New Homes - May, 2007

A riverside location is a huge bonus for home buyers. Johnny Turner takes a boat from Battersea to Woolwich and admires the best new builds by the Thames.

The Thames is London’s treasure, inspiring – and even occasionally transporting – us as it winds towards its estuary and the North Sea beyond. Homes on the river are extremely sought-after; after all, who would tire of the views, the walks, the centralness that the Thames brings?
Developers are falling over themselves to convert precious square footage on the banks of the Thames, and are not short of interested buyers even before the structures themselves even exist. A tour of the latest newly built homes on London’s coveted riverside shows why.
Let’s start upstream and let the tide take us eastward. In Putney, St George has recently released the final phase at Putney Wharf. Castle Court offers one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments adjacent to Putney Bridge, which are accessed through a spacious gated and landscaped courtyard with central water feature.

The apartments are designed with the style-conscious in mind, with impressive custom designed kitchens featuring integrated appliances and granite worktops. A limited number of unique loft-style apartments and penthouses benefit from an even more advanced specification. Security is excellent, with CCTV to strategic areas, a video entry system and 24-hour concierge.
The Putney Wharf location means residents will enjoy a continental-style riverside piazza with a variety of restaurants, including the renowned Rocket Riverside, Carluccio’s, Tootsies and the Boat House. This fabulous buying destination has it all – much-coveted riverside space, high style and the convenience of nearby tube and railway stations.
Prices at Castle Court start at £299,950. For more information contact the Putney Wharf marketing suite on 020 8788 0212.

George Wimpey City presents the spectacular Falcon Wharf, located in an enviable Thames-side location in Battersea. The 124 apartments in the landmark 17-storey glass-fronted building is sure to be one of the most impressive sites on what is already one of the most breathtaking riverside stretches in the capital.

Find out about prices and availability by calling selling agents Hamptons International on 0870 990 7599.
Ballymore’s Ontario Tower at New Providence Wharf is the innovative, skyscraping building which is to redefine the notion of Thames-side space. Its collection of homes caters for the owner-occupier and the rental investor who is looking for a swish, low-maintenance location in an extremely desirable riverside spot.

The tower’s 29 stories will be filled with not only one- and two-bedroom apartments but also luxury studios and suites, which cater to London residents’ growing preference for ‘hotel-like’ living. In each apartment space is used beautifully, providing what a resident needs to a truly 21st-century lifestyle. The specification is extremely high, and Ontario Tower will be linked to an eight-storey riverside hotel, which will include a total of 180 rooms as well as a range of restaurants, bars and health spas. Purchasers will be able to take advantage of a full range of facilities associated with hotel living, including an on-site gymnasium and a 24-hour concierge, who will be on hand to provide a full complement of services including cleaning services, grocery delivery and catering.
Remaining apartments in Ontario Tower are priced from £219,000 for a four-floor suite and from £580 for a stunning two-bedroom tenth-floor apartment. For further information contact the sales and marketing suite on 07000 701 701 or visit newprovidencetv.com.

Just around the next bend in the Thames from Ontario Tower is the very successful Greenwich Millennium Village (GMV), which has a new phase, called Union, on sale now. Union is composed of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments set around a landscaped courtyard. Nature is everywhere; nearby are acres of parkland and there is also an ecology park towards the Thames.

The designers of the latest phase, and master planners of the Village, are Erskine Tovatt Architects, an internationally renowned practice based in Sweden and led by one of architecture's great innovators Ralph Erskine. Buildings at Union use a palette of warm coloured render, decorative brickwork and timber cladding, derived from sustainable resources, to create a lively irregular appearance with cascading terraces, balconies and/or private sundecks to many apartments. The scheme incorporates a wide variety of apartment types including duplex properties with over-height room space
Apartment interiors are light and airy, and living areas are generally provided with fully glazed doors to balconies and terraces, providing a natural connection between interior and exterior space. Open-plan kitchen and dining areas – and even sliding walls in some homes – have been designed to allow space to be adapted in an instant. Elegant, neutral décor creates an atmosphere of understated calmness, detailed with a mixture of contemporary fixtures and finishes.

Union apartments feature a modern, high-quality specification. From fully fitted kitchens packed with energy efficient appliances to elegant mirrored bathrooms with contemporary wooden panelling and chrome fittings, materials and finishes are combined to create living spaces that are both stylish and practical. And while the Greenwich Peninsula has been planned to create a less car-dependent environment, a number of parking spaces will be provided, beneath the central landscaped courtyard.
One-bedroom apartments are priced from £190,000, two-bedroom apartments start at £250,000 and three-bedroom apartments are priced from £260,000. A range of incentives is currently being offered, including five per cent deposit paid on one-bedroom apartments, stamp duty and legal fees paid and part-exchange.
The marketing suite is located at 25–26 Maurer Court on John Harrison Way. It is open Mondays from 1pm to 6pm, Thursday and Friday from 10am to 6pm and Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 5pm. Call 020 8293 6900 for more information.

The Royal Arsenal in Woolwich is a fantastic example of reclaimed land being transformed into an extremely desirable London residence. And with the launch of Reflection, the next phase of riverside apartments in this very successful development, those in the market for a smart, well-connected home will find much to celebrate.

Slightly elevated to add stature and enhance the outlook across the River Thames, Reflection is a seven-storey structure built around a shallow lagoon incorporating lush water plants. The building features extensive glazing and steel and glass balconies, while the use of honeyed brick and Staffordshire blue brick to the lower elevations, which ingeniously appears to reflect the water below.
The apartments offer well planned internal space, with an innovative and contemporary specification, including Cuisine Schmidt designer fitted kitchens with granite worktops and Villeroy and Boch white bathroom suites. There are other modern touches such as pull-up power points set into the kitchen work surfaces, allowing for neater presentation when stowed away.
Residents at Royal Arsenal have access to lovely riverside walks and a new park which will open up the site’s traditional parades and streets once more.

Royal Arsenal is at the vanguard of the reinvention of the eastern Thames, with its painstaking restoration of historic buildings and the construction of sympathetic new structures. Transport is good and getting better; the DLR extension will bring peak-time trains at four-minute intervals and will reduce the journey time to the West End by 30 minutes. Buyers who work on the City or Canary Wharf – or investment buyers who wish to cater to this very populous tenant market – will find the location idea.
Prices start at £150,000 for a studio apartment. Get further sales information by calling the sales and marketing suite, open daily from 10am to 6pm, on 020 8331 7272. You may also visit berkeleyhomes.co.uk.

Crest Nicholson’s award-winning Ingress Park at Greenhithe, Kent, is ideally placed not only for those who want to be near the Thames but for dedicated shoppers. With Bluewater, the UK’s premier retail and leisure facility just minutes away, it is hard to imagine a more convenient placement for a collection of smart new homes.
The developer has transformed the grounds of Ingress Abbey into 950 one- and two-bedroom apartments and two-, three- and four-bedroom houses adjacent to the Thames. The latest phase at Ingress Park is phase two of The Waterfront, a collection of one- and two-bedroom apartments overlooking the banks of the river. The views are spectacular and all apartments have open-plan living. Designer kitchens feature integrated Bosch appliances and bathrooms have pure white sanitaryware from Villeroy and Boch with chrome fittings by Hansgroe.
Across each of the three apartment buildings are expansive two-bedroom duplex apartments measuring 1,076 sq ft. These amazing apartments have vaulted ceilings and galleried master bedrooms as well as spacious balconies with gorgeous river views.

Prices at Ingress Park start from £160,000 for a one-bedroom apartment and £195,000 for a two-bedroom apartment; houses are priced from £235,000, £300,000 and £320,000 for a two-bedroom, three-bedroom and four-bedroom home respectively. Call the marketing suite on 01322 385050 or visit ingresspark.co.uk.

The quality of life in the towns to the west of London is drawing more buyers every year. Johnny Turner finds out why.

Middlesex contains some of today’s most popular buying destinations, from Thames-side Teddington and Isleworth to the leafy, suburban bliss of Northwood and Pinner. Well-connected, reasonably priced and genteel, this part of the South East is well worth a look.

Beginning our tour in Hampton, only one apartment remains in CDC2020’s Hampton 55 development of two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments. As an incentive to the lucky buyer, the developer is offering some attractive incentives, such as purchase costs covered and a valuable furniture package thrown in. The apartment is fully carpeted and has its own parking bay. One of the best things about this home is that it is ready to move into – so Christmas in a stylish new home is within the realm of possibility.
Hampton is a very sought-after area, with beautiful open parkland and lovely homes. Convenience is another plus: with Fulwell train station just a short walk from the development, London commuters will find travelling into the capital an easy proposition. Hampton Court, with its riverside lifestyle and good shopping, is an easy drive away.

Another Hampton development worth investigating is Try Homes’ Park View. As the name suggests, this collection of two-bedroom apartments and duplexes and three-bedroom apartments boasts an enviable location adjoining beautiful 1,000-acre Bushy Park. The parkside aspect is augmented by the fresh, innovative architectural elevations, which in turn are complemented by the stylish interiors. Some apartments boast terraces and balconies, while all have allocated parking within this gated development.

The Hampton Hill location means residents are well connected by both road and rail. Kingston is approximately four miles away; major roads and motorways, including the A3, M3, M4 and M25 are all easily accessible. For rail travellers, Fulwell station is only a ten-minute walk away.
Prices at Park View currently range from £209,950 to £324,500. For further information contact 020 8943 4385.
The remaining apartment is priced at just £299,950. Call 202 8977 8853 or visit cdc2020.com.

In Isleworth, Rushmon Homes is offering another last-chance situation for buyers with the well-designed town houses at its Abbey Mews development in London Road. Each home has three bedrooms (one with en suite facilities), as well as a cloakroom and integral garage. Living space includes a dining area to the kitchen, as well as a first-floor living room.
Only two of these mews-style town houses remain for sale, each priced at £430,950. Abbey Mews also includes six apartments, all of which have been snapped up. The development is set behind gates for good security and it also borders the wonderful 200-acre Syon Park. This is a fantastic location for families, away from the hustle and bustle of London yet only 40 minutes from Waterloo station by train. There are also good schools and plenty of activities nearby for all ages.
For more information on the final homes at Abbey Mews call 020 8847 2847 or visit rushmonhomes.co.uk.

Also in Isleworth, Linden Homes has launched its modern development Mode, which will comprise stunning three-bedroom houses and two-bedroom apartments. The diversity and quality of Mode will draw all buyer types, from first-timers and professionals to investors, growing families and downsizers.
Helen Todd, sales and marketing director of Linden Homes Chilterns, says, ‘We’re extremely excited to be launching Mode. We expect the development to be very popular with a large number of interested parties already registered with us.

‘Mode offers a highly specified collection of homes in a fantastic location, close to central London and major road and rail links. Buying off-plan means purchasers can be involved in the specification of their home. For example, you can choose the carpets and floorings or upgrade the appliances to suit your own requirements.’
All homes at Mode have fully fitted designer kitchens from Symphony with De Dietrich appliances and ceramic floor tiles. Bathrooms and en suites will provide the ultimate place to relax with pristine white sanitaryware and chrome finishes.
Picturesque Isleworth is a riverside location with a host of fantastic shops, restaurants and leisure attractions – and as Richmond, Kingston and London are on the doorstep, the leisure and retail options are endless.
Prices for the homes at Mode start at £277,950. For further information contact Linden Homes Chiltern on 01895 827447 or visit lindenhomes.co.uk.

In well-connected Edgware Michael Shanly Homes is offering luxury apartments at its new Lavender Court development, which is already attracting great buyer interest. The luxury two- and three-bedroom apartments are within easy walking distance of Edgware’s Northern Line tube station, with its frequent services into central London. Mill Hill Broadway rail station is also close by, widening residents’ commuter options even further. For those who commute by car the M1, M11, A1 and M25 are all within easy reach – and the development boasts secure underground parking.
Lavender Court is also convenient for Edgware’s Boardwalk shopping centre, while sporty types will enjoy the nearby Barnet Copthall sports centre in Mill Hill and the Welsh Harp sailing base in West Hendon.

Set in mature landscaped gardens, Lavender Court comprises two apartment blocks finished to a high specification. All apartments have lounge/diners and there is an en suite to the master bedroom along with a main bathroom. Many have a balcony leading off the lounge which overlooks the gardens.
Luxury kitchens are fully fitted with all modern integrated stainless steel appliances, including fridge/freezer, dishwasher and washer/dryer. Bathrooms are equally impressive, with stylish white sanitaryware and chrome taps. There is a video entry system to the apartments.
The new designer show home is open daily from 10am to 5pm. Prices start at £364,950. Call Preston Bennett New Homes on 020 8954 8626 or visit prestonbennett.co.uk.

Laing Homes has several high-quality developments currently on the market. Starting in Enfield, Jerome Walk is a stylish collection of one- and two-bedroom apartments and three-bedroom houses. Located close to local amenities and with good transport links – and priced from just £157,500 – these properties are ideal for first-time buyers looking for a contemporary new home. Jerome Walk is also perfect for investors; prospective tenants will be impressed by the easy commuter options, with Brimsdown station and the bus terminus just two minutes’ walk away.

Purchasers also have the ability to design the home of their dreams, with Laing Homes’ unique Homestyle service. This allows buyers to upgrade and design their property to meet their needs. And the opportunity to view the home at the architect’s-drawing stage puts buyers in a strong position from the standpoints of price and choice. Those interested in finding out more about Jerome Walk should call 020 8804 1036.

Another Laing Homes development is Woodgate Court, located in sought-after Ruislip. This collection of highly individual one- and two-bedroom apartments offers the irresistible combination of attractive contemporary architecture, inspired interior design, high specification and landscaped grounds.
The select development is superbly placed to take advantage of Ruislip’s wide selection of bars, eateries and shopping facilities. And commuting to London is simple; from South Ruislip tube station a journey to Tottenham Court Road takes only 35 minutes. By road, the A40 gives a direct route into London and connects to the M40.
Prices start at £229,995 and there are currently some very attractive incentives being offered, including a ‘move in for £99’ deal. For more information on these incentives and the homes at Woodgate Court, contact the sales and marketing suite, open daily from 10am to 5pm, on 020 8845 2475.

Bryant Homes’ stylish Grand Union Village (GUV) development from Taylor Woodrow, a modern urban village set alongside the Grand Union Canal in Northolt, offers homes ranging from one-bedroom apartments to five-bedroom houses set in over 54 acres of sensitively landscaped grounds.
Once complete, GUV’s sustainable urban development will consist of a mixture of 700 houses and apartments, including 35 per cent of affordable houses for key workers such as teachers and nurses. Community provisions will include a health centre, retail outlets, a restaurant, 20 acres of public open space, community halls and new footpaths and cycle ways.

One- and two-bedroom apartments canalside apartments at Phase H1 and three-bedroom houses and two-bedroom apartments at The Boulevard are currently available; the next phase to be released with be The Crescent, a collection of 40 three-, four- and five-bedroom semi-detached houses.
For more information visit the marketing suite, located in Broadmead Road, Northolt. The marketing suite is open seven days a week from 9.30am to 5.00pm. Call 020 8841 8247 or visit grandunionvillage.com.

Isle of Sheppey, Kent

At Saxon View in Minster, Bovis is selling a selection of stylish two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom homes which will suit a variety of purchasers. The Shaw coach house, a two-bedroom home, is perfect for the first-time buyer, while the five-bedroom Hartleigh is a classic design given a contemporary three-floor layout. The top floor of the Hartleigh contains, along with bedroom five, an incredibly versatile studio space which can be used as a large office, a playroom or even a separate sitting area for the children.  All the homes have a fitted kitchen complete with oven, hob and hood, washer/ dryer, fridge/ freezer, and a choice of co-ordinating wall tiles. Fitted wardrobes are included in some of the bedrooms. The new £100 million bridge being built over the River Swale opens next summer, providing improved access to the island for residents and holidaymakers. Saxon View is situated on the outskirts of Minister, set on a hill in the heart of the island. The development features large areas of open space, cycleways and landscaped walkways. The island is made up of a number of interesting areas, featuring traditional seaside resorts and natural wildlife habitats. Local countryside provides spectacular views of the four surrounding waterways – the Medway, the Swales, the Thames and the North Sea. Contact sales manager Barbara Clampitt on 01795 876972.

Brighton, West Sussex

At Berkeley’s newly launched The Residence, half of the two-bedroom apartments in the first phase are already sold. Set in a prime location opposite Preston Park, The Residence offers just 30 two-bedroom apartments, with private underground car parking. Central Brighton is about ten minutes’ drive away. Buyers can choose between various degrees of open-plannedness, and most apartments have balconies. Prices range from £295,000 to £495,000. Call 01273 552389.

Slough, Berkshire

Only three two-bedroom apartments remain at Linden Homes’ Neo development, located in Wrexham Road in the centre of this buzzing town. Neo is ideal for those who want  modern styling, easy commuting and an affordable price, whether to occupy yourself or let out as an investment. Each apartment offers spacious open-plan accommodation and high specification. Prices range from £199,950 to £209,950. For more information call 01753 692689.

Leatherhead, Surrey

Barratt’s Kingston Square is located just a few minutes’ drive from junction 9 of the M25, making for easy commuting. The 40 one- and two-bedroom apartments are set in landscaped grounds. Each apartment has an allocated parking space – and most of the two-bedroom apartments benefit from two parking spaces. Barratt offers attractive incentives for investors and other buyers. Prices from £194,995. Call 01372 383338.

Morden, Surrey

KingsOak announces a forthcoming development of apartments to be converted from a former Vauxhall dealership. The present structure will be reborn as three, four-storey blocks of imaginatively designed apartments, one of which will have a selection of retail and commercial units on the ground floor. For further information on the new homes at Green Lane, and to register your interest call KingsOak Southern Counties on 01932 349740.

Newbury, Berkshire

Templars Mead is a collection of two-bedroom semi-detached properties situated on Gore End Road, four miles from Newbury and surrounded by beautiful countryside. The homes have fully integrated kitchens with stainless steel oven and integrated washing machines. Master bedrooms have en suite bathrooms, while externally there are turfed front and rear gardens. Priced from £250,000. Show home open Thursday to Monday. Call Antler Homes on 0845 676 0137.

Wokingham, Berkshire

Millgate Homes is soon to unveil Braybrook, a new development of just seven two-bedroom apartments and one one-bedroom apartment. The apartments, on Finchampstead Road, will feature airy, open-plan living areas and high specification. Prices start at £175,000. Off-plan sales will begin at 10am on 12 November from the developer’s Warfield Chase sales office and show home off Westmorland Drive. Call 0118 979 7775.