New Homes - April, 2005

Essex, with its lovely landscapes, thriving towns and proximity to London, is very popular with buyers. Johnny Turner looks at the high-quality new homes currently available in this county.

There is a lot to like in the county of Essex, from lush landscapes to easy commuting. And it becomes even more attractive when you factor in the high quality newly built homes on offer.
Bryant Homes offers the opportunity to live in a traditional English village with its Orsett Village development, set in a character-filled village location dating back over 800 years. Bryant is selling a superb selection of one- to five-bedroom homes, including apartments, town houses and detached properties.

The two-bedroom Tutbury, ideal for the first-time buyer, features an open plan lounge and kitchen, fitted wardrobes to one of the bedrooms and a family bathroom. For growing families the five-bedroom, three-storey Worlingham home offers spacious accommodation and an imaginatively designed layout.
The local area is drenched in character. A mill house, thatched cottages, local pub, ancient church and even a windmill are dotted throughout the village. Orsett Hall Hotel offers bistro dining and beautiful gardens, and there is a well equipped health club as well as Orsett’s own golf club nearby.
The village has its own primary school, while surrounding towns offer a selection of secondaries. Connections are convenient, with the M25 just five miles away, and the A13 and M11 also nearby. Commuting by tube into London is easy; the journey is just 25 minutes from Upminster station. The train from Grays will deliver you to Fenchurch Street in under 40 minutes.
The homes are currently being marketed by Savills, Chelmsford, and are priced from £154,950 to £624,950. If you would like further information regarding Orsett Village, phone the marketing suite on 01375 892278 or contact Savills New Homes department on 01245 269311.

Bovis Homes is currently offering its full range of properties throughout Essex, including Maltings Court in Witham, with its selection of two-bedroom coach houses ideal for first-time buyers, and Cumberland Rise in the established Chafford Hundred area, with its stylish two-bedroom apartments. Meanwhile, the brand new Thaxted Rise development in Saffron Walden also offers two-bedroom apartments.
The Anchorage in Wivenhoe is a further Bovis development, with the innovative Bovis specialty, the sought-after room-in-the-roof. These lovely town houses are set in a beautiful and tranquil riverside location, and purchasers will find large family homes with flexible space that can adapt to many purposes.
Other town houses from Bovis with the room-in-the-roof feature can be found at The Crescent in Braintree, while further town houses are on sale at Woodland Vale in buzzing, well-connected Colchester.
The wide selection of homes in the county is priced from as low as £127,500. For further information call 0845 230 2111 or visit bovishomes.co.uk.

Westbury Homes offers versatile homes in a rural area with its Oaklands Court development, located just a short walk from Witham town centre. The picturesque market town is located midway between Colchester and Chelmsford and offers a plethora of local amenities, sports facilities and open spaces, not to mention excellent shopping.
Among the properties available at Oaklands Court is the three-bedroom Leicester, priced from £243,995. This three-storey property’s flexible space makes it ideal for a family’s ever-changing needs. And its unique secluded third-floor master bedroom is the most eye-catching attribute of a truly interesting concept in house building. The luxurious master suite boasts a series of fitted wardrobes, dressing area and en suite facilities.
The remaining Leicester homes available at Oaklands Court also benefit from a good position on the edge of the development, providing an extra unique feel to the properties. And Westbury is also offering to pay £500 per month towards the mortgage of the house for two years – or a cash alternative – on completions before the end of February, so hurry! Find out more by calling 01376 502305 or visiting westbury-homes.co.uk.

The British obsession with home improvement is as strong as ever. And with competition for truly unique homes tougher than ever, many are opting to take the DIY craze to a new level – by building or converting their homes themselves in the first place!
City & Country Group currently offers a truly amazing opportunity for those who want a singular property in lush Essex countryside. Little Baddow is a former farm located seven miles outside Chelmsford, and comprises two charming Grade II listed timber-framed barns and several brick buildings arranged around two farmyards in a layout typical of the Victorian farm. These buildings, along with planning permission, are now available to a buyer who wishes to convert them into two spectacular family homes.

‘In order to achieve their ideal home and living environment, some purchasers prefer to create their dream property themselves, often by converting former industrial buildings to ensure that it entirely fulfils their criteria,’ explains Tim Sargeant, chief executive of City & Country Group.’
Entered through a gravel drive, the first farmyard (plot one) comprises five buildings, in the middle of which is a single-storey barn dating back to the late 17th century. There is also a 19th-century former stable block, as well as other buildings. There is already permission for this farmyard to be converted into a magnificent three-storey, six-bedroom home offering 7,650 sq ft of accommodation. This includes an outstanding dining hall of grand proportions, a one-bedroom ‘granny annexe’ or office, a games room, garage, stable and plenty of storage.
The second farmyard (plot two) comprises four buildings, including a long single-storey barn with a dwarf wall, timber framing, weatherboarding and five bays. Planning permission has been approved for the conversion of this farmyard into a four-bedroom barn conversion with 3,450 sq ft of accommodation, including garaging and storage.
Plot one is priced in the region of £800,000, while plot two is approximately £650,000. There is a further Old Stables Barn, whose conversion is subject to planning permission, priced at around £400,000. For sales enquiries contact City & Country Group on 01279 818900 or FPDSavills on 01245 269311.

In Stanway, Colchester, Persimmon Homes has unveiled three stunning show homes at its Heathlands development – the Horkesley, Lexden and Bergholt house types. ‘Each show home has its own individual look,’ comments Adrian Garrood, sales manager of Persimmon’s Essex region, ‘demonstrating the versatility of our properties.’ The developers are anticipating buyers from across the spectrum, he says, ‘including families, couples, single professionals and senior citizens.’
For a limited time Persimmon is offering part-exchange, stamp duty paid or carpets included on selected plots.

Heathlands is en exceptional new development in one of the most desirable residential areas of Colchester. It comprises 200 units of two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom properties, from apartments to terraces to three-storey town houses. Selected homes have integrated conservatories and garages. Timber cladding and attractive brick fascias sit side-by-side with attractive rendered exteriors – and these traditional Essex-style homes border an impressive expanse of green open space which forms the central feature of the development.
There is easy access to Colchester town centre, and the A12 and the Marks Tey mainline rail station make commuting into London easy.
Prices start from £187,950 for a three-storey town houses; prices for the apartments will be released later in the year. Call the marketing suite on 01206 331910.

In St Osyth, near Clacton-on-Sea, Furlong Homes has introduced a show home at The Meadows, a select development of 28 two-, three- and four-bedroom contemporary properties. The Meadows is marked by high-quality workmanship and design, and is an opportunity to combine rural tranquillity with coastal living. Homes have been designed to maximise space and light and boast flexible accommodation.
Prices start from £169,950. Contact the sales office on 01255 821516 or visit furlonghomes.co.uk.
Crest Nicholson offers Academy Fields, a select development of two-bedroom apartments and two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom houses in Romford.

With excellent road and rail connections, the market town of Romford is an ideal spot for commuters. Close to the town centre, Academy Fields is within easy reach of local entertainment venues, some first-class sports and leisure facilities and a good selection of shops, including nearby Lakeside and Bluewater, each less than 15 miles away.
The surrounding countryside of the Thames Estuary boasts attractive villages and country parks, and this balances well with the cosmopolitan atmosphere enjoyed by the homes at Academy Fields.
Current availability includes two-bedroom apartments in Scholars Court, priced from £205,000 to £215,000. Houses include three-bedroom semi-detached, priced from £295,000, four-bedroom semi-detached houses from £325,000 and five-bedroom detached homes, priced from £499,950. Call the development on 0870 755 1624.

Chingford is a much-desired residential environment located right on the border between London and Essex, and here Connaught Place by Redrow Homes offers its last 14 apartments after 80 per cent of the homes have been sold off-plan.
Redrow have just introduced a carpeted view homes, giving prospective buyers a chance to see for themselves the high specification inside the homes, not to mention the desirability of its location, just a short walk from the town centre and on the fringe of beautiful Epping Forest, one of London’s finest open green spaces.
There is allocated parking for every property at Connaught Place, and most apartments have double doors onto a generous-sized balcony or patio with space for a table and chairs. Many of the two-bedroom designs include an en suite to the master bedroom and the development benefits from an audio entry system for security. Four of the remaining apartments are being built to Lifetime Homes standards, making them safer and more accessible for older people and wheelchair users.
One-bedroom apartments are priced from £160,950, while two-bedroom designs start at £193,950. Visit the new view home and sales office, open daily from 1-am to 5.30pm, or call 020 8527 6515.
Also in Chingford, Higgins Homes has created Vista, a stylish collection of 19 two-bedroom apartments, duplexes and penthouses, as well as five three-bedroom designer houses. Homes will range in size from 819 to 1,347 sq ft.

Vista, set in the North Chingford area, offers the best of town and country: seclusion from mainstream life for those who require it and proximity to the bright lights of London via fast and efficient transport links.
The building is architecturally elegant. The two separate buildings have balconies as well as Juliet balconies, plus French windows, dormer windows to the third-floor apartments and traditional red brick elevations. The designer houses are similar in appearance, incorporating tile-hung elevations, a garage and off-street parking.
Prices at Vista start from £325,000 for apartments and £480,000 for designer houses. Call the marketing suite on 020 8524 1433 or visit higginshomes.co.uk.

Bellway’s current contributions to the choice of homes in Essex include The Grange in Chadwell Heath, where two house types have so far been released; Sovereign Court in South Woodford, which appeals to a range of buyers; and Oakhurst Place in Hainault, on the site of the former Oak pub and facing Hainault Forest Country Park.
Two-bedroom apartments at The Grange currently start at £184,000, while Sovereign Court boasts prices for two-bedroom apartments from £225,000. For both of these developments Bellway is offering a helping hand to first-time buyers in the form of an initiative called Opening Doors. This offers purchasers the opportunity to initially acquire 75 per cent of a new homes, with the option to purchase the balance at any point the future.
This means first-time buyers struggling to get their foot on the first rung of the property ladder need only find a mortgage for three-quarters of the asking price. ‘This gives people the chance to own their own home whilst taking away some of the difficulties involved in obtaining a large enough mortgage,’ says Karen Coulson, Bellway’s sales and marketing director.
Those interested in finding out more about The Grange should call 020 8599 2981; the sales centre at Oakhurst Place is on 020 8501 6896. Two-bedroom apartments at Sovereign Court are currently priced from £275,000. Call 020 8532 9706.

Bungalows are back in Hornchurch, thanks to Fairclough Homes’ College Fields development. The much-loved house type flourished between the 1930s and 1950s, but fewer examples have been seen in recent years due to planning requirements which aim to use land more intensively.
The very fact that bungalows are comparatively rare is a selling point for College Fields, where according to sales and marketing director Larry Crook, buyers will find ‘an updated version of an old favourite’. Nine bungalows are being built at the development; all the three-bedroom houses have been reserved but there are currently four-bedroom bungalows, each with two bathrooms and a designer fitted kitchen, priced from £364,950. There are also three-bedroom semi-detached and four-bedroom detached houses available, at prices starting from £269,950.
For further information about prices and availability at College Fields, contact sales executives on 0845 676 0165.

What is it about west London that has won the area so many die-hard fans? Johnny Turner looks at newly built homes for sale in this ever-appealing part of the capital.

West London has long since been famed for its exclusivity – the quiet residential turnings, thriving high streets, café lifestyle and the elegant homes – and the current vogue for building new homes on the west side means that the area offers more choice than ever. The current lot of newly built homes represents a great mix of quality and convenience.
Barratt is selling a number of high-quality west London developments, including Axiom, which is a vital part of a massive regeneration programme in Feltham. The town centre will see a total renaissance, with over one million square feet of space, including offices, a hotel, restaurants, medical and community centres, a new library and a vibrant new shopping centre among the attractions.
Axiom, which will be the residential heart of the scheme, has already released two phases of homes, called Sanctura and Futura, where one- and two-bedroom apartments range in price from £173,995 to £239,995. A third phase, known as Magna, is to be launched soon.
For more information about Axiom call 020 8867 0382.

Another hugely ambitious regeneration project is underway in Hounslow, where Barratt is offering Reflexion, a collection of apartments. The first phase, called Indigo, is now launching, with one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments with fantastic modern interiors. Most of these homes will have wonderful views of the Blenheim Centre, a massive shopping and entertainment complex, as well as wider London vistas, via balconies or terraces. Specification will be high, with designer kitchens and bathroom.
To find out more about the homes at Reflexion call 020 8326 7171 or visit reflexion.uk.com.
Alexandra Place, another Hounslow development, is located right next to the town centre.
The apartments exude interior style which is informed by its relationship with the outside. Ground-floor apartments have French windows, while top floor homes offer elegant roof terraces.
The location, near both the Piccadilly Line and Heathrow airport, is excellent for commuters, whether work takes you into central London or abroad. The latest availability includes two-bedroom apartments, ranging in price from £253,995 to £279,995. Further apartments and houses are to be released in the future. Call 020 8577 6784 to find out more.

In the sought-after residential area of Hanwell, Fairview New Homes has recently launched Walnut Tree Square, which offers a collection of just 16 generously sized three-, four- and five-bedroom homes in Greenford Avenue. Set within a leafy courtyard with private gated access, the development enjoys a peaceful location with landscaped communal gardens, paved driveways, trees and shrubs. A carefully preserved walnut tree provides the development’s focus as well as its name.
Many of the homes at Walnut Tree Square offer features such as spacious, welcoming hallways, bay windows, fully fitted kitchens, double doors leading from the living room to a private dining which has French doors opening out to the garden.
The villagey area offers an array of parks, canalside walks, plenty of open space and some well-respected local schools. Nearby Hanwell mainline station provides a 15-minute journey into central London, while Greenford and Ealing Broadway tube stations offer Central Line services. A new tram route is also scheduled for the area, with expected completion in 2009.
Prices for homes at Walnut Tree Square are to be released soon. Fairview will offer a range of incentives as well. Find out more by calling Fairview on 0800 731 4477.

Ealing has long been a popular residential location, and The Curve brings contemporary style to these lovely, suburban surroundings. The Curve boasts a striking curved frontage and consists of ten apartments and four duplex penthouses. These homes are marked by open-plan space and very high specification. The living areas, kitchens and hallways have solid wide-plank flooring, while luxurious bathrooms feature slate tiling and walk-in mosaic tiled shower units.
The development is superbly located for the shopping and leisure amenities of Ealing, and Ealing Broadway tube provides direct routes into central London via the District and Central Lines.
Two-bedroom apartments at The Curve are available for sale priced from £395,000; duplex penthouses start at £695,000. Contact Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward’s land and new homes division on 020 7491 2055.

At The Island in Brentford, built by Charles Church and Crest Nicholson, purchasers are being offered not only stunning family homes but also some very attractive incentives. Stamp duty paid and part-exchange opportunities apply to the River Houses, a collection of very high-spec four-bedroom, four-storey homes.
These homes have a self-contained master suite on the third floor, including an en suite shower room and abundant storage space. The ground floor kitchen and family room overlook the rear garden and have a terrace via glazed doors. The first-floor lounge is reached via a sweeping spiral staircase and offers wonderful river views. The homes have an integral garage, a heat recovery system and comfort cooling, as well as security measures such as entryphone with colour monitor and burglar alarm. Kitchens are designer and showers are thermostatic.
Brentford station is a short walk away, from where trains run to Waterloo in as little as half an hour. Find out more about the River Houses at The Island by calling 0870 758 1010.

In the section of west London south of the river, Putney is an extremely popular choice for buyers. Antler Homes’ West Hill Gate builds on this desirability by offering distinctive architecture, very high-tech features, ample parking and private landscaped gardens.
Set behind mature trees and comprising three four-bedroom detached houses, West Hill Gate has a traditional red brick façade with a curved rendered bay window stretching across the entire ground and first floors. The homes have gated off-street parking for two cars, while one of the properties also has a garage.
Interiors are sophisticated, with high ceilings throughout. The master suite comprises an en suite bathroom with double shower and a dressing room with fitted wardrobes and a bay window large enough to accommodate a window seat. There is a further en suite bathroom to one of the three other bedrooms, a family bathroom and a cloakroom.
The location is fantastic, with fashionable Putney High Street nearby, along with a wide choice of transport options.
Prices start at £1.1 million. Contact Antler Homes’ sales office on 020 8874 3050 or visit antlerhomes.co.uk.

Apartments are more in demand than ever – and today’s developers have outdone themselves in style and spec. Johnny Turner investigates.

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 Guildford, there is only one apartment remaining in the second phase of Premier Properties’ Number One Albury Road, which has set new standards for luxury apartments in the town. Communal features include landscaped grounds with cleverly designed external lighting, tastefully decorated common areas. Once inside the American oak entrance door of the apartments, you’ll find underfloor heating, downlighters throughout, and kitchens with bespoke Pepper handle-free units and fully integrated appliances. There is wiring for both an LCD TV to the bathroom and a plasma screen to the lounge; the screens and a central stereo system are available as optional extras.
The remaining apartment is priced at £310,000. Book an appointment to view by contacting sole agents Clarke Gammon Wellers on 01483 880900.

Also from Premier is a similarly high-quality development of 14 luxury apartments in Woking. Cable House Court, located near the town centre, will be available from this summer at prices starting at just £250,000. Find out more from selling agents Barton Wyatt on 01344 842857. See details of these and other developments by Premier Properties, located in Surrey and Hampshire, at premier-properties.co.uk.

Urban Pulse by Bermac Properties has struck a chord with buyers who want a well-designed apartment, whether they are owner-occupiers who insist on convenient transport or buy-to-let purchasers who are in the market for a sound investment. In fact, only five of the 19 properties remain, with one-bedroom apartments starting at £125,000 and two-bedroom designs priced from £155,000.

 All buyers will benefit from secure allocated parking, which is included in the purchase price.
Urban Pulse is set over three storeys and features generous living accommodation ranging from 475 to 800 square feet in size. Each apartment has a Juliet balcony. The location couldn’t be more convenient, with the mainline station just minutes away providing a 40-minute journey into London Liverpool Street. And with the incentives Bermac is currently offering, including
legal fees paid, provide savings above and beyond the already low purchase price.
Contact the sales team at Bairstow Eves on 01268 761121 to find out more about Urban Pulse.
Also from Bermac Properties is Navigation Yard in Chelmsford, where work is nearly complete. The seven luxury apartments include two one-bedroom properties and five two-bedroom apartments; one of each of these designs is a duplex. On the ground floor of the development will be a 1,200 sq ft office space, which will be available to let.

Navigation Yard will be set over four storeys with a mezzanine level; the apartments range in size from 472 to 528 sq ft for one-bedroom apartments and from 679 to 821 for the larger two-bedroom specifications. There is also an allocated parking space included in the purchase price of each apartment.
Off-plan enquiries are being taken on 01245 344444. Alternatively you may email Bermac on sales@bermacproperties.co.uk.

Rydon Homes’ new Nordic Apartments development has just launched in the very central London location of Cable Street, Whitechapel, and eager buyers are already reserving their homes. The ultra-cool apartments are only 400m from the River Thames and just ten minutes from Canary Wharf, offering the best of London within walking distance. Prices currently start at £184,950. To find out more contact the sales and marketing suite on 020 7780 1580 of visit nordic-cool.co.uk.
Meanwhile, in the more suburban setting of Edgware, Banner Homes offers Compass Place, which is set in landscaped grounds in Glendale Avenue, close to both Stanmore and Edgware tube stations. Compass Place is a development of 18 spacious two-bedroom apartments with private basement parking.
Visitors to the new show home are sure to be impressed by Banner’s clever blend of elegance and convenience, culminating in bright. spacious homes that balance good looks with common sense design.
Prices at Compass Place range from £299,000 to £415,000. For further information contact the marketing suite or visit the show homes, open Thursday to Monday from 10am to 5pm, on 020 8958 0739.

Redrow Homes is selling apartments at various developments across the UK, including Connaught Place in Chingford, where only ten properties remain. One-bedroom apartments start from £159,950 and two-bedroom designs are priced from £193,950.
Each property at Connaught Place has allocated parking and most apartments have access onto a generous-sized balcony or patio, with space for a table and chairs. Many of the two-bedroom apartments include an en suite to the master bedroom. The development has an audio entry system for security.
Contemporary specification includes designer fitted kitchens by Moores, complete with stainless steel oven, hob and extractor, as well as a contemporary white bathroom suite and fitted wardrobes to the master bedroom.
The development is a short walk from Chingford town centre, with its wide selection of shops, restaurants and bars, as well as its rail services into London which take only half an hour.
For more information call the sales office on 020 8527 6515.

Another well connected location that is increasingly popular with buyers is Loughton. And it is here that Charles Church is offering a scheme of truly stunning apartments and maisonettes. Strevens Place, named for John Strevens, the famous Loughton-born portrait artist, is exclusive and convenient. Located near the natural beauty of Epping Forest, as well as near the easy transport of Loughton, Strevens Place provides a sense of space and high specification. Kitchens are well equipped with stainless steel, fully integrated AEG appliances, while bathrooms have elegant white sanitaryware and furniture.
Golf enthusiasts will find this to be the perfect location, as several clubs, including Loughton Golf Club and Woolston Manor Golf Club, are nearby. There are also good local shops as well as further amenities in nearby Buckhurst Hill, Chigwell and Ilford.
Prices start at £349,995. For further information contact selling agents Heatheringtons on 020 8508 5424 or see the Charles Church website at charles-church.co.uk.

Linden Homes offers a ‘try before you buy’ system with brand new show apartments at a number of its developments across the Chiltern region. While many buyers are increasingly happy to buy ‘blind’, Linden takes pride in also offering a chance for prospective purchasers to have a demonstration of the developer’s product in the flesh.
Helen Todd, sales and marketing director for Linden Homes Chiltern, says, ‘There is a strong investment and rental market at many of the locations where we are building, particularly in Slough, Oxford and Watford.’ And while ‘buying blind’ shows an investor’s confidence in their chosen area, she says, ‘investors also have the option to actually see what they are buying into as at key sites such as Cassio Mansions in Watford, Rivermead Park in Oxford and Neo in Slough, we have stunning new show apartments to view.’
Find out about the wide range of Linden apartments, currently priced from approximately £199,950, by visiting lindenhomes.co.uk.

Montague Park in Whiteley, Hampshire is a development by Bovis Homes which offers apartments with integrated kitchens and fixtures such as fitted wardrobes. These homes are perfect for those who are taking their first steps onto the property ladder. Located minutes from junction 9 of the M27 South Coast motorway, these homes are also conveniently located for a local factory outlet shopping mall as well as further amenities in nearby Southampton and Portsmouth.
Prices for a two-bedroom apartment start at £172,950. Call the sales office on 0845 230 3336 or visit bovishomes.co.uk.

Disney Place, situated in the sought-after London neighbourhood of Borough, is a four-storey development comprising 14 one- and two-bedroom apartments just by the High Street. Each apartment in this development by Oakmayne Properties has been carefully designed to take full advantage of the abundant natural light. All kitchens are of high-quality contemporary design, with Neff integrated appliances built into powder blue laminated units with stainless steel edged worktops and navy glass splashbacks.

The location is ultra-convenient. City workers can walk across London Bridge and be at the office near Bank of St Paul’s in a matter of minutes. Those who use public transport will find a wealth of tube, train and bus routes ready to get you where you need to be in a flash.
Four two-bedroom apartments remain for sale, priced between £335,00 and £625,000. To find out more contact DTZ Residential on 020 7710 8116 or Stirling Ackroyd on 020 7940 3888.

Apartments are more in demand than ever – and today’s developers have outdone themselves in style and spec. Johnny Turner investigates.

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 Guildford, there is only one apartment remaining in the second phase of Premier Properties’ Number One Albury Road, which has set new standards for luxury apartments in the town. Communal features include landscaped grounds with cleverly designed external lighting, tastefully decorated common areas. Once inside the American oak entrance door of the apartments, you’ll find underfloor heating, downlighters throughout, and kitchens with bespoke Pepper handle-free units and fully integrated appliances. There is wiring for both an LCD TV to the bathroom and a plasma screen to the lounge; the screens and a central stereo system are available as optional extras.

The remaining apartment is priced at £310,000. Book an appointment to view by contacting sole agents Clarke Gammon Wellers on 01483 880900.

Also from Premier is a similarly high-quality development of 14 luxury apartments in Woking. Cable House Court, located near the town centre, will be available from this summer at prices starting at just £250,000. Find out more from selling agents Barton Wyatt on 01344 842857. See details of these and other developments by Premier Properties, located in Surrey and Hampshire, at premier-properties.co.uk.

Urban Pulse by Bermac Properties has struck a chord with buyers who want a well-designed apartment, whether they are owner-occupiers who insist on convenient transport or buy-to-let purchasers who are in the market for a sound investment. In fact, only five of the 19 properties remain, with one-bedroom apartments starting at £125,000 and two-bedroom designs priced from £155,000.

 All buyers will benefit from secure allocated parking, which is included in the purchase price.

Urban Pulse is set over three storeys and features generous living accommodation ranging from 475 to 800 square feet in size. Each apartment has a Juliet balcony. The location couldn’t be more convenient, with the mainline station just minutes away providing a 40-minute journey into London Liverpool Street. And with the incentives Bermac is currently offering, including

legal fees paid, provide savings above and beyond the already low purchase price.

Contact the sales team at Bairstow Eves on 01268 761121 to find out more about Urban Pulse.

Also from Bermac Properties is Navigation Yard in Chelmsford, where work is nearly complete. The seven luxury apartments include two one-bedroom properties and five two-bedroom apartments; one of each of these designs is a duplex. On the ground floor of the development will be a 1,200 sq ft office space, which will be available to let.

Navigation Yard will be set over four storeys with a mezzanine level; the apartments range in size from 472 to 528 sq ft for one-bedroom apartments and from 679 to 821 for the larger two-bedroom specifications. There is also an allocated parking space included in the purchase price of each apartment.

Off-plan enquiries are being taken on 01245 344444. Alternatively you may email Bermac on sales@bermacproperties.co.uk.

Rydon Homes’ new Nordic Apartments development has just launched in the very central London location of Cable Street, Whitechapel, and eager buyers are already reserving their homes. The ultra-cool apartments are only 400m from the River Thames and just ten minutes from Canary Wharf, offering the best of London within walking distance. Prices currently start at £184,950. To find out more contact the sales and marketing suite on 020 7780 1580 of visit nordic-cool.co.uk.

Meanwhile, in the more suburban setting of Edgware, Banner Homes offers Compass Place, which is set in landscaped grounds in Glendale Avenue, close to both Stanmore and Edgware tube stations. Compass Place is a development of 18 spacious two-bedroom apartments with private basement parking. 

Visitors to the new show home are sure to be impressed by Banner’s clever blend of elegance and convenience, culminating in bright. spacious homes that balance good looks with common sense design.

Prices at Compass Place range from £299,000 to £415,000. For further information contact the marketing suite or visit the show homes, open Thursday to Monday from 10am to 5pm, on 020 8958 0739.

Redrow Homes is selling apartments at various developments across the UK, including Connaught Place in Chingford, where only ten properties remain. One-bedroom apartments start from £159,950 and two-bedroom designs are priced from £193,950.

Each property at Connaught Place has allocated parking and most apartments have access onto a generous-sized balcony or patio, with space for a table and chairs. Many of the two-bedroom apartments include an en suite to the master bedroom. The development has an audio entry system for security.

Contemporary specification includes designer fitted kitchens by Moores, complete with stainless steel oven, hob and extractor, as well as a contemporary white bathroom suite and fitted wardrobes to the master bedroom.

The development is a short walk from Chingford town centre, with its wide selection of shops, restaurants and bars, as well as its rail services into London which take only half an hour.

For more information call the sales office on 020 8527 6515.

Another well connected location that is increasingly popular with buyers is Loughton. And it is here that Charles Church is offering a scheme of truly stunning apartments and maisonettes. Strevens Place, named for John Strevens, the famous Loughton-born portrait artist, is exclusive and convenient. Located near the natural beauty of Epping Forest, as well as near the easy transport of Loughton, Strevens Place provides a sense of space and high specification. Kitchens are well equipped with stainless steel, fully integrated AEG appliances, while bathrooms have elegant white sanitaryware and furniture.

Golf enthusiasts will find this to be the perfect location, as several clubs, including Loughton Golf Club and Woolston Manor Golf Club, are nearby. There are also good local shops as well as further amenities in nearby Buckhurst Hill, Chigwell and Ilford.

Prices start at £349,995. For further information contact selling agents Heatheringtons on 020 8508 5424 or see the Charles Church website at charles-church.co.uk.

Linden Homes offers a ‘try before you buy’ system with brand new show apartments at a number of its developments across the Chiltern region. While many buyers are increasingly happy to buy ‘blind’, Linden takes pride in also offering a chance for prospective purchasers to have a demonstration of the developer’s product in the flesh.

Helen Todd, sales and marketing director for Linden Homes Chiltern, says, ‘There is a strong investment and rental market at many of the locations where we are building, particularly in Slough, Oxford and Watford.’ And while ‘buying blind’ shows an investor’s confidence in their chosen area, she says, ‘investors also have the option to actually see what they are buying into as at key sites such as Cassio Mansions in Watford, Rivermead Park in Oxford and Neo in Slough, we have stunning new show apartments to view.’

Find out about the wide range of Linden apartments, currently priced from approximately £199,950, by visiting lindenhomes.co.uk.

Montague Park in Whiteley, Hampshire is a development by Bovis Homes which offers apartments with integrated kitchens and fixtures such as fitted wardrobes. These homes are perfect for those who are taking their first steps onto the property ladder. Located minutes from junction 9 of the M27 South Coast motorway, these homes are also conveniently located for a local factory outlet shopping mall as well as further amenities in nearby Southampton and Portsmouth.

Prices for a two-bedroom apartment start at £172,950. Call the sales office on 0845 230 3336 or visit bovishomes.co.uk.

Disney Place, situated in the sought-after London neighbourhood of Borough, is a four-storey development comprising 14 one- and two-bedroom apartments just by the High Street. Each apartment in this development by Oakmayne Properties has been carefully designed to take full advantage of the abundant natural light. All kitchens are of high-quality contemporary design, with Neff integrated appliances built into powder blue laminated units with stainless steel edged worktops and navy glass splashbacks.

The location is ultra-convenient. City workers can walk across London Bridge and be at the office near Bank of St Paul’s in a matter of minutes. Those who use public transport will find a wealth of tube, train and bus routes ready to get you where you need to be in a flash.

Four two-bedroom apartments remain for sale, priced between £335,00 and £625,000. To find out more contact DTZ Residential on 020 7710 8116 or Stirling Ackroyd on 020 7940 3888.

 

Wapping, London

Eluna is a collection of one- and two-bedroom apartments and penthouses available through Imagine Homes. This development is ideal for the investment buyer – and Imagine’s leaseback scheme is designed to make the process simple and lucrative. On completion the developer rents the property straight back at a 15 per cent return over the first two years. Prices start at £250,000. Call 020 7702 4213.

 Edenbridge, Kent

Persimmon Homes has launched its eagerly awaited Kingswood Place development in this historic town. The contemporary one- and two-bedroom London-style apartments have designer kitchens as standard and allocated parking. There are very good commuter links to London from Edenbridge Town station, while beautiful countryside is all around. Prices range from £159,995 to £194,500. Call 01732 865621. 

Tottenham, London

Fairview New Homes has launched a newly refurbished contemporary development, situated under five minutes’ walk from White Hart Lane station and 15 minutes’ walk from the famous football ground. Park Place will offer 81 homes, from spacious studios to one- and two-bedroom apartments. Prices start at £149,995 and many incentives are available. Call the sales and marketing suite on 020 8808 5132.

 
West Malling, Kent

Charles Church offers the Cranbrook house type at its Keeper’s Field scheme, located in the Kings Hill. Wonderful design, lovely views and very flexible space make this the ultimate family home. Kings Hill is near Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells, with their array of shops and restaurants, and the commute to London takes about an hour. The Cranbrook is priced at £420,000. Call 01732 873488.

 Faversham, Kent

Crest Nicholson’s Kings Chase is tailored to contemporary living, with high levels of design and an emphasis on relaxing living space. Kitchens feature a comprehensive range of Siemens appliances. Faversham is a historic medieval market town with good shopping and convenient commuter links to London. Prices start at £169,995 for a two-bedroom house and £235,000 for a three-bedroom town house. Call 0870 750 2720.

Wimbledon, London

Langford Gate comprises 13 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, less than a quarter-mile from Wimbledon station. Built by Dunward Properties, the scheme has allocated parking and video entry systems. The specification is high, with oak veneer flooring and stylish kitchens. Prices start at £230,000 for one-bedroom apartments and £315,000 for two-bedroom apartments and £430,000 for three-bedrooms. Call Kinleigh Folkard Hayward on 020 7491 2055.

Dorking, Surrey

Linden Homes has launched Deepdene Square, a stunning new development in this convenient commuter town. The 48 one- and two-bedroom apartments are equally well situated for lovely countryside and the buzzing town centre. Although the High Street is only two minutes away by foot, the scheme enjoys a secluded atmosphere with ample green and open space. Guide prices start at £225,000. Call 01883 334451.

Wandsworth, London

Riverside Quarter is a new waterside community by LCR Developments and FairBriar provides one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, duplexes and three-bedroom penthouses, most orientated towards the river. The development is currently erecting 12 residential moorings as well as visitor moorings. New phase Coptain House is now on the market, with one-bedroom apartments from £305,000, two-bedrooms from £430,000 and three-bedrooms from £530,000. Call 020 8877 2000.

 

 

A perfect middle way between metropolis and leafy countryside, Middlesex is very popular with buyers. Johnny Turner sees what’s available.

Those in the market for a new home will consider many factors – location, design, space and of course price spring immediately to mind. And the current crop of homes in the county of Middlesex provide a range of types, sizes, locations and costs. Even the most demanding buyer will be charmed by what’s on offer.
With The Grange, Barratt Homes offers an exclusive collection of one- and two-bedroom apartments in one of Harrow’s most sought-after locations. There will be a variety of designs, from conversions of the existing hospital buildings into stunning apartments to three- and four-bedroom town houses reflecting the styles of a bygone era. This development is set behind a gated entrance with uniformed concierge.
The specification is top-quality, with kitchens offering granite worktops and stainless steel appliances, stunning bathrooms and, to some of the homes, a dressing room and en suite. All homes are pre-wired for satellite television.

Only 16 miles from the heart of London, Harrow offers an abundance of entertainment and leisure pursuits. The local area boasts good high street shops, stylish cafés and more, not to mention easy commuter access to both the Piccadilly Line and mainline services into Marylebone. The M40 is also nearby, opening up the national motorway network.
One-bedroom apartments currently range from £260,000 to £355,000, while two-bedroom apartments are priced between £310,000 and £450,000. The marketing suite is open Thursday to Sunday 10am to 6pm and Monday 2pm to 6pm. Call 020 8423 8047.

Laing Homes is selling Queens Manor in Queensbury, which consists of 24 spacious two-bedroom apartments in two symmetrical three-storey blocks. Getting about from here is simple – not only does each apartment have allocated parking but the development is located only a five-minute walk from the Jubilee Line at Queensbury tube station.
This development offers some very inviting incentives, including five per cent deposit, stamp duty or legal fees paid, subject to conditions. Prices at Queens Manor currently range from £239,950 to £254,950. Call the marketing suite on 020 8732 2596 or visit lainghomes.co.uk.
Banner Homes is selling spacious two-bedroom apartments in the heart of the thriving community of Pinner. Compass Place consists of 18 apartments with private basement parking, located in landscaped grounds in Glendale Avenue, close to both Stanmore and Edgware tube stations.
Prices range from £385,000 to £435,000. Find out more by contacting the show homes, open Thursday to Monday 10am to 5pm, on 020 8958 0739.
Also from Banner, Argent House in Hatch End comprises eight spacious two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments. Specification and style are both impressive, as is the location, which is a stone’s throw from Hatch End mainline station.
Prices at Argent House start at £399,000. Contact the sales office on 020 8421 4691.

Persimmon Homes is selling its latest Harrow development, called The Chase. Set behind a gated entrance with private parking, this scheme is sure to be a hit with local purchasers.
With striking elevations and flexible accommodation, the Ascot and Windsor town houses take three-storey living to a whole new level. Each design provides convenient living space on the ground floor with a well-planned kitchen, cloakroom and lounge leading out to the patio and rear garden.
Located off Lower Road in South Harrow, The Chase has many convenient shopping and transport options. There is a Waitrose within walking distance, while the shops and restaurants of Harrow-on-the-Hill’s old high street are within easy reach by car.
Prices for a three-storey town house start at £349,950. For more information contact selling agents Colin Dean on 0845 676 0184 or visit persimmonhomes.com.

Looking to the high-quality homes of the future in the Middlesex area, Barratt has acquired the site of the former Royal Oak public house in Teddington High Street for redevelopment.
While the original pub is being demolished, Barratt will be building a new pub, with seven one- and two-bedroom apartments above; a further five two-, three- and four-bedroom houses will be created within the grounds.
Work has already started on site and Barratt Homes is now taking enquiries regarding the new homes, which have anticipated price guides from £245,000 for a one-bedroom apartment, £335,000 for a two-bedroom apartment, £460,000 for a three-bedroom house and £575,000 for a hour-bedroom house.
If you would like further information, or to register your interest in the development, contact Barratt Homes on 020 8326 7171.

George Wimpey’s new Symphony Court development in Edgware is an impressive collection of apartments and three-bedroom town houses on the site of the former premises of a musical instrument manufacturer. Ideally located for many excellent amenities and transport links, Symphony Court provides buyers high-specification homes in a choice of layouts and styles.

The development has been such a hit with buyers that all apartments have already been snapped up and there are now only five houses remaining, priced from £299,995. As an extra incentive to buyers,  George Wimpey is offering stamp duty paid on the remaining homes.
The spacious three-bedroom townhouses comprise a kitchen/dining area, cloakroom, hall and integral garage on the ground floor. The first floor presents a well-proportioned lounge and third bedroom, while a further two bedrooms – one with en-suite – and a family bathroom are located on the second floor.           
The development is conveniently located just minutes from Edgware and Burnt Oak tube stations on the Northern Line, as well as bus stations, for easy access into central London. Alternatively, the M25, M1 and A406 are all within easy reach. The green space of Canons Park is also nearby.
For further information on these stunning homes – or to make an appointment to view – please contact Preston Bennett New Homes on 020 8954 8626.

A good view is an invaluable asset to a home – and enhances your life. Johnny Turner sees where buyers can get hold of a stunning vista.

The view from a home is something that prospective buyers very often forget to take into account when seeking a property. People tend to think of price, location and functionality of the interior space and often don’t even consider the impact of the way the surrounding area looks. But picking the right external view can be a real plus, not only to your quality and enjoyment of life but also to your prospects of selling the property on.

There are currently a number of high-quality developments offering not just high specification but also the type of view that enhances your quality of life. Starting with an urban view, Goldcrest Homes is selling a truly breathtaking home at its Angelis development in popular Islington. The penthouse provides not only a far-reaching view of many of London’s most recognisable landmarks, but has a massive outdoor space from which to take in the vista. In addition to the 2,500 sq ft of living space, the penthouse also offers one of the capital’s largest private roof terraces. The terrace measures 1,700 sq ft – larger than most three-bedroom apartments – and comes equipped with everything you need for outside enjoyment, including hot tub, sun terrace, bar area and decked entertainment and dining area.
The specification of the home itself is as high as you would expect for a penthouse of this calibre. The stunning streamlined kitchen off the dining area has integrated Kuppersbusch appliances including an extra-wide oven, digital touch-controlled hob, dishwasher and coffee maker. There are two bedrooms, each with under-floor and ceiling heating as well as luxurious en suites in black basalt.
The penthouse resident will have use of all communal facilities at the Angelis, including the air-conditioned private movie screening room that seats up to 16 people, and the gym. A 24-hour concierge service is also on hand, and the penthouse comes with two private parking spaces in the underground car park.

The penthouse is currently for sale at £1.65 million. To find out more call 020 7226 4200.
Also in London, Berkeley Homes is selling West 3, which adds a bit of Whitehall grandeur to Acton Vale. West 3 is the transformation of a grand former government ministry building, located off Bromyard Avenue, into a scheme of 350 stylish apartments and penthouses around five central landscaped courtyards. The development offers lifts, a concierge and underground parking.
Berkeley Homes is transforming the building, which will be six stories high and feature grand communal entrances. The homes at West 3 will include 28 different apartment types – studios as well as one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses. Some of the penthouses will feature timber-decked terraces giving amazing London views.
Specification is high; kitchens have designer furniture and Kupperbusch integrated appliances, while en suite bathrooms have porcelain tiled flooring, finely crafted mirrored and shelved cabinets, Hansgrohe fittings and Villeroy & Boch suites.
East Acton tube station is within 15 minutes’ walk; from there you can get to Oxford Circus in half an hour. Prices will range from £275,000 to £549,950, and underground parking is available by separate negotiation. Contact Berkeley Homes on 020 8811 2336 or visit berkeleyhomes.co.uk.

One type of view that the luckiest of Londoners enjoy is of the River Thames. And this type of vista is one of the many strengths of George Wimpey City’s highly regarded Falcon Wharf scheme on York Road in Battersea.
Technology at Wimpey’s newly opened sales and marketing suite, a short walk from the actual site, gives prospective buyers a taste of the incredible views and lifestyle on offer. Equipped with an innovative architectural lighting system that dims down at ten-minute intervals to create a dramatic night and day mood progression, the show apartment magically transports viewers to an apartment high up in Falcon Wharf.
Throughout the show apartment the combination of comfortable practicality and chic design is evident. The high-quality Nicholas Anthony kitchen includes Siemens integrated appliances, a stainless steel oven and ceramic hob. A breakfast bar with tall stools completes the look. The dining area, meanwhile, centres around a co-ordinated table and comfortable bucket chairs. The master bedroom has a floor-to-ceiling window front, presenting an indicative night-time view of the Thames as well as bespoke furniture. The bathroom incorporates white tiling and sanitaryware plus chrome fittings. The his-and-her sink is representative of some of the larger units at Falcon Wharf.
The location could not be more perfect. Battersea Park and riverside walks are just moments away, while public transport links from nearby Battersea Park, Clapham Junction and Queenstown Road stations make the rest of London – and indeed much of the South East – easily accessible.
Prices currently start at £300,000 for a one-bedroom apartment, £375,000 for a two-bedroom apartment and £645,000 for a three-bedroom apartment. Call 0870 990 7599 or visit falconwharf.co.uk.
Rydon Homes has brought Victorian opulence back to one of Tunbridge Wells’ most imposing landmark buildings, Molyneux Place, a former mansion on the crest of Mount Ephraim. The 40 magnificently appointed homes within this amazing building will have magnificent views across the common, town and surrounding countryside.

The exterior of the historic building has been restored to its former glory, with a new slate roof, renovated brickwork and rendering and refurbished plaster garlands and stone balustrading.
The development offers a variety of spacious apartments, many of which have high ceilings complete with chandelier points. These are grand living spaces bathed in sunlight which pours in through large sash windows. All penthouse apartments have a Jacuzzi bath, while the penthouse boasts nothing less than a rooftop patio and spa bath.
Penthouse prices start at £599,950. For further information call the sales and marketing suite on 01892 616186 or visit rydonhomes.co.uk.

Antler Homes is offering homes with truly amazing views at its Birklands development in Storrington, Sussex. The windows from these cottages and apartments frame the view and look straight across the scenic South Downs, an area of outstanding natural beauty covering nearly 400 square miles.
The five two-bedroom cottages, nine two-bedroom apartments and single three-bedroom apartment are being built in the traditional style to blend with the existing surrounding, both built and natural. Internally the cottages feature a spacious kitchen/dining room and reception with doors opening out on to a private patio leading to the communal gardens. The first-floor master bedroom features an en suite and there is a further bathroom for the second bedroom.
The apartments are served by a lift to the upper floors and most of the properties feature decked balconies off the reception room for the enjoyment of these superb views.
Storrington is a bustling market town with a comprehensive range of shops and local amenities. Chichester and Brighton are close at hand, offering a wider choice of shopping and entertainment.
The homes are priced from £279,950 for a two-bedroom apartment and £304,950 for a two-bedroom cottage. Penthouses have not yet been released. Call Antler Homes on 01903 740522 for more information.

Also in Storrington, Bellwinch Homes has opened two fully furnished show houses at The Glade, a development of 19 two-, three- and four-bedroom homes. All homes will be set in private gardens and will benefit from a garage or allocated parking space. Subject to stage of construction, purchasers will be able to choose their kitchen units, work surfaces and bathroom wall tiles from an available selection.
Set in four acres of woodland and boasting gorgeous views, The Glade is sure to be very popular with buyers. Prices start at £209,995. Incentives are available. Call the sales representatives on 01903 745175 to find out more.

Egham, Surrey

At Tudor Court, a new residential and retail development by Hutley Homes, 16 of the 22 apartments have already been sold off-plan. Centred around a private central landscaped courtyard in a High Street location, Tudor Court offers one and two bedroom apartments, each with either a balcony or terrace providing essential private outdoor space. The homes are well placed for shops, bars, restaurants and transport.

Thamesmead, London

Fairclough Homes is selling the ideal apartments for those who work in central London or Docklands. The Gateway Apartments offers a Thames-side home at a fraction of the price you would pay further upriver. Modern Thamesmead is well served by the lively new shopping centre, and parks and lakes are also nearby. To find out more about Thamesmead West call the sales suite on 0845 676 0162.

Edenbridge, Kent

At Kingswood Place Persimmon Homes is giving young people a helping hand on to the property ladder with its new shared equity initiative, called Buy With Us. The development, located on Station Road, has 21 one- and two-bedroom apartments have designer kitchens and allocated parking as standard. Two-bedroom apartments have an en suite bathroom to the master bedroom. Call 01732 865621 or visit persimmonhomes.com.

Tunbridge Wells, Kent

The first phase of apartments has been released at Charles Church’s Victoria Court at The Mount. The phase consists of 12 one- and two-bedroom apartments set in a tranquil environment just one mile from the centre of Tunbridge Wells. Each apartment has an aesthetically designed kitchen with stainless steel appliances, as well as en suites to master bedrooms. Prices start at £175,000. Call 01892 619167.

Chafford Hundred, Essex

Bellwinch Homes has opened off-plan sales on a wide choice of homes at Lions Ridge, the brand new development in this popular community. The location is exclusive and private, and many of the homes have views over Lions Gorge. Apartments start at £169,995 for a two-bedroom apartment, while three- and four-bedroom houses are priced between £189,995 and £374,995. Call the sales centre on 01375 650343.

Borough, London

Only a few of the fabulous apartments and penthouses remain at 54 Lant Street, a stunning development by George Wimpey. This development offers convenience at every turn: it is just moments from Borough tube station and parking is included with every home. Prices currently start at £317,000. The homes are ready for immediate occupation. For more information call 020 7407 8569 or visit 54lantstreet.co.uk.

Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Only a few apartments remain at Rydon Homes’ Molyneux Place, the conversion of a beautiful Victorian building located just a few minutes’ walk from the town centre. Many of the homes feature high ceilings and ornate detailing, and the gardens have been restored. Prices currently range from £199,950 to £974,950. For further information contact the sales and marketing suite on 01892 616186 or visit rydonhomes.co.uk.

Hornchurch, Essex

Ninety per cent of the homes at Fairclough’s College Fields development have now been sold. Only a handful of the brand new three-bedroom, two-bathroom semi-detached homes are still available, and these all include a garage. For qualifying purchasers, Fairclough’s part-exchange scheme can take away some of the headache of moving. Prices start at £269,950. Contact sales executives on 0845 676 0165 – and hurry!

Town houses have been popular for centuries and it is easy to see why. Johnny Turner sees some wonderful examples of this elegant house type currently on the market.

Today’s home buyer is looking for modern, spacious and flexible accommodation, and town houses are the answer to many a prospective buyer’s prayers. From its roots in the still-popular Georgian architecture, the town house is characterised by elegance in layout and generosity of space. And the town houses that are now being built take these principles and give them a useful 21st-century spin.
In much-desired Hampton Wick, the town houses at Laing Homes’ Seymour Place has found such favour with buyers that only one remains for sale. This development of two-bedroom apartments, four-bedroom town houses and a single detached house is set within a leafy enclave off a mature residential road. With the fabulous shopping and entertainment options of Kingston town centre just a few minutes’ walk away, and the A3 and M3 nearby, the location couldn’t be more convenient.
The town house features individual touches of luxury in addition to the already high levels of specification for which Laing is well known. Inside you’ll find an individually styled Symphony Marari kitchen with integrated Bosch appliances, as well as a stylish Ideal Standard bathrooms. There are fitted wardrobes to both the master and second bedrooms. Located to the west of the development, the home has an intriguing dog-legged garden.
The remaining town house is priced at £649,995. For further information contact selling agent Featherstone Leigh on 020 8977 8118.

Another development from Laing nearing sell-out is Quarles Park in the centre of Chadwell Heath, Essex. The location is ideally placed for the things that are important to many families: the area is well served for education, both state and private, and a quick and convenient commute into the capital.
The on-site show home demonstrates the high spec, including luxury fitted kitchens with integrated appliances and home entertainment facilities, which are fitted to all homes.
The final two-bedroom, two-storey town house is available at £210,000, while three bedroom houses start at £279,950 and four-bedroom homes are priced from £294,950. There are also two-bedroom apartments, priced from £175,950. A home exchange scheme is available on the remaining town houses, subject to terms and conditions. Find out more by calling the sales office on 020 8586 4091.
Silver Homes is known for its dedication to bringing high-quality family homes to the South East, and its latest development, Aspen Court in Fairfield Road, East Grinstead is a good example of this ethos. The luxury development, located within walking distance of the high street, comprises 13 properties, including three- and four-bedroom town houses and two- and three-bedroom cottages. The town houses face the attractive block-paved private street, which is approached via electronically operated entrance gates.

Features include under-floor heating, state-of-the-art kitchens with black granite work surfaces, fitted wardrobes, top-of-the-range bathroom suites with ceramic tile flooring, stainless steel and glass balustrading and landscaped grounds. Each town house comes with a garage. As a bespoke extra, each home can be fitted with an integrated audio and visual system including multi-room processors, discreet ceiling-mounted speakers and interface devices for ultimate control at the touch of a display pad.
Another big selling point of the homes at Aspen Court is the stunning views. Some of the homes offer wonderful, far-reaching views towards Weir Wood Reservoir from the lounge and bedroom.
Prices for the homes at Aspen Court start at £249,950. For more information call the site sales office on 01342 318400 or selling agent Howard Cundy on 01342 316316. Visit silver-homes.co.uk.
Bovis Homes is building a range of town house designs at various developments in Hertfordshire, with the emphasis on three-storey living. ‘We are delighted to have the opportunity to offer purchasers a choice of some of the company’s most popular town house designs at Salisbury Village in Hatfield and Great Ashby in Stevenage,’ says area sales director Anne Wicklow. ‘Three-storey homes are ideal for families,’ she says, pointing out the flexibility of space in a home is as important as the amount. On both counts Bovis comes up trumps.
At The Green in Salisbury Village, three-bedroom designs are priced from £294,950, while the four-bedroom Renoir home starts at £329,950. The excellent use of space of the latter house type can be seen in the show home, open daily from 10am to 5pm. Call sales manager Maureen Acraman on 01707 272952.

Another fine Hertfordshire location is Stevenage, a very popular location with commuters. Here a collection of three-bedroom town house designs is available at Great Ashby, where prices start at just £226,950. The Ashleigh town house boasts a sitting room on the first floor, as well as a spacious, well-equipped ground floor kitchen.
Find out more about Great Ashby by calling 01438 354188 or visiting bovishomes.co.uk.
In the popular London location of West Dulwich, Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward is selling a mix of high-quality homes. The Grove is a secure gated development comprising six apartments, a terrace of six three-bedroom town houses and two four-bedroom semi-detached houses.
The terrace of town houses has been designed in a traditional Regency style with cream rendering and authentic wooden sash and dormer windows. The ground floor includes a study, an open-plan kitchen/family room and a conservatory leading into the private garden. There is also a first-floor sitting room.
The Grove is located less than a quarter-mile from Tulse Hill train station, from where trains to London Bridge take approximately 15 minutes.
Two of the town houses remain for sale, each priced at £410,000. Call Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward’s Land and New Homes department on 020 7491 2055.

In Guildford, Gleeson Homes has launched its latest Surrey development, called Weyford Mews, located only one mile from the town centre.
This small collection of 12 three-bedroom contemporary town houses is perfectly situated for commuters; it is only nine miles to the A3 and M25, and Guildford mainline station offers frequent trains to Woking and London Waterloo. Shopping, golf, theatre, outdoor swimming – Guildford has everything the modern lifestyle requires.
The high specification includes Regency-style fitted wardrobes and grained panelled doors in all bedrooms, Porcelanosa wall tiling in the kitchen and a thermostatic shower and stone resin shower tray to the bathroom.
The Martin style town house also comes with PVCu double glazed windows and either a garage or parking space.
Register your interest now at gleeson-homes.co.uk or call selling agent Clarke Gammon Weller on 01483 880900 for more information.
Croudace Homes is selling Sun Street in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, the preferred nesting place of many of Britain’s sport and entertainment celebrities. The developer has brought forward its release of the second phase of homes, which range from two to four bedrooms and offer nine different house styles.

Features include Paula Rosa kitchens with integrated AEG appliances, Twyfords bathroom sanitaryware and Aqualisa showers, low-maintenance double glazed PVCu windows and low-voltage recessed lighting in entrance halls, landings, kitchens and bathrooms. Early birds can even select their favourite wall colours, flooring and wall tiles from the Croudace collection.
This phase of homes features the elegant three-bedroom Laburnum town house at £300,000. The home includes an additional fourth bedroom/study, as well as an attached garage and spacious ground floor living space. The open-plan kitchen/dining room leads through double doors to the lounge, which in turn has French doors opening onto the private rear garden beyond.
Call Croudace home buying advisor on 01279 600169 to find out show house viewing times and other details.

Finally, only a few homes remain for sale at KingsOak North London’s superb St Michael’s Park development in Bushey, Hertfordshire. A selection of three-, four- and five-bedroom town houses remain, starting at £388,999. There are also five apartments still for sale, priced from £368,995. Find out more by calling 01923 238137.

Classic design and well-thought-out space are just two reasons town houses are always in fashion. Johnny Turner takes a tour of some of the most desirable currently on the market.

Today’s home buyer is looking for modern, spacious and flexible accommodation, and town houses are the answer to many a prospective buyer’s prayers. From its roots in the still-popular Georgian architecture, the town house is characterised by elegance in layout and generosity of space. And the town houses that are now being built take these principles and give them a useful 21st-century spin.
All over London and the South East, new town houses are popping up. As families grow and require more legroom, this house type is constantly in demand. When you look at what is available on the new homes market, it is easy to see why.

In Ashford, Kent, Fairview presents Greenacres, a development with something for everyone. Besides an array of smart two-bedroom apartments, there are also 88 three- and four-bedroom town houses.
Surrounded by splendid open spaces, Greenacres provides a backdrop that is perfect for anyone who wants a relaxing living environment which is also extremely well connected for commuting. Leisure options are very plentiful; Ashford boasts very good shopping, restaurants, a multiplex cinema, health clubs and nightlife.
Ashford is famously well connected where transport is concerned. Not only is London easily reached from Ashford station, but its Eurostar connection puts the Continent practically on your doorstep. This is a truly convenient place to live.
Apartments start from as low as £129,950, while the town houses are priced from £244,950 and offer the option of part-exchange. The sales office at Greenacres is open daily 10am to 5pm. Call 01233 627414 for more information.

Down in Sussex, Croudace Homes is selling The Courtyard, where only six Juniper style town houses of the original 24 remain for sale. These Georgian style homes are set within a secure gated development – and the location, with its proximity to the rolling Sussex countryside, Chichester town centre and harbour, is idyllic.
The Juniper is a stylish three-bedroom town house with an internal garage, offering flexible family accommodation spread over three floors. On the ground floor is a generous-sized entrance hall, cloakroom/WC and a kitchen/dining room with plenty of space for informal family dining. Kitchen specification is high, with quality Paula Rose units and contemporary stainless steel AEG integrated appliances, including fridge/freezer, dishwasher, electric oven, gas hob and extractor hood.
On the first floor is the lounge, with large French windows opening on to two Juliet balconies. The master bedroom to the rear has an en suite bathroom and built-in wardrobes.
The second floor is home to the second and third bedrooms, the latter having double roof windows. There is a high-spec family bathroom, as well as a linen cupboard offering practical storage space on the upper landing. The turfed garden to the rear has a secure cycle store.
The Courtyard is located on the sought-after north side of Chichester, just one mile from the station and moments from the area’s best primary school, Jessie Younghusband County Primary.
The prices for the remaining Juniper homes range from £309,950 to £319,950. Call the marketing suite, open daily from 10am to 5pm, on 01243 774597.

Developer Heronsbrook is selling high-spec homes at Charters Gate in highly sought-after Sunningdale, Berkshire, and work has begun on a further site nearby. The four-bedroom show home is a town house which has received the inspiring touch of top designer Susan White.
‘Working in such an area as Sunningdale, I have been constantly aware of the need to inspire luxury and elegance. I have attempted to exceed expectations at Charters Gate by sourcing only the best in design and quality from across Europe.’
A sense of space and light is present throughout the show home, with cream tiling adding cohesion to the décor on the ground floor. The centrepiece of any town house is its stairway, and at the Charters Gate show home the dark wood handrail combined with prints adorning the walls in mirrored frames, creates a dramatic look.
Charters Gate will be an ideal location for any London commuter. The 13 four-bedroom town houses and six two-bedroom apartments are within a secure electronic gated setting and each home is allocated its own parking space or has an integrated garage.
Homes start at £425,000. For further information contact selling agent FPDSavills on 01344 295355.
Quarles Park in Chadwell Heath consists of a number of home types in a beautifully designed environment. The Laing Homes development places emphasis on a combination of the practical and the aesthetic, creating homes and surrounding land that will mature beautifully and add to the quality of life of residents.

There are two distinct phases to Quarles Park: a first phase of two-bedroom houses and four-bedroom town houses, followed by a collection of three- and four-bedroom houses and town houses as well as two-bedroom apartments. Prospective buyers can choose from a range of Homestyle extras, including a full home entertainment system.
The location is ideal. Situated on Grove Road in the heart of Chadwell Heath, the development is convenient for the important things in life. Schools and rail connections are only a half-mile away, while shops are within three-quarters of a mile.
The Lonsdale two-bedroom apartment is priced from £192,950, while the Bosley two-bedroom apartment has an en suite and starts at £203,950. The Munroe three-bedroom terraced house is priced from £249,950. The four-bedroom Townsend town house, meanwhile, features two receptions, a kitchen/diner and an en suite bathroom and is priced from £295,000.
Visit the Townsend show home, open Mondays 10am to 2pm and Tuesdays to Sundays 10am to 5.30pm. Call the sales centre on 020 8586 4091.

Crest Nicholson’s stunning Montague Park scheme will appeal to buyers who want a home that stands out from others in the area. Located in Shinfield, on the outskirts of Reading, Montague Park offers homes that are not only special but also extremely convenient for getting to and from work.
These homes deliver the town house lifestyle with all its advantages. Known for their flexibility and space, homes like the Ruxton at Montague Park give buyers the peace of mind that comes with knowing they inhabit a space that can adapt to changes in their circumstances.
Montague Park features a selection of individually designed two-, three- and four-bedroom homes in a peaceful residential area just off Church Lane. Although the development enjoys an exemplary location close to some of the finest countryside in Royal Berkshire, it is also less than four miles from Reading, a major town that is the subject of massive, widespread regeneration.
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 living amidst an intriguing mix of old and new, where town meets country.
The Ruxton town house is priced from £299,950. The sales centre is open daily from 10am to 5pm. Call the development on 0118 988 5704 or selling agent Romans on 0118 936 6602.

Fairclough Homes is selling Viceroy Court in Northwood, Middlesex, a superb Arts and Crafts style development of highly specified apartments and town houses in a unique courtyard setting. The show apartment demonstrate the exceptional specification available, including kitchens with granite worktops and AEG appliances. Town houses at Viceroy Court start at £660,000, while apartments are available from £250,000. Contact the marketing suite on 0845 676 0164.
The award-winning CALA Domus development in the Newhall section of Harlow, Essex offers a mix of superbly designed properties in a location that embodies a sense of community. And as home buyers have picked up on this combination of environment, spec and space, 70 per cent of the homes have already been sold.
The 74 dwellings will include a mix of apartments, maisonettes, linked and detached houses, not to mention the duplex and triplex flats situated in the magnificent Copper Tower. CALA developments are known for their high-quality interiors, and as the new show home demonstrates, CALA Domus is continuing this trend.

The new show home boasts creative use of light, space and bright, elegant colours and is a must-see for house-hunters. Designed by acclaimed interior designer Anna Maria Desogus, the property is bedecked in furniture made from materials which mirror the external architecture; one example is the slate and copper dining table surrounded by quirky red Perspex cube stools.
The show home is situated in a four-storey house which offers four bedrooms, extensive living room, kitchen/dining room, a second-floor bathroom, two en suite bathrooms and a WC on the first floor. The home also offers a private entrance hallway and an additional ground floor room, extensive internal storage space, first floor balcony and car port.
The show home is open seven days a week from 11am to 5pm. Prices for the homes at CALA Domus range from £220,000 to £450,000. Call 0845 300 2490 or visit caladomus.co.uk.

Quick and easy access to South East England’s motorway network is a real plus when in the market for a new home. Anna Bowden investigates some newly built homes with road-friendliness.

Many new home developments are high quality, set in beautiful grounds and excellent value for money, but not all are well placed for amenities and travel connections. If you work from home then these developments could be ideal for you, but if you need access to excellent road links for work and/or shopping and leisure facilities, then you might need to be slightly more discerning. Here we bring you a selection of new developments excellently placed for access to good road networks.
Barracks Chase by Kavanagh Homes is an exceptional development of just three spacious five-bedroom detached houses in the sought-after Buckinghamshire village of Nash. The houses provide flexible internal living space, whether your preference is for formal or informal living, with bright, airy interiors and well-proportioned rooms.
The combined kitchen/family room/breakfast room is ideal for those who love to entertain. A separate dining room leading off from the kitchen means that cooking and eating can be kept separate for more formal dinner parties. And each property has been designed with a fantastic interior specification, which includes low voltage down lighters in every room, top quality bathrooms and built-in integrated appliances – including stainless steel cooker, microwave, dishwasher, American fridge/freezer and coffee machine.

Keith Fisher, marketing director for this scheme, says, ‘We wanted to create an open area with a relaxing and sociable feel, and by extending the kitchen to include a conservatory this has been accomplished. We understand the stresses and strains of modern life and to come home to a relaxed atmosphere is, in my opinion, very important.
‘We have definitely looked to the future by installing Cat 5 cabling, allowing home networking and integrated communications from any room in the house. Also fitted to each reception room and the master bedroom suite are plasma TV points.’
Managing director Julian Kavanagh is also pleased with the end product. ‘We have again excelled in producing high quality homes in an exquisite part of Buckinghamshire, with views overlooking the open countryside, yet close to all amenities and road and rail networks.
Since the successful launch in September two plots have been reserved, leaving just Paddock House remaining, priced at £714,995. For details call 01525 215940.

Countryside Properties is now offering Sterling Place in Weybridge, Surrey, a lovely gated development surrounded by mature trees, where four three-bedroom town houses now remain for sale. Exteriors at Sterling Place are in the Edwardian style, characterised by red brick and detailed ornamentation such as sandstone banding and Tudor style timber relief. The stylish interiors have luxurious fittings and fixtures, such as doors inlaid with walnut and kitchen surfaces made from imported granite. Bathrooms feature designer labels such as Duravit Starck sanitary ware and Siemens and Hansgrohe chrome fittings.
Sterling Place, which also boasts a courtyard for residents to enjoy, is conveniently placed for commuting by both road and rail. Weybridge mainline station offers frequent 30-minute services into London Waterloo and the M25 and A3 are also close by, bringing London and Heathrow and Gatwick Airports close.

Prices for remaining homes at Sterling Place start from £475,000. The developer is also offering purchasers full value part-exchange or stamp duty paid, meaning that buyers do not need to pay estate agents’ fees. For sales enquiries call 0845 071 2073 or visit sterlingplaceweybridge.co.uk.
Antler Homes is building Danes Heath, a smart new development of five four-bedroom and two five-bedroom detached houses in the desirable Surrey village of Oxshott. The development is surrounded by protected greenbelt land and to the rear there are fantastic views of the open countryside.

Karen Lee-Brindle, sales director of Antler Homes Southern, comments, ‘Considering its close proximity to London, Surrey retains a surprisingly rural feel. Over one-third of the country has been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The selection of family homes we are building in Oxshott will offer home buyers the opportunity to live in a peaceful setting away from the hustle and bustle of London. However, it is also conveniently located for access to the centres of Guildford and Kingston and their excellent shopping and entertainment facilities.’
Living accommodation at Danes Heath comprises a kitchen/breakfast area with AEG stainless steel double oven, dishwasher and integrated fridge/freezer. In the five-bedroom properties there is an additional family room. The sitting room features French doors which lead out onto a patio area and rear garden. There is a separate dining room and home office and some of the houses also benefit from a conservatory. Upstairs, the master bedroom boasts an en suite bathroom and a dressing room in the four-bedroom houses. The front bedroom has an integral balcony and all homes boast a garage.
Homes at Danes Heath are situated less than half a mile away from the 200 acres of Oxshott Heath, an area ideal for walking, horse riding and other recreational activities. And transport-wise the development is ideal. Trains into London Waterloo take just 30 minutes, while junction 9 of the M25 is approximately one mile away. The village is also well located for both Gatwick and Heathrow Airports. Prices at Danes Heath start from £599,950. Call 01372 843848.

Barratt’s The Firs at Bexley Grange development, on the site of the former Bexley Hospital and its grounds in Bexley, Kent, has proved so popular with buyers that it is already 90 per cent sold out, weeks ahead of construction. Homes at the site range from one- and two-bedroom apartments to three- and four-bedroom town houses and up to six- and seven-bedroom detached houses with gardens and double garages.
The development is close to the A2 Rochester Way, which runs into central London and east towards Medway, rural Kent and Dover. It also connects with the M25, and the Dartford Crossing is less than two miles away, bringing Lakeside and Bluewater shopping centres within easy striking distance.
Barratt acquired the land from the local Oxleas NHS Trust and has demolished most of the existing buildings. The redevelopment is part of a major regeneration scheme involving two local Barratt divisions and other home builders. Wayne Clarke, sales director for Barratt South London, says, ‘The Firs has already proved a hit with home buyers. We’re providing great value for money and good designs in a location where there is obviously strong demand.’
All homes feature fully fitted kitchens, spacious living rooms and well-proportioned master bedrooms, some of which boast en suite bathrooms and/or walk-in wardrobes. Other desirable features include double glazing, front and rear gardens and private parking facilities.
Prices at The Firs start from £354,950 for a four-bedroom home. To find out more call the marketing suite, open daily between 10am and 6pm, on 01322 551080.

Hillreed Homes is currently offering three classic house types at its Orchard Place development in Iwade near Sittingbourne, Kent. Jo Richards, sales and marketing co-ordinator for Hillreed, says, ‘As a company we are aware that people like homes built in the local vernacular. They are proud to be resident in Kent and like to reflect this in the house styles. We also appreciate the changing needs of modern house buyers and take all this into account when deciding which house types are to be built.’ The homes on offer at Orchard Place are four-bedroom houses all with garages: the Amberley, the Nuthurst and the Queenborough styles.
Iwade itself is extremely convenient, and residents will benefit from not only its peaceful location but also its excellent transport links. It is within easy reach of Sittingbourne, the Medway towns and Maidstone as well as the M20 and M25 motorways.
Prices at Orchard Place start from £230,950 for the Amberley house type. Call 01795 435335 for more details.

Rydon Homes has recently launched The Gables, its superior development of houses in the historic village of Headcorn. Nestled amid mature trees, natural ponds and protected wildlife, phase one at the Gables comprises 20 two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom detached and terraced houses with gabled roofs in the traditional Kentish vernacular, carefully and sympathetically designed to become a natural addition to Headcorn and its historic properties.
Two ponds at The Gables, around which the homes are arranged, were identified by an environmental survey as an important breeding habitat for the great crested newt. Ann Fulker, sales and marketing director of Rydon Homes, says, ‘Conserving the environment in which we build has always been integral to the way in which Rydon approaches its development of new homes. We also take pride in designing homes which fit seamlessly into the existing environment.’
The Gables is close to the A247, connecting it to the county town of Maidstone, and is within 15 minutes of the M20 and its fast links to Ashord International Eurostar station. Prices start from £199,950. For further information call 01342 827098.

Fairclough is now offering The Chase in Sandhurst, where traditional three- and four-bedroom semi-detached homes are on offer from £294,950 and two-bedroom apartments from £179,950. These are highly specified homes complete with light fittings, curtains and blinds in an extremely convenient location close to the M3 motorway, which links with the M4 to provide access to the South West, Wales and central London. For more information call 0845 676 0163.

Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire

Boundary Park is a stylish development by Fairview, offering two-bedroom apartments as well as two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom houses. Fairview is currently offering a range of incentives to buyers, including five per cent deposit paid on many of the new homes, as well as legal fees, search fees and stamp duty paid. Prices range from £165,000 to £173,500. Call 01992 449039 for more information.

Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Only three homes remain at Millwood Homes’ Copperfields development, where purchasers will find one example each five-, six- and seven-bedroom detached homes still on the market. These homes are high-quality and very luxurious – and they boast breathtaking views over surrounding countryside. The Pantiles and the rail station are within one mile. Prices from £799,995. Contact Millwood on 01892 619353 for more information.

Reigate, Surrey

Barratt Homes is now open at The Coppice and The Gables, two stunning new gated developments set in landscaped gardens just a half mile from Reigate town centre. The Coppice comprises two- and three-bedroom cottages and two-bedroom apartments, while The Gables offers three-bedroom cottages and one- and two-bedroom apartments. Prices range from £209,995 to £484,995. Call 01737 246311.

Shoreditch, London

Telford Homes has sold 50 per cent of 90 Degrees, its new City development, within a week of launch. Offering just 19 contemporary one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments on Wheeler Street, an easy walk from Liverpool Street and Old Street tubes. Current availability is priced from £250,000 for a one-bedroom apartment; two-bedroom apartments start at £350,000. For further information call 0870 872 0987.

Whitechapel, London

Rydon Homes’ new Nordic Apartments on Cable street has just launched, with eager buyers already reserving their homes. The ultra-cool apartments are only 400m from the River Thames and just ten minutes from Canary Wharf, offering the best of London within walking distance. Prices currently start at £184,950. To find out more contact the sales and marketing suite on 020 7780 1580 of visit nordic-cool.co.uk.

Hampton, Middlesex

CDC2020 is selling exceptional two-bedroom apartments at its Hampton 55 development in Wellington Road. One-third have already been snapped up, as buyers have found their modern style and leafy surrounding a winning combination. Each apartment has individual spec and commuting is easy from nearby Fulwell station. Call the sales and marketing suite on 020 8977 8853 or selling agents Featherstone Leigh on 020 8946 4044.


Watford, Hertfordshire

Linden Homes is offering to pay customers at its Cassio Mansions development £500 a month for two years – to be used towards mortgage payments, furniture or anything else they wish to spend it on. Cassio Mansions has a range of stunning two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments with secure undercroft parking and on-site concierge. Conditions apply. Call 01923 229229 to find out more about the apartments and the offer.

Docklands, London

Royal Quay is a £100 million development by Furlong City, where a recently unveiled two-bedroom show apartment shows the quality of workmanship and design available in every home in this regeneration project. Homes will range from one-bedroom apartments to three-bedroom penthouses. Prices currently start from £214,500. The show apartment is open daily from 11am to 6pm. Call 020 7055 0141 or visit furlongcity.co.uk.

Despite the price rises of the last decade, there are still good homes for under £250,000. Johnny Turner shows you where to find them.

The housing market only works as an investment if you can find a way into it. Price rises may have finally peaked for this market cycle but that is of little comfort to many prospective first-time buyers, who feel they have been left behind by the