Today’s apartments combine clever space with high style. Johnny Turner looks at some of the finest examples of newly built apartments currently on the market.
A high-quality apartment is a sought-after commodity to today’s buyer, whether they are a first-time buyer or looking to trade up or downsize. Developers are providing an excellent selection of apartments in a variety of locations throughout London and the South East.
Starting in Maidenhead, Banner Homes offers The NEXUS, a select development of just 14 two-bedroom apartments in a contemporary urban style. Sure to appeal to first-time buyers as well as those who are trading up to their next property, these homes are located just off tree-lined Luke’s Road, only two miles from the M4.
The town centre location is ideal for young home owners who want to be near Maidenhead’s entertainment and nightlife. And with its nearby railway station, a night out in London is also a very viable proposition.
Each apartment will be extremely spacious, with all but four of the homes boasting en suite bathrooms to the master bedrooms. Kitchens are professionally designed and include washer/dryer. Security is also top-notch, with a gated entrance, CCTV and entryphone system.
The newly opened on-site show home is open daily from 9am to 5pm, and off-plan buyers can reserve their chosen plot now at the sales office. Prices range from £215,000 to £265,000. Call 01628 536229.
Two-bedroom apartments are by far the most popular type of new apartment being built in London, according to new research by independent analyst London Residential Research (LRR). Currently 62 per cent of all new apartments built in or around London have two bedrooms, with studio and one-bedroom apartments accounting for only 13 per cent. Crest Nicholson points out, meanwhile, that the term ‘two-bedroom’ can apply to a wide range of properties.
‘There is certainly a huge difference between many of the properties marketed with a “two-bedroom” tag,’ says Kevin Davies, managing director of Crest Nicholson (London). ‘Whereas purchasers know what to expect when they think of a one- or three-bedroom property, a two-bedroom apartment can mean anything from a small pied-a-terre or investment property to a very large and luxurious main residence.’
Furlong Homes has just opened a show apartment at its contemporary development The Edge in Walthamstow. This bespoke development features two-bedroom apartments, three-bedroom houses and two-bedroom maisonettes in a quiet cul-de-sac location. The Edge boasts a range of excellent-value, quality homes to suit everyone from first-time buyers to growing families who are looking to move up the property ladder.
The homes have all been designed and finished in a smart, up-to-the-minute style and have the added advantage of low running costs and minimal maintenance. The design of the properties is fresh, spacious and contemporary, with emphasis placed on practical living space such as well-proportioned kitchen with living/dining areas. The fitted kitchens boast laminate worktops with tiled splashbacks, stainless steel ovens and gas hob, integrated appliances, ceramic tiles and downlighters. Bathrooms and en-suites are all equipped with stylish white sanitary ware with chrome fittings and taps, ceramic tiles and downlighters.
The highly sought-after homes are located close to the town centre and overlook the wide open spaces of the famous Walthamstow Reservoirs. The location is an oasis in a busy community which bustles with shops, restaurants, bars, schools, leisure facilities and all-important rail links into the centre of London.
Prices start from £184,995. Contact 020 8531 8830 or visit furlonghomes.co.uk.
Crest Nicholson is currently marketing a range of larger two-bedroom apartments which will appeal to owner-occupiers. At Viewpoint on Highbury Grove in London N5, there are a total of 18 two-bedroom apartments ranging in size from a spacious 886 sq ft to an amazing 1,295 sq ft. The apartments have a variety of layouts; however, all benefit from access to at least one private balcony or terrace.
Each apartment at Viewpoint has a spacious reception room, and many of them are dual-aspect. Open-plan kitchens have ceramic flooring, sleek fitted units with feature glass sections and a comprehensive range of integrated appliances including microwave, fridge/freezer, dishwasher and washer/dryer. All master bedrooms have built-in wardrobes and an en suite shower room. A spacious guest bathroom and separate bathroom add to the convenience and feeling of spaciousness.
The 29 luxury one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments overlook the 28 acres of Highbury Fields, providing one of the most sought-after views in the capital. The development has secure underground parking and is only a ten-minute walk from Highbury & Islington station, with its Victoria Line connection and its quick WAGN link to Moorgate for the City of London.
Prices for the remaining two-bedroom apartments at Viewpoint range from £430,000 to £599,950. Contact the marketing suite on 0870 300 6129.
Also from Crest Nicholson, Brookshill Gate in Harrow, Middlesex is a development of 18 luxury two-bedroom apartments in a newly built three-storey red brick building. The modern-day interpretation of a Victorian mansion block is set in mature landscaped grounds with gated access and parking facilities.
Each apartment offers approximately 900 sq ft of living accommodation designed for modern living. The spacious reception room has defined living and dining areas and incorporates large bay windows which provide an abundance of natural light. Large French doors open from the reception room to an outside patio or balcony, helping residents make the most of the mature landscaped grounds.
The kitchen/breakfast rooms are fully fitted with high-quality bespoke units and granite worktops, a range of stainless steel integrated appliances and ceramic flooring. The luxurious master bedroom suite has built-in wardrobes and an en suite shower room. The spacious guest bedroom can comfortably accommodate a double bed, and there is a luxury guest bathroom which, like the en suite shower room, is fitted with high-end Villeroy & Boch suites, Hansgrohe taps, heated towel rails and ceramic flooring.
Prices at Brookshill Gate start at £345,000. Call the marketing suite on 0870 300 0820.
Calverley Heights, located in one of Kent’s most popular towns, is a scheme from Whiteoak Developments which offers stylish homes in a perfect location. Set in secluded grounds, Calverley Heights is located close to picturesque Dunorlan Park in the heart of Royal Tunbridge Wells and represents stylish living at its best.
This exceptionally well designed development consists of 12 two-bedroom apartments, each with an en suite shower room and private balcony or patio, and two duplex penthouses, each with three bedrooms and a large decked roof terrace. All apartments will benefit from underground parking with a lift from the parking level to the second floor, as well as comprehensively landscaped gardens. The kitchens are fitted with units from the latest Leicht range and come with numerous integrated appliances.
Selling agents Brand New Homes UK have reported a great level of interest in Calverley Heights. Sales manager Zoe Lund comments, ‘The response for the development has been excellent. The development itself is set only a short distance from the town with a wide range of leisure and shopping facilities within easy reach. With the high specification of the development itself and the excellent travel links into London it is proving very popular with home buyers looking for something special in a great location.’
The show apartment and sales office is open Thursdays to Mondays from 10am to 5pm. Contact the sales consultant on 01892 515582 or call Brand New Homes UK on 0870 7778 726 for more details.
Also in Kent, Sunley Estates has chosen a new scheme to pioneer a revolutionary, environmentally-friendly concept: the glass roof. Clarendon Heights comprises just 17 one- and two-bedroom apartments in a conservation area in sought-after Sevenoaks. The apartments form part of two architecturally impressive new multi-level apartment buildings called The Pinnacle and The Glass House, both of which are built into a natural slope under the unusual grass-effect roof. The former Westways site will incorporated low-maintenance sedum plants to create a living, natural green slope that changes with the seasons.
There are private terraces or balconies, and all apartments are open-plan with luxury specification. Both of the contemporary buildings have access to secure underground parking.
Pam Reardon, sales and marketing director of Sunley Estates, says, ‘Not only is the roof at Clarendon Heights aesthetically pleasing, but it will benefit those who live beneath it in terms of slowing thermal energy loss, reducing noise and building maintenance.’
Prices at The Pinnacle range from £195,500 for a one-bedroom apartment to £420,000 for a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment; at The Glass House prices range from £213,000 for a one-bedroom apartment to £370,000 for two bedrooms.
For further information call the sales office, open Thursdays to Mondays from 10am to 5pm, on 01732 464750, or visit sunley.co.uk.
Weston Homes offers chic London living at its Anderson Heights development, located in Norbury, south London. The seven remaining duplexes at this converted office block offer exceptional space and value.
The duplex apartments are in excess of 1,200 sq ft, with many offering terraces that afford expansive views across south London and Crystal Palace. There are two basic choices of layout, which allows the buyer to decide whether to have the living, dining and kitchen area on the lower or the upper floor. The specification is excellent: more of the type you would expect in a much more expensive very central London apartment.
Anderson Heights has excellent transport links. A short walk to Norbury station will give you a connection to either London Bridge or Victoria that takes only 25 minutes. There is also a good selection of dining and drinking establishments in the local area, as well as sporting activities such as tennis and golf.
Duplexes start from just £275,000. Call the marketing suite, open daily from 10am to 5pm, on 020 8679 0666.
Bovis Homes’ stylish Cumberland Rise, part of the ambitious community of Chafford Hundred in the Thames Gateway in Essex, has several bright ideas for getting first-time buyers on to the elusive property ladder. The builder is not only offering to pay the five per cent deposit but is also throwing in stamp duty, legal fees and complimentary fitted carpets. This could translate into a saving of over £12,000 on a two-bedroom apartment priced from £169,950.
A fantastic new two-bedroom show apartment has just been opened so prospective buyers can get a good look at the excellent value for money we’re talking about.
Cumberland Rise offers a wide variety of homes, which leads to a true community feel. Just a short drive from the local railway station, the development is great for commuters: the connection to London Fenchurch Street takes approximately 35 minutes. And for motorists, these homes are just five minutes from the M25.
The two apartment blocks, Cumberland Heights and Frobisher Heights, offer 24 two-bedroom properties. The show apartment is open for viewing from 10am to 5pm Thursdays to Mondays. For more information call 0845 230 3331.
Telford Homes has shown itself to be extremely adept at providing apartment schemes that speak to today’s buyer, primarily investors. And its latest scheme, Tequila Wharf, was launched last month to buyers in both London and Dublin to great acclaim and not a little interest.
‘Telford Homes is excited about this scheme,’ remarks Sheena Ellwood, the developer’s sales and marketing director. ‘With Tequila Wharf Telford Homes is moving on in its programme of urban regeneration and is taking its specialist skills and knowledge of the sector to new heights.’
The canal-side structure rises from five to ten storeys in a fusion of light sandstone brick, clean pale render and expanses of glazing and steel. The result is a clever complement to the surrounding water, industrial buildings and plant life.
All apartments at Tequila Wharf feature the latest in fitted kitchens by Urban Myth, with fully integrated stainless steel appliances from Smeg. Bathrooms have elegant white sanitary ware finished with chrome taps and fittings by Grohe. The one- and two-bedroom apartments and the luxurious penthouses with large terrace are ideal low-maintenance residences for today¹s busy professional, and the location right between the City and Canary Wharf means the commute is all but cut out.
Prices start from £192,500 for a one-bedroom apartment and from £250,000 for a two-bedroom apartment. Penthouses are priced from £370,000. Find out more online at telfordhomes.plc.uk or call 0870 872 0987.
Looking to the future, Laing Homes announces an upcoming apartment scheme called Evolution, located near Burgess Park in Peckham. It will offer purchasers over 100 homes, including one- and two-bedroom apartments and three-bedroom town houses.
Evolution is less than half a mile from Laing’s last success in Peckham, the already sold-out Renaissance. Construction on Evolution has commenced and the homes are set to go on sale in January. Call Laing Homes on 0800 622298.