New Homes - October, 2004

A home that is affordable, good quality and within easy striking distance of the workplace isn’t always easy to find. But developers are starting to rectify this problem with the current crop of new homes, says Anna Bowden.

Homes with good commuter links have rocketed in demand over the last few years and new homes developers are really feeding this market now by building homes with excellent specification in well-connected areas. Here are some of the latest desirable offerings.
Michael Shanly Homes long ago recognised the importance of combining the right location with good transport, shopping and leisure facilities, and its Six and Ludlow Court developments, in Epping and Barnet respectively, epitomise that philosophy.
Six is ideally placed for commuters: it is located within 600 metres of Epping mainline station, which offers easy access to the Central Line, and is within a short drive of junction 7 of the M11. Epping town centre is also close by, with its excellent shops, restaurants and pubs.
Many of the remaining two-bedroom apartments are for sale with laminate flooring/carpets, curtains and light fittings, and all kitchens feature oven, hob, hood, fridge/freezer and washer/dryer. Michael Shanly Homes is also offering an excellent five per cent deposit paid deal, with stamp duty paid as well on selected apartments.

Ludlow Court offers easy access to Oakleigh Park station and getting around could not be easier: there are good bus services close by and road access is excellent, with the A1M and M25 a short drive away. The development has gated parking and the apartments are built to a high specification; and a stamp duty paid deal is on offer, along with carpets provided in selected apartments.
For further information regarding Six or Ludlow Court call 01992 572304 or 020 8440 7621 respectively.
Looking into the near future, Telford Homes is planning yet more sites in east London in excellent locations for commuting to Canary Wharf and the City. It is soon to begin construction on Island Gardens, a collection of smart apartments at the southern end of the Isle of Dogs. This location is brilliant, being just minutes from both the workaday world of Canary Wharf and the diverse and high-quality leisure and culture of Greenwich.

The location, just by the entrance to the famed Greenwich Foot Tunnel, means your trips to well-regarded Greenwich Market and the area’s many cool restaurants and bars can be undertaken either on foot or by the speedy, convenient DLR.
Another up-and-coming development is called Limehouse, which makes sense as it is located only a few minutes from Limehouse mainline rail and DLR stations. This location, on Commercial Road E14, is ideal for commuting into work, whether your desk is located in the City, Canary Wharf, West End or beyond – and whether you get in by car or public transport.
Keep up with progress on these developments, and find out when the first apartments will be offered for sale, by calling 0870 872 0987. Or you can check in online by visiting telfordhomes.plc.uk
Antler Homes is now selling Napier Bank in Weybridge, Surrey, an exclusive development of six three- and four-bedroom semi-detached houses situated less than a quarter of a mile from Weybridge train station, from where trains into London Waterloo take less than 30 minutes.

Karen Lee-Brindle, sales and marketing director of Antler Homes Southern, says, ‘Homes that offer easy access to transport links have always been popular with buyers and the introduction of London’s congestion charge has resulted in an increase in the number of commuters who are choosing to leave their car at home and use public transport instead. As a consequence, the accessibility to reliable and regular communication links remains a top priority for purchasers.
‘The close proximity of the homes at Napier Bank to Weybridge train station means that residents will benefit from a quick and easy journey into central London without any “hidden” travelling times of getting to and from the station, both of which can add a significant amount of time to the daily commute.’
Homes at Napier Bank benefit from a number of hi-technology features, including cabling for broadband, computer networking, a plasma TV screen and surround-sound. Prices start from £680,000. Call 01932 829927 to find out more.

CALA Homes (South) last month opened a show home at its award-winning CALA DOMUS development, a collection of 74 homes just outside Harlow in Essex comprising an imaginative mix of apartments, maisonettes and linked and detached houses, as well as duplex and triplex flats in the magnificent Copper Tower. All properties are high-specification and feature contemporary glass façades, colourful rain screen panels, brick-clad frontages and bright interiors, and many also boast stunning views over the surrounding countryside.
The new show home at CALA DOMUS makes creative use of space, light and bright, elegant colours to make it a must-see for home hunters, and led to the sale of a similar four-storey house on launch day. ‘Over 30 couples visited the unique show home on the launch day and all fell in love with what’s on offer in terms of its design, style and spacious, light rooms,’ says sales and marketing director Philip Brown. ‘The décor of the show home has proved very appealing to families who appreciate good architecture and contemporary interior design.’
Prices at the development range from £230,000 to £465,000. Call 01279 416660 or visit caladomus.co.uk to find out more.

Countryside Properties has now created Garrick House in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, a stunning new property set behind a gated entrance in just under an acre of mature gardens. Garrick House has been designed in the Arts and Crafts style, with a solid oak door in a distinctive arched porch and mullioned windows that draw the eye up to the roof line.
The Arts and Crafts theme is continued inside the house, using high quality materials, fixtures, fittings and appliances. The interior is dominated by a full-height galleried entrance hall and is enhanced by such details as an oak window seat and shelving to the first floor reading area, which overlooks the front drive.

Helen Moore, sales and marketing director of Countryside Properties, comments, ‘Garrick House offers purchasers the opportunity to acquire a truly unique house in one of the most prestigious residential streets in Beaconsfield. It is rare to find a brand new house that rivals the grandeur of many of the older properties in the area, and Garrick House has the added advantage of offering its owners the luxuries of a new property without the need to spend the vast amounts of time and money bringing an old house up to the same standards.’
Garrick House is priced at £3 million. For further info call 01494 681122 or visit garrickhouse.co.uk.

KingsOak is offering King’s Chase in Bracknell, Berkshire, a collection of one- and two-bedroom apartments and two-, three- and four-bedroom houses, all designed to offer potential buyers a spacious, well-designed and high-specification home.
Each home at the development maximises space, and many include en suite to the master bedroom. Energy-efficient heating ensures each home stays warm and cosy throughout the winter months, while a feature fire and surround adds a focal point to the living room. High-quality fully fitted kitchens come as standard.
King’s Chase enjoys a superb location within easy reach of Bracknell town centre. Bracknell mainline station offers easy commuting prospects to London and the nearby M3 and M4 motorways make travelling within the South East an uncomplicated proposition.
Last homes remaining at King’s Chase include two- and three-bedroom terraced town houses, semi- and detached homes and a selection of one- and two-bedroom apartments. Prices start from £159,995. For further details call the sales office, open daily between 10am and 5pm, on 01344 459340, or visit kingsoakhomes.com.

Crest Nicholson Eastern’s Academy Fields development in Gidea Park, Essex, is an ideal commuter location for those who work near London Liverpool Street station or off the A12, A127 or M25. Mainline trains from Romford and Gidea Park stations take as little as half an hour to reach Liverpool Street and there are also underground services available from nearby Hornchurch and Elm Park stations.
Academy Fields, built on the same site as a listed Arts & Crafts style former school, is a scheme of two-bedroom apartments and two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom homes. All new builds reflect the original Arts and Crafts school building, which is now located at the entrance to the development, giving it a period feel but with modern amenities.
Apartments at Academy Fields feature open-plan kitchens, two spacious double bedrooms, a generous bathroom and in-built storage – perfect for a clutter-free, contemporary lifestyle – and some of them boast French doors opening onto Juliet balconies.
Kitchens are fitted with oven, hob and hood and bathrooms have the latest sleek white Roca sanitary ware with chrome Hans Grohe accessories, carefully chosen to complement the light and airy interior design of each apartment.

Academy Fields is less than a quarter of a mile from Romford town centre, where residents can find a full complement of high street shops at the Liberty shopping centre as well as numerous restaurants and bars, ten-pin bowling and a 16-screen multiplex cinema at The Brewery leisure complex. There are also two parks close by and Fitness First and Esporta fitness centres.
For price information call the marketing suite, open daily from 10am to 5pm, on 01708 476603.

Hackney, London

The three final properties at Furlong Homes’ sought-after Clapton Square development have now been released. Overlooking a Victorian square at the centre of one of the most vibrant and multicultural boroughs in London, the three remaining one-bedroom apartments boast a high specification, bespoke design and exceptional build standards and start in price from £199,950 with a five per cent deposit paid. Call Copping Joyce on 020 7288 0330 to find out more.

Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Millwood Designer Homes has recently received planning permission for an exclusive new scheme of two high-specification five-bedroom detached houses, built to Millwood’s popular Yeoman design. Early buyers at Forest Ridge can take advantage of the developer’s Design and Build scheme, whereby specification and floor plans can be tailored and personalised to clients’ needs according to stage of build. For prices call 01732 770991.

Rayleigh, Essex

Countryside Properties has now created Pelham Gate, a development of traditional family homes in a formal village style environment. The properties offer the opportunity to live close to the Essex countryside while also benefiting from the proximity of historic market town Rayleigh and quick transport links into London. Four-bedroom town houses are now available at Pelham Gate, priced from £350,000. Call 01268 786900.

Harrow Weald, London

Crest Nicholson is currently selling Brookshill Gate, a three-storey scheme of 18 luxury two-bedroom apartments boasting bay windows, lift access, balconies and stunning glass communal entrance foyers, set in landscaped grounds with gated access and parking facilities. The area itself offers a wealth of green space as well as entertainment facilities. Prices start from £349,950. For details call 0870 300 0820.

Bromley, Kent

Linden Homes South East has now opened a stunning new show home at Darwin House, its development of 14 luxurious apartments. The two-bedroom show home perfectly showcases the quality of homes at Darwin House, boasting spectacular mezzanine style open gallery on the second floor. All apartments are being sold with designer fitted kitchens by Symphony, featuring integrated Siemens appliances. Prices start from £250,000. Call 020 8313 3788.

Stevenage, Hertfordshire

Phase three at KingsOak’s Pavillion Fields has now been released, offering discerning buyers a new range of apartments and two- and three-bedroom family homes. Pavillion Fields is ideal for families and young professionals, with its excellent commuter links and easy access to a range of leisure facilities. Prices start from £172,995 for a two-bedroom apartment and £212,995 for a three-bedroom home. Call 01438 352594 for details.

Weybridge, Surrey

Lyndhurst Gate by Antler Homes is a smart gated collection of six five-bedroom, three-storey homes, each boasting the capability for a personalised home entertainment system with built-in plasma screen, hidden integrated speakers and a digital jukebox, all of which can be controlled from a central cabling platform. These features enable people to enjoy their home life more as staying in becomes more popular. Prices start from £840,000. Call 020 8391 6670.
Eastbourne, East Sussex
Millwood Designer Homes has recently enjoyed success with its Incentives Weekend at The Henley Apartments, a waterside development of contemporary apartments boasting a luxury specification and modern features. Over the weekend Millwood offered buyers remarkable incentives including stamp duty, survey and legal fees paid, along with fitted carpets. Prices at The Henley Apartments start from £238,000. For further information call 01323 472882.

With ancient origins as well as modern-day convenience, Colchester is one of the South East’s true success stories. Johnny Turner takes a look at the new homes currently available in this sought-after spot.

Located in the north Essex countryside near the Suffolk border, Colchester has been a hub of activity for thousands of years. The first recorded town in England, it has housed Roman temples, been burnt by Boudicca and hosted Saxons and Normans. These days, a more peaceful style of living reigns, and this beautiful market town is known as a very desirable spot for both residents and businesses.
The blend of medieval and modern boasts lovely alleys of specialist shops as well as up-to-the-minute shopping precincts, new shops and department stores. There are four theatres, a multiplex cinema and a variety of nightclubs and good-quality restaurants.

Colchester is close enough to London to make it commutable but stands on its own as a pleasant place to live, work, study or visit. Its historic sites sit comfortably next to modern-day amenities, and it is only eight miles from the sea. Good roads to London and surrounding towns means commuting by car is a definite option, while North Colchester station offers frequent trains to Liverpool Street. Little wonder, then, that many who are in the market for a home have gravitated towards Colchester. And the wide choice of high-quality new homes currently to be found means prospective buyers are on to a winner.
Starting in the heart of the old town, Barratt is transforming the former St Mary’s Hospital site into Balkerne Heights, a collection of stylish town houses and apartments with two, three and four bedrooms.
Balkerne Heights is situated just 100 yards from the town centre yet is also on the edge of green fields and acres of open space. Two-bedroom apartments in the current phase are priced from £169,995; later releases will include more three- and four-bedroom homes. For further information call 01206 765674.

Also from Barratt Homes, the Woodside and Waterside segments of Albany Gardens offers a similar mix of apartments and town houses. The development, located in Distillery Lane, will eventually include a range of two- and three-bedroom apartments and three-, four- and five-bedroom houses and town houses. Currently available homes include one- and two-bedroom apartments and three-bedroom town houses, with prices starting at £146,995.

Both of these Barratt developments offer the unbeatable combination of excellent location and value-for-money specification. The extensive range of features includes fully fitted designer central heating, full insulation and double glazed windows.
First-time buyers can get help with their deposit or legal fees, while buyers with a house to sell can also take advantage of the Agency Selling Plan, in which Barratt appoints estate agents, arranges all sales details and pays the agency fees.
Bryant Homes presents its Nightingale Park development in Colchester, where there will be five different designs of four-bedroom homes and ten styles of three-bedroom homes. The three-bedroom Altham house type is priced from £229,995; four-bedroom detached homes will be on sale next winter. Nightingale Park is located off Brinkley Grove in north Colchester, an area with convenient public transport into the town centre as well as good local amenities. Call the sales centre on 01206 752556 for further information.

Another Bryant development in Colchester has a wide variety of house types and sizes. Lark Rise is selling two-bedroom apartments priced from £136,995; two-bedroom semi-detached houses from £245,000; three-bedroom semi-detached houses from £205,000; three-bedroom terraced houses starting at £290,000; and four-bedroom terraced houses from £240,000. Find out more by calling 01206 756235 or visiting bryanthomes.co.uk.

Colchester’s location gives residents an enviable choice of town and country, making it possible to enjoy urban workdays and peaceful, rural evenings. And Bovis Homes offers the commuter something to celebrate with its Anchoridge development in the Wivenhoe area.
Anchoridge, located just a couple of miles from the town centre, offers wonderfully flexible space which would be equally suitable for a young professional or a family. This collection of three-, four- and five-bedroom homes is set in the idyllic surroundings of Wivenhoe Quay, giving residents an enviable waterside environment. Trains from nearby Wivenhoe station get you into London in just over an hour.
Currently available homes include the three-bedroom town houses, priced from £284,950, while four-bedroom homes range in price from £245,950 to £314,950. Five-bedroom homes are priced between £314,950 and £349,950. The sales office is open from 10am to 5pm daily. Call 0845 230 3334 for more information.

Another Bovis development in Colchester is Woodland Vale, which offers two- to five-bedroom homes conveniently located in the heart of the town. It is perfect for the growing family and has excellent commuter links, with London only an hour away by road via the A12, M25 and A14. There is also a nearby railway station, from where frequent trains get commuters to Liverpool Street in just under an hour.
Woodland Vale has been carefully designed in keeping with the local architecture and boasts a high-quality specification. Kitchens are fitted with integral appliances and buyers have a choice of units and worktops. There is also a wide selection of wall tiles to choose from for the kitchen, bathroom and en suites.
The location is fantastic, giving residents the best of one of the UK’s most vibrant market towns. Excellent schools, museums and galleries, Colchester Zoo and Colchester Castle all add up to a rich cultural and educational life. And nearby shopping is varied and of a high quality.
Prices at Woodland Vale begin at £119,950 for a one-bedroom coach house, while three-bedroom terraced houses are priced from £176,950 and five-bedroom detached houses start at £289,950. For further information contact the marketing suite, open Thursdays to Mondays from 10am to 5pm, on 01206 752668.

Mersea Homes brings home-hunters a choice of two-bedroom apartments and three-bedroom houses at a new development which is being marketed by FPDSavills. Around 50 per cent of the development has been sold – even before the show home is completed.
The location is extremely handy, with the mainline station only a half mile away and all of the amenities you would expect from a bustling town centre location right at your fingertips. At the same time, the development is on a quiet corner and offers views of the countryside – truly the best of both worlds.
Two-bedroom apartments currently start at £162,500, while three-bedroom duplex apartments with en suite shower room are priced up to £239,950. Each home is fitted with contemporary kitchens with built-in appliances. The elegant town houses offer accommodation over four floors with a garage and private garden.
For more information contact Adam Akhurst at FPDSavills on 01245 269311.

George Wimpey offers several Colchester developments, giving buyers a good choice of types, sizes and price ranges. Braidwood has a selection of two-, three- and four-bedroom homes, including apartments and semi-detached and detached houses. The scheme is located close to Highwoods Country Park, a 329-acre expanse of woodland, lake and parkland.
Two-bedroom apartments are priced from £145,000, while three-bedroom semi-detached houses start at £202,500. You can also get a four-bedroom town house from £237,500 or a four-bedroom detached house from £310,000. Contact the marketing suite, open daily from 10am to 6pm, on 01206 852995.
Another George Wimpey development is Braiswick View, located among large protected trees in spacious open areas in Dickenson Road. Here buyers will find tranquillity combined with the convenience of good-quality amenities being within walking distance.
Braiswick View offers houses of between one and four bedrooms. Four-bedroom town houses are priced from £299,950 and four-bedroom detached houses currently start at £289,950; other homes, including one-bedroom mews houses, two- and three-bedroom terraced houses and four-bedroom semi-detached houses are to be released shortly.
A show home is now open. Find out more by calling 01206 853627.

At St James Park George Wimpey offers a good mix of family homes and smaller properties that would suit the first-time buyer. The development is ideally positioned near Highwoods Country Park and a short car or bus journey from the town centre.
Currently available homes include the three-bedroom Chestergate town house, featuring a living/dining room and an en suite bathroom, priced from £194,950. St James Park also offers three-bedroom terraced houses from £224,950, four-bedroom terraced houses from £264,950 and five-bedroom town houses starting at £299,950. Two-bedroom mews houses, and four-bedroom town houses are currently awaiting release.
Get more information about St James Park by calling the marketing suite on 01206 752798.

A further George Wimpey scheme is Foundry Walk, an innovative development of properties including delightful family homes set in a charming unspoilt village nestled in the Colne Valley and surrounded by the rolling countryside of north Essex. The village offers a primary school, recreation centre with facilities for squash, badminton and tennis, two golf clubs and a leisure centre.
Close to Halstead and Coggeshall, Foundry Walk offers excellent access to transport. Trains into London from either Kelvedon or Witham station take around 40 minutes – and Stansted Airport can be reached in the same amount of time. Three-bedroom terraced houses are priced from £189,500, while three-bedroom town houses start at £199,950. Three-bedroom houses are soon to be released. Call 01787 222996.
For more information on any of George Wimpey’s current developments, whether in Colchester or elsewhere, visit georgewimpey.co.uk.

Epping, Essex

Charles Church has launched Launceston Gate, a gated scheme comprising 17 substantial homes. There is a choice of two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom homes in a variety of styles, including detached, semi-detached and terraced. The development is located just one mile from the town centre, which offers great shopping, leisure and transport. Prices start at £234,995 for a two-bedroom home. Contact Lanes estate agents on 01992 785150.

Docklands, London

Telford Homes has now unveiled Tequila Wharf, its ambitious new scheme on the banks of Regent’s Canal. Boasting 123 one- and two-bedroom apartments with exceptional views along the canal, this development has been built to blend in with the eclectic surrounding environment while at the same time providing high-specification interiors. Located equidistant from the City and Docklands, the development is situated in the up-and-coming area of Limehouse. Prices from £192,500. Call 0870 872 0987.

Ashford, Kent

Abbey New Homes is offering to pay the estate agency fees when you purchase a home at its Chestnut Walk development in Lodgewood. Once your offer at the development has been accepted, an Abbey Homes selling agent will value your present home and discuss realistic pricing for an early sale. The agent will then fully market your property using its Assisted Purchase Plan, the media and the internet. For details and availability call 01233 645695.

Docklands, London

The Grain Store is MiNC Property Enterprises Ltd’s contemporary warehouse conversion of 63 one- two- and three-bedroom apartments in the ExCeL campus on Royal Victoria Dock. The apartments are built within the existing warehouse façade, creating two internal cobbled courtyards, and will benefit from contemporary kitchens and bathrooms and balcony, terrace or patio. The site is close to the DLR and ideal for commuters to the City or Canary Wharf. Prices from £220,000. Call 020 7536 2233.

Southgate, London

The number of central London residents wanting to live in a more calming and relaxing environment without giving up their city job is on the increase, and developments such as Fairview’s The Chase are the perfect solution. The scheme of gated four-bedroom, three-bathroom town houses offers proximity to local amenities, access to the Piccadilly Line and use of the area’s local parks, boating lake and golf course. Prices from £231,000. Call 020 8852 5821.

Beckenham, Kent

Laing Homes is offering purchasers at its Langley Waterside development a fantastic Christmas present: a mortgage fixed for two years at 2.99 per cent on selected plots, through independent financial advisor Johnhugh. The offer will give both existing and potential home owners the confidence to buy in a period of rising interest rates and get onto the property ladder before Christmas. Prices start from £595,000 for apartments. Call 020 8658 7861 for details.

Guildford, Surrey

Linden Homes is offering the option of part-exchanging your home at Queen Elizabeth Park, its prestigious village development. Local agents value your home and an offer is made by Linden Homes within seven days. Once accepted Linden becomes your buyer. The scheme comprises 525 homes plus public open spaces and community, commercial and leisure facilities. There are just 15 three- and four-bedroom houses available, priced from £310,000 to £380,000. Call 01483 562804.

Sutton, Surrey

Visitor levels are still high at CDC2020’s Quartz development near Belmont, where the first phase of two-bedroom apartments has already been reserved. And in the current phase of release there are now just ten homes remaining, ranging in price from £229,950 to £257,500. The developer is offering its Assisted Purchase scheme at the site, offering to arrange a valuation for your existing home and paying up to £5,000 in agent’s fees. Call 020 8722 0391.

Living by water has always been popular, but is generally the preserve of the rich and famous. We’ve all thought, with some irritation, of those smug celebs looking out over the Thames while we buy our lottery ticket; but now we too have the chance to fall asleep to the sound of the river gently lapping at our home. New home developers have seen the demand for quality housing by and overlooking the river, and are constructing excellent new apartments and houses that are not only high in specification, but affordable too.

CALA’s Oak View development has proved so popular with buyers that CALA has launched three show homes there in as many months – and the third is expected to be snapped up as quickly as the other two. The Oak View scheme now consists of attractive four-bedroom traditional semi-detached and detached houses in a variety of sizes in the pretty village of Purley-on-Thames, Berkshire. There are also stunning two-bedroom apartments ranging from 667 to 1,076 sq ft.

The location is a major asset; the development backs on to an area of outstanding natural beauty and is near good schools such as the Long Lane Primary School and Purley CoE Infants School. Good local amenities are also nearby, as are transport links, including a rail service to London Paddington.
Prices for an apartment at Oak View start at £199,950; houses range from £349,000 to £499,950. Contact the sales suite on 0118 945 3171 or selling agent The Romans Group on 0118 943 9400.
Barratt is currently offering Thames Walk in Thamesmead, London, a stunning development of luxurious apartments situated in a great riverside location. The Crescent, a crescent of apartments that sweep around a stunning riverside garden, is the latest release at the development; the one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments there are luxurious, stylish and excellent value for money.

Typical two-bedroom apartments at The Crescent include spacious living/dining room, fully fitted open-plan kitchen, two double bedrooms and an en suite shower room off the master bedroom, as well as a separate fully fitted family bathroom to make the apartment ideal for those who entertain guests or who want to take a lodger. There is also a balcony that runs the width of the living room as well as an allocated parking space. And this superb riverside development stands in impressively landscaped grounds accessed through secure, electronically controlled gates.

Thames Walk is accessed from Warepoint Drive, a few minutes from the confirmed site of the new crossing to Beckton which will put Thamesmead within minutes of Canary Wharf in a few years. The Blackwall Tunnel is less than four miles away and the Woolwich Ferry, which is free of charge, is also nearby, linking to the north bank of the Thames.
Plumstead mainline station, from where London Bridge, Charing Cross and Waterloo stations are approximately a 30-minute journey, is three-quarters of a mile away, and there is a proposal to extend the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) from City Airport to Woolwich Arsenal.
Prices start from £215,995 for a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment. Call 020 8316 5876 for further information.

LCR Developments and FairBriar PLC are together providing residential moorings at Wandsworth’s mixed-use Riverside Quarter development, helping to create a complete waterside community of a standard associated with the world’s leading urban marinas.
According to the Residential Boat Owner Association, some 15,000 people live afloat, along the UK’s rivers, canals and coastline; but residential moorings in metropolitan areas, particularly London, are hard to find. These moorings will form two jetties at Riverside Quarter, offering space for 16 craft on individual 60-year licenses. Houseboats in the range of 18–30 metres can be accommodated. There is also the opportunity to purchase a parking space as well as membership of the exclusive Riverside Quarter leisure club – which boasts an indoor pool.

When complete, Riverside Quarter will provide a new waterside community, including over 400 homes, commercial and leisure space, specialist shops, offices and waterside restaurants. Residential space will comprise one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, duplexes and three-bedroom penthouses, most orientated towards the river. Their design has been cleverly arranged to ensure that a maximum number of apartments have waterside views, enhanced by tiered façades with a high ratio of glazing to wall and incorporating large balconies with glass balustrades.
John Mitchell, sole agent for the sale of the moorings, says, ‘The residential moorings at Riverside Quarter are a virtually unique opportunity in today’s market to be part of a new waterside community where the developers seek to create a contemporary hamlet on water, with best quality modern houseboat design, to complement their outstanding land-based development.’
Guide prices are £6,000–£7,500 per metre. Call 020 7629 6700 for information on the moorings and 020 8877 2000 for information regarding Riverside Quarter itself.

Following on from the success of Abbotts Wharf last year, Telford Homes has released its latest residential scheme – Tequila Wharf. Situated on the banks of the Regent’s Canal, where it flows into the Limehouse Basin beneath Commercial Road, this is an exciting flagship development of 123 one- and two-bedroom apartments with exceptional views along the canal.
Sheena Ellwood, sales and marketing director at Telford Homes, says, ‘We are very excited about this scheme. With Tequila Wharf, Telford Homes is moving on in its knowledge of urban regeneration and is taking its specialist skills and knowledge of the sector to new heights. Tequila Wharf is an exceptional scheme that will provide purchasers with an excellent opportunity to invest in one of the capital’s most up-and-coming areas.’
The architecture of the scheme is contemporary yet fits in perfectly with the eclectic surrounding environment. The building follows the line of the canal, rising from five to ten storeys against the London skyline. A fusion of light sandstone brick, clean pale render and expanses of glazing and steel, the design of this scheme is dynamic yet complements the industrial stock, water and plant life that make up the surrounding locale.

Tequila Wharf is the second major project that Telford Homes has undertaken in the area. Abbotts Wharf, a showcase urban regeneration project comprising 101 stylish one- and two-bedroom apartments, is now 99 per cent sold despite being launched only 12 months ago.
Prices at Tequila Wharf start from £192,500 for a one-bedroom apartment. Call 0870 872 0987 for details.
Antler Homes is now offering Taplow Quay, a development of just eight three-bedroom apartments and one three-bedroom house in the lovely town of Maidenhead. Built on the site of a period villa, Antler Homes has sought to recapture the atmosphere of the time by recreating some of the original features. Most notable are the wrought-iron pillars and balustrades that have been commissioned from a blacksmith in Yorkshire and which form the ornamental balconies and wrap around the terraces of the apartments. In addition, Taplow Quay has stunning views across the river straight out onto the towpath running alongside the Thames.

Karen Lee Brindle, sales director of Antler Homes Southern, comments, ‘At Taplow Quay the objective has always been very much about recapturing the traditional exterior while creating a modern, sleek interior. The atmosphere inside the properties is one of relaxed waterfront living, with views straight out onto the river.
‘It really feels like you’re not in town, yet the development is centrally located in the smart suburb of Taplow.’
Interiors at the development are clean and contemporary. The homes feature large kitchen/breakfast rooms with modern integrated appliances, a spacious reception room, a master bedroom with en suite bathroom and two further large double bedrooms, one of which could be used as a second reception room. The quality of the fittings is high and the emphasis is on luxurious living.
Prices at Taplow Quay start from £435,000. Call 01628 777395 for details or to arrange a viewing.

George Wimpey Central London has launched a flagship mixed-use scheme of apartments and penthouses in Battersea, London, overlooking the Thames and close to the heart of the capital. Located off Lombard Road, the 18-storey building comprises iconic architecture and intelligent design and consists of four crescent shaped glass, aluminium and timber façades, rising up to form a new Thameside landmark surmounted by large private penthouse terraces and communal rooftop gardens.
Falcon Wharf contains 124 impeccably designed one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, including stunning duplexes and a three-bedroom penthouse, with the crescent façades allowing direct and oblique river views for most apartments.

Graeme Dodds, managing director of George Wimpey Central London, comments, ‘Falcon Wharf is a flagship scheme which will form a new architectural landmark beside the Thames at Battersea. Avant garde and forward-looking in terms of architecture and styling, it will be one of the most exciting places to live in London.

‘We build for Londoners and the homes at Falcon Wharf are highly aspirational yet easily within the sphere of everyday buyers. Well located and connected, cleverly designed and fitted to a superb specification complete with parking and lifestyle facilities, Falcon Wharf provides all the essential elements needed for London living at its best.’
Prices at Falcon Wharf start from £245,000. To find out more call selling agent Hamptons on 0870 990 7599.

Chelmsford, Essex

Regents Place by Knights Developments is already making its presence felt in the village of Great Baddow, where the collection of just 12 beautiful family homes has met with great acclaim. The homes are high specification and luxurious and are set in an excellent location close to the shopping, leisure, historic and transport amenities of Chelmsford, from where trains into London Liverpool Street take 35 minutes. For prices call 01376 573737.

Reigate, Surrey

Linden Homes has now launched Silk Quarter, its lovely new development in the sought-after location of Shaw’s Corner, where a part-exchange offer, landscaped gardens and a fantastic design and specification have lead to high interest. The development is a collection of 27 three-storey three- and four-bedroom houses and four two-bedroom apartments in a courtyard setting. Prices from £245,000 for apartments and £370,000 for houses. Call 01737 779199.

Hillingdon, Middlesex

Barratt has opened a new show apartment and sales office at Chantry Park, marking the last opportunity to buy at the development. The two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments now available include furniture, floor coverings, curtains, light fittings and fully fitted integrated appliances in the kitchens. And its location in one of London’s greener boroughs adds to its affordability to make it an extremely popular site. Prices start from £219,995. Call 01895 272 096.

Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire

Five homes have already been reserved at Fairclough’s Oakhill View, where the developer has surveyed potential buyers to see what they look for in a new home. Apparently purchasers are put off by un-turfed rear gardens, light and power left out of garages and half tiled bathrooms and en suites, according to the survey; so Fairclough has built these details in as standard at Oakhill View. Prices from £204,950. call 0845 676 0166.

Clerkenwell, London

Homes with soaring ceiling heights of up to nine feet – nearly a metre taller than the average for new homes in inner London – have been unveiled by Modern City Living at Knights Court, a new scheme on St John’s Square. Knights Court is the transformation of a former interwar office into a mixed-use collection of 13 studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and a penthouse, priced from £260,000. Call 020 7250 1012.

Watford, Hertfordshire

Delph Property Group has 12 apartments to sell off-plan on a forthcoming development in the town centre, located on Whippendell Road. The development comprises a range of highly-specified one- and two-bedroom apartments ranging from £177,500 for one-bedroom or £197,500 for two bedrooms. The scheme will, when complete, include residential and commercial units including a doctors’ surgery and a nursery. Call 020 7907 5555 to find out more.

Sandhurst, Surrey

Charles Church is seeing great success with its Warwick Gardens scheme, due to its winning combination of attractively designed homes, outstanding internal specification and excellent location. Over 60 per cent of the two- and three-bedroom properties have now been sold. Interiors at Warwick Place are contemporary and exteriors have been imaginatively designed, with contrasting detailing and decorative tile hanging adding the finishing touch. Prices start from £192,950. Call 01252 876929.

Newbury Park, Essex

Bellway has now opened both a one-bedroom and a two-bedroom apartment in the King’s Court phase of development at Newbury Central, which is located on the site of the former King George Hospital. The new phase comprises a seven-storey block with some apartments overlooking Canary Wharf. When complete the development will consist of 127 one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom houses and 258 one- and two-bedroom apartments. For prices call 020 8554 9978.

Variety is the spice of life – and Reading gives residents plenty to choose from, both in lifestyle options and newly built homes, finds Johnny Turner.

Reading offers a varied lifestyle to residents of all stripes. It is immensely well-connected, with great road and rail links into London, the West and the North. The local area also has a thriving economy – it acts as a central location for many types of business, notably the telecommunications and computer software industries. And as a hub for sporting events, shopping, nightlife and entertainment, it is unrivalled in the region. Natural beauty is all around – the rivers Thames and Kennet meet here and rolling countryside, including country parks, is within minutes of this busy, buzzy town. The great benefit of living in or near Reading is that you have a choice of the type of life you want to lead: you can be as quiet or as connected as you wish to be – or find a good combination of the two qualities.
Residents of Reading may be university students, young families, businesspeople or older people – the town has drawing power because it has the facilities that people want. Homes in the area also have a knack for providing what local people want – be it modern apartments or traditional family houses. The current selection of newly built homes certainly offers something for everyone.

Westbury Homes is selling a range of two-, three- and four-bedroom homes at its Greenfields development in Burghfield Common. Currently available homes include the two-bedroom Boyton house type and the three-bedroom Sutton and Leicester types. Each of these homes features an en suite shower room to the master bedroom.
Prices currently range from £184,000 to £368,000. The sales office is open daily from 11am to 6pm. Contact Teresa Sutherns-Wyatt or Daryl Arnold on 07720 805 377 or visit westbury-homes.co.uk for more information.

Another development from Westbury that is bringing in the buyers is The Monastery, located off Southcote Road. When complete the scheme will have a range of 32 luxury two-bedroom apartments. Current prices range from £255,000 to £300,000. Contact Jim Nutley on 0118 958 9060 to find out more.

Kennet Heath is an attractive new development with a multitude of home styles – it offers two-bedroom apartments as well as two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom houses. And its location is an extra bonus: it is situated in Thatcham, one of England’s oldest towns, with excellent access to the A4, which in turn puts you in touch with the M4, A34, M40 and M3. Each home has been traditionally constructed and offers a wealth of individual features.

The Burns 2 five-bedroom detached show home is now available to view; this will give you a good idea of the standard of this truly remarkable Redrow development. Currently for sale is the Shelley three-bedroom house type, available from £234,950; other three-bedroom homes are also available. Five-bedroom houses are on the market from £384,950. Call 01635 863026 to get more information. Keep up with the latest on this and other developments online at redrow.co.uk.
Bovis Homes has a good presence in the Reading area, with one development currently available and another coming soon. Chatsworth Park is a brand new Bovis development of two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom homes including town houses. Located in the popular town of Winnersh, Chatsworth Park is very well placed for access to both Reading and Wokingham. Current availability includes two-bedroom homes from £194,950; three-bedroom homes from £229,950; four-bedrooms from £339,950 and five-bedroom homes from £439,950.

Also from Bovis is an upcoming development, Warren Croft, set in the attractive village of Spencers Wood. These two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom homes will be within easy reach of the A33, as well as Reading and Wokingham.
For more information about either of these developments call 01474 879888.

Kenmore Homes announces two ambitious projects in Reading which will yield brilliant results for those in search of a fabulous apartment. McIlroys is the conversion of the upper floors of an Edwardian department store to provide 58 private ownership apartments and eight which are allocated for affordable housing. The very central location in Oxford Road is sure to have buyers scrambling for the remaining flats.
For more information contact Charles Wilkinson at Kenmore’s Winchester office on 01962 867474.
Another centrally located scheme from Kenmore is the Indigo Apartments in Crown Street, which is a combination of the conversion of existing 1970s offices and new build to create 16 new luxury loft-style apartments near Reading’s acclaimed Oracle Centre. The development is within walking distance of all town centre amenities, including the main railway station. The optimisation of floor areas, combined with technological advances, has created a modern, functional home with immense appeal to urban dwellers.
The sales office at Indigo Apartments is open Thursdays to Mondays from 10am to 5pm. Find out more by calling 0118 953 8700.

Bewley Homes is selling a select development of high-specification two-, three- and four-bedroom houses and two-bedroom apartments in the quiet tree-lined residential spot of Parkside Road. Parkside Gardens is only minutes from the lively centre of Reading and is well placed for the railway station and motorway networks.
Those who commute by train into London Paddington will find very frequent services taking only 36 minutes. For international travel, Heathrow Airport is only 30 minutes away via the M4.
Prices currently start at £195,000. Call the sales office, open daily, on 0118 939 1593.

CALA Homes (South) has recently launched two stunning developments in the Reading area – Warren Glade in Woodley and Oak View, which borders Purley-on-Thames.
Warren Glade offers a range of stylish homes which will appeal to a broad spectrum of buyers; there are 31 two- and three-bedroom cottages and town houses as well as ten two-bedroom apartments. The area boasts good schools, a wide choice of local shops, parks and greens, and friendly pubs and restaurants. The development is perfect for young professionals, downsizers and families, and has received a high level of interest from prospective purchasers. Eleven properties have already been sold. The two-bedroom show cottage allows buyers to view the combination of traditional build and contemporary design that makes these homes special.
Prices at Warren Glade start from £199,995. For further information contact Wentworth Estate Agents on 0118 969 2999 or visit the development, which is located off Warren Road in North Woodley.

CALA’s Oak View, meanwhile, is situated in Long Lane. It has proved so popular with buyers that CALA has launched three show homes in as many months – and the third is expected to be snapped up as quickly as the other two.
The Oak View development now consists of attractive four-bedroom traditional semi-detached and detached houses in a variety of sizes. There are also stunning two-bedroom apartments ranging from 667 to 1,076 sq ft.
The location is a major asset; the development backs on to an area of outstanding natural beauty and is near good schools such as the Long Lane Primary School and Purley CoE Infants School. Good local amenities are also nearby, as are transport links, including a rail service to London Paddington.
Prices for an apartment at Oak View start at £199,950; houses range from £349,000 to £499,950. Contact the sales suite on 0118 945 3171 or selling agents The Romans Group on 0118 943 9400.

Crest Nicholson offers an intriguing mix of the fast life and the quiet life at its Montague Park development in Shinfield. This collection of homes is perfect for those who can’t commit to either town or country living; it offers the beauty and peaceful mood of a rustic environment as well as proximity to the working world. This is especially pertinent to today’s buyer, for whom access to an income and a high level of quality of life are both important factors.

Buyers so far have included busy executives, says Graeme Milne, managing director of Crest Nicholson South. ‘Here they have the benefits of an exclusive and spacious home that is on the perimeter of the countryside in semi-rural Shinfield and also just four miles from the heart of thriving Reading,’ he says.
Montague Park features a selection of individually designed two-, three- and four-bedroom home in a peaceful residential area just off Church Lane in Shinfield. Less than a mile and a half from junction 11 of the M4 and only 3.5 miles from Earley station, Shinfield is perfect for commuters who truly want the best of both worlds. Here they can enjoy the dual benefits of commuting quickly and easily to the heart of London, while also living amidst an intriguing mix of old and new – an area where town meets country and ancient buildings and coaching inns are as easy to access as high-tech facilities and shopping options.

Prices at Montague Park start at just £199,000 for a two-bedroom coach house, and from £289,950 for a three-bedroom house. Four-bedroom detached properties start at £355,000. The development is open daily from 10am to 5pm. For more information contact 0118 988 5704.

Hayward Heath, West Sussex

At Bolnore Village, Crest Nicholson’s superb village-style community this year’s final three homes await. When these three are sold, no more will be released until 2005. The four-bedroom Starling house type (pictured) is equally ideal for young professionals or young families. It features a garage as well as a covered parking area. The Starling is priced from £435,000. Apartments are also available. Call 01444 440052.

Hoddeston, Hertfordshire

Boundary Park is a stylish development by Fairview New Homes which offers two-bedroom apartments as well as two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom houses. And Fairview is currently offering a range of incentives to buyers, including five per cent deposit paid, as well as legal fees, search fees and stamp duty paid. Prices range from £177,500 to £495,000. Call the marketing suite on 01992 449039 or visit fairview.co.uk.

Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire

Bryant Homes is selling Buckingham Court, a selection of attractive new homes on London Road. There is a mixture of three-storey three- and four-bedroom styles, many of which offer the feeling of luxurious 'penthouse suite' living on the top floor. These comfortable family homes all have at least one en-suite bathroom plus a separate family bathroom and downstairs cloakroom. Prices start at £205,000. Call 01908 216849.

Basingstoke, Hampshire

Rialto has offered a plethora of innovative incentives at its Victory Hill development, enabling buyers to make that first step onto the property ladder. Some of the fantastic deals include paying commuters’ annual travel costs, the five per cent deposit, money paid towards the mortgage every month for the first two years and guaranteed rental income for investors. Prices at Victory Hill start from £218,000 for two-bedroom apartments. Call 01256 320025.

Ashford, Kent

Fairview offers a range of  incentives at its Greenacres development, including paying annual commuting travel costs. The collection of two-bedroom apartments, and three- and four-bedroom town houses on the eastern side of Ashford is very convenient for trains to Charing Cross, Cannon Street and Victoria, with journey times of approximately one hour twenty minutes. Prices start at £133,500. For more information call 01233 6274143.

Islington, London

Outside space in an urban setting is an immensely popular feature – and the penthouse at the Angelis by Goldcrest Homes has a huge slice of the outdoors, as well as amazing views, a hot tub, sun terrace, bar area and decked entertainment/dining area. Internal living space measures 2,500 sq ft – and floor-to-ceiling windows bring the wonderful views indoors. The penthouse is priced at £1.9 million. Call 020 7731 7679.

Ealing, London

KingsOak offers Ealing Gate, 13 stylish apartments on Uxbridge Road. The ultra-modern architecture features extensive glazing and two stunning penthouses. Ealing Gate is a short walk from the Broadway shopping centre and close to many bars, nightclubs, cinemas and pavement cafés. Ealing Common tube station is also just a stone’s throw away. Apartments start at £289,995; penthouses at £380,000. Call 020 8579 6935.

Hatfield, Hertfordshire
Barratt Homes has launched Comet Square, a striking contemporary development of one- and two-bedroom apartments. All apartments will have digital satellite TV connections, as well as fully fitted designer kitchens with integrated fridge/freezer and washer/dryer. Next door will be a comprehensive sports club, to which every buyer at Comet Square will be given a year’s free membership. Prices start at £165,000. Call 01707 267153.

As the trend towards working from home increases, the demand for houses, already strong from families and upsizers, strengthens. Anna Bowden takes a look at some of the best deals currently on the market.

A great deal of emphasis is placed nowadays on newly-built apartments – and the low-maintenance, high-specification quality of life that they bestow – because of the continuing focus on affordability for first-time buyers. But what about the rest of the home-buying public? In our desperation to talk about the lower end of the market we forget that there are hundreds of thousands of buyers out there looking for bigger homes because they have started a family; want to work from home; need more entertaining space; or need more space for storage. New home developers cater for these buyers too – and in abundance! Here we look at some of the most interesting new houses for sale at the moment.
At Countryside Properties’ exclusive Harvard Grange development in the village of Stock, Essex, a six-bedroom house has just been sold off-plan for a record £1.6 million, believed to be the most ever paid in Essex for a house still under construction! The house is one of a collection of 21 new homes, of which four others have also been sold off-plan.

Chris Crook, managing director of Countryside Properties, comments, ’It is a rarity to find a newly built detached family home of this size in a historical, established village. The fact that we are selling houses there that haven’t even been built yet is testament to the superb location of Harvard Grange and the quality of design and finish that is evident in the show house. The exceptional layout of the houses, which range from 2,500 to 4,215 sq ft, can be seen from the designs and they will offer purchasers a finished product that is unparalleled in this part of the county.’
These outstanding four-, five- and six-bedroom houses incorporate a variety of traditional materials into the bespoke design, including hand finished clay roof tiles, renders in a selection of heritage colours, stock bricks and timber detailing. The traditional finish conceals a luxurious and contemporary interior, which is divided into generously proportioned rooms whose function can be arranged to suit the purchaser’s needs.
Prices for remaining houses at Harvard Grange start from £1,350,000. Call 01277 841935 to arrange a viewing of the show home.

Fairclough Homes has opened three new show homes at its Oakhill View development in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, showcasing the three-, four-, five- and six-bedroom homes available at the development. Larry Crook, sales and marketing director for Fairclough, says, ‘Oakhill View offers a variety of attractive styles, sizes and layouts of homes, all backed by our personal interior design service and with incentives such as five per cent deposit paid or part-exchange available. You will get more for your money at Oakhill View.’
Homes are varied in size and appeal to a number of different buyer types. For families there is a range of large, four-bedroom detached homes featuring kitchen/breakfast room, living room and separate dining room and study. At the top of the range is a collection of superb six-bedroom houses, most of which include separate family rooms as well as reception and dining rooms for more formal entertaining. Prices at Oakhill View start from £204,950 for the three-bedroom, two-bathroom Petworth semi-detached design. To find out more call the sales office, open daily from 10am to 5pm, on 0845 676 0166.

Millgate Homes is currently offering an impressive development of two substantial five-bedroom family houses within the stunning private estate of Burwood Park in Weybridge, Surrey. Offering seclusion and privacy in a tranquil woodland setting, Albury Court boasts excellent transport links, good local schools and a wide variety of shopping and leisure facilities close at hand, making it the ideal location for commuters and their families.
Specification at both houses is high: to give the properties a distinctive yet traditional appearance the developer has used subtle variations in the choice of brickwork, tile colours and elevational treatments, and the properties are both equipped by luxury appliances and sanitary ware.
Only one of these homes now remains, priced at £1.9 million. For further details or to arrange a viewing call selling agent Hamptons on 01932 859933.

KingsOak Thames Valley is seeing great success with its Trevelyan development in Windsor, Berkshire. There are now people living at the development, bringing life and vibrancy to the site and making it even more attractive to buyers.
‘Trevelyan is beginning to mature nicely,’ says sales director Bob Rutherford. ‘Already, over 50 per cent of the homes are sold so any future buyer will have new neighbours immediately and will become part of an established and mature scheme with a real community atmosphere starting to develop.’
Trevelyan is the redevelopment of the former Trevelyan School site at the junction of Imperial Road and Clarence Road and offers an unrivalled setting within a landscaped environment. There are plenty of country walks nearby and for those who want to be active there is provision for cycle parking too. Windsor itself offers everything the resident could wish for, from cobbled streets and quaint tearooms to excellent shopping facilities. Windsor Great Park is nearby, offering the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors, and local education is of the Eton variety.
Prices at Trevelyan start from £358,995 for a three-bedroom apartment. Call 01628 629922 to find out more.

Antler Homes’ West Hill Gate in Putney, west London, is a distinctive scheme of three four-bedroom detached family houses featuring private landscaped front and rear gardens, a traditional red brick façade and curved, rendered bay windows. And inside, belying the traditional exterior, is a host of fantastic high-specification and high-tech options, including a full home technology system with a cabling infrastructure that allows for computer and telephone networking as well as the ultimate in entertainment systems.
Karen Lee-Brindle, sales director of Antler Homes Southern, comments, ‘There is an increasing demand for property that has the technology to support our modern lifestyles. In fewer than three years it is estimated that over five million people will work from home. Coupled with the desire to have the very latest in home entertainment, this means that house builders have to work harder to keep up with the technological advancements of audio-visual and computer equipment. At West Hill Gate we are offering purchasers the opportunity to move into homes that already have these advanced capabilities in place.’
The homes offer high ceilings throughout, built-in plasma screen to the sitting room and a fully fitted contemporary kitchen/dining room among other features. Prices at West Hill Gate start from £1.1 million. For further information call the sales office on 020 8874 3050.

Octagon has now released Chapel Square for sale, a collection of large five-bedroom houses within its Richmond Lock development in south-west London. Tony Taylor, Octagon senior designer, says, ‘For the new homes at Richmond Lock, we have focused on the Victorian Gothic revival period, much in evidence in the big residential roads in the town centre.’
With a newly restored chapel as its focal point, the aptly named Chapel Square comprises 13 houses, each boasting over 3,000 sq ft of living space, ideal for growing Richmond families. Ground floors have been left open-plan and feature spacious kitchens with adjoining eating and sitting areas. There are separate utility rooms which house the built-in washers, dryers and valuable extra storage space for household appliances.
On the upper floors there is a large drawing room with limestone fireplace, a media/TV room, four double bedrooms (two of which have en suites), three family bathrooms and a number of bespoke built-in wardrobes.
Prices at Chapel Square start from £1.95 million. Call 020 8744 4320 to find out more or visit the show home, open daily between 10am and 5pm.

Redrow Homes is now selling De Montford Park in Ashford, Kent, a lovely collection of high-specification homes, including the three-bedroom Kendrick house type, boasting flexible living accommodation. ‘The beauty of three-storey living is that it offers virtually self contained areas that can be reserved for visiting friends and family, teenage children or an elderly parent,’ says Caron Hutchins, field sales manager for Redrow Homes (Eastern). ‘In homes such as the Kendrick, where the master bedroom and its en suite are on the first floor, Mum and Dad can enjoy the peace and quiet at this level leaving the remaining bedrooms and bathroom above for their children.’
Priced from £218,000, the Kendrick’s ground floor accommodation combines the kitchen/breakfast area with a family room and also boasts a separate dining room, a utility room and a cloakroom. The spacious lounge and master bedroom, which also offers fitted wardrobes, are located on the first floor and three further bedrooms, one with en suite, and a family bathroom make up the second floor.
Ms Hutchins adds, ‘It’s not just families that benefit from this type of living. With the family room attached to the kitchen/breakfast room, young professionals may like to use this to eat their meals, leaving the dining room free for use as a study, while spare bedrooms could find an alternative as a gym or dressing room.’
To arrange a viewing at De Montford Park call the marketing suite on 01233 612444.

A diverse mix of rural delights and cosmopolitan chic, Middlesex and north London are proving to be a tempting proposition for today’s purchasers. Anna Bowden looks at the developments making their mark.

Middlesex is a county known for many things, among them cricket, charm, industry and suburban ease. Stretching from the River Thames, west of London at Teddington, to directly north of the capital at Enfield, you will find all sorts of environments within the borders, with a multitude of benefits to the home buyer. Enfield is a lovely location steeped in Victorian charm and it is also a very modern, highly convenient place to live. With its varied mix of shopping possibilities, famously good schools, great transport connections and thousands of acres of green space, it is easy to see why it’s such a sought-after residential area.

North London too has really taken off in the past 15 or so years. For house hunters looking to buy in the area the types of properties and settings are overwhelming. From family homes in the suburbs to swanky apartments in the hub of trendy ‘cappuccino land’, buyers looking for a brand new home never had it so good. The gentrification of Islington started back in the mid-1980s when the chardonnay-swilling set would pose outside one of the many coffee shops. Although the area is dominated by Georgian and Victorian architecture, the demand to live there has led to an influx of new build that can display the necessary ‘wow’ factor to complement the surroundings. There are several excellent developments in both north London and Middlesex.

Fairclough Homes is now offering Viceroy Court in Northwood, a lovely development of 16 spacious one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and eight four-bedroom town houses priced from £250,000. All apartments come with a parking space and the town houses have their own private garage.
All homes at Viceroy Court are high specification, with en suites to the master bedrooms, fully fitted bathrooms and kitchens and, in the town houses, separate living and dining rooms. Prices for the town houses, which range in size from 2,107 to 2,249 sq ft, start from £660,000. For further information call 0845 676 0164.
Laing Homes North Thames has now released a new phase of homes plus a show home at its Brockley Park development in Stanmore, Middlesex, following the success of its off-plan releases. Brockley Park is located within one of Stanmore’s more exclusive areas, with far reaching views over green belt countryside and six acres of adjacent open space, which is being landscaped by Laing with a pond and will soon be handed over for general public enjoyment.

Homes at Brockley Park are being built in a wide range of detached house types and have all been designed to offer maximum use of living space as well as to fit in with the local vernacular. The new show home is an example of the four-bedroom Heather house type; this comes with two extra rooms and an integral garage.
Buyers at Brockley Park can choose to upgrade the specification of their new home to include state-of-the-art extras such as integrated audio systems, with ceiling speaker, wall control panels and security cameras. However, all kitchens come fully fitted with Siemens or Bosch appliances, granite worktops and pre-wiring for the latest communications and home cinema systems.
Prices at Brockley Park start from £615,000 for a four-bedroom detached Bergamot house type with bonus room and rise to £1.1million for a six-bedroom Fern house type. To find out more call 0870 240 4563 or visit laing-homes.co.uk.

Banner Homes is offering three new developments in Middlesex: Compass Place in Edgware, Marsh Point in Pinner and Brooks Hall in Harrow Weald.
The former is a stunning gated collection of 18 two-bedroom apartments with private basement parking. Conveniently located in the sought-after and affluent London suburb of Edgware, the development occupies a prominent position off the Edgware Way, opposite Edgwarebury Park.
The apartments at Compass Point provide unique, beautifully designed accommodation which makes optimum use of available space. Each apartment reflects a high quality of build and finish and a superior interior specification.
Edgware itself is a thriving community boasting an excellent range of local amenities, including The Broadwalk shopping centre, home of many high street chains. Brent Cross shopping centre is also close by and the area benefits from a vast array of excellent restaurants, offering everything from Middle Eastern to Mediterranean cuisine.
Transport-wise the area is very well connected by underground, bus and motorway links. The nearby A5 connects to the City, the A41 to the M1 and Canons Park station is on the Jubilee Line.
Prices at Compass Place range from £325,000 to £435,000. Call Banner Homes on 020 8958 0739 or selling agent Preston Bennett on 020 8954 8626.

Marsh Point, also by Banner Homes, is a development of 18 high-specification apartments currently under construction on Marsh Road, priced from £375,000 to £445,000. A show home, open daily from 10am to 5pm, has recently opened at the development. To find out more or to register interest call sales advisors Sandie Anderson or Jenny Brahams on 020 8966 9129.
The third banner Homes development, Brooks Hall, is a luxury collection of 14 two- and three-bedroom apartments set in mature grounds on Brooks Hill. Just one plot now remains, priced at £985,000. Call selling agent Preston Bennett on 020 8954 8628 to find out more.
Barratt is currently offering several developments in north London, including Burleigh Place in Southgate, Fallow Gate in Finchley, The Chambers in Friern Barnet and two in Harrow: The Grange and Byron Court.
Burleigh Place is a scheme of two-, three-, four- and six-bedroom houses ranging in price from £280,000 to £525,000, superbly designed to offer a high specification for today's modern family lifestyle, including a contemporary fitted kitchen with integrated stainless steel oven, hob and hood, plus a fridge/freezer and washer/dryer; modern family bathrooms; en suites to many master bedrooms; downstairs cloakroom; feature fireplace to the lounge; gas central heating and double glazing and private or garage parking.

Southgate itself is a sought-after location for those looking to escape the bustle of central London without sacrificing their leisure time to long hours of commuting. The town centre has developed into a superb mix of speciality and local shops alongside a broad choice of restaurants, bistros and bars and leisure is well catered, for with the famed Trent Country Park. The latter offers huge open spaces, wooded walks, fishing ponds, picnic and BBQ areas as well as a public golf course. For sports enthusiasts the Bourneside Sports Centre offers a wide range of facilities. Education-wise both state and independent schools are available along with a campus of the Middlesex University.
Burleigh Place is located just 30 minutes on the Piccadilly Line from King's Cross/St Pancras. Call 020 8361 7276 to find out more.
Situated close to the North Circular on Finchley High Road, Fallow Gate offers a superb collection of stylish one- and two-bedroom apartments. Designed for the modern lifestyle, homes boast contemporary kitchens with stainless steel oven, hob and hood, en suite shower rooms to most master bedrooms, private parking and video/audio entry system. Prices range from £192,000 to £284,000. Call 020 8371 6809 to arrange a viewing.

Barratt is bringing a unique collection of one- and two-bedroom apartments to the heart of Friern Barnet with The Chambers, the conversion of the Grade II listed town hall and old fire station. The homes will retain many of the original features together with a contemporary specification – including designer fully fitted kitchens, en suites and private gated parking – creating the ideal combination of traditional but stylish living.

With the North Circular under a mile away, there is easy access to most of north and central London. Here you will find some of the most diverse shopping, entertainment, restaurants and nightlife in the world. Transport links are good: King's Cross mainline station is only fifteen minutes away by train from New Southgate station. Call 020 8368 5781.

George Wimpey (West London) now has two new developments available in Middlesex: The Grove and Heathside. The former is a selection of 33 one- and two-bedroom apartments in Hayes. All homes at The Grove include good sized lounge, diner with offset kitchen, double master bedroom, bathroom and storage space off the hallway. The two-bedroom apartments also boast en suite shower room to the master bedroom. Prices at The Grove start from £194,995. Call 020 8532 7810 to arrange a viewing.
Heathside will, when complete, comprise one- and two-bedroom apartments as well as six two-, three- and four-bedroom terraced houses and town houses, with prices starting from £249,995 for the two-bedroom terraced Bolney house type. And as an added bonus purchasers at Heathside can, depending on stage of construction, personalise their new home by choosing from a range of options. To ensure priority potential buyers should subscribe to the George Wimpey mailing list by calling the sales office on 01256 745203.

Linden Homes has one plot remaining at Suede, its development in Hillingdon Heath, Middlesex. The two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment overlooks the communal grounds at the rear of the development and is offered (subject to terms and conditions) with stamp duty, five per cent deposit and legal fees all paid, a saving of around £14,000.
For further information call Kay Floyd at Linden Homes Chiltern on 01895 827447.

Ewell Village, Surrey

Try Homes is now offering eight town houses at Austyns Place. Inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement, these attractive new homes combine the aesthetics of the local vernacular style with the conveniences necessary for the modern lifestyle. The houses boast almost 2,000 sq ft of living accommodation, including breakfast room/kitchen, separate dining room, conservatory and en suite shower room to the master bedroom. Prices start from £645,000. Call 020 8786 9218.

Tubridge Wells, Kent

Millwood Designer Homes has appointed selling agent QCB as selling agent for its exclusive and luxurious new Forest Ridge development. Located in an enviable position to the south of Tunbridge Wells, Forest Ridge consists of just two five-bedroom detached Yeoman-style homes. Early purchasers can take advantage of Millwood’s celebrated Design and Build package. Contadct QCB on 01892 516611 or visit Millwood’s website, mdh.uk.com.

Abbey Wood, London

Barratt is currently developing The Crescent at Thames Walk, near its extremely successful and now sold-out development of apartments near Plumstead mainline station, Priory Place. The Crescent is a new riverside development in nearby Thamesmead, bringing stylish waterfront living well within the reach of first-time buyers in an up-and-coming area of the capital. Prices at The Crescent start from £215,995. Call 020 8316 5876.

Borehamwood, Hertfordshire

George Wimpey has now released for sale a stunning show home with a professionally designed interior scheme at its Phoenix development off Melrose Avenue. The three-bedroom, three-storey Aztec home, complete with garage, carpets, curtains, light fittings and furnishings as well as a fully landscaped rear garden, is priced at £322,995. For further details visit the sales office, open daily from 11am to 5pm, or telephone 020 8207 5821.

Gillingham, Kent

Sales are now well underway at CDC2020’s new development in Grange Road, a collection of 137 homes in total ranging from apartments to town houses. The first release of two-bedroom apartments has now been reserved and a selection of three- and four-bedroom homes has been released, priced from £219,950. All homes feature designer fully fitted kitchens and modern, contemporary bathrooms. Call 0845 676 0219.

Richmond, Surrey

Gleeson Homes’ Railway Cottages development is a collection of just eight new homes for those who value traditional style as highly as modern convenience. And as an added bonus the homes are situated near North Sheen mainline station, from where trains into London Waterloo take approximately 20 minutes. Four homes now remain for sale, priced from £340,000. Call selling agent Featherstone Leigh on 020 8948 4044 for details.

Wimbledon, London

Fifty per cent of the properties have now been sold at Goldcrest Homes’ Lanherne Gate, a collection of 30 spacious, elegant apartments and six stunning penthouses located in one of the most sought after areas in south London. Within the development there is a fully equipped gym available only to residents and a private library, among other facilities. Prices start from £365,000 for a one-bedroom apartment. Call 020 8947 0940.

Weybridge, Surrey

Roxbury Homes has teamed up with concierge service Quintessentially at its St George’s Court development, offering residents easy and secure living. This scheme of 11 two- and three-bedroom apartments and two three-bedroom penthouses is adjacent to the private St George’s Hill estate and is almost ready for occupancy. Each home offers a private balcony or terrace in addition to elegantly landscaped grounds. Prices from £675,000. Call FPDSavills on 01483 796806.