open in 2009.’
The development is well situated minutes from Ramsgate’s town centre and high street and just a short distance from the seafront, a sport centre, a leisure park and the town’s centrepiece, Ramsgate Marina. Ramsgate itself is also set to benefit from new commercial, residential and leisure developments and, from 2009, will enjoy a new high-speed rail link between Ebbsfleet and Stratford, allowing commuters to get into London in just 63 minutes.
The 22 homes in the first phase include one studio apartment, 13 one- and two-bedroom apartments, four three-bedroom houses and four four-bedroom houses. Prices for a studio apartment at New Meridian Village start at just £99,995; houses are priced from £249,995. For more information call Explore Living on 0845 872 1004 or visit exploreliving.co.uk
The first few exclusive homes from Stamford Homes are now available in the desirable village of Nassington, in the Nene Valley. Whittington’s Meadow is a development that offers a wonderful village lifestyle as well as five noteworthy public schools on the doorstep, plus a choice of independent schools within easy driving distance.
The attractive stone village has shops, pubs and a thriving rural community. The first few exclusive homes are due for completion in June. Prices for these high-specification five-bedroom homes start at £670,000.
Plans are available to view at Savills estate agents offices in Stamford, Oundle and Peterborough. Also contact Stamford Homes connections manager Juliana Russell on 07970 000224.
Oakdene Homes has just launched its luxury new show apartment at Swaylands, the fabulous conversion of one of Kent’s best-known country houses on the outskirts of Penshurst, Kent. The homes are set in a lush, beautifully designed 50-acre estate and offer a breathtaking specification as well as access to the type of scenery that reminds you why Kent is called the Garden of England.
Oakdene Homes has restored and converted the beautiful structure into 28 luxurious two- and three-bedroom apartments, two new blocks and the conversion of outbuildings into six mews houses.
The new two-bedroom show apartment is set within the main house at Swaylands. More like a house than an apartment, the 3,000 sq ft apartment is set over three floors and boasts two private patio areas and a roof terrace offering stunning views over the estate and surrounding countryside.
The basement has been renovated to provide further living space and provides a spacious flow of open-plan rooms including a steam room shower area. With the downstairs space separate from the other rooms, this will appeal to many homebuyers who are looking for flexible living, enabling teenagers and older children to take advantage of their own space and independence – and this layout is available at a range of units.
The 50-acre mid-Victorian estate offers an opulent lifestyle indoors and out, with plenty of wandering space outside: there is a listed rockery, a lake, sumptuous landscaped gardens and the sheer beauty and luxury of the original brickwork and architecture. Other facilities include a tennis court and gymnasium.
Penshurst village, situated within the view of Swaylands, is the quintessential English village combining a cricket ground with traditional village pubs, olde-worlde tearooms and the River Medway. It’s near Tunbridge Wells, for great shopping and transport connections.
Prices at Swaylands start at £499,950 for a two-bedroom apartment. For further information contact Oakdene Homes on 01737 249393 or visit swaylands.co.uk.
Great Homes offers Highlands, a brand new development of retirement apartments in Main Road, Gidea Park. A show apartment and sales suite have recently opened and the development is due for completion this summer.
Located in the heart of the Gidea Park Conservation Area, Highlands stands on what was once part of an estate belonging to local dignitary and MP Sir Herbert Raphael. In 1909 he had the idea of creating an ‘exhibition of houses and cottages’ reminiscent of a garden suburb – and many of those fine buildings, which echo the Arts and Crafts period, remain today.
Highlands will provide 23 one- and two-bedroom apartments plus communal lounge and dining areas, a library, high specification kitchens and state-of-the-art safety and security features. It has been designed exclusively for buyers of 60 years and over, and will stand in landscaped gardens that feature a number of the original mature trees that the developer has carefully preserved.
Highlands emphasises an independent lifestyle, with each apartment designed given a thoughtful layout for ease of living. There’s an open-plan arrangement for the main rooms, sizable bathrooms with elegant sanitaryware, vanity units, baths and showers, lots of storage space, a private hallway and an impressive kitchen. Affording a wood finish and quartz worktops, the kitchens have a range of integrated Bosch appliances, including a washer/dryer, fridge and freezer, oven, combination microwave and a hob with an extractor above. Spot and pelmet lighting give it a stylish feel.
There will be high-quality communal facilities and a number of safety and security features. There will be a residents’ lounge, conservatory and library, along with a guest suite and buggy store. A duty manager will ensure the smooth running of the complex, while the building itself will have CCTV entryphone, a 24-hour emergency support team at the press of a button, and a gated driveway to the entrance.
Highlands is ideally located for local amenities. Its eventual residents will be able to shop at the nearby newsagent, supermarket and pharmacy, enjoy public open spaces such as at Raphael Park, or use the excellent road and rail infrastructure for travelling to nearby Romford town centre, Upminster, Brentwood or further afield. A trip into London to see a show is a distinct possibility too.
The Highlands sales suite is open 10am through to 5pm every Saturday and Sunday or for further information contact the selling agent Porter Glenny on 01708 725000. Visit greathomesltd.co.uk.
At The Manor, City & Country Group’s award-winning development at Herringswell, near Newmarket, Suffolk, The Archery Court is a visually striking house with an unusual previous incarnation. Originally built in the early 1980s as part of the Japanese boarding school that occupied The Manor from 1985 to 2001, The Archery Court was, as the name suggests, where students honed their skills with a bow and arrow, shooting arrows from what is now the ground floor living area to hit targets at the far end of the property’s garden.
The building has now been converted into a highly contemporary three-bedroom house that has an interesting touch of the Orient about it. Externally, the two-storey geometric property features crisp soft greenish grey render and grey slate roof tiles and has a series of full-height sliding-glass screens that run almost the full width of the house, inspired by traditional Japanese houses. The glass doors lead onto a timber-decked terrace and, beyond, a partly walled private garden, perfect for entertaining in the summer months.
The ground floor includes a large, light-filled open plan living/dining room looking on to the lovely garden, as well as a luxurious bespoke eat-in kitchen, with unusual solid bamboo work surfaces and stainless steel appliances. Upstairs, there are three double bedrooms, two with en suite bathrooms, and a family shower room.
The Manor is set in over eight acres of stunning grounds in the beautiful Suffolk countryside. City & Country Group has created a woodland walk, which meanders through the mature trees that surround the development. The Manor is less than seven miles from Newmarket, less than 22 miles from Cambridge and just over 40 miles from Stansted Airport.
The home is priced at £535,000. Viewing is by appointment only. Call City & Country Group on 01279 818 900, Bidwells on 01223 841842 or Savills on 01223 347000. Visit herringswellmanor.co.uk.

Grow your own
Growing your own vegetables has never been more popular, as produce prices rise and food role models such as Jamie Oliver urge more healthy eating.
Those who live in cities may think they don’t have the space to grown their own veg – however, an ingenious invention makes it possible for the most urban of us to be healthier and more self-succifient, even in a small space.
Patio-Gro, a new three-tiered growing frame from Gro Garden Products, offers a staggering 18 square feet of growing space yet takes up an area of just 22’ x 70’. Specially designed for those with limited outdoor space, Patio-Gro can be placed on a patio, terrace, courtyard, balcony or any open space, enabling you to grow organic, chemical-free and environmentally friendly home-grown produce.
Patio-Gro includes ‘deep’ trays, allowing the direct sowing of seeds and plants. The three-tier system offers maximum light and ventilation for the plants. Patio-Gro will grow vegetables, herbs, salads, fruits and even alpines and bulbs, and all without the need of a garden. Growing your own vegetables for the first time can be great fun too and since its launch this year Patio-Gro has been proved a big hit with children and schools.
Patio-Gro, priced at £69.95 plus postage, is available online at grogardenproducts.co.uk.

Gardeners go green
Charlie Dimmock is urging gardeners to tackle climate change in our back gardens as we observe Compost Awareness Week. The TV gardener warns that our impact on the environment is already showing. And gardeners are in the perfect position to respond to the challenge in our own back gardens, says the green-fingered goddess.
Gardeners report already seeing signs of environmental change in their garden. Seven out of ten gardeners polled say plants are blooming much earlier than expected this year, over half have had to cut their grass sooner or later than previous years and 43 per cent claim they are now having to mow their lawns more frequently.
These figures, from Waste & Resources Action Programme to mark Compost Awareness Week (Sunday 4 May to Saturday 10 May), are up on previous years, which suggests that current environmental damage will actually affect our generation rather than the next. But what can you do to “green up” your act?
Recycle as much garden waste as possible, as 76 per cent currently do. Composting is an ideal way to go green, as more and more of us are discovering: the percentage of gardeners choosing to home compost has increased from 34 per cent to 53 per cent this year, and 41 per cent of gardeners now buy peat-free composts containing recycled materials.
There are also many things non-gardeners can do to slow the damage we are doing to the environment. For more information visit compostawarenessweek.org.uk.

Gardens are ‘little goldmines’
The UK’s gardens are turning into goldmines crammed with exotic plants, hi-tech tools and luxury furniture worth a whopping £18.6 billion, according to new research by Lloyds TSB Insurance.
The survey found that the contents of the average garden are worth £1,237, while one in ten gardens contains goods worth over an incredible £3,000. In a typical garden, the most expensive single item is on average £426 but five per cent have a single item over £1,000.
As for gardening itself, a quarter of Brits (26 per cent) enjoy more than six hours a week in their garden during the spring and summer months. One-third of gardens have ornamental plants, a quarter have statues and ornaments and 22 per cent have a water feature. Seven in ten have a patio heater while six per cent have a sun house.
Half of Brits spend £200 on their garden every year, while three per cent spend over £750. Top of the gardener’s “wish list” for 2008 is a wallet-busting hot tub, followed by decking and water features.
But despite spending so much on their gardens, most Brits don’t know whether they are insured properly. Over half (55 per cent) have never checked whether their garden contents are included on their home insurance policy, while 87 per cent don’t review the value of their gardens each year to make sure they are covered. But Lloyds TSB Insurance warns that accidents do happen. Last year, the insurer processed 5,244 garden claims with an average value of £726.

Amanda Shiel takes a look at the latest homes available in this picturesque county

Bushey Heath
Fairways is a traditionally styled six-bedroom residence. Internally, the luxurious kitchen/breakfast room incorporates all the latest Miele appliances set within an extensive range of custom built storage units and worktops. The five bathrooms enjoy stylish contemporary white suites and the bedrooms are fitted with fine Italian wardrobes.
A great emphasis has also been placed on security. Fairways has the advantage of a sophisticated video entry system, alarm system and CCTV for added peace of mind.
Outside, the landscaped garden too has been specially designed to create the perfect place to relax or entertain and includes state-of-the-art pop-up irrigation system. There is even a balcony from the master suite and a superb terrace from which to fully appreciate the grounds and magnificent views on offer.
Situated in sought-after Prowse Avenue, this elegant home offers a degree of seclusion whilst remaining close to shops, leisure facilities, places of worship, transport links and good schools. More extensive amenities can be found at nearby Stanmore and Watford, while Brent Cross shopping centre is a short drive away.
Priced at £4 million. Potential buyers are invited to attend a special launch event on 10-11 May 2008 from 10am-4pm. For further information or to make an appointment, please contact selling agents Preston Bennett New Homes on 020 8954 8626 or visit prestonbennett.co.uk.

Broxbourne
New River Mews comprises 13 three-bedroom houses and one four-bedroom house. Configured in a private mews, the houses include either a garage or a carport.
Each property is fitted with a stylish Urban Myth kitchen, with stone composite work surfaces and stainless steel Miele appliances, which include an electric oven, microwave, gas hob and a Siemens integrated fridge/freezer, washer/dryer and dishwasher. Other features include under floor heating, wireless intruder alarm system and a central audio system.
Broxbourne is a typically English hamlet of Victorian and Edwardian descent and is centred on the beautiful St Augustine’s church which dates back to 1460. Broxbourne retains its rural feel, with local shops available in the village. High street stores and large department chains can be found in Hertford just six miles away.  
New River Mews is ideally situated for the commuter being approximately 29 minutes to London Liverpool Street, approximately 16 minutes to Hertford and approximately 48 minutes to Cambridge by train. By road, Broxbourne is easily accessed by the M25, M11 and A1.
Prices for a three-bedroom house start from £450,000. Purchasers can also benefit from either stamp duty refund or part exchange. Sales and marketing suite and show homes are open everyday from 10am-5pm. For further information call 01992 465452 or visit  higginshomes.co.uk.

Watford
Harvest Gate is in a central location, close to a choice of supermarkets and just a five-minute drive from The Harlequin, a fantastic shopping environment with 130 outlets.
The area is also home to a leisure park with cinema, bowling and children’s activities, a peaceful common, a selection of golf courses and a sports centre and swimming pool, while the bars and restaurants of Watford offer a vibrant night-life.
Garston Train Station is within walking distance of Harvest Gate, offering a regular service to St Albans Abbey and putting Central London approximately 40 minutes away, while buses run to Watford Junction and Watford High Street. The M1 and M25 are less than ten minutes away from the development.
A range of two-bedroom apartments are currently available from £192,500, three-bedroom homes priced £287,500 and spacious four-bedroom homes at only £299,950.
Visit the Sales Centre, located off Harvest End, Watford and open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am - 5.30pm and Mondays from 10am until 2pm, or call the Sales Executive on 0845 671 1844. Alternatively, visit georgewimpey.co.uk.

Bushey
The Collection comprises 13 one- and two-bedroom apartments and is ideally located just a short distance from Bushey’s high street and all its amenities. Nearby Watford also boasts a full range of high street stores, bars and restaurants.
The development’s location is also ideal for commuters, with access to the M1 and M25 motorways. Bushey railway station is within easy reach for train services to London Euston in just 20 minutes. Heathrow airport is approximately 13 miles away.
Prices for the apartments start at £249,950.
For further information call 0845 260 0154.  

Stevenage
Intro Homes is bringing a collection of homes to Stevenage that offers first time buyers the chance to get on the property ladder in the most sought after Old Town area.
Vincent Place is the transformation of the former B&Q site, located towards the southern end of the prestigious old town high street, into a collection of 109 one- and two-bedroom apartments.  Stevenage Old Town has a combination of history and character with a buzzing and vibrant high street that boasts both contemporary and traditional shopping facilities, along with historic buildings, coaching inns, wine bars, pubs and restaurants.
The development is situated just minutes from Stevenage Railway Station. A direct train to London King’s Cross takes only 23 minutes.
Prices currently start from £169,995 with the first completions planned for late 2008/early 2009. Contact either the selling agent, Putterills on 01462 453195 or Intro Homes on 0800 169 6679. Alternatively visit introhomes.co.uk.

Bushey
Finch Lane comprises one and two-bedroom apartments with secure underground parking.
Providing well-proportioned accommodation and a choice of layouts, the development exudes quality and convenience in terms of its location and internal specification. Each apartment benefits from a spacious lounge and fully fitted kitchen with state-of-the-art appliances including fan assisted oven, dishwasher, fridge/freezer and washer dryer.
Bathrooms feature classic white sanitaryware, chrome Grohe taps, fully tiled bath and shower area plus matching floor tiles. The bedrooms, meanwhile, benefit from fitted wardrobes to maximise storage space.
Externally, the mature gardens have been attractively landscaped to create an ideal setting, while a sophisticated video entryphone system and smoke detectors provide added security and peace of mind.
Bushey provides a diverse selection of shops, high street chains, restaurants and bars, while the surrounding area boasts several golf courses, green-belt countryside and leisure facilities. For an even wider choice of shops and entertainment, Watford is also close by with its renowned Harlequin Shopping Centre.
The development is within easy reach of the M1 motorway as well as Bushey train station, with frequent services into London Euston. Alternatively, Stanmore’s Jubilee Line tube station provides the nearest tube link into Central London.  
One-bedroom apartments are priced from £210,000, two-bedroom properties start from £305,000. Please contact Preston Bennett New Homes on 020 8954 8626 or visit prestonbennett.co.uk.

Hitchin
Shanly Homes has just released Walsworth Mews, a new gated development of 11 two- and four-bedroom houses, two one-bedroom apartments and one two-bedroom apartment.
Homes all have fine quality, contemporary fitted kitchen units with square edge laminate work tops and upstands, stainless steel double ovens, gas hobs and extractor hoods. Integrated fridge/freezers and washer/dryers are also standard.  
All homes will be supplied with green electricity, sourced from a wide range of renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, small scale hydro, bio-mass and organic waste material. High efficiency double glazing will reduce the heat needed and energy efficient appliances will also be fitted as standard. Additional environmental features include dual flush 6/4L WC systems, energy efficient light fittings, bird boxes and water butts for each garden.These technologies will also help limit CO2 emissions.                                                                                                                   
Prices at this development start from £169,950.
For more information contact the sales agents Putterills on 01462 632222 or visit the website at shanlyhomes.com. 

Amanda Shiel looks at some of the finest new homes available in this popular county

Loughton
The Rodings currently features a selection of two-bedroom apartments with prices from £245,000. Although designs differ, the apartments typically offer an open-plan living/dining/ kitchen area, along with two bedrooms and a main bathroom. Selected properties also feature an en suite to master bedroom.
As well as being in an ideal position for commuters to London, The Rodings also benefits from its close proximity to Loughton which offers a range of amenities including bars and restaurants, as well as excellent shopping on Loughton High Street and sports facilities at Loughton Leisure Centre.  
The development is adjacent to Epping Forest F.E. College, from whom Redrow purchased the land, and proceeds from the land sale are contributing to the college’s redevelopment, which will see outdated accommodation replaced by a new state-of-the-art building.
Properties are due to be ready to move into this June. To find out more visit the on-site marketing suite on Borders Lane, Loughton, now open daily from 10am - 5.30pm or call 0845 676 0335. Alternatively visit redrow.co.uk/developments/view/196.

Woodford Green
The Roof Terrace comprises 23 contemporary one- and two-bedroom apartments and two- bedroom penthouses situated above retail premises and incorporating office space.
Each apartment comes with a stylish Urban Myth kitchen fitted with Smeg appliances, which including a stainless steel electric oven, a stainless steel gas hob, an integrated fridge/freezer, a washer/dryer and a dishwasher. Most apartments benefit from a private balcony or terrace and all have access to a communal roof terrace. The development also has an underground car park with one parking space allocated for each apartment and the rare possibility of purchasing a second space. 
Woodford Green and South Woodford have an excellent range of luxury shops and restaurants. South Woodford underground station has direct Central line trains to Liverpool Street Station which take approximately 20 minutes.
Prices start at £279,950 for a two-bedroom apartment. For further information and brochure requests contact Higgins Homes on 020 8505 0614 or visit higginshomes.co.uk.

Gidea Park
Highlands is a prestigious new development of 23 high specification retirement apartments in Main Road.
Features include luxurious one- and two-bedroomed apartments, a state-of-the-art safety and security specification, a residents’ lounge, library, guest suite and landscaped gardens – all standing in a convenient location close to local amenities and within easy reach of nearby major towns.
All the apartments will be ready to move straight into when complete, with carpeting to the main living areas and cushion flooring to the kitchen. There’ll be telephone points, terrestrial and satellite television points and gas central heating.
The roadside entrance to the development will feature an electric gated drive, while ground floor apartments will be alarmed and afford high quality windows and doors that meet the strict criteria of the Secured By Design standard. A CCTV entryphone system installed at the main entrance door will allow only welcome visitors to enter the building itself.        
For residents’ further peace of mind there will be a duty manager on call for day-to-day support, a 24-hour emergency support team available at the press of a button and free internal telephone calls between apartments, and to the duty manager’s office.
For further information contact sales agent Porter Glenny on 01708 725000 or visit Great Homes Limited’s website at greathomesltd.co.uk.

Colchester
Fortuna Park comprises of two-, three- and four-bedroom houses and one- and two- bedroom apartments. The properties are generously proportioned, built to high standards and all have a garage, carport or an allocated parking space. Set in quiet cul-de-sacs, exteriors are a visually appealing combination of red and yellow brick, oatmeal render, varying rooflines and weatherboarding.
The interiors at Fortuna Park have been designed to a high, contemporary specification, with stylish features such as stainless steel kitchen appliances and sleek contemporary bathrooms. The properties offer a comfortable living space with modern amenities and have been designed to enhance the surrounding natural and built environment.
Countryside Annington (Colchester) Ltd is offering a ‘move in for free’ scheme on selected houses currently available, and will pay the five per cent deposit, stamp duty and a legal cost contribution. A part exchange scheme is also available as an alternative on selected houses.
Prices start from £199,950 for a three-bedroom house.
For further information contact the marketing suite on telephone 01206 549 760 or visit fortunapark.net.

Chelmsford
The 26 one- and two-bedroom apartments apartments at Aurora are arranged on three storeys and set around a central courtyard. The development includes four retail spaces, one of which will be a restaurant, together with a communal garden.
Interiors are very well designed with an open-plan layout that combines the living/dining and kitchen area to maximise the use of space. Kitchens are well equipped with a brushed steel gas hob, electric oven and free-standing washer/drier. There are many different layouts available, providing buyers with an individual home.
These smart contemporary apartments are located on Broomfield Road, just a few minutes from the town centre and railway station.  
Prices at Aurora start at £179,995 for a one-bedroom apartment and £224,995 for a two-bedroom apartment. The first homes are expected to be ready for occupation by June 2008. For more information contact the Barratt marketing suite on 01245 353080, open daily from 10am - 6pm. Alternatively visit barratthomes.co.uk.

Bocking Village, nr Braintree
Barratt is building 108 homes at Bocking Mill, ranging from two- and three-bedroom apartments to two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom houses.
The architecture of the homes reflects the traditional Essex style, while interiors are sharply modern. Each apartment has a large open-plan sitting/dining/kitchen area that maximises the light and space. Kitchens are very well equipped with the latest appliances, including an oven, hob, fridge/freezer and washing machine. Bedrooms are generously sized and most of the apartments have two bathrooms, including one en suite to the master bedroom.  Each home comes with an allocated parking space.
The market town of Braintree is a short drive from the development offering a good range of high street and independent shops, and plenty of coffee shops, bars and restaurants. Nearby is Freeport Designer Village, one of the UK’s largest outlet shopping centres, which has over 85 stores, a 12-screen cinema, bowling, go-karting, nightclubs and restaurants.
Braintree is only ten miles from Chelmsford and 15 miles from Colchester. Nearby Braintree station has a regular service to London’s Liverpool Street taking around one hour. Stansted airport is 13 miles away. 
Prices start from £164,995 for a two-bedroom apartment.
For more details call the marketing suite on 01376 529539, open daily from 10am - 6pm or visit barratthomes.co.uk.

Colchester
 Xplore by North Green Homes is a unique development of 11 two-bedroom and one three-bedroom houses situated to the east of the town centre.
Each house will have a fitted kitchen with integrated appliances, a fitted white suite bathroom with en-suite to the master bedroom and a car port or allocated parking.
There is a regular train service from Colchester to London Liverpool Street with a journey taking 50 minutes. Road links with the A12, A14 and M25 are good for commuters travelling north or south of the town. For those wanting to travel further a field Harwich International Port is 30 minutes away and Stansted Airport 30 miles away.
For further information on Xplore contact the Connells Colchester office on 01206 547431.

Epping
Situated in private grounds on the edge of the Epping Forest, Theydon Towers is prestigious
development of four exclusive self-contained apartments from Hertfordshire-based developer,
Time & Tide Homes.
Theydon Towers is located just 2 miles south of Epping and 15 miles north-east of London. The
apartments are ideally located for Central line transport links to the City and West End and are
well served by Stanstead and City airports, the M25 and the M11, making Theydon Towers a
hot ticket for the emerging super-suburb market working in the city.
The units are set to hit the market at between £950,000 and £1.5million each.
Complementing the main building, the stable and office block situated in the property’s grounds
will be converted into a 2000sq ft, £1.3million three-bedroom house and a four-
bedroom eco-home is also planned for the site.
For more information contact James Lawlor at Lawlors Estate Agents on 0208 502 5588.

Case study
Newhall
Since their move to Newhall, Marsha Manning can hardly believe that they once lived ‘in an ordinary house, in an ordinary road.’  
Newhall has been carefully planned as a series of neighbourhoods with architecturally diverse and beautifully crafted, sustainable homes. Marsha is entranced by it all. ‘I love the architecture, they’re all different. In fact, I feel like I’m on holiday all the time,’ she says, adding that the colourful, modern homes give the look of a sunny European resort rather than the Essex countryside.
Master planners Roger Evans Associates have integrated nature, homes and landscape into the development, with ample ‘green wedges’. For the Mannings, it has led to a change of lifestyle. ‘We walk all the time, it’s all so beautiful and quiet and the views are fantastic.’
The family has a three-bedroom townhouse in Simplicity Lane, one that meets their needs to be compact and easy to run. And although they are still unpacking boxes, they feel completely settled.
Despite its rural Essex location, Newhall enjoys good connections to Harlow and is an excellent location for commuting to London and surrounding regions. The Mannings all work in different places and find that getting to their places of work is easy. Elliott commutes by tube into London from Epping, the girls travel from Harlow Town station, and Marsha and her husband drive to their company’s office in Buckhurst Hill, which takes about 25 minutes.
Clearly, the move to Newhall has been an enormous success for the Mannings. ‘I wouldn’t move for a million pounds!’ says Marsha.
The latest phase currently under construction, North Chase, will eventually comprise 127 homes in a mix of apartments, townhouses, detached houses and flexible live-work units, and will include the development’s first commercial units. Prices will range from £225,000 to £450,000 and further information can be obtained by calling the Sales Centre on 01279 416660 or by visiting the website at newhallproject.co.uk.

Thanks to mass regeneration this part of London is enjoying a new lease of life. Amanda Shiel takes a look at what’s available  

Docklands
Barratt’s spectacular Capital East project in London Docklands has entered its final phase.
Comprising over 700 new apartments in a series of ten ultra-modern glass-walled buildings rising to a maximum of 18 storeys, the development covers some three acres of former dockside.
The Royals area has boomed in recent years and is now one of the most exciting areas of Docklands. Adjacent to the ExCel Exhibition Centre and benefiting from the outstanding new transport infrastructure across Docklands, the £210 million Capital East development has brought new restaurants, offices and retail, plus dockside walks and easy access to Royal Victoria DLR Station.
The new duplex penthouses are all located over the 17 and 18 floors of the final tower. They have fully-fitted designer kitchens, complete with a full range of integrated appliances, plus fully-fitted luxury bathrooms. All have floor-to-ceiling glazing, balconies and roof terraces from which to enjoy the views, with spiral staircases linking the levels.
The apartments are served by a lift accessed through stylish common areas and there is private parking for residents. A health and fitness suite is open for the exclusive use of residents and there is a round-the-clock concierge service.
The penthouses comprise: a duplex two-bedroom apartment extending to 1,177sq ft, priced at £899,995; a duplex two-bedroom apartment of 1,189sq ft at £949,995; and a duplex three-bedroom apartment of 1,813sq ft at £1.5m.
Viewing of the Capital East penthouses is by appointment only. Call 020 7476 7163 or visit barratthomes.co.uk.

Whitechapel
VoguE1 comprises 58 one- and two-bedroom apartments and two- and three-bedroom duplex penthouses located on Plumbers Row.
Internally, each apartment is fitted with a designer Urban Myth kitchen and Siemens appliances which include a stainless steel electric oven, microwave, gas hob and chimney hood, integrated fridge freezer, washer/dryer and dishwasher. The apartments also benefit from under floor gas fired central heating, a video entry phone and lift access to all floors. Many of the spacious and bright apartments offer sweeping views over central London. A number of the penthouse apartments also have spectacular views of the Gherkin and across the Square Mile.
VoguE1 is located close to the famous Spitalfields market, the multicultural Brick Lane and the Square Mile, which ensures that residents benefit from the shopping, nightlife and history of this part of the capital. The nearest stations are Whitechapel and Aldgate East, which are both under half a mile from the development. The development is only five miles from London City Airport and under three miles from Canary Wharf.
Prices start at £395,000 for a one-bedroom apartment and £475,000 for a two-bedroom apartment. First occupations are expected in late spring. For further information contact Higgins Homes on 020 8498 6059 or higginshomes.co.uk.

Leyton
Stadia is located on the south side of Leyton Orient football ground, on Buckingham Road, looking towards the site of the 2012 Olympics. The apartments have full width balconies with southerly views over Coronation Gardens to the future Stratford City beyond and are located a short distance from zone three Leyton tube station. The bustling shops and many leisure amenities of suburban Leyton are all right close by.
Still around 18 months from completion, there are just three apartments remaining at Stadia. Apartment 34 is a much larger than average two-bedroom/two bathroom home at 888sq ft and is located on level three. It has a large south east facing balcony and a parking space included for £290,000. The other two homes available are on level six and being on the upper levels, have an upgraded internal specification. The two-bedroom apartment, number 45, is 817sq ft, has a large balcony, a parking space included and is priced at £300,000. Apartment 44 is a three bedroom apartment, even more spacious at over 1160 sq ft internally, with a full width balcony and a parking space. This apartment also benefits from secondary views onto the Leyton Orient Football Club pitch from bedroom three. All floors have lift access and parking is located in a private under-croft car park.
For more information call 087 087 209 87 or visit www.telfordhomes.plc.uk.          

Bow
Caspian Wharf sits adjacent to the Spratts Building, with work progressing on the creation of 82 studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments in a six-storey contemporary-style building. This is the first phase of a much larger development for Limehouse Cut, with the creation of a new living quarter spearheaded by Berkeley Homes (South East London) Ltd’s build programme.
The development enjoys direct canal frontage, with the scheme’s architects maximising the waterside views with glass-fronted balconies and extensive glazing. Almost every apartment boasts its own private balcony or terrace, and there’s a communal terrace and podium overlooking the Limehouse Cut for use by all residents. Caspian Whart is superbly placed for public transport.
Current prices start from £205,000 for a studio, with two-bedroom apartments priced from £395,000 and three-bedroom apartments from £435,000. Call 0844 800 1152 for further details.

Dalston
Kinetica is an upcoming development from Telford Homes in happening E8. Due for completion in 2010, just ahead of the opening of the new East London Line station at Dalston Junction, this is set to be a very well-connected collection of homes. The one-, two- and three-bedroom contemporary apartments will feature the smooth, modern design and superior spec that buyers have come to expect from Telford Homes, including kitchens by Urban Myth and pure white Roca bathroom suites. The forward-thinking green features include a vertical wind turbine, which will generate a minimum of ten per cent of the building’s electricity, and a sedum roof and a brown roof, which will provide a natural habitat for the black redstart bird. These just-released apartments are selling extremely quickly, so a quick reaction is essential to secure these high-style, well-placed homes. Prices currently range between £260,000 for a one-bedroom ninth-floor apartment and £465,000 for a three-bedroom triple-aspect apartment on the 12th floor. Visit telfordhomes.plc.uk for more information.

Contrary to many reports, there are ways to get on the property ladder. With the market slowing, bargains and incentives in the new build market are getting easier to find, says Johnny Turner

Close-up
Who Kyle Davis, 21
What A 75 per cent share of a two-bedroom apartment whose full price was £109,995; his share was £82,500 and Persimmon Homes gave him an interest-free loan on the remaining 25 per cent.  
Where Clayton Court, Pontardulais near Swansea. Call 01792 886647
Why The development offered me everything I wanted in terms of location, and I found a two bedroom apartment that accommodated all my needs. However, I was conscious that as a first time buyer, I may not be able to afford my perfect property. The sales advisers at Clayton Court soon laid my fears to rest though, when they introduced me to their shared equity scheme.’
What else Persimmon’s shared equity scheme is also available at Bryngwyn Village in Gorseinon. Visit persimmonhomes.com.

Climbing on to the ladder
Alice Clarke found that it made more sense to head out of London to buy – both in terms of commuter convenience and affordability.
Instead of renting on the outskirts of the capital, she bought at Pembroke Park in well-connected Crawley. With prices starting at £205,000 and a range of incentives available from Fairview New Homes, new buyers will find the help they need in these still-expensive days.
Pembroke Park is a new ‘village’ on Haslett Avenue East in Crawley, offering both apartments and houses within beautifully landscaped areas. Planning permission has been granted for a gym, wellness centre and shops which will create a new village centre.
Both road and rail connections are top-notch in the area, a clear advantage in attracting young professional buyers. As for Clarke, ‘I will be catching the train from Three Bridges to London and I don’t expect it to take me any longer to travel to work than it did when I was living in rented accommodation in London.’
Call 01293 521707 or see fairview.co.uk.

Young buyer sees success
During the last decade of almost relentless price rises, it became more and more common to see first-time buyers teaming up in an effort to get on the ladder.
Which is exactly what Julia Spencer did in 2005. At the time she couldn’t afford to buy by herself, so she bought with a friend in St Albans. The compromise has now paid off in spades, as the sale of the property raised enough capital for her to buy her own two-bedroom apartment at Mezza Luna, Crest Nicholson’s latest development in the area.
‘The profit from the sale of my first home allowed me to move onto the property ladder by myself much sooner and more easily than I otherwise would have been able to do,’ says Spencer. ‘It left me financially ready to buy my own property and the affordability of the homes at Mezza Luna meant that I haven’t had to compromise on location or specification.’
As a commuter, she has found Mezza Luna’s location ideal. ‘I can get into London for work in under an hour, door to door.’
Mezza Luna is made up of 22 stylish apartments across three separate buildings. Other Crest Nicholson sites across Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire that will appeal to younger buyers include thehub:mk in Milton Keynes, Viridian Square in Aylesbury and the recently launched Sentinel in Watford.
Contact Mezza Luna on 0870 755 0844; Sentinel on 0870 755 1630; Viridian Square on 0870 755 1635; and thehub:mk on 08700 843482. Visit crestnicholson.com.

Amanda Shiel takes a look at the latest developments located near this popular tube line

Camden
The Lockhouse comprises 115 one-, two and three-bedroom apartments.
The development provides a new benchmark in metropolitan living with a sleek, elegant façade, large windows and exceptionally stylish, contemporary interiors. Some of the homes will benefit from balconies or terraces which will overlook Regent’s Canal or the split-level landscaped courtyard which forms part of the development.
Solar roof panels, which move according to the sun’s position, will maximise the solar power that supplements the development’s electricity supply. There is also a residents’ fitness room and a 24-hour concierge service.
The Lockhouse is conveniently located within walking distance of Camden Town underground station, London Overground and numerous bus stops. 
Apartments start at £349,995 and will be available for occupation from summer 2008.
For further information contact Barratt’s sales and marketing suite, open seven days a week, on 0207 482 5905. Information on all Barratt developments is available at barratthomes.co.uk.

Kentish Town
Tally Ho comprises twenty fashionable one- and two-bedroom apartments.
Each apartment features a kitchen/living room with natural oak flooring. The Italian fitted kitchen is finished to a high standard with black granite worktops, integrated Neff electric oven, gas hob, microwave, dishwasher, washer/dryer and fridge/freezer.
Bathrooms boast modern white sanitaryware, steel bath, chrome towel rail and porcelain tiling. Bedrooms are all fitted with 100 per cent wool carpets, while the master bedrooms also feature built-in mirrored wardrobes.
There are individual alarm systems, a colour video entryphone system, keyed entry lift to all floors and smoke/heat detectors. Some apartments also enjoy balconies or terraces.
Kentish Town’s close proximity to central London, restaurants, bars and entertainment venues, along with an eclectic mix of shops provides the perfect opportunity to balance the lifestyles of central London bustle and the quirky charisma of NW5.
New apartments at Tally Ho Quarter are priced from £310,950. For more details contact Preston Bennett New Homes on 020 8954 8626 or visit prestonbennett.co.uk. Alternatively, contact joint agent Humberts on 020 7290 2822 or visit humberts.co.uk.

Islington
Only four apartments remain at Chaplin Mews, a gated development consisting of 37 new and refurbished one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and duplexes.
Located in the heart of Islington, this former Victorian school conversion combines a unique character with one of north London’s most desirable post-codes.
The exterior remains in keeping with the historical surroundings and still boasts many of the architectural features of the original school including decorative brickwork, arched windows and double height living spaces.
Inside, the homes have all been designed to be open plan in order to reflect the requirements of modern urban living, and feature mezzanine levels as an integral part of their design. Many also have en suite facilities to the master bedrooms or first floor sleeping galleries, as well as a separate cloakroom area on the lower floor.
Other standard features include a fully fitted kitchen with laminate worktops, integrated fridge-freezer and dishwasher, as well as a complete bathroom suite with white sanitaryware by Roca and chrome Hansgrohe mixer taps and fittings.
Prices start from £299,950 for a one bedroom apartment, with the last remaining two-bed apartment priced at £414,950 and the final three-bed at £499,950.
For more information contact the sales and marketing suite on 0870 750 8403 or visit crestnicholson.com.

Totteridge
Millennium House boasts striking contemporary architecture and state-of-the-art features including air-conditioning, underfloor heating, video-entry system, an indoor swimming pool complex with electrically operated glass roof and 34ft cinema room. The home is perfect for modern day living, entertaining and relaxation and exudes luxury and convenience from its grand entrance hall to its opulent master suite.
The four ground floor reception rooms are light and airy with stylish décor, a sound system and oak flooring. A 33ft kitchen/breakfast room is fitted with designer Poggenpohl units and a host of integrated Bosch appliances including dishwasher, gourmet microwave, fridge and freezer.
With six bedrooms all boasting en-suites and fitted wardrobes, the property is well-equipped for overnight guests or extended family.
Priced at £12.75 million. For further information or an appointment to view contact Preston Bennett Fine Homes on 020 8954 0044 or visit prestonbennett.co.uk.

Islington
Grove Manor Homes have released their Premier Collection of Diamond and Platinum upper floor luxury apartments at Angel Waterside.
The development is located between Old Street and Angel Islington on the City Road Basin, an area that is currently being transformed into a village of over 800 apartments overlooking the Basin and the Regent Canal, which connects to the waterway.
A £3 million project has just begun which will open up public access around the Basin and will form part of a series of parks and open spaces in areas which were previously derelict and inaccessible. The works, which will take around nine months, will include preparing the site to allow public access with a decked entrance platform, a stairway and ramp access from City Road, plus access improvements from Graham Street and Wharf Road together with seating, lighting, paving and landscaping.
Angel Waterside was the first of several major schemes planned on the site and it provides a stunning array of luxury waterside homes designed for modern urban living.
The building is eight storeys tall with 64 units, including the Premier Collection of Diamond and Platinum penthouse apartments, as well as 5,000sq ft of office space and underground parking.
Prices start at £425,000 for a one-bedroom apartment and £550,000 for a two-bedroom apartment. Contact the sales office on 020 7359 5259 or visit  angelwaterside.com.  

Mill Hill
One three-bedroom property is currently available at The Chapel, a development comprising four homes built within a former chapel dating back to 1888.
The Atrium provides just under 4,000sqft of living space set over three floors. The kitchen is fitted by Pedini of London with a comprehensive range of Miele appliances including a gas hob, stainless steel cooker hood, microwave, dishwasher, washer/dryer, coffee machine, combi oven and granite worktops.
Both the second and third bedrooms have vaulted ceilings and benefit from en-suite facilities in the naves. The sitting room on the second floor, with feature stained glass windows and lounge area, are joined by a corridor and together provide a further 670sqft of living space.
On the top floor, the master bedroom suite has an en-suite bathroom featuring a flat screen TV, a dressing room and mezzanine which provides the ideal office space.
The property has its own private remote controlled car turntable, garden and terrace area.
Priced at £2.3million. For more details contact Cavendish and Gloucester on 020 8446 4216.
 
Clapham
The Sanctuary comprises eight boutique townhouses located in a gated development.
The homes offer the very best contemporary architecture and design. Each boasts state-of-the-art kitchens with Poggenpohl designed units, Bosch electric ovens, gas hobs and full height fridge freezer and reconstituted stone worktops. The bathroom suites are bespoke and have Grohe sanitaryware, limestone or porcelain flooring and wall tiles and underfloor heating.
Landscape designed gardens and patios make full use of the leafy surroundings and have pergolas and external lighting. .
Life in The Sanctuary offers stylish city living, yet in a more relaxed environment than that of central London.
Six houses are currently available, from a 1,205sq ft four-bedroom house for £675,000, to a 1,781sq ft five-bedroom house at £825,000.
Show home is open on Thursdays between 12pm-8pm and Fridays and Saturdays between 10am-3pm or can be seen at other times by appointment. Contact the London Residential new homes team on 020 7173 4999 or visit knightfrank.com.

Islington
Recently launched NORTHPO1NT comprises 32 contemporary studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments. The open plan apartments will feature fully fitted kitchens from Pepper, which come complete with a full range of integrated appliances including an AEG stainless steel oven, hob and extractor hood. Porcelanosa sanitary ware, chrome fixtures and fittings including an electric heated tower rail and ceramic wall and floor tiling creates a tranquil and calming bathroom.
The development is located on Essex Road and within easy reach of Angel Underground station on the Northern line and Highbury and Islington on the Victoria line. Travel to the City takes approximately 30 minutes. Purchasers at the development will automatically receive 12 months free membership to the car club scheme running at the development.
Islington is a vibrant and cosmopolitan area that offers a buzzing atmosphere and a wealth of bars, cafés and restaurants on nearby Upper Street.
For further sales information call selling agent Chesterton’s on 020 7288 0330. Alternatively visit    inspacehomes.co.uk.

For the seventh year running, we at HotProperty have selected what we think are the top developments in the market. And for the same number of years, we have found that the competition has gained in both accomplishment and confidence.This bodes well, both for an industry that is fastening its safety belts for a bumpy ride and for a buying public that is looking for what it have always been looking for: a home that is buyable, stylish, well located and likely to hold its value – and build upon that value – in the medium to long term.This week we salute those developments of apartments that have shown themselves to be what the market wants this year, whether by being the best for investment buyers or commuters, by raising the style stakes or making good-quality homes affordable to the general public. So here in the 19 pages that follow are 2008’s winning apartments.

Commutability
PLATINUM Bellway South East - Meridian South. Bellway.co.uk
GOLD Intro Homes - Avenue Heights. Introhomes.co.uk
SILVER Higgins – Uber. Higginshomes.co.uk
Uber – pic used in commute 591
Meridian – pic used: How low can you go 531, pic 2
Also you can use pics from in house/transport to get train or DLR pics

In Walthamstow, an environment that has both a village vibe and east London charm, Higgins Homes’ Uber has shown itself to be a hit with commuters. The area is currently riding a wave of regeneration, with a £56 million project underway. Walthamstow is luring young professionals at a rapid rate, offering as it does high-quality surroundings at a more affordable price than many similarly advantaged parts of London.
But it is great commuter links that often seal the deal, and this is another way in which E17 is a winner. The huge street market and new designer shopping centre are bonuses.
St James Street train station near the high street offers regular direct trains to London Liverpool Street, with a journey time of about 16 minutes. Walthamstow Central tube station, on the Victoria line, is about 23 minutes from Oxford Circus.
Uber is made up of 100 studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments on Erskine Road. The building’s cascading and ascending flat roof, sculpted with aluminium panels, lend it a dramatic profile. The development has a play area and a secret garden, a place to relax in relative privacy. Also, most apartments have glass-panelled balconies.
Internally each property incorporates a designer Urban Myth kitchen which comes fitted with Smeg appliances which include a stainless steel electric oven, gas hob, integrated fridge/freezer and washer/dryer.
Prices start at an impressive £205,000 (less five per cent assisted deposit). First completions are expected in the spring. Call Higgins Homes on 020 8508 6000 or visit higginshomes.co.uk.

What a commuter often wants is a way to opt in and out of the hustle and bustle of daily life with ease – and that’s just what the three developments shortlisted for the Commutability Award for apartments excel at.
Intro Homes’ Avenue Heights in Surbiton is an extremely successful blend of easy suburban charm and access to the office. Within walking distance of Surbiton station, where you’ll find journey to Waterloo in less than 20 minutes, this location is ideal.
Frequent flyers will appreciate its easy access to Heathrow, and those who take the car to work will find both the M25 and A3 very nearby. This part of London even caters well for those who cycle in the area.
The homes are not only stylish but low-maintenance, which lends itself to a low-maintenance lifestyle that busy commuters appreciate. The 11 one- and two-bedroom apartments also offered good affordability, with prices originally starting at £240,000.
The best-of-both-worlds lifestyle is very evident in this area, due to the excellent parkland and other relaxing spaces nearby. The River Thames is very easily reached, as are the green spaces of Bushy Park, Richmond Park and Fishponds. The fantastic shopping in nearby Kingston is less than two miles away.
Avenue Heights is now sold out. For information on other Intro Homes developments call 0870 445 0870 or visit introhomes.co.uk.
Meridian South is Bellway’s impressive £100 regeneration project, the redevelopment of the former Hither Green Hospital in South London. The scheme, set south of Greenwich on the Meridian line, includes 544 apartments set across eight buildings.
The focal point of the development is a pedestrian piazza, while other amenities include a supermarket, restaurant and a leisure centre. The Historic Quarter includes a Victorian water tower that is now used as a management office and exhibition venue for local history.
The quarter also includes four former hospital buildings, which Bellway has converted and refurbished. One is a working GP surgery, another a nursery and two have been converted into live/work units.
One huge attraction to this development has been the very commutable location. Hither Green station provides a link to London Bridge, making a commute into the City quick and straightforward. Also, Lewisham, just one stop away, provides a DLR connection to both the City and Canary Wharf.
The homes are now sold out. Visit bellway.co.uk for details of current developments.

Community
PLATINUM Inspace Homes – Eastside. Eastsidee3.co.uk
GOLD Telford Homes - Merchant's Quarter. Telfordhomes.plc.uk
SILVER Newlon Housing Trust - The Ashburton Triangle. Newlon.org.uk

The glue that binds society, the element of a living location that makes us feel a part of something – that's one way of looking at community. And this past year HotProperty has seen a number of exceptional strides made by developers in the service of inclusion. With the houses that have been created, we have seen wonderful examples of the will to shape a locale through positive building. The winning developments of houses in this category push the agenda of benefiting the local area in ways that we feel are above and beyond the call of duty.

With its regeneration credentials established as part of the classy new home of Arsenal, The Ashburton Triangle is a development of 249 flats for key workers, a segment of London’s population that has found far too few opportunities for ownership. The realistic prospect of home ownership is the linchpin of the community, and moves to make ownership a reality rather than a dream are to be applauded. That the project includes homes to rent at below market rate shows a desire to truly make a difference in a time when rents, too, threaten to climb out of reach even of the decently paid. Homes that stem from such a project must be of quality, and those in the Triangle, it is encouraging to see, definitely meet this requirement. Designed by the same architects as the Stadium, this is Europe’s largest zinc-clad building, a futuristic yet friendly addition to a very established neighbourhood.This project by Newlon Housing Trust is a great help to the residents of Islington and a boon to the community as a whole.Prices for rent start at £95 a week, and shared ownership apartments start at £130,000. Those interested in buying a 40 per cent stake require an annual income of around £17,000.Visit newlon.org.uk to find out more.
With Merchant’s Quarter, Telford revisited the scene of quite a few past triumphs. Bow is a fast-rising part of the East End, and with 2012 suddenly seeming alarmingly near, the area – and Telford Homes will continue to show the smart money is on E3.Merchant’s Quarter is a collection of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments integrated with retail space, perfect for today’s lifestyle.The development is being created in partnership with Eastend Homes, and the result will provide much-needed homes for a range of buyers, from young singletons to small families.Bow is an exceptionally well-connected area, and its variety of leisure, retail and business opportunities has made this part of the East End desirable on a scale that was hard to imagine only a decade ago.Its placement – both on the doorstep of two international centres of commerce in the City and Canary Wharf, and in the heart of the family-orientated East End – gives it a special place in terms of community.The apartments at Merchant’s Quarter sold out almost immediately, testament to the fact that Telford has not lost its knack for combining location, spec design into a package that buyers fall over themselves to get to.For information on currently available developments visit telfordhomes.plc.uk.Another Bow triumph, Eastside has become a watchword for buyers and fellow developers in terms of getting well-priced, well-designed apartments into the London market.Investors, first-time buyers, young professional couples – a wide spectrum of buyer types have found what they were looking for here. The interaction between this new residential centre and the ‘old’ Bow has been interesting to see: this successful integration of new homes into a quite historic part of the capital is of benefit to all of London.As the site has progressed from phase to phase, we have seen how Eastside has gone from incomer to ‘part of the furniture’ – and this, combined with the huge appetite for these homes the market has demonstrated in the first four phases, adds up to runaway success.There are currently one- and two-bedroom apartments for sale at Eastside, and prospective buyers should act quickly. Visit eastsidee3.co.uk.


Investor Potential
PLATINUM Telford Homes, SoBow
GOLD South East Living, 3SE
SILVER Barratt Southern Counties, The Sanctuary

Investors need three main things in a property: a low price, to limit initial capital outlay; attractiveness to good-quality tenants, including good commuting; and the prospect of good capital growth in the medium to long term. The three winners of HotProperty’s Investor Potential Award have all of these qualities and more.

In ever-popular Wimbledon, The Sanctuary by Barratt Southern Counties offers 398 one- and two-bedroom apartments and studios in an exclusive and rarely available riverside setting. It also offers balcony views, lovely gardens and a lively communal veranda. Ample parking is another plus.
This development is an obvious match with young professionals who are busy by day and want peaceful, upmarket surroundings in which to relax after hours. Wimbledon is the perfect place for unwinding, with its mix of open spaces, bustling shopping centres and easy access to both central London and the country.
The Santuary is located a stones throw from Wimbledon, Wimbledon Park, Colliers Wood and Raynes Park. There is good shopping all around, including a thriving weekly market; there are also many restaurants, bars and cafés nearby. Commuters love the location, with its excellent road, rail, underground, tram and bus links to the centre of London.
The Sanctuary is, not surprisingly, sold out. Look for other investor-friendly developments from Barratt Southern Counties at barratthomes.co.uk.
Well-located Bromley is a hit with investors, as its constant tenant demand means money for landlords. South East Living have built on that already firm foundation with its unapologetically modern, user-friendly 3SE development on Sherman Road.
There are just 13 one- and two-bedroom apartments, including two breathtaking penthouses. The high-tech, high-spec approach has paid off in many ways. Buyers are in no doubt that they had found a no-nonsense property investment, while tenants are sure to benefit from the lifestyle the scheme offers.
Everything is in place for a modern lifestyle, with the emphasis on high-spec day-to-day living. All apartments are wired for a music system, and the stylish floor coverings and lighting are perfect for the young professional, whether an owner-occupier or tenant.
The location is excellent for commuting. Bromley North station is mere moments away, giving residents a real advantage in their day’s work. There is also brilliant shopping and green space very nearby.
There is currently one one-bedroom second-floor apartment for sale, priced at £225,950; two others have yet to be released. Call selling agent Acorn New Homes on 020 8663 4466.
Telford Homes is an investor favourite, and whenever there is a new development released, the buyers rush in. SoBow in E3 was no exception, selling out in record time and giving both owner-occupiers and investors something to smile about.
Situated on Ordell Road, SoBow consists of 144 private sale apartments and penthouses (some with optional parking) and 57 affordable housing homes. The modern design, combining contemporary architecture with a comprehensive specification, is just what today’s investor is looking for. The location, meanwhile, is also a firm favourite and one that good-quality tenants will always go for.
The apartments and penthouses are arranged around a central landscaped courtyard that will provide private amenity space for residents to enjoy. The Mostyn and Ordell buildings rise up to six and seven storeys respectively, with car and cycle parking underneath. Terraces and balconies make for nice outdoor space – and provide great views.
The high-spec kitchens with their contemporary units and integrated Smeg appliances, including a dishwasher, fridge freezer and washer dryer, are another box ticked in the investor checklist. The bathrooms offer pure white suites with polished chrome fittings by Logica.
Perfectly placed for City or Canary Wharf workers, the homes