WhatHouse? Southern June 2016

l r, or ca e o lo ap r d ur y p ou Yo ert to y op d pr ere liv de London & Southern Edition June 2016

HOME IMPROVEMENTS P3 LONDON NEW HOMES P14 MORTGAGES P21 INTERIORS P51 GARDENING P56

Better than one – our pick of twobedroom homes P6

It could be you

Wentworth Homes – property of

– our 16-page affordable homes supplement P23

the month P10

One of the most exclusive addresses in Mill Hill.

Computer generated illustration indicative only.

Final elegantly appointed apartments now released

Completions from March 2016

Available to view

Information Centre and Showhomes open daily 10am - 5pm

2 and 3 bedroom apartments from £875,000 - £1,850,000 For further information telephone 01753 336594, email sales.oxford@berkeleyhomes.co.uk or visit www.stjosephsgate.co.uk St Joseph’s Gate, Lawrence Street, Mill Hill, London, NW7 4JZ

London, Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, Isle of Wight – Find your new home at Whathouse.com

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Find photos, floorplans and school catchment areas of over 500 New Homes in more than 30 sites across Surrey on our website www.curchods.com 2

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4 Esher £3,250,000

What House DPS.indd 5

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St George’s Hill, Weybridge £7,500,000

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Weybridge £2,499,000

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Burwood Park, Walton £4,950,000

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Burwood Park, Walton £3,150,000 |

24/03/2016 15:59:39

home improvements 3

Find your new home at whathouse.com/new-homes

50 ways to make your F home more saleable

Welcome!

If finding a new home isn’t a problem, maybe selling your current one is?

Stormclad has come up with 50 suggested ways to bring your home up to another level for visiting house-hunters KITCHEN 1

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1. Replace cabinet doors and/or door handles 2. Replace cheap appliances e.g. toasters and kettles 3. Add moldings to cabinet fronts 4. Clean the inside (and outside) of the oven

BEDROOMS AND LIVING AREAS

GENERAL 23

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BEFORE PEOPLE VISIT 38

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10. Wash cushion covers 11. Invest in new duvet covers 12. Add decorative cushions to beds 13. Sand and polish tired wooden furniture 14. Cover worn sofas with throws

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OUTSIDE 15

BATHROOM 5

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5. Replace taps 6. Throw out any half-used products 7. Buy (and use) a shower caddy 8. Store towels rolled up 9. Replace the shower curtain

15. Mow your lawn 16. Plant flowers 17. Get rid of cobwebs 18.

Pressure wash your and driveway 19. Replace house numbers 20. Add hanging pots 21. Clean your windows 22. Paint your front door

patio

23. Clean carpets 24. Paint walls 25. C reate a sense of space by removing excess furniture 26. Get rid of, or hide your clutter 27. D o (and put away) the washing up 28. Clean your curtains or blinds 29. I nstall uplights to highlight your home’s best features (such as fireplaces) 30. I f you have an unused room, stage it – as an office, a kid’s playroom, etc.

31. Buy new, brighter light bulbs 32. Fill vases with fresh flowers 33. Remove family photos 34. Add artwork 35. Replace light shades 36. H ang mirrors (bigger is generally better) 37. C lean, clean, then clean some more!

38. Open blinds/curtains 39. O pen windows (unless you live on a noisy road!)

40. O pen internal doors to help light flow through the home 41. L eave pets with a friend or neighbour 42. S pray air freshener, light scented candles, or bake bread 43. Tidy up 44. Empty bins 45. Close toilet seats 46. Make the beds 47. L ight your fireplace (if you have one, and it’s not summer) 48. Fluff the sofa cushions 49. Arrange decorative cushions 50. I n winter, set your thermostat to a comfortable temperature (about 20 °C)

Need help to get your home up to scratch? Find the best professional tradesemen at www.whathouse.com/ suppliers-directory

r many in the property o industry – as in other walks of life – June is pretty much all about Brexit. The run-up to the national referendum has had a stagnating effect as people, whether in the Leave or Remain camps or as yet undecided, wait to see what the result is before taking the plunge.

From what we’ve learnt from some of our industry contacts, most believe we would be better off staying. At WhatHouse?, we’re not taking sides, but we do look forward to a decisive result so that, whatever the outcome, everyone knows where they stand and can make a move accordingly.

Away from Europe, our own supplement this month throws the spotlight on ‘affordable’ homes.

The divide between earnings and property prices is particularly acute in London and the South East, which is where government schemes such as Shared Ownership and Help to Buy have attracted so much interest over the past few years.

The government announced its Starter Home Initiative last year, where it will relax rules and costs on developers so that the latter can build homes sooner and at a lower price to young first-time buyers.

Fine detail on this scheme is yet to become clear, but recent research from industry colleagues at Inside Housing shows around a third of Britain’s councils are worried that emphasis on this new scheme may compromise the viability of building the required number of homes under the established initiatives – essentially borrowing from Peter to pay Paul.

We’d hope that this is a misunderstanding and that local government can be clearly advised that funds and resources will meet existing demands and the higher levels generated by the new government scheme.

Other recent news from Cambridge stated that some 4,000 homes had been lost from affordable stock through the Right to Buy scheme, where long-term tenants are able to purchase their council home at a competitive price.

While Cambridge really is a leading property hotspot these days, and demand for homes is duly high there, it is indicative of the longterm effects of that 1980s policy, particularly as our annual build of new homes has diminished so much.

Let’s hope all the government schemes, and some industry innovation, can improve the affordability of homes for many more people over the next few years.

Keith

Keith Osborne, editor. ko@whathouse.com @keithosborne69

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Rupert Bates, editorial director of WhatHouse? has been a property journalist for 25 years. He is an award-winning writer who started on local newspapers before becoming a columnist on The Daily Telegraph. He presents the annual WhatHouse?

Awards, edits leading housebuilding magazine Show House and is property correspondent of The Field magazine.

A chance to win £50 It couldn’t be simpler – just ‘follow’ us on Twitter (@What_House) One of our new followers from 1 - 30 June 2016 will win £50 in Marks and Spencer vouchers

Keith Osborne started writing about property 14 years ago and has been editor of Whathouse. com since 2010. He is currently a columnist in housebuilding trade magazine Show House and has previously written for Homes Overseas magazine. He has also been a part of the WhatHouse? Awards judging panel for a number of years.

Managing director Daniel Hill Editorial director Rupert Bates Editor Keith Osborne ko@whathouse.com Chief sub-editor Suzanne Frost Designer Sarah Davies Contributors Nick Parkhouse Richenda Oldham Fiona Brandhorst Helen Christie Sales director Adrian Talbot at@globespanmedia.com Senior sales manager Bob Faulkner bf@whathouse.com Sales Charles Spiteri cs@whathouse.com

Cover photo: Harltey Row Park in Hartley Wintney, Hampshire, courtesy of Bewley Homes, 01252 842578

Published by: Globespan Media Limited, 291-299 Borough High Street, London SE1 1JG T: 020 7940 1070 E: info@globespanmedia.com W: www.whathouse.com Printed by 39zero / Distributed by Royal Mail © 2016 Globespan Media Limited WhatHouse?, ISSN: 02691310

What House?

@What_House

No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior written permission from the publishers.

The greatest care has been taken to ensure accuracy but the publishers cannot accept responsibility for errors and omissions.

NHBC – the mark of a quality home Before you buy a new home, make sure it has Buildmark, which provides you with 10 years’ warranty and insurance. Then you’ll know it’s good quality and that your investment is protected.

0844 633 1000 www.nhbcnewhomes.co.uk

NHBC is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.

NHBC is registered in England and Wales under company number 00320784. NHBC’s registered address is NHBC House, Davy Avenue, Knowlhill, Milton Keynes, Bucks, MK5 8FP. J441 09/15

6 six appeal

Find your new home at whathouse.com/new-homes

So Old School, Stepney, E1 From £679,995 The final two-bedroom homes are now for sale at this conversion of the 19th century school building at the popular So Stepney development. For lovers of London’s green spaces, there are at least half a dozen within a 20-minute stroll from these homes.

Peter Knights, sales director of Bellway Homes Thames Gateway, comments: “Having access to so much greenery and open space is a rarity in some areas of central London, so residents at So Stepney are very well placed to be able to enjoy so much and reap the health benefits of spending more time in the great outdoors.”

These homes are based on openplan living and also provide large double bedrooms. In the larger apartments, master

bedrooms also have en suite shower rooms and fitted wardrobes.

Nearby are chic Shoreditch and Brick Lane, while Stratford City Westfield provides shops, eateries and a cinema and all the facilities of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park are also easy to reach.

Commuters at So Stepney are well served by public transport links from underground stations at Mile End and Stepney Green, while Whitechapel also offers Overground and, from 2018, Crossrail.

From: Bellway Contact: 0845 459 5021

Six appeal

Our pick of the very best new two-bedroom apartments for sale Acacia, Isleworth, Hounslow, TW7 From £160,000 (40% share)

Plot 5, Clarendon Court, Winchester, Hampshire • £595,000

Thames Valley Housing has a proven track record providing high-quality homes at an affordable level, having won Gold in 2015 for its Russell Square development in Horley, Surrey in the Best Starter Home category.

This development in west London has a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments available with the Shared Ownership scheme, allowing buyers to purchase an initial stake in their home and pay a subsidised rent on the balance. There’s an option to buy further shares (‘staircasing’) as and when the buyer can afford them.

At Acacia, Thames Valley Housing has completely refurbished an existing threestorey red brick building to create a range of

The final two-bedroom apartment at this exclusive development is now for sale, a ground floor property boasting an impressive kitchen/sitting room with French doors opening onto a private patio, master bedroom with en suite and fitted wardrobes, and a separate family bathroom.

Nicki Dennis, sales and marketing director for CALA Homes (South Home Counties), says: “Winchester was recently named as the best place to live in Britain by the Sunday Times so it’s no surprise that there has been such high demand for the homes at Clarendon Court. This small development offers high quality homes, close to a wide variety of local amenities and with excellent

two-bedroom apartments, with one-bedroom apartments on a newly built storey on top.

The homes have a good specification, with fitted kitchen, appliances, built-in wardrobes and allocated parking and cycle storage.

Kush Rawal, sales and marketing director at Thames Valley Housing, says: “Acacia provides a fantastic opportunity for buyers looking to get their first step on the property ladder. With the recent shake up in the Shared Ownership rules, more buyers than ever are eligible and we’re expecting very high interest in these stunning homes.”

From: Thames Valley Housing Contact: 020 8607 0550

transport links for commuters.

“With just one apartment now available I’d urge anyone interested to come and talk to us soon to avoid missing out on their dream new home.”

Winchester’s appeal includes a wealth of historic sites, a fine collection of national and independent shops, numerous leisure facilities and proximity to the South Downs National Park.

The marketing suite and show apartment are open from Thursday to Monday, from 10.00am to 5.00pm.

From: CALA Homes Contact: 01962 862148

For the latest on the property market

six appeal 7

@What_House

The White House, Bushey Heath, Hertfordshire From £699,950

Phase II of this popular development features 12 twobedroom luxury apartments in a popular village location.

Jason Rishover, chief executive for Heronslea Group, remarks: “The White House was a landmark development for the area setting a new benchmark for new homes in Bushey, and Phase II is no exception. Each home benefits from exceptional attention to detail, and also the use of the latest technology, making them homes that more than keep pace with 21stcentury lifestyle.”

This modern building extends over four floors, with the upper levels providing views of the valley and surrounding countryside.

It provides gated underground parking and a video entry/alarm system fitted to each home, and is

ideally located close to a range of shops, parks and transport links.

The specification includes underfloor heating, multi-room wiring for Sky and audiovisual systems, high ceilings, ample storage, luxury kitchens with softclose drawers, glass splashbacks and composite stone worktops, Siemens appliances and two underground parking spaces per property.

The White House Phase II is located close to Bushey High Street and only 15 minutes’ drive from Watford town centre. Bushey Overground station is close by and provides direct access into London Euston in 20 minutes.

From: Heronslea Group Contact:020 8954 8626 (Preston Bennett)

The Vista Collection, Park Heights, Stockwell, SW9 From £635,000 Prime Place Sevenoaks, Sevenoaks, Kent Guide price £399,995 These one- and two-bedroom apartments are within minutes of the station and close to the town centre, providing a convenient spot for commuters to comsider.

A conversion of a former office building, the scheme offers its residents a dedicated concierge service, a business suite and private parking.

Many of the apartments have Juliet balconies, and some on the upper levels enjoy long-distance views over the North Downs. Each

apartment also comes with a parking space, and every resident has access to the communal, split-level garden at the centre of the blocks.

Sue Gresswell, sales and marketing director at Prime Place, says: “Sevenoaks has long been a hotspot for commuters seeking to live in a vibrant town in the countryside with quick access to London. Demand for high-quality homes in the town is very strong and we are delighted to offer

this fantastic collection of new apartments.”

From Sevenoaks station there are frequent services, with journey times of just 26 minutes to London Bridge, 28 minutes to Cannon Street and 31 minutes to Charing Cross. By car, Junction 5 of the M25 is within a few miles.

From: Prime Place Contact: 01732 280801 (Hamptons International)

There are few remaining twobedroom apartments at this south London scheme, with 80% already sold. The Vista Collection properties are on floors 15 to 19 of the Park Heights tower, located right next to Slade Gardens and the Stockwell Park Conservation Area.

Each of these apartments has a large private balcony offering panoramic views across the London skyline and a relaxing spot perfect for entertaining friends and family in the warmer weather. Residents also have exclusive use of the private Sky Garden – an outdoor communal terrace on the 20th floor.

The spacious, 791 sq ft two-

bedroom apartments feature high-gloss white kitchens, with matt glass splashbacks and Siemens appliances. The chic bathrooms are thoroughly modern and underfloor heating runs throughout for maximum comfort.

Brixton is less than a mile away, while Stockwell itself is also blessed with excellent transport links – in fact, these apartments are equidistant from Brixton and Stockwell Underground stations, both of which are on the Victoria Line.

From: Network Living Contact: 0344 809 2026

8 london

For the latest on the property market

@What_House

Stunning new properties released at Fitzrovia scheme A seven-figure price tag for these central new luxury homes

O

a kmayne Bespoke has launched a new three-bedroom show apartment and a new three-bedroom duplex penthouse at its central London scheme The Fitzbourne, in fashionable Fitzrovia.

The development is the conversion of a corner-positioned brick-andstone Victorian building, with each apartment within boasting a thoroughly luxurious specification to match its prime location.

The 1,615 sq ft apartment six is on the market for £3.95m, while the ‘Bolsover’ penthouse is priced at £6.25m.

The apartment’s entrance hall leads to the open-plan living area

and kitchen, with an additional utility laundry room, a guest shower and bathroom. The property has two double en suite bedrooms, and a third bedroom accessible both from the entrance hall and through sliding pocket doors in the main living area. This room can alternatively be used as a home office, cinema room or snug.

A triple-aspect, open-plan kitchen, dining and living area has been given a muted grey wood finish, with splashes of copper and some statement art highlights. The bespoke kitchen, with granite work surfaces, is complemented by a six-seat dining table, making it a perfect entertaining space.

The master bedroom suite has a separate walk-in wardrobe/dressing room and marble-finished en suite bathroom.

The ‘Bolsover’ penthouse is located in the top two floors of the building, with a roof terrace in addition to in 2,519 sq ft interior. The duplex property has an elegant neutral colour palette and an interior design that mixes luxurious materials and bespoke artwork.

The focal point of the two-storey residence is a marble and glass

balustrade spiral staircase which leads into a grand open-plan living area, with built-in cinema-style television and a corner bay-window seating. The fitted kitchen has bronze metallicfinish wall units, Princess White Italian marble work surfaces and integrated Miele appliances. There is a separate dining room which can comfortably accommodate 12 people.

There’s a flexible guest suite on the lower floor of the penthouse, while the specious master bedroom has a seating area and separate dressing room, along with a generous en suite bathroom.

The second bedroom also has an en suite facility.

Another spiral staircase leads to the roof terrace, with views across the central London skyline and room for eight to dine comfortably.

A Crestron automated home system, which can be controlled via an iPad or Android app, takes care of music, lighting and security throughout the property.

‘Bolsover’ penthouse clockwise from top left: open-plan living; roof terrace; master bedroom en suite and kitchen dining room

Find out more at www.thefitzbourne. com; 020 7486 8866 (Carter Jonas), 020 7420 3050 (CBRE), 020 3527 0400 (Savills)

Creating new communities across the South Inland Homes are currently regenerating areas across the South providing quality homes with an emphasis on design and sustainability.

Visit our website to discover more www.inlandhomes.co.uk Carter’s Quay, Poole An exciting new waterside development adjoining Poole Harbour with views over the iconic Twin Sails Bridge.

1 & 2 bedroom apartments and 2, 3 & 4 bedroom houses High specification throughout Available with Help to Buy - you only need a 5% deposit* Superb incentive packages available**

2 bedroom apartments from £224,950 SHOWHOUSE OPEN DAILY FROM 10AM TO 5PM

COMING SOON - Meridian Waterside, Southampton This eagerly awaited collection of 1, 2 & 3 bedroom apartments and 3 bedroom houses on the banks of the River Itchen is launching this year. As a catalyst for the regeneration of the area, Meridian Waterside will include an excellent specification creating superb new homes for investors, first time buyers and families.

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST TODAY!

For further details please call 01494 762450 or email sales@inlandhomes.co.uk *Subject to meeting Help to Buy criteria. **Subject to Terms & Conditions.

Photographs depict the apartments at Carter’s Quay. Computer generated illustration of Meridian Waterside is indicative only

‘Apartment 6’ clockwise from top left: kitchen; living area; master bedroom and bathroom

ISLAND

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10 property of the month

Find your new home at whathouse.com/new-homes

More than par for the course T

A new executive family home comes to Sunningdale

h ere’s little doubt that the village of Sunningdale has a reputation as one of the finest residential addresses not just in Berkshire, but in the Home Counties and the whole of Britain.

Arguably best known for its worldclass golf club, with its Old and New courses, Sunningdale has a superb mix of period homes and newly built property. The new one-off residence from Wentworth Homes, known as Dunmaston, is a worthy addition to the housing stock, taking its place on a quiet private road close to the heart of the village.

With an exterior design nodding towards some of its older neighbours, this five-bedroom home has been given a thoroughly 21st-century interior, both in terms of its layout and the specification throughout.

Underfloor heating is not only energy efficient and effective, it also maximises the flexibility and use of internal rooms, and with photovoltaic cells on the roof providing a renewable energy source and the use of LED lighting, this substantial home will cost less to run than you might think.

A tour of the three-storey house will highlight the use of high-quality materials everywhere, including porcelain, walnut and natural marble.

The sense of grandeur and understated elegance starts with the entrance hall. Straight ahead, next to the stylish staircase, is the heart of a family home, the open-plan kitchen/ breakfast room, with its bespoke units, chic island work- and eating space, composite worktops and range of Miele and Liebherr appliances.

This room leads through to a family room which has a feature glass-fronted

fireplace and, like the kitchen, offers access to the rear garden. The ground floor also boasts a separate dining room for more formal occasions, a drawing room, a study and a utility/ boot room, through which the double garage can be reached.

On the first floor are four bedrooms: the spacious master suite has a large dressing area with lots of storage and its own private bathroom with separate bath and shower as well as twin basins. The other three bedrooms are all en suite, with two having builtin wardrobes.

A staircase leads up to the top floor, where there is a fifth double bedroom, separate shower room/WC and a recreation room that could accommodate a home cinema system or function as a play room, studio or sixth bedroom.

The use of a high-level security

system and a full LD2 fire alarm system means that this new home also comes with peace of mind, while wiring throughout for computer cabling and audiovisual systems means that whatever level of sophistication you want, this house can accommodate.

Its south-facing gardens have been professionally landscaped, with an extensive patio for al fresco entertaining, and this £2.75m property is well placed for access to the village’s amenities and for roads and transport links elsewhere.

Outside Sunningdale, Reading and Guildford offer further more extensive shopping and leisure facilities within a short drive, and if you’re a golfer, courses and country clubs such as Wentworth and Foxhills are easily reached. The Berkshire countryside and nearby areas such as Chobham Common and Windsor Great Park offer excellent choice for fans of cycling, riding or walking.Family buyers will be aware of the wide array of first-class schools in the area including Eton College, Wellington College, St. Mary’s Ascot, St. George’s Ascot, Charters School and Papplewick.

Sunningdale’s station offers regular service to Waterloo, with nearby Ascot proving direct links into Paddington.

The M3 and M4 provide links to central London, the West Country, Heathrow Airport and the M25.

Find out more about this home at wentworthhomes.co.uk/dudmaston

For the latest on the property market

@What_House

property of the month 11

BENTLEY’S YARD ST ALPHONSUS ROAD CLAPHAM SW4

LUXURY TOWNHOUSES 6 luxury 4 bedroom townhouses that combine cutting edge construction techniques with unparalleled interior design to bring the pinnacle of modern living to the heart of Clapham.

To register your interest please contact 020 7627 1111 newhomes@jphomes.co.uk and quote ‘WhatHouse’

BENTLEYS YARD ADVERT.indd 1

DEVELOPMENT BY

23/05/2016 11:45

london

Find your new home at whathouse.com/new-homes

Agent insight

How has the London landscape changed since the last mayor election?

When the now previous mayor of London, Boris Johnson, accepted his position at City Hall in 2008, the recession was in full swing and house prices in the capital averaged £350,000. Fast forward eight years and they have risen by 52% to average £534,000, with the increase in value largely attributable to a lack of supply.

Do you see new build supply increasing?

Newly elected mayor, Sadiq Khan, is taking office at a time when the capital sorely needs real and achievable solutions to solve its housing crisis. His manifesto prioritises housing with an aim to build 80,000 homes a year, but it’s an ambitious target given that over the past eight years, Boris Johnson only managed an average of 23,840 homes per year. Nimbyism isn’t as contentious an issue in London as it is outside of it, but finding appropriate sites which are cheap enough to acquire, build and then make a profit on is one of the biggest barriers to housebuilders, especially in light of current section 106 requirements.

Releasing brownfield sites and easing planning is therefore key.

Shane Ballard, director of Greene & Co, gives us the lowdown on what’s in store for the new London mayor

What about affordable homes?

At the heart of Khan’s manifesto is a focus on affordable housing and, as part of this, he is looking to ensure

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that 50% of all new homes built are truly affordable. While this is a laudable aim, it will be difficult to achieve, as it will directly affect the profits of housebuilders. As a result, we may find they simply adjust their business plans and opt instead to develop homes outside of the capital, further impacting the London housebuilding crisis.

While current government measures such as Help to Buy and the taxes on landlords look specifically to address issues around affordability, what we really need are solutions that enable supply across all property sizes and all price levels – increasing the number of homes available and therefore diminishing competition is the only real solution that will have any long term impact on affordability.

Any advice for the new mayor?

My top-tip for the new mayor would be to incentivise boroughs to meet their housebuilding targets. The Greater London Authority needs to tangibly support the delivery of new homes by doing more than setting policies and distributing limited funds.

It is my hope that when we review Sadiq Khan’s effectiveness in 2020 we find that his fresh approach has indeed solved our housing crisis, but at present the jury is well and truly out.

For further information about the London market visit www.greene.co.uk; 020 7328 9608

Call 0800 195 1020 8671 Call 0114Call 2750114 1020275

info.sheffield@clockworkremovals.co.uk info.sheffi eld@clockworkremovals.co.uk info.london@clockworkremovals.co.uk www.clockworkremovals.co.uk www.clockworkremovals.co.uk www.clockworkremovals..co.uk

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14 london

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Making the Grade

A listed former police station in Maida Vale starts a new life as luxury homes

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Grade II-listed former police station on Harrow Road, Maida Vale, is starting a new life as a collection of brand new homes, thanks to a conversion from high-end housebuilder Redrow London.

Now known as Westbourne Place, this collection of 49 luxuriously appointed one-, two- and threebedroom apartments sees some properties located in the converted 1911-built local landmark, with others in a brand new block at the rear of the site.

A brand new show home launches on 11 June, with the interior, designed by DAPA, matching elements of the heritage architecture, contemporary trends and the latest buyer expectations. The open-plan two-bedroom show apartment has a spacious private terrace and an additional room that might serve as a ‘den’ or study.

The specification includes a designer kitchen with quartz worktops

@What_House and Smeg appliances, engineered oak flooring and oak internal doors, full-height bay windows, elegant white bathrooms and en suites and luxury tiling.

Outside, there is a large, landscaped, communal courtyard for residents, which creates a harmonious connection between the old and new buildings.

The conversion apartments will also have access to a number of car parking spaces, to be constructed at the rear of the site.

Maida Vale remains one of the most sought-after residential areas in London, surprisingly tranquil yet within very easy reach of all the major commercial and leisure areas at the heart of the capital, including the West End, City and Docklands.

The open spaces of Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill are also not far away, while the walkways along Little Venice and the Regent’s Canal are just around the corner.

In the near future, current rail and tube links will be joined by a Crossrail connection at Paddington, under two miles away, with quick connections to Heathrow, Reading and through the centre of the capital.

The apartments at Westbourne Place are priced from £550,000.

Find out more at www.redrow.co.uk/ london/developments; 020 3538 3791

Straight to the heart Last chances to purchase a new apartment in the centre of Wandsworth

T

h e borough of Wandsworth in certainly not lagging behind some of its south London neighbours when it comes to regeneration, and sitting in the heart of it all is L&Q’s popular The Schoolyard apartment scheme, now close to the end of sales with only a few properties remaining on the market.

Just 14 homes are for sale at this SW18 development, over two blocks of six on the entire scheme which are separated by landscaped communal areas for the use of residents only.

Currently, at Francis House, the last two-bedroom homes start from £595,000, with the three-bedroom homes starting from £710,000.

Prices for the last few apartments at Oxborough House start from £570,000.

All the homes in the low-rise blocks at The Schoolyard have been designed to be light-filled and contemporary, matching their modern exterior with an impressive interior specification.

Features include bespoke Symphony kitchens fitted with integrated Zanussi

and Electrolux appliances, built-in wardrobes to the master bedrooms, designer sanitaryware to bathrooms an en suites and the luxury of underfloor heating.

All properties also have a balcony, terrace or patio, offering private space to every resident, as well as the landscaped gardens where neighbours can meet and enjoy the outdoors.

Cathy Lloyd, sales and marketing director at L&Q, says of this last chance to buy at The Schoolyard: “This is a fantastic opportunity for people to own a brand new home in a dynamic London location. With only a handful of two- and three-bedroom properties now remaining, the site has already become a thriving new community, ready for the last few residents to move in immediately.

“Buyers are delighted to be so close to exceptional local amenities, not to mention those who want to take advantage of paying the lowest council tax in the UK!” The Schoolyard is only minutes from Wandsworth Town railway station and within easy reach of numerous

bus routes to local areas and across the city. The River Thames is also an easy walk away, as are Wandsworth Common and Clapham Common, a boon for those who love London’s plentiful open spaces.

Wandsworth has found fans from a range of backgrounds, from its established older residents to new young professionals and families.

A wide range of shops and leisure facilities, together with good schools and many useful local amenities, means almost nothing is very far from the front door. Once

home to Young’s brewery, Wandsworth is also blessed with an array of excellent pubs.

It’s only a few minutes into Waterloo and from there into the West End for world-class dining and entertainment, as well as convenient Tube links into The City and Docklands.

The show home is open from Monday to Thursday, from 10.00am to 5.00pm.

Find out more at www.theschoolyardsw18.com; 0333 003 3710

16 london

For the latest on the property market

London T new homes round-up – our pick of new builds on the market

h e March figures from the Land Registry, published at the end of April, show a slow growth for London property prices at 0.2% from February, though the annual appreciation of 13.9% is higher than elsewhere in England and Wales. The average London property now sits at £534,785, compared to the national figure of £189,901.

Within the capital, the borough of Lewisham saw the greatest annual rise, at 19.9%, while the prime area of Kensington & Chelsea saw the smallest increase over 12 months, at 4.2%, somewhat under the national average of 6.7%.

From February to March, the north-west borough of Brent saw the biggest increase (up 2.8%) while Hammersmith & Fulham saw an average price decrease of 1.3%.

Reacting to the figures, Andrew Bridges, managing director of London estate agency Stirling

Trafalgar House at Battersea Reach in Clapham Junction, Wandsworth (Notting Hill Sales) Situated between Wandsworth Old Town and bustling Clapham Junction, this development offers an opportunity to live in one of London’s liveliest neighbourhoods in a more affordable way, thanks to the government-backed Shared Ownership scheme.

Trafalgar House at Battersea Reach not only provides highquality housing, it also benefits from several lifestyle amenities, including 24-hour gym Gym and Tonic, a business centre, nursery and a round-the-clock, onsite

concierge service.

There will also be four acres of landscaped gardens and courtyards as well as a waterfront bar and eatery, a Hudson’s grocery store and a patisserie. The bus and rail links from nearby Clapham Junction station are unsurpassed in the capital, making the area a good base for work and play across London.

Price: From £182,000 (40% share) Find out more at 020 8357 4444

Nine Elms Point in Battersea, Wandsworth (Affinity Sutton)

Ackroyd says: “House prices across the country may be coasting in neutral, but the capital is speeding ahead. London’s lead is getting larger and the demand for life in the fast lane shows no sign of letting up.

“Such momentum in London also comes despite a few road bumps.

Stamp duty surcharges have caused a slight slowdown at the top end of the market and particularly in the west of the capital. Gears are grinding in old ‘prime’ areas such as Kensington & Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham. And builders are touching the brakes on new homes in these old heartlands. Yet other parts of London are moving up the field to compensate. The new champions of the London property market are areas further east and further out.”

Here we pick our favourite new builds across a range of boroughs, with some priced well below the current London average…

The Ram Quarter in Wandsworth (Greenland Group) First completions are due from next year at this development, which is transforming the former Young’s brewery site in the heart of Wandsworth town. In all, it will provide 661 new homes with a landmark residential tower and significant space dedicated to new shops, cafés, bars and restaurants.

In addition to the brand new creations, many heritage buildings will also be restored, one of which will house a microbrewery within The Ram Heritage Centre, which will continue a beer-making history on the site dating back nearly

500 years. The new homes will be complemented by new access to the River Wandle, with a footbridge across it and a new riverside walk.

The first phase of the development will include 312 studio, one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments and duplexes across six new buildings, peppered with public open spaces and shared gardens.

There will be 248 underground car parking spaces available for separate purchase.

Price: From £485,000

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Avedis in South Ruislip, Hillingdon (Bellway) A selection of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments is coming soon to Avedis, the comprehensive regeneration of a former Arla Dairy site. There will be 163 new homes in all, along with an Asda supermarket, 11-screen multiplex and a handful of new family-themed restaurants.

Oliver Weston, development surveyor at Citygrove Securities, who manages the overall site, comments: “This site was vacant for many years and needed to be brought back into active use to benefit local residents. The leisure facilities will provide opportunities for families to eat, shop and watch a movie without having to travel further afield.”

Nearby leisure facilities include Queensmead Sports Centre, Highgrove Leisure Centre, Ruislip Golf Course and West London Golf Centre and Avedis is located just a few minutes’ walk from South Ruislip tube and rail station, under 40 minutes from The City and with connections to Wembley Stadium and London Marylebone.

Help to Buy is available on some homes.

Price: From £374,995 Find out more at www.bellway.co.uk; 0333 202 5170

Harrow

Brent

Hillingdon

Ealing

Find out more at www.theramquarter.com

This affordable homes provider has recently launched a collection of contemporary one-bedroom apartments which require a deposit of as little as £5,688 when bought through the Shared Ownership scheme; a selection of two- and three-bedroom apartments also available soon.

The apartments will appeal to a range of buyers, from singles or couples to young families. Each features private outside space and residents can also enjoy a communal ‘podium’ garden.

Nine Elms is undergoing huge redevelopment, giving new life to an area that is close to a wide variety of excellent amenities, including a range of shops and places to eat, much-loved Battersea Park and a new linear park that will run the length of the district.

Vauxhall station is just a five-minute walk away from this development and there will be a new Nine Elms underground station, scheduled to complete in 2020 along with a flagship Sainsbury’s supermarket.

Price: From £113,750 (25% share) Find out more at www.affinitysutton.com; 0300 100 0303

Hounslow Richmond upon Thames

Kingsto upon Thames

The Maple Building in Kentish Town, Camden (Linton Group)

Wembley Park Gate in Wembley, Brent (Barratt London) This development is located moments from Wembley Park tube station, which offers fast connections into the centre of the capital via the Metropolitan and Jubilee lines.

On the doorstep are the iconic Wembley Stadium – a major regeneration success – and the London Designer Outlet, which offers clothes and houseware brands at heavily discounted prices, alongside a range of bars, restaurants, cafés and also a supermarket and cinema complex. The SSE Arena is nearby too, and this year a new theatre is

also opening.

Each home at Wembley Park Gate features a private balcony some with views of the stadium, some with views over the capital and beyond.

Off-plan purchasers can choose from a range of options to personalise their home and the proposals for the development include an on-site communal garden for residents, a gym, a convenience store and concierge service.

Price: From £390,000 Find out more at 01702 416710

Enfield

This conversion of a former furniture factory into a luxury development of 57 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses is the first in the area from boutique developer, the Linton Group.

The company has refurbished and restored the late-Victorian building and added new storeys for the penthouse properties.

There is lift access to every floor, with the premium apartments and penthouses also benefitting from residents parking.

Ranging from about 450 sq ft to 2,000 sq ft, the new homes have been designed and specified with a distinctive style and are complemented by a spacious art deco-style reception area, where the development’s 24-hour concierge is based. Natural light floods in to every home from numerous large Crittal windows, enhanced by the high ceilings inherited from the building’s original use.

The ground and lower ground floors will incorporate a mixture of commercial and leisure space, which will include a privately managed gym open to the public.

Price: From £525,000 Find out more at www. themaplebuilding.com; 020 3811 1315

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The Mount in Mill Hill, Barnet (Countryside Annington) The developer is now selling executive townhouses off-plan, all featuring outdoor spaces including balconies and terraces. There are 29 three- and four bedroom homes available in this part of popular Millbrook Park, overlooking attractive landscaped and treelined areas.

Tony Travers, director of Countryside Annington, says: “Homebuyers who want a semirural location will get the best of both views of the rural countryside and the suburban community from the rooftop terraces of these executive townhouses. These types

of homes remain a popular choice with families and we are confident that these home styles will sell out fast in Mill Hill.”

The properties are set in an elevated position with panoramic sweeping views of central London in one direction and Hertfordshire countryside in the other. Mill Hill East Tube station is less than one mile away and within easy walking distance.

Price: From £980,000 Find out more at www.themount-millbrookpark.co.uk; 020 8371 9269

London City Island in Tower Hamlets (EcoWorld Ballymore) A new batch of 58 apartments has recently been released for sale at this development on the Leamouth Peninsula. London City Island, set against the backdrop of The O2, Canary Wharf and the City, will eventually see 1,700 new homes built, set among a host of new public spaces. The new phase includes suites (studios) as well as one-, two-, threeand four-bedroom units.

From nearby Canning Town station, there is a wealth of connectivity via tube, and DLR into The City, Docklands and the West End. John Mulryan, UK managing director of the Ballymore Group,

says: “The arrival of The London Film School at London City Island resonates strongly with our ethos of creating a destination which embraces culture and supports the arts. The London Film School is renowned for supporting emerging creative talent and engaging directly with the vibrant UK screen industries.

“Their presence furthers the development’s creative credentials and supports our aspiration to offer unique living experiences at each and every development.”

This is the first release from this fledgling developer, but nevertheless a significant project in this heritage-rich part of south-east London, offering several blocks of low-rise one-, twoand three-bedroom apartments just a few minutes’ walk from the Zone 2 station. The new homes are open for sale from 20 May. The marketing suite offers a traditional model of the development as well as an impressive, interactive “virtual” version, allowing buyers to find the property they want within a 3D wire-frame. There’s also a show apartment for house-hunters to tour and see the impressive specification first-hand.

Ben Allen, project director at Anthology says: “Deptford is

establishing itself as a destination that other London boroughs will find difficult to rival. In a diverse location, with great connections to the city, interest is brewing and homes are expected to prove popular.”

Mark Dickinson, the developer’s managing director, adds: ““We are very excited to reveal our homes to the market. We have thought carefully to ensure that the buying process is innovative and engaging for our customers. Young professionals and investors are likely to make up a large proportion of our customers, attracted by the hard-to-beat commuter connections and a fantastic location.”

Price: From £345,000

Price: £365,000 Find out more at www.londoncityisland.com

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Lewisham

Merton

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Croydon

Anthology Deptford Foundry in Deptford, Lewisham (Anthology)

Find out more at anthology.london; 020 7526 9229

URBAN HOUSES

3 and 4 bedroom homes available from £800,000

Call a member of the sales team on 020 3813 9658.

A limited collection of 3 and 4 bedroom homes available (completing July-August 2016).

• Showhome now open • Meets Level 4 in the Code of Sustainable Homes by performing 25% better than a standard home due to energy and water usage savings

KIDBROOKE STATION

LONDON BRIDGE 15 MINUTES†

Sales & Marketing Suite and Showhome now open daily 10am to 6pm (Thursdays until 8pm). Wallace Court, 40 Tizzard Grove, London SE3 9FD Prices and information correct at time of sending to press. Photography of Urban Houses is indicative only. Timing is approximate only. †Source: www.tfl.co.uk

www.kidbrookevillage.co.uk Proud to be a member of the Berkeley Group of companies

Kidbrooke Village KVWH22 (WhatHouse FPC 340 x 265) ins ?

• Dual purpose front garden for play space or parking space • Roof terrace with 360˚ views • Only 15 minutes to London Bridge†

WATERLOO EAST 19 MINUTES†

CANARY WHARF 22 MINUTES†

Delivered in proud partnership with:

STANMORE PLACE – A PLACE TO CALL HOME Help to Buy is now available on selected apartments in Royal Crescent – a striking, graceful building, overlooking manicured gardens and a peaceful fountain water feature. With completions towards the end of 2016, these stunning new homes offer you the perfect opportunity to own a new home at one of North West London’s most desirable new addresses.

A selection of contemporary apartments & penthouses available from £505,000 Call 020 3627 4658 now to book your appointment.

Sales & Marketing Suite open daily 10am to 6pm (Thursdays until 8pm). Stanmore Place, Honeypot Lane, London HA7 1BT Prices correct at time of going to press and subject to availability. Computer generated image depicts Royal Crescent and is indicative only. Photography depicts lifestyle and is indicative only.

www.stanmoreplace.co.uk Proud to be a member of the Berkeley Group of companies

Help to Buy

W?MA_Whathouse_ad16_aw.indd 1

26/05/2016 10:45

For the latest on the property market

mortgages 21

@What_House

Small company, big award A

Boutique mortgage firm from Essex wins Europe-wide acclaim

s mall mortgage company from Southend-on-Sea has won a prestigious award that places them at the top of the European tree.

Zing Mortgages took home the Best Overall Company title at this year’s European Business Excellence Awards, as well as making the finalist lists for two other awards, Best Service Based Business and Fastest Growing Business.

The European Business Excellence Awards were launched in 2007, annually attracting nominations from over 24,000 firms based across 33 countries.

Owner Paul Flavin collected the award at a black tie event, which took place at the luxury Celtic Manor resort in Newport, Wales. Flavin said: “This award came as a complete shock and was very unexpected.

Given the company we were in, I was proud just to have been shortlisted in two categories, but to win the evening’s top award just blew me away.”

The event was organised by business coaching firm, ActionCoach, and the award was handed to Flavin and his colleagues by Sir Terry Matthews, the first Welsh billionaire and a man

who has founded or funded over 100 different companies.

Zing Mortgages was set up in 2010 to give consumers access to quality mortgage advice at a time and place most suited to them. Flavin says of the company’s approach: “Breaking down the entire mortgage process has allowed us to ensure the right people are completing the right task at the right time.”

Award-winning business coach Lucas Vigilante, who also attended the ceremony, said: “When you see the list of finalists, what Paul and his team at Zing achieved by winning Best Overall Company, the very top award at the European Business Excellence Awards, is overwhelming.

“His dedication to measure and test every aspect of his business, breaking each area down in to its smallest component parts, improving them one at a time, and then systemising them from the ground up, has resulted in this wonderful result.”

Past winners of the blue riband award have been from a range of industries, including cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, engineering, fashion, and manufacturing.

Find out more at www.zing-mortgages.co.uk

Bank of Mum and Dad becomes one of UK’s top ten lenders Parents have become a significant financial force in the UK’s property market

N

e w research has revealed that the so-called ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’ will help to fund a quarter of all mortgage transactions in the UK in 2016.

Parents are set to lend their children £5bn to help them buy a home in 2016, funding £77bn of property purchases.

If the lending power of parents were combined they would be one of the top 10 mortgage providers in the UK.

RELYING ON HELP FROM PARENTS COULD BE ‘UNSUSTAINABLE’ Research from Legal and General has revealed that parents will provide the deposits for more than 300,000 mortgages in the UK this year. The average contribution is £17,500 – 7% of the asking price – and L&G believe that around £77bn of homes will be purchased with parental support.

The report blames a weak growth in wages against soaring house prices for the huge reliance on parental support.

The latest figures show that the average annual pay rise is currently around 2% compared to annual house price increases of over 7%.

The report also warned that first-time buyers relying on help from their parents could be unsustainable, as the ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’ gives away more than they can afford.

HOUSING MARKET POSES A RISK TO PENSIONS A separate study by the National Institute for Economic and Social Research (NIESR) has also identified risks to pensions and savings from the housing market. The FT reported that rising house prices were diverting investment in retirement, with the average purchaser using a mortgage receiving about 15% less pension income than those who do not.

Parental contributions already make up more than 50% of the wealth of the average household in London when property was excluded.

It described that scenario as a “tipping point” – adding: “Families clearly cannot continue to use all of their net wealth to help their offspring onto the housing ladder without putting their own financial stability at risk”.

Nigel Wilson, the chief executive of Legal and General, said: “The generosity

being displayed by UK families doesn’t make up for intergenerational unfairness – younger people today don’t have the advantages the baby-

boomers had, including cheap housing that delivered windfall gains”.

He added: “We have a supply-side problem in housing – we are simply

not building enough houses. We need to build more, especially as the Bank of Mum and Dad could soon start to experience a funding crisis of its own.”

HOMEISWHERE YOURMUMIS...

You can download every issue of South free of charge to read on your favourite device WhatHouse Ad.indd 1

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26/02/2016 09:14

Affordable homes supplement

W

h at is an ‘affordable home’?

It’s never been a particularly satisfactory phrase, but with the growth in housing prices over the past few years, it has started to look like a bad-taste joke in some quarters.

At the end of the day, affordability to each buyer is reliant on how much money they can put down to cover a deposit and

the expenses involved in purchasing; how much a lender might be prepared to offer in the form of a mortgage; and how much disposable income the buyer has to cover monthly costs on repayments and other property-related expenses.

This month our supplement is looking at high-quality new homes at reasonable prices, as well as some ways of bringing the reality of purchase a bit close to a potential buyer.

This may mean that the home can be purchased through one of the government’s popular homebuying initiatives: Help to Buy and Shared Ownership. It could be a special offer from an individual developer or housing association to cover some of the one-off purchase costs (for example, by paying stamp duty for the buyer or a Part Exchange scheme which eliminates estate agency fees) or

More for Less

a way of subsidising regular payments once the property is bought.

While affordability may be of particular importance to people hoping to get a foot on the property ladder for the first time, it’s by no means exclusive to them. In some parts of the country, homeowners who saw their property values fall from 2008 are only just seeing them recover to pre-crisis levels and may find it difficult to move up, perhaps to

accommodate a growing family.

Over the next 15 pages, we look at a number of ways that the new homes sector in particular is helping buyers to comfortably meet the cost of buying a suitable home. To find out even more about the homebuying process and details on a host of affordability schemes, check out the Know-How section of our website, www.whathouse.com/know-how

Vorberry Place Whyteleafe, Croydon CR3 0EA A stunning development of one and two bedroom apartments.

Prices from £265,000

Ready for immediate occupation

60% SOLD

Double Diamond

DEVELOPMENTS

Call the Marketing Office Croydon haart 0208 681 0700

For the latest on the property market

@What_House

One-on-one: Martin Skinner

affordable homes 25 CURRENT INSPIRED HOMES DEVELOPMENTS

We talk to Martin Skinner of Inspired Asset Management and Inspired Homes about its affordable homes developments in and around Greater London

Green House Dragon, Croydon This flagship Inspired Homes development has already won awards for innovation. Residents have access to a 10th floor sky garden and BBQ,

table tennis, Brompton folding bike hire and locker system.

Prices from £304,950.

Seven units left.

Coome Cross, Croydon 82 one-and two-bedroom apartments in central South Croydon. Residents will also have privileged access to

facilities at nearby Green Dragon House. Prices from: £287,950.

27 units available.

Canius House, Croydon

Impact House, Croydon

A 1980s office building has become 39 one-and two-bedroom apartments in the heart of Croydon. Residents will have have access to the facilities at neighbouring Green Dragon House.

Prices from: £299,950.

One unit available.

Originally built as an office building, now transformed into a light-filled landmark setting for contemporary apartments. Prices from: £304,950.

90 units available.

Martin Skinner (right) and the Inspired Homes pick up a First Time Buyer Readers Award this year for Green Dragon House from host Nicki Chapman (second right) and Rachel Colgan (second left) from category sponsor Building Relations

Who are Inspired Homes?

Inspired Homes is our homebuilding brand. We’re delivering about 1,500 apartments around places like Croydon, Sutton, Epsom, Chertsey, Crawley and soon hopefully in Luton, Woolwich and Swindon. We look to make the apartments more affordable for young professionals and first-time buyers by designing them more efficiently.

How do you improve the affordability of your homes?

For example, by uprating the sprinkler system, we can fire-engineer out dark, wasted hallway space. That means the apartments can take up less space but the usable areas are about the same.

That means the unit prices can be lower, which means the monthly cost of the mortgage, service charge and utilities is affordable to a much larger proportion of the population. We can also uprate the specification and technology to suit the modern consumer: granite worktops, thick engineered wood flooring, Bosch appliances, Grohe taps, Villeroy & Boch sanitaryware, gigabit internet connectivity for every apartment, and NEST smart thermostat systems.

What else can buyers expect from the Inspired Homes approach?

We look to build in a lifestyle, a more inclusive, more social environment for residents to get to know their neighbours. We incorporate things like street art – for example, we have a 10-storey Ben Eine mural on the outside of Green Dragon House in Croydon. And we have an art curator

who helps to choose and rotate the art in the club lounges and sky gardens. We like to think we look beyond the norm and encourage a sense of community.

We’ve used a ‘hub-and-spoke’ model to enable residents in our other developments nearby to be able to access the residents’ facilities in the bigger centralised developments like Green Dragon House and Impact House.

We’re also looking for ways for residents here to access the club lounges and sky gardens at other developments as well.

Tell us about Green Dragon House in Croydon.

Green Dragon House is in the Restaurant Quarter of the new Croydon master plan, about five minutes’ walk from the new Westfield shopping centre, due for completion in 2019/20, and opposite the new Croydon ‘tech city’, called Tomorrow, the fastest-growing in London. It’s about a third of the commute time into central London from somewhere such as Fulham, and far more affordable – about £250,000 to £350,000 for a one-bed and £350,000 to £450,000 for a two-bed. With Help to Buy, that means people can look for buy with around £15,000 deposit, and their mortgage, service charge and utilities will fit into a bracket of about £800 per month.

Has Help to Buy London been popular with your customers?

Yes, it’s been great for our buyers, requiring only a 5% deposit and a 55% loan-to-value mortgage, rather than a 95% loan-to-value mortgage without

Help to Buy London. Around 80% of our enquiries now are looking for Help to Buy. We sold over 500 flats before we even registered for the scheme, but it will certainly help a lot more people who otherwise wouldn’t have been able to buy. We currently offer Help to Buy London at Green Dragon House, Coombe Cross and Canius House and Help to Buy at Rutland House, Epsom.

What makes Croydon such a popular property hotspot?

We started selling these apartments just over two years ago now, and we initially went around all the main rail stations with our own newspaper, saying “Live brilliantly in Croydon”, which got a few people laughing. It’s an image we are looking to improve and the council is investing heavily in regenerating the area and you can see the effect. We’re playing our part, helping to see the ‘Shoreditchification’ of the area through our support of art and artists and making Croydon a cool place to live.

How can people find out more about what Inspired Homes is doing?

Come and have a look, that’s the best thing to do; come and experience it.

It’s quite a disruptive form of housing, a more modern way to deliver housing.

We think this is one of the key solutions to the housing crisis.

Find out more at inspiredhomes.uk.com; 020 8688 6552

Rutland House, Epsom Rutland House is a handsome fourstorey, structure converted into 32 beautiful one-and two-bedroom

apartments eight minutes from the station. Prices from: £281,950.

Ten units available.

26 advertorial

For the latest on the property market

@What_House

“Shared ownership has made the world of difference to our family; it’s brought stability to our lives.”

Building a future for families The three and four-bedroom shared ownership apartments at Network Homes’ London developments are transforming the lives of the capital’s families

C

ouple Gurpritam Singh & Jasbir Kaur (both 37) were in a quandary. They were keen to get on the property ladder and purchase a bigger home for their two children. However with high house prices, the couple didn’t want all their money going on mortgage repayments, nor did they want to keep throwing their money ‘down the drain’ on monthly rent.

“We wanted to get onto the property ladder and have somewhere we could call home, but we couldn’t find a solution that worked for us as a family,” says Gurpritam who works in the financial industry.

The couple then chanced upon the family-sized apartments available to purchase through shared ownership at Lime Walk, a landmark scheme of 81 apartments by Network Homes in Wembley. Using part of their savings of £40,000 to put down a 25% deposit, the family bought a 35% share (valued at £156,000) of a three-bedroom, two-

bathroom apartment. The apartment’s full market value was £445,714.

Whereas their previous monthly outgoings were £1,350 per month, the family now pay a total of approximately £1,307, comprising £575 mortgage repayment, £600 subsidised rent and £132 service charges.

Finding appropriately sized accommodation at an affordable cost is becoming increasingly challenging for the capital’s families.

“Network Homes is absolutely focused on providing London’s families with generously-sized homes with attractive and secure outdoor space,” says Lisa Ley, Acting Sales and Marketing Director for Network Homes. “We are building three and four-bedroom shared ownership apartments at many of our developments, which offer families a chance to escape the private rental market and move into a truly lovely home. It can be a life-changing experience.”

As well as making financial sense, the excellent design, specification and build quality also impressed the family.

“The apartment is lovely and bright with lots of storage,” says Gurpritam.

“Also, we didn’t want a home that was entirely open plan. We wanted a separate kitchen as we do a lot of home cooking, as well as entertaining friends and family.”

Like many of the buyers, Lime Walk’s location on a quiet, residential street

Where to buy your shared ownership home All the homes at Lime Walk have now all sold. However, Network Homes has a limited number of three and four-bedroom apartments for sale through shared ownership at its Nordic Quarter development in Colindale.

Prices for a 35% share in a four-bedroom apartment start at £169,400 (full market value £484,000).

Contact selling agents Imagine Living on: 0203 376 6455 Alternatively, visit: www.nordic-quarter.co.uk

was a big draw, as were the communal gardens, which Jasbir feels is safe and secure enough to allow her children to play outside with the neighbours’ children.

“Shared ownership has made the world of difference to our family,” says Gurpritam. “It’s such a relief to be in our own place; it’s brought stability to our lives. Now that we’ve decorated and made it our own, it really feels like home.

We are very happy.”

For the latest on the property market

@What_House

affordable homes 27

What’s on the market?

We take a look at some competitively priced new build homes currently for sale in the London and Home Counties region

Brunswick Square, Orpington, Kent • From £315,000 The price of a property at this Berkeley Homes development is some £140,000 less than the average Home Counties abode this close to the centre of London, according to research from Savills. Each one- and two-bedroom apartment here has its own outdoor space and the development is just 13 minutes on foot from the station, for a quick commute into the city.

An Odeon cinema, Pure Gym and several restaurants are on the doorstep.

Find out more at www.berkeleygroup.co.uk; 01689 669066

Manor Lodge, Penge From £91,500 (30% Shared Ownership)

Oaklands at Crookham Park at Church Crookham, Hampshire • From £390,000

There are 16 recently released one- and two-bedroom homes available through Shared Ownership here, built by L&Q to the globally renowned Passivhaus eco standard. The development is positioned between Penge West, Penge East and Anerley railway stations, around a 10-minute walk away. Roca bathrooms, striking ivory-/cinnamon-coloured kitchens and laminate flooring make stylish interiors in these highly energy-efficient homes.

The Hart district of Hampshire, where this development is taking shape, is frequently at or near the top of national quality-of-life indeces, so you might expect house prices to be considerable. The headline prices for three- and four-bedroom homes come with a potential saving of between £11,500 and £19,500 where developer Taylor Wimpey pays the stamp duty for properties reserved before the end of June.

Find out more at www.lqpricedin.co.uk; 0333 003 3630

Find out more at www.taylorwimpey.co.uk; 01252 413687

Willow Grange, Coxheath, Kent • From £330,000 With Countryside’s Bank of Mum and Dad scheme, family members who support their children’s home purchase receive £2,000 as a thank you.

With Help to Buy, the up-front price for a three-bedroom house at this development just outside Maidstone comes down to £264,000, a real step up for those who might assume that only an apartment or shabby resale home might be theirs for that budget.

Find out more at www.countryside-properties.com; 07809 198638

Gladstone Village, Cricklewood From £138,750 (25% Shared Ownership)

Enderby Wharf, North Greenwich From £98,750 (25% Shared Ownership) Woodlands View, Hastings, East Sussex From £325,000 (Help to Buy)

Eight of the apartments at this scheme from Octavia Living are available on a Shared Ownership initiative.

The area is undergoing a £4.5bn regeneration scheme bringing three new schools, four parks and a new Thameslink station to the area. The apartments have custom-designed kitchens, quartz worktops, fitted wardrobes in the master bedroom and private balconies or terraces. Parking is available separately, if needed.

L&Q launched 13 one- and two-bedroom apartments at the start of June through its Shared Ownership scheme at this landmark development. Planned communal facilities at this 770-unit site include landscaped gardens, an on-site crèche and a mix of shops and restaurants. The Shared Ownership homes feature high-quality fitted kitchens with integrated appliances, fitted carpets to bedrooms, built-in wardrobes to the master suite and private balconies for each apartment.

The government-backed Help to Buy scheme knocks 20% of the market price off the up-front payment and makes a four-bedroom home at this scheme on the outskirts of Hastings extremely good value. Millwood Designer Homes have a reputation for quality and are applying their standards to a more modest price range of house types with varied, attractive finishes set in appealing street scenes, with many homes enjoying countryside views.

Find out more at www.gladstonevillage.co.uk

Find out more at www.lqpricedin.co.uk; 0844 406 9800

Find out more at www.millwooddesignerhomes.co.uk; 01424 390150

Step onto the London ladder with Family Mosaic

Computer generated image of Canon Row

With over 50 years’ experience of delivering high quality developments across London and the south east, Family Mosaic is leading the way in providing more affordable homes for London’s struggling first time buyers.

In 2015, the organisation supported a total of 175 people onto the property ladder – 68% of which were previously stuck in the rut of private rent.

With the high costs of London living, saving up for a deposit is often difficult for London renters. Shared Ownership is a proven route onto the ladder with Family Mosaic reporting an average deposit of £13,941, based on the average property price with a 90% repayment loan. A stark comparison to the high average deposits witnessed in London on the open market.

The organisation has also revealed the average full property price at a Family Mosaic development was £406,534 and the

average percentage purchased in 2015 was 34% resulting in an average equity share price of £139,441.

In May 2014, Londoner Natalie achieved her dream and bought a one bedroom apartment at Family Mosaic’s north London development, Market Green, N7 via Shared Ownership. Natalie explains: “I was previously renting near Kings Cross, and knew I wanted to stay in Islington, but after looking at the property prices in the area, I didn’t think it was going to be possible. I hadn’t heard about Shared Ownership before a friend mentioned it. After doing a bit of research on the initiative, I became really excited - buying through Shared Ownership meant I didn’t have to compromise on location or quality.”

Originally purchasing 60% in 2014, now, less than two years later, Natalie has been able to buy a further 25% of the flat, bringing her up to a total of 85% ownership. Natalie continues: “A lot of hard work has gone into the process, but it’s worth it. I often see a lot of negative headlines talking about the London property market. It’s really important that first time buyers are made aware of Shared Ownership and the affordable options available.”

Helping more Londoners onto the property ladder this June, Family Mosaic has announced the launch of Canons Row in Edgware. Situated on the edge of a green belt and just a short walk from Stanmore tube station, Canons Row is the next phase of a major regeneration project that is already breathing new life into the local area. The development is a driving force behind the area’s wider regeneration and once complete will provide a total of 92 Shared Ownership one, two and three bedroom apartments.

Canons Row will comprise a collection of new squares, avenues and districts designed by a collaboration of top architects including Sprunt Architects. Inside, each of the apartments enjoy a modern layout and specification that includes fully integrated appliances including Zanussi stainless steel electric oven, ceramic hob and fridge freezer, along with Oak laminate wood flooring. In addition, every apartment will be given its own parking space - a rare and valuable commodity in this part of the capital.

Situated just over a mile from Stanmore, future residents will have access to some of the North West London’s best eateries, bars and shops with a number of independent delis and fashion boutiques also in the area. Canons Row also boasts several parks and open green spaces nearby, including Edgwarebury Park as well as seven designated nature reserves, ideal for busy city works to explore and enjoy on weekends. Keen golfers will appreciate the number of courses and driving ranges in the area; two in particular are highly regarded including Edgwarebury Golf Course.

Computer generated image of Canon Row

For commuters, the development sits conveniently between the Jubilee Line at Stanmore, and the Northern Line at Edgware allowing for quick and easy access to the capital and beyond. There are also a selection of bus routes from nearby Stonegrove Road and Stanmore Station; providing more options for workers in the area.

Computer generated image of Canon Row

One bedroom apartments at Canons Row start at £96,000 for a minimum 30% share (full market value £320,000).

Computer generated image of Canon Row

To register your interest please visit www.familymosaicsales.co.uk or call the sales team on 020 7089 1315.

Rightmove 2015

1

30 affordable homes

For the latest on the property market

@What_House

Halifax cuts Help to Buy ISA interest rate for new customers

H

a lifax, once joint-leader in the Help to Buy ISA interest rate league, has cut its rate significantly for new customers with immediate effect, relinquishing its place at the top of the table for savers for home deposits.

While existing customers will still benefit from its opening 4% interest rate, new customers will only be offered 2.5% interest per annum on their savings in the ISA. A spokesperson for Halifax explained that the move came as “we regularly review our savings range and make changes in line with the market and our competitors”.

The company representative went on to say they “have seen unprecedented demand” since the product was launched in December 2015. It is the first to reduce rates on its Help to Buy ISA. Rachel Springall, for independent finance website Moneyfacts, commented: “It’s too early to tell whether this drop is a signal for other providers to follow suit, so if anyone

is hesitating on taking out a Help to Buy Isa, they may want to consider doing so soon”, explaining that now Santander and Penrith Building Society remain offering 4% to new customers.

Halifax is still among the top half of Help to Buy ISA providers, with Virgin Money currently offering 3% a year, Barclays 2.27% and a handful of others at the 2% mark.

The Help to Buy ISA was introduced at the end of 2015 to assist savers looking for a new home. With an initial maximum payment of £1,200, then a monthly limit of £200 per month, savers who use the money as a deposit for a home will get a 25% bonus from the government on their savings, to a maximum bonus of £3,000.

Joint buyers can each have their own Help to Buy ISA and double the potential benefit – £6,000 free from the government. If you don’t use the money to buy a home, you don’t get the bonus.

The money can be used on a home priced up to £250,000, or £450,000 in London.

HELP TO BUY ISAS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE:

It showed an average 4.5 months for the buying process to reach the point where an offer is accepted.

There were four main reasons why nearly three out of ten found their purchase falling through:

can take to ensure you are in the best possible position.

“The best way to protect yourself from your purchase falling through is to avoid a lengthy chain. With the right preparation and research, including getting your finances in order prior to making an offer, you can avoid complicated chains and improve your chances of success.”

The Which? mortgages team also recommends a few steps to take to minimise your chances of being caught in an expensive dead-end: • Consider selling your property and moving into short-term rented accommodation, or alternatively with family or friends. From this position, you become a chain-free cash buyer, which will make you a more appealing buyer and could be used to your advantage with a keen vendor.

• I f you can afford to be picky, look to buy a property where the upward chain is short or, even better, non-existent. Does the vendor own another property, for example, and not need to find somewhere else to live.

•N ew-build homes have no upward chains and if you’re, a Part Exchange offer from the developer will also help speed things up (and you’ll be able to coordinate your selling and moving dates precisely).

• If you’re in a hurry, try and get the vendor of the property you’re buying to agree to a date by which they are prepared to move out, whether they’ve bought somewhere themselves or not. They may be keen to adhere to the first point above.

• The seller decided not to sell their home after all (27%) • The buyer pulled out, as their own property sale had fallen through (21%) • The buyer found somewhere else to buy (21%) • The buyer was ‘gazumped’ (21%)

A word of warning Which? Mortgage Advisers warn that three in 10 property purchases fall through

F

o r those on a limited budget, the thought that the associated expenses of buying a home might go to waste is a great concern – you can only spend your money once, after all.

So, new research from Which Mortgage Advisers revealing that 28% of homebuyers have had a house purchase fall through after their offer was accepted must count as a warning sign for anyone buying a home or hoping to very soon.

On average, the homebuyers surveyed whose home purchases were scuppered were left nearly £3,000 out of pocket as a result.

The survey looked at some 2,000 homebuyers who had purchased their home over the past couple of years.

Other reasons included one or other party pulling out due to the length of the process, a change of heart from the buyer about the property they intended to buy and a falling out between the two parties.

The average loss of £2,899 for those whose purchase was called off was spent on things such as conveyancing costs, survey fees, mortgage valuation charges or brokerage fees, paid for but not able to be recovered.

Many homebuyers saw their transactions fail due to problems in the property chain, with a high risk from the line of buyers and sellers linked together simultaneously selling and buying a property from another.

Many buyers of new build homes choose to do so because it eliminates the chain going forward, and some then opt to buy through a Part Exchange deal if it is offered as that then avoids the chain in the other direction.

David Blake at Which? Mortgage Advisers, says: “No one wants to see their dream property slip through their fingers, particularly if it leaves you out of pocket, but there are steps you

Buckinghamshire BS – 3% Annual Equivalent Rate (AER) Virgin Money – 3% AER Tipton BS – 3% AER Halifax –2.5% AER Santander –2.5% AER to Santander 123 and Santander Select customers, otherwise 2% AER Barclays –2.27% AER Aldermore – 2% AER Bank of Scotland –2% AER Chorley BS –2% AER Clydesdale Bank –2% AER HSBC –2% AER Lloyds Bank –2% AER Nationwide – 2% AER Yorkshire Bank –2% AER All these rates are variable, as Halifax has illustrated.

Find out more at www.which.co.uk

For award winning mortgage advice, contact ZING today.

Your local mortgage adviser for the South East

01702 423 900 sales@zing-mortgages.co.uk www.zing-mortgages.co.uk Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up mortgage payments

Brand new is best.

WhatHouse.com is the UK’s leading new homes portal featuring developments from housebuilders across the UK and targeting new homebuyers.

Reasons to get involved with us: • Niche new homes portal. Ensure your developments are seen by an audience specific to the new homes industry.

• We connect even more homebuyers to new home property listings through our engaged social networks.

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• Your properties included in partner publishing sites.

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Hinckley and Tamworth We are pleased to announce that we will be opening the doors to our beautiful showhomes at Park View, Hinckley and Pennine Grange, Tamworth in July. Come along to Park View, Hinckley, today where the Marketing Suite is now open and we have a selection of 3 and 4 bedroom homes available from £224,995

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Pennine Way, Tamworth B77 4JF Visit: redrow.co.uk/pennine Call: 01827 902025

Image typical of Redrow homes. Price correct at time of going to press.

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What is...?

HELP TO BUY Help to Buy has already assisted over 150,000 people to purchase a home since it was introduced in 2013. There are now a number of variations of the scheme: Wales and Scotland have their own versions, and this year, a new option for Greater London was introduced in recognition of the unique nature of the capital’s housing market.

Its aim, following the effects of the financial crisis of 2007/08, was to bring back an opportunity for ordinary homebuyers to purchase a home with a 5% deposit. Whether buying in London or outside, there are two main options: the most popular being an equity loan, where the government loans the buyer a substantial sum towards the deposit to their home, and a low-deposit mortgage option (‘mortgage guarantee’) without a loan.

ESSENTIAL POINTS • There is no age or earnings limit to applying for Help to Buy. • The maximum value of a home purchased with Help to Buy is

£600,000 in England.

• Whichever option you choose, you need to be able to provide a 5% deposit on your new home.

• The equity loan is only available on new build homes; the mortgage guarantee option can also be used on resale homes.

• The mortgage guarantee option is only available through accredited mortgage lenders.

• The property you buy must be your primary residence (not one you intend to rent out to others).

• The equity loan (up to 20% outside London, up to 40% in London) is interest-free for the first five years, thereafter interest starts at 1.75% per year and is subject to inflationlinked increase.

• You will have to undergo the usual eligibility criteria from whichever lender you choose for the balancing mortgage (up to 75% of the property price outside London, up to 55% in London).

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS • If you want to buy a new build home with an equity loan, ensure the housebuilder is signed up to the Help to Buy scheme.

• The loan must be paid back when

you sell the property or 25 years, whichever is sooner. What you pay back is related to the value of your property at that time i.e. if you had a loan for 20% of the price at the time of purchase, you must pay back 20% of the price at the time of sale/ after 25 years.

•Y ou can pay back the loan sooner if you wish, though there are limitations on how that may be done.

• S ince the mortgage guarantee option was introduced, there are considerably more low-deposit mortgages available outside the Help to Buy scheme, so you may find a more competitive deal elsewhere.

Find a suitable property at www.whathouse.com/help-to-buy

SHARED OWNERSHIP Shared Ownership (aka ‘part-buy/partrent’) is a government-backed scheme designed to help people who cannot afford a home at full market value to get on the property ladder by buying a fraction of a property and paying a subsidised rent on the remainder.

The total payment of a Shared Ownership mortgage and rent will be more affordable than paying a mortgage on the whole property.

affordable homes 35

ESSENTIAL POINTS • Buyers can start by buying between 25% and 75% of the full value of the property and pay proportional rent at about 80% of the market rate on the rest of the property.

• Purchasers have the opportunity to buy further shares in their home later on (a process known as ‘staircasing’), as and when they can afford to.

• The scheme is aimed at firsttime buyers who are unable to buy a suitable home on the open market, or those returning to homeownership, for example finding their own home after the break-up of a relationship.

• Buyers must be 18-years-old or over.

• There is a special version of the scheme for buyers over 55.

• You must be a British, EU or EEA citizen or have indefinite leave to remain in the UK.

would vacate a rented home by buying, people who would address particular regional housing needs and serving military personnel.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS • You’ll be responsible for paying 100% of the ground rent and service charge on your Shared Ownership apartment no matter what percentage you own.

• When you come to ‘staircase’ to own a larger proportion of your home, you will have to budget for additional valuation and legal costs and also pay additional stamp duty on the new share

THE BUYING PROCESS WITH SHARED OWNERSHIP

• Resale and new build properties are available with Shared Ownership.

The steps to buying a home through Shared Ownership are similar to those when buying a property on the open market: • Reserve the property • Undergo an identity and eligibility check with a Help to Buy agent • Receive an offer to buy under Shared Ownership • Undergo a financial interview with an independent mortgage advisor • Appoint a solicitor to undertake the legal processes • Receive a memorandum of sale on the property • Completion

Priority will be given to certain applicants, for example council and housing association tenants who

Find a suitable property at www.whathouse.com/sharedownership/

• Priority may initially be given to people with a connection to the area, e.g. already living or working there.

• There is a maximum household income level of £71,000 per year when trying to buy a one- or twobedroom home, and of £85,000 per year when looking for a home of three bedrooms or more. You’ll need to earn at least £21,000 a year if you’re applying as a couple.

36 affordable housing

For the latest on the property market

One-on-one: Justine Elliott three-bedroom starter homes. Another important factor is that our sales executives are highly experienced at guiding customers through the purchase process.

A cheap “fixer upper” might look like a better option for some, but what do you think makes new build the right choice for FTBs?

Lovell’s national sales director, Justine Elliott, talks affordability and looking after first-time buyers What do you find are the main concerns of first-time buyers and have you seen them change in the course of your time with Lovell?

Having the necessary level of deposit required to purchase their first home is the main concern that first-time buyers (FTBs) have, in our experience, closely followed by finding a suitable property that is within their price range or affordability. The introduction of the Help to Buy: Equity Loan has helped make buying a house a lot more affordable, with just a 5% deposit required, lower earnings levels to cover the 75% mortgage and no interest payable on the government’s 20% equity loan for the first five years.

This is a huge change from just five years ago, when first-time buyers had to find a minimum 15% deposit.

Lovell has a fantastic record for recognition of its developments for FTBs – what’s the secret?

Quite simply, it’s product type and price.

We listen to our customers’ desires and requirement and try wherever possible to incorporate these into our house designs and development layouts.

Other developers have moved away from building two-bedroom starter homes, with many replacing these with apartments, but the majority of firsttime buyers would prefer a house with a garden. Most Lovell developments include two-bedroom and smaller

Some first-time buyers may not necessarily have the skills required for DIY projects; they also work long hours to pay their mortgage and bills, reducing the time available to do work in their home. It is also quite common for mortgage companies to hold back retentions if there are major works to be carried out on an older property. A new-build home takes all that worry away with the added benefit that the buyer can customise the property by selecting their kitchen and bathroom.

They can move straight in and enjoy their new home – and have the added benefit of a 10-year NHBC warranty for peace of mind as well as cover from Lovell for the first two years.

New homes are also more costeffective in the long term, offering lower energy bills and easy maintenance, not to mention the fact that the Help to Buy: Equity Loan is only available on new build.

many first-time buyers are given incorrect information, especially about Help to Buy, especially if the IFA consulted is not used to new build and its benefits. There are also common misunderstandings regarding the legal process involved in buying a home. People can struggle to fully understand the process of exchange and completion and we therefore explain this in full to each purchaser at reservation. Some people can think they have no chance of getting onto the property ladder while other firsttime buyers have a specific budget in mind and are then pleasantly surprised with the size and spec of house they can actually afford once they have spoken to a reputable IFA, especially if they use Help to Buy. Which of your current developments are making a splash with FTBs? I guess it would be easier to ask which aren’t! Nationally, 52% of our sales are

via Help to Buy, these being mainly to first-time buyers. Lovell developments taking a higher-than-average proportion of Help to Buy sales are Repton Grange in Bristol, Lymington Mews in Dagenham, Mansfield Park in Southampton, Weston Heights in Stoke on Trent and Green Bank in Greater Manchester. Our city centre developments in Manchester are also popular with first-time buyers and demonstrate how our homes can offer a great alternative to apartments by offering purchasers the best of both worlds, enabling them to stay close to the city centre yet have a driveway and rear garden.

Do your customer service team find (understandably) more to deal with with FTBs and how do you address that?

Our customer care team understand that first-time buyers are not as experienced as some of our more seasoned purchasers and are always on hand to help and guide them through every stage of the buying process and provide any extra support needed. Our customer care manager meets purchasers a week before they move in to give a demonstration of how their home works and talk them through what will happen when they move in. This helps the purchaser to feel comfortable to contact customer care if they need to for advice and guidance. Most people are very comfortable with how their home operates; however if things go

@What_House wrong, our dedicated customer care team are there to advise and put it right quickly.

What’s in the pipeline from Lovell later this year?

More developments! We have lots of new sites launching this year including but not limited to: East Avenue in East Manchester; a new phase in Carlisle, New Acres; two new sites in Birkenhead; Firs Park in Norwich, and The Electric Quarter in Enfield.

On the horizon we also have two major longer-term developments – The Mill in Cardiff and Trinity Woolwich in Woolwich – that will be supplying properties over a number of years.

Do you have any advice or encouragement for would-be homeowners who think they may have to wait years for a decent home of their own?

Please do visit one of our developments where our experienced sales executives can guide them through the process and help them to speak to a trusted independent financial advisor and reputable solicitor who will make their journey much easier and less stressful. Act now and you can take advantage of historically low mortgage rates and the government’s Help to Buy Scheme, which together are making homeownership more affordable to a whole generation of firsttime buyers.

Affordability is a massive issue with FTBS, especially in London and the South East – how have schemes such as Help to Buy been received by your customers?

Extremely well. In London, 84% of the reservations taken so far this year have been with the assistance of Help to Buy, while at our developments in Bath and Bristol the figure is 68%.

Without Help to Buy, a good many of our purchasers would not be able to purchase at prices the market dictates.

As well as assisting purchasers with getting onto the property ladder, it has enabled some to actually afford to buy a larger property, meaning that they can stay in their first home a while longer. In some regions, our customers are not fully aware of how Help to Buy works. We find that we often have to explain the scheme but once people fully understand it, they quickly appreciate the benefits. In the North West, first-time buyers are increasingly aware of Help to Buy and keen to use the scheme to get the most from their hard-earned deposit.

Are common mistakes or misunderstandings that FTBs need to re-think?

The first mistake often made is not speaking to a reputable independent financial advisor (IFA). This means

Above: The Paddocks and Old Common Mews in the Cotswolds won Bronze at last year’s WhatHouse? Awards Right: Mansfield Park, Lovell’s current development in Southampton

0208 726 8839 sales@amicushorizon.org.uk

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Homes ready to move in from September 2016

Values ranging from £242,500 - £375,000*, with shares starting at just 35%

Call AMICUSHORIZON on 0208 726-8839 to register your interest or email sales@ amicushorizon.org.uk

Show apartment available to view from June 2016

CAMBERWELL GREEN, SOUTHWARK, SE5 6 x 2 & 3 BEDROOM SHARED OWNERSHIP APARTMENTS All apartments with balconies or terraces.

Homes ready to move in from October 2016

Values ranging from £585,000 - £825,000*, with shares starting at just 35%

Call AMICUSHORIZON on 0208 726-8839 to register your interest or email sales@ amicushorizon.org.uk

Show apartment available to view from July 2016

STATION APPROACH ROAD, COULSDON, CR5 16 x 1 & 2 BED SHARED OWNERSHIP APARTMENTS All apartments with balconies or terraces, some with parking

Homes ready to move in from December 2016

Values ranging from £255,000 - £310,000, with shares starting at just 35%

Call AMICUSHORIZON on 0208 726-8839 to register your interest or email sales@ amicushorizon.org.uk

Show apartment available to view from September 2016

BENNINGTON CLOSE, THORNTON HEATH, CR7 12 x 1, 2 & 3 BEDROOM SHARED OWNERSHIP APARTMENTS & DUPLEXES, SOME WITH PARKING Values ranging from £250,000 - £375,000*, with shares starting at just 35% Show apartment available to view from September 2016

Homes ready to move in from January 2017 Call AMICUSHORIZON on 0208 726-8839 to register your interest or email sales@amicushorizon.org.uk

*current estimated values, final values to be confirmed at launch date

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* The prices and particulars regarding properties are correct at the time of the production of this literature, however can be amended at any time, you should check the latest position with us before viewing. Images may also include optional upgrades which may only be available at an additional cost, please contact us for clarification or refer to the brochure.

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For the latest on the property market

sussex

@What_House

A life of luxury

41

Wattle Hill Oast, Staplecross – £1.5m

with Knight Frank

This month, Knight Frank shares two homes currently on the market in East Sussex For full details call 01892 515035.

The Granary, Woods Green – £1.45m

The Granary occupies a delightful setting in the hamlet of Woods Green close to the pretty Sussex town of Wadhurst. The property is a spectacular conversion providing a truly modern space, fit for the 21st century and full of character. The existing owners acquired the house and undertook a painstaking and expensive conversion process, which sets this apart from anything similar in the marketplace. Attention to detail creates a light home centred around an outside garden room and kitchen garden. From the entrance hall there is a view through the kitchen/breakfast room, living room and dining room to the garden room beyond. The kitchen/breakfast room, living room and dining room give a magnificent space of over 50ft in length. The kitchen area has Corian work surfaces, large central island and a stunning range of Gaggenau appliances. Two sets of casement doors lead to the courtyard garden, the central bay of the room having glazed sliding doors opening right back providing access to the outside room leading to a games room with brick vaulted arched ceiling and wiring for cinema.

The master bedroom is on the mezzanine level with doors onto a decked and courtyard area. Four further bedroom suites are on the first floor, one of which has an en suite shower room. The second floor has the fifth bedroom with en suite shower room.

Outside, the property is approached through an in-andout drive and gives access to an integral garage. The garden behind the house is accessed by steps from the decking area, small bridge over the ornamental stream with its dry lined stone walls leading onto an area of lawn, interspersed with flower and shrub borders.

This sought-after converted oast house has been completely refurbished by the current owners and offers flexible accommodation including a substantial detached leisure complex and one-bedroom annexe above. The vendors also currently run a ‘glamping’ business on the fields and would be delighted to provide further details. The property occupies a beautiful rural setting with views over its own land and beyond.

The house is approached via a gated entrance over a gravel driveway that splits to provide substantial parking in front of the leisure complex and, to the rear, in a detached open-bay quadruple garage.

An impressive hallway opens out on to the spacious kitchen breakfast room, study, family room and feature sitting room located in the roundel of the former oast building, which was used to roast the hops. Upstairs there are four bedrooms including a 32ft-long master bedroom with en suite. The fourth bedroom is located in the upper floor of the roundel.

The substantial detached leisure complex provides a gymnasium, swimming pool, sauna, pool plant room and separate male and female changing facilities with showers and WC. Above the gymnasium there is a one-bedroom annexe providing kitchen/sitting room, bedroom and en suite bathroom providing scope for generational living or staff.

There is a further bedroom over the changing rooms. The overall accommodation for the oast house and leisure complex totals almost 7,500 sq ft.

The price is right Countryside’s new family homes in Horsham offer significant savings over resale properties

F

o r some people, the thought of a brand new home suggests paying a premium for the additional benefits they offer. Award-winning developer Countryside is looking to buck that trend with its latest collection of five-bedroom homes, which save a fortune over comparable resale properties in the Horsham area.

The executive homes at Elysian Fields – the fourth and final phase of the Wickhurst Green development taking shape in Broadbridge Heath, to the west of Horsham – start at £630,000, while some websites show an average price for second-hand five-bedroom homes in the area of £865,000.

Andrew Loveday, sales director for Countryside, remarks: “The fivebedroom homes at Elysian Fields offer excellent value for money, priced below the average for a large home in this desirable location. We have

thoughtfully developed the homes to accommodate the requirements of the 21st-century family, boasting plenty of open-plan living areas perfect for enjoying quality time together, as well as space for privacy.

“Purchasers will also benefit from the warm community environment that is already building at Wickhurst Green, which is particularly attractive to families. We are already experiencing strong demand at this new phase and therefore recommend that those interested act fast and visit the sales suite.”

These new homes are set within attractive tree-lined avenues, complemented by extensive planting, and mature trees. This phase of the development offers a mix of four- and five-bedroom homes that are ideal for families and offer a great place to live for those working locally or needing convenient transport links.

One of the larger homes is

‘The Wells’, offering five bedrooms and accommodation over three storeys. The ground floor boasts an open-plan kitchen/dining room, with French door access to the spacious rear garden. There’s a separate living room, offering the option to entertain separately.

Two bedrooms feature an en suite, with an additional family bathroom.

‘The Wells’ also has a tandem garage for extra storage and parking.

Sustained interest in the Wickhurst Green development has been based on Horsham’s excellent amenities, including some superb state and private schools and excellent road and rail links. For commuters, there is a choice of services to two London termini and a journey time of under

an hour. The south coast is easily accessible and the surrounding Sussex countryside is also delightful, offering families a host of outdoor lifestyle options.

Find out more at helysianfields@cpplc.com; 01403 276700

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Your Will is the most important document that you will write, yet it’s estimated that around 30 million UK adults haven’t done it.

Writing your Will is rarely at the top of anyone’s To-Do list until well, it needs to be. We know that the thought of actually sitting down and doing it can be pretty daunting but, in reality it’s really not as complicated, time consuming or expensive as you think. It’s simply solid financial planning that can, potentially, save your heirs thousands.

Think of it as a plan to protect your assets and safeguard the future of everything and everyone that is important to you.

A professionally drafted Will is vital in…

Protecting your assets Avoiding damaging family disputes Inheritance tax planning

Safeguarding the future of your loved ones Saving time, money and unnecessary distress

Do you have to have one?

It’s not a legal requirement but, by dying intestate (without a Will) you relinquish control over your assets, leaving them to be distributed according to the laws of intestacy. A Will gives you the control. You decide how your assets are shared out. Who benefits and by how much.

Consequences of dying intestate

Protecting your share of your Property with a Trust Your property is probably your biggest asset and one that you want your children to inherit. But in the UK this is not guaranteed.

How it works is this… on first passing, the law of succession dictates that ownership of any joint asset automatically passes to the surviving partner. They are then at liberty to do with it as they wish.

If the surviving partner remarries your property becomes part of their marital assets, posing significant risk of your children being ‘accidentally’ or ‘side-ways’ disinherited. Similarly if they were to become bankrupt your property would be considered one of their assets and your children would not see a penny. It could even be used to pay their and their new spouses care costs.

Legally severing the joint tenancy and becoming ‘tenants-in-common’ will allow you to then place your share into a protective trust.

Keeping your Will safe A Will is a legal document and therefore, there are legal implications should it be misplaced or damaged. In fact the Probate

Put VERY simply, under the law of intestacy only your assets worth up

office will only accept an original copy in pristine condition. If no one

to £250,000 which are not held jointly, are passed to your spouse, plus

can find your current Will an old version, no matter how out of date it is,

HALF of the remaining assets. The remainder automatically passes to

will be used. If it can’t be found at all you’ve essentially died intestate –

your children.

adding further stress and burden to those left to deal with your affairs.

Unmarried partners and step children do NOT automatically inherit,

That’s why we provide an on-site, climate controlled, fire proof storage

regardless of circumstance. If you have no children your estate will be

facility for our clients!

shared with close relatives and if you have no blood relatives at all, EVERYTHING goes to the Crown.

Pre-paid funeral plans

A third of over 50s have an out of date Will

No one likes to think about their own funeral but, with the cost of dying

From out of date trusts to inadvertently leaving the majority of your estate to charity, an out of date Will can cause as many problems as not having one at all. Life - and Tax laws! - change so it’s important to review and refresh your Will every few years, you really don’t want to be paying more inheritance tax than necessary!

rising far in excess of inflation, a pre-paid funeral plan, securing your funeral at today’s prices, makes complete financial sense.

The average cremation now costs over £3,500 and is rising, fast. In fact, it’s predicted to reach the £10,000 mark by 2030, which, is ridiculous.

Without a plan in place your loved ones will have to find the funds

If you put a simple Will in place when your children were young, it’s now

themselves. Piling on emotional stress and financial burden at what will

time to think about planning and protection. If your current Will includes

already be a difficult time.

an obsolete Nil Rate Band Discretionary trust your heirs could be faced with a HEFTY and avoidable inheritance tax bill. Also, if you took a free

A pre-paid funeral plan is an easy way of shielding your family from

Will from your Bank years ago were they named as Executors? They

unnecessary distress and, you get the peace of mind knowing that,

could be charging you up 9% of you estate value for the privilege!

when the time comes everything will be taken care of.

Please call us today on 01322 664885 to discuss your Will, Trusts, Lasting Power of Attorney, Probate and Pre Paid Funeral plans. Quote What House? for 15% discount on Wills* Established in 2006 Future Legal Services are your local Will writing and

All our Wills and Trusts are written in house by our fully STEP accredited

Estate planning experts. We’ve made end of life planning as it should be,

Will drafter.

simple, convenient and affordable.

www.futurelegalservices.co.uk

* Please be advised that Future Legal Services may not have a consultant in your area. T&Cs apply.

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24/03/2016 15:05:12

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surrey 45

@What_House

Resale property of the month with Keats

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uietly located on the fringe of Grayshott village, Hampshire, this detached former coach house, set in grounds approaching one acre, is an exceptional family home occupying a private position and includes a twostorey annex.

The current owners of The Stable Yard have maintained the appearance of the former coach house despite all the work they have undertaken to provide light and spacious accommodation. The house can be divided, with each half enjoying independence or combined living when required, ideal for families with teenage children or older members to accommodate.

The kitchen/breakfast room features custom-made, hand-painted units with granite work surfaces and integral appliances and opens into the dining room with doors onto a terrace. From the dining room, access can be gained to the snug with its wood stove. The drawing room has a southerly outlook with a fireplace and wood burning stove at either end of the room and, from here, a door opens into the annexe. Upstairs, accessed via the main

staircase from the reception hall or a spiral staircase from the dining room, there are four bedrooms and a family bathroom including a master suite of bedroom, bathroom and dressing room, which, if a fifth bedroom was required, could easily be divided. The master suite and bedroom two have Julietstyle balconies to fully enjoy the view.

The annexe is set over two floors and has its own entrance so could be separated from the main house. Built to blend in with the original house on the ground floor, it has a green oak frame for the first floor, which comprises an open-plan living area with vaulted ceiling, kitchen and mezzanine. To make the most of the view there is a glass wall incorporating a Juliet balcony and patio doors opening onto a roof terrace. Situated in the middle of this floor is a very efficient rotating wood burning stove distributing heat throughout the room. The kitchen has been well designed with a range of high-gloss cupboards and drawers, granite work surfaces, integrated appliances and a stable door to the rear garden. From the kitchen a pull-down ladder gives access to the mezzanine level. Throughout there is underfloor

heating and on the ground floor there is a study/office with adjacent cloakroom and deep storage cupboard and bedroom with en suite bathroom with walk-in shower.

The grounds extend to approximately one acre and are divided into different areas including a kitchen garden, various seating and patio areas and light woodland. There is a further timber outbuilding, formerly a garage, which has been partially converted to provide additional accommodation with a bedroom on the first floor and kitchen, shower room and living space on the ground floor. The gardens are planted with a variety of flowers and shrubs with mature trees including beech and oak.

The Stable Yard is priced at £1.3m.

Grayshott is a thriving award-winning village surrounded by National Trust woodlands offering a wealth of individual shops from boutiques to high street names as well as a post office, village pub, restaurants and cafés. The village school caters to both infants and juniors and there are a large number of private schools and pre-schools in the area.

Find out more at www.keats.biz; 01428 648486

Show me The Wey New townhouses coming to leafy Godalming

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o ved for its period properties, the appearance of stylish new build homes in Godalming is rare, especially in a central location in the town. But that is what homebuyers in Surrey will see from 11 June, when the marketing suite and show home opens at Prime Place Godalming.

This development will feature a mix of apartments and townhouses, with the latter of special interest to family buyers and released for sale as the marketing suite opens. The open-plan apartments, with one to three bedrooms, have been available for some time, with nearly two-thirds

already sold to keen house-hunters.

The collection of three-bedroom townhouses is called The Wey, and these four-storey homes provide flexible living space with a basement utility room, rear garden accessed through full-height doors and the option of using the separate lounge as a fourth bedroom.

At a price of around £580,000, even these homes are eligible for the Help to Buy scheme, which is also available on the apartments. A one-bedroom flat, priced at £264,995, can be purchased using a deposit of £13,250, with the government providing an equity loan of £53,000 (interest-free for the first five years and repayable after 25 years

or on the sale of the apartment) and the buyer having to secure a 75% mortgage of £198,745.

Appointments to see the townhouses can be made now through selling agents Hamptons International.

Sue Gresswell, sales and marketing director at Prime Place, says: “Godalming is a charming market town and a great place to live, not least for its proximity to London.

Our homes are in an outstanding location close to the High Street, opposite Waitrose, an easy walk from the station and minutes from the River Wey. The show apartment will give people the opportunity to see the quality of these homes and get a sense

of what a great lifestyle they could have here.”

Jason Cheeseman, new homes sales and marketing manager at Hamptons International, adds: “This is a hugely popular development with, we believe, the best location in Godalming – convenient for everything. Sixty per cent of the apartments have been sold, even before the show apartment opens, showing purchasers’ confidence in the Prime Place brand – and we anticipate the same high level of demand for the townhouses.”

The Prime Place Godalming development is arranged around a central courtyard garden, with private parking provided in an underground

car park, keeping the streets clear and attractive. Each apartment is given one allocated parking space, with each townhouse and penthouse having two.

With its excellent selection of shops and restaurants, the appeal of Godalming as a place to live is clear; its proximity to Guildford, a regional centre for shopping and entertainment, under five miles away and with good access by road and public transport, brings more options into easy reach.

Find out more at www.primeplace.co.uk; 01483 351933 (Hamptons International)

For the latest on the property market

@What_House

hampshire 47

New homes come to the UK’s best place to live

Bewley Homes launches its new scheme in Hartley Wintney

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h e latest Halifax Quality of Life survey, which looks at a range of factors from health to employment and housing across over 400 districts in the UK, has placed the north-east Hampshire area of Hart at the top of the league for the fifth year running.

For those looking to move into this desirable location – and those who already live there looking for the benefits of a brand new home close by – will be delighted to hear that Bewley Homes has unveiled a brand new development of 95 homes in the popular village of Hartley Wintney.

Hartley Row Park enjoys a semi-

rural setting and will comprise a mix of two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom homes. Demand is set to be strong, with 14 of the homes conformed as reserved after just a fortnight.

The village is only a mile-and-ahalf from Winchfield station, which provides regular services into London Waterloo, taking just an hour. For road

users, the proximity of the M3, M4 and A30 also make the development an ideal base. Farnborough, Basingstoke and Reading, some of the area’s most significant employment centres, are all within easy reach of the village.

Close to home are a wide array of high-quality local amenities, with local shops, leisure facilities and schools within walking distance as well as the quintessential English village feature –

the cricket green.

Current prices at Hartley Row Park start from £465,000 for three-bedroom houses, £795,000 for four-bedroom houses and £995,000 for five-bedroom houses. Help to Buy is available on homes valued up to £600,000.

Find out more at hartleywintney@bewley.co.uk; 01252 842578

Winchester – a buyer’s guide Why is Winchester so popular?

The city has proved consistently popular with buyers moving down from London who are looking to live within easy reach of the capital but can appreciate the excellent schooling and lifestyle options offered. A high proportion commute to London via train, which takes around 68 minutes and the M3 also provides direct access to other large cities including Portsmouth and Southampton.

The charm of Winchester lies in its size because, despite the fact it is a city, the size of the town creates a small safe environment with everything in one place that is hugely appealing to buyers. Winchester is one of England’s most ancient cities and the centre retains numerous medieval streets clustered around the cathedral, which has the longest nave of any Gothic cathedral in Britain.

What is the housing stock like?

Properties range from elegant townhouses, mainly Georgian and Victorian to detached family houses and modern developments, making it as diverse as it is desirable. Housing stock is in limited supply making it all the more desirable.

Philip Blanchard, director of Jackson, Stops & Staff, Winchester, takes Is education good for families? a view of the Schooling is one of the principle reasons families look to buy in cathedral city Winchester. Winchester College is one of the world’s most recognised

independent schools and others include St Swithun’s School for Girls, Farleigh School and Bedales. Kings School provides an excellent state option. Winchester University has a growing population of 6,000 students.

Are there other attractions to living in Winchester?

The nearby New Forest is perfect for walking, riding and cycling, while nearby Lymington and Cowes on the Isle of Wight are major sailing centres. The city offers many cultural opportunities, with ballet, comedy, opera and theatre performances regularly held in Winchester’s venues.

Jackson, Stops & Staff is selling Moreton House, situated in one of the most historic parts of Winchester at the eastern end of St Swithun Street, opposite the outer wall of the Cathedral Close and its main castellated entrance. Built in 1999, this classical four-bedroom townhouse has an exceptional interior, is light and rich in character. The bedrooms are located on the first and second floors and there is also a first floor drawing room. An internal courtyard leads from the kitchen dining room on the ground floor. The mainline station is within walking distance of the property, which has an asking price of £1.375m.

You can find out more at by contacting Jackson, Stops & Staff’s Winchester office on 01962 844299

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kent 49

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New housebuilder launches with exciting Dover scheme A brand new company begins work on new homes in the port town

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frastructure work has just begun n on a brand new development in Dover, the first project from a new housebuilding company, Halsbury Homes, led by one of the best-known people in the new homes industry.

Halsbury’s chief executive, David Bryant, spent 25 years at one of the UK’s biggest housebuilders, Persimmon Homes, and at the New Homes Marketing Board. The new company is now starting to establish itself in a number of new developments across the Home Counties, with Richmond Park in Whitfield, Dover, the first to be announced.

Bryant says the new company is determined to be different from its more established competitors: “Quite simply, we aim to take a more considered approach to everything we do, we like to call it ‘the Halsbury Way’,” he says.

“Being driven at all times by our customers’ needs means that we take our responsibilities very seriously for

Rural living

what is often the most significant purchase in someone’s life. And we’re passionate about halting the decline in both design and quality of new homes, putting style back where it belongs and maintaining traditional values whist building desirable, more spacious solutions to modern living.”

Infrastructure work has started and the marketing suite is officially open for the first phase of this exciting development of two- to five-bedroom homes. Part of the Whitfield Urban Expansion Plan, Richmond Park will also ultimately include a new school nearby, shops and a public square.

With further schemes already lined up in Norfolk, Buckinghamshire and Essex, this new company has quickly established its credibility to help tackle Britain’s new homes shortage.

Based near Norwich, the company has a land bank to cover the first few years, with a target to build 250 units across each of the first five years, meanwhile accruing more land to cover future years.

“I am very excited at this opportunity to develop a completely new company with such a great team,” continues Bryant, “and am sure Richmond Park will be the first of many success stories for Halsbury, our partners and purchasers alike”.

“With new housing development being of such strategic importance to the overall economy, it is also important to recognise the combined roles of our banks, the HCA (Homes and Communities Agency) and local district councils in enabling individual housebuilders like Halsbury Homes to deliver much-needed new homes.

“For example, at Richmond Park, Whitfield the practical help received from Dover District Council with our initial application for 94 plots, combined with funding support from the Secure Trust Bank and the HCAs Large Infrastructure Fund, has enabled the first phase of 1,250 plots to commence this month.”

Find out more at janbuckingham@ halsburyhomes.com; 01508 521500

Lake Wells – Guide price £995,000 Hope Cottage, Cottage,Tunbridge Hipley – £1.1m

Our favourite countryside properties in Kent

This month, we head to the country to view two wonderful rural homes currently for sale in Kent with Freeman Forman Find out more at www.freemanforman.co.uk; 01892 640318

Moor Hill, Hawkhurst – £600,000

This spacious penthouse apartment is set in Hall House, a substantial country house built in 2003 in the Arts and Crafts style within six acres of park-like grounds in a rural setting.

The property is brick-built with imposing gables, arched stone verandahs, oak balconies, an oriel window and decorative oak timbering.

The main entrance hall has limestone floors and a grand oak staircase leading to the top floor as well as a lift serving all floors.

The Hemingway Suite is the larger of the two penthouse suites, approached through double doors into a shared vestibule, which, in turn, leads through a heavy oak door into the elegant reception hall with glass atrium roof. The drawing room has a sandstone fireplace and French doors to the balcony with stunning views across the gardens and countryside beyond.

The kitchen/breakfast room has been fitted with a range of base and eye-level units and integral appliances. The master bedroom has French doors to a balcony and a spacious walk-in wardrobe and an en suite bath/shower room. The spacious guest suite also has a walk-in wardrobe and an en suite shower room and there is a further bedroom/study and a bath/shower room.

The property is situated within easy access to the local village The Moor. Hawkhurst offers a good range of shopping facilities.

Staplehurst and Etchingham have regular services to London and the South Coast.

There are good schools in the area, both state and private, and the property falls within the Cranbrook School catchment area. There are golf courses at Hawkhurst and Ticehurst and sailing at Bewl Water.

Lake Cottage is a delightful sandstone family home set is a semi-rural location between Speldhurst and Rusthall yet within a short distance of Tunbridge Wells. The property is situated within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and benefits from views over its gardens and countryside beyond.

The spacious accommodation lies over two floors and includes a triple-aspect living room with open fire, snug/study with French doors to the garden, conservatory with a productive grape vine and kitchen/breakfast room. The first floor offers a master bedroom with en suite bathroom three further double bedrooms and a family bathroom.

Planning permission has been granted for a two-storey side extension and ancillary accommodation above the garage to include external staircase, pitched roof dormer and roof light.

The property is accessed through electric gates. The gardens are a particular feature of the property with a paved sun terrace providing an outside entertaining area, orchard, summer house, ornamental pond, a vegetable garden and greenhouse. There is a stream which runs through part of the garden with a bridge.

Rusthall village offers a good range of local amenities including post office, general store, restaurants, pubs and churches. There are many highly regarded schools in the area, both state and private, particularly Holmewood House at Langton Green.

Tunbridge Wells station is under two miles away with services into London Charing Cross/Cannon Street. The A21 lies to the north of Tunbridge Wells and provides access to the M25 orbital motorway linking to other road networks, Gatwick and Heathrow Airports and the coast.

interiors

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Calm and get it Looking to get set for a good night’s sleep? Richenda Oldham explains how to transform a bedroom into a haven of luxury and serenity

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e enagers have got it right, staying in bed until midday or even longer, ignoring their mothers’ entreaties to get up. They demonstrate perfectly how, for them, their bedroom is an inner sanctum, somewhere to hole up, eat pizza (in bed), play music (in bed) or chat to friends on social media (still in bed).

Adults, too, are catching on to this, as, without doubt, the bedroom has become something of a boudoir (a term used to describe a beautifully decorated woman’s room used for sleeping, dressing, relaxing and entertaining) with specific areas for specific tasks.

Bedrooms provide us with a sanctuary of calm, and are blissful places to retreat to, not just for a

snooze, but also for ‘you’ time to indulge in reading, daydreaming, meditating or watching TV. But to achieve this state of restful happiness, a bedroom must fulfil certain criteria.

A modern day bedroom sanctuary demands a good quality comfortable bed – the best that you can afford with a decent mattress, crisp cotton sheets, calm colours, thick soft carpets or rugs for your feet to sink into, and gentle, warm lighting to help you relax.

Fill your bedroom with objects that matter to you most and hang a collection of your favourite pictures – nothing beats waking up in the morning to a treasured piece of artwork. If space allows, try creating a seating area in your bedroom, where you can sit and read.

DE-STRESS BY DECLUTTERING Nothing will destroy your sense of peace than to have a bedroom strewn with clothes, shoes or magazines. Tidy up, put clothes away and if necessary create extra storage by using pretty baskets or boxes to stack away items.

SENSE OF SCENTS Avoid artificial scents and use natural essential oils in a diffuser to send soothing aromas through your bedroom. Lavender is well known for aiding sleep, as is Bergamot, Sandalwood and Chamomile.

COLOUR ME NEUTRAL Strident colours will create a jarring note in your boudoir. Choose soft, neutrals colours such as off-whites, fresh whites and pastel shades to enhance the feeling of tranquillity.

Add to the sense of space by hanging large mirrors.

GLOW-WORM It is worth making lighting a priority in a bedroom and to aim to create a relaxing ambience with a gentle glow from different light sources, such as bedside lights and wall lights. Try to avoid bright overhead lights, which will bring a harsh jarring note to the room.

Directional light is important, however, for specific tasks, such as reading.

1 For added impact, you can’t beat a stunning headboard – you’ll be amazed at the difference it makes to the look of your bedroom; Antique Venetian mirrored bed, £1,299, www. frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk 2 A dressing table is the perfect place to gather bits and pieces that you don’t want in the bathroom; Nellie dressing table, £595, www.loaf.com 3 Decent cotton or linen bed linen is a must if you want a good night’s sleep; Natural Spots bed linen, £75 for a double duvet cover, www.thefinecottoncompany.com 4 An ottoman is a good seating choice as it can double up as both a benchtype seat and storage; Orianna storage ottoman, £299, www.livingitup.co.uk 5 Buy the best quality bed that you can afford when creating a luxurious and relaxing bedoom; Sweetpea & Willow Cuthbert bed, £1,195, www.sweetpeaandwillow.com

Relax in style... your style

Show Homes • Private Client Investment Property Furnishing

020 8200 5556 interiors@new–id.co.uk www.new-id.co.uk

interiors

Find your new home at whathouse.com/new-homes

53

Sitting pretty

If you’re in search of the perfect sofa, Richenda Oldham has a practical checklist to ensure you get the best value for your money

S

ofa,

couch, divan or settee?

Whatever your name is for it, a sofa is still a major investment, which – if chosen wisely – should last you around 10-15 years.

The style that you pick will largely be determined by the interior design of your home. If you live in a traditional, period property then a scatter back or cushion back design with classic scroll arms and turned wooden legs would work well. Whereas a modern loft-style apartment will suit a smart, fixed-back sofa with square arms or even no arms.

Quality is of paramount importance and there are a number of checks that you can undertake to ensure that a sofa is going to provide you with many years of faithful service.

FRAME A well-made sofa will have a sturdy frame and will feel solid and heavy.

Always test the frame for its strength by sitting on the sofa, then pick it up and give it a bit of a shake. This will

show if anything is loose. If it does feel wobbly, then avoid. Another test is to lift one front corner about six inches off the ground, if the other front leg has risen as well, then the frame is good and strong, if however, the other leg is still touching the ground, then the frame is weak.

FILLINGS Fillings in a sofa do make a difference, as they affect the levels of support and the amount of wear that they can cope with. If you have a large family and a busy lifestyle, then foam or foam with fibre will offer firm support and will look more tailored. Over time the foam will lose a little volume, but all you need to do is turn the cushions occasionally. The denser the foam the longer it will last. Foam with a fibre wrap is found in better-quality furniture and has a softer appearance.

Feather-filled upholstery has a more relaxed appearance and provides good levels of support, but it’s hard work as the cushions have to be turned weekly and plumped up daily.

SUSPENSION The most expensive type of suspension is the traditional eight-way hand tied spring, where the coiled springs are hand tied to protect the springs against the fabric. Many sofas have serpentine springs, which are s-shaped and offer a slightly firmer seat than coil springs, which are a series of linked, coiled springs, similar to those used in mattresses. Pocket springs are individually contained in a fabric pocket and are generally better and longer lasting than plain coils. Sofas that have webbing suspensions are often flimsy and provide less support than springs.

UPHOLSTERY The amount of wear your sofa is going to receive will influence your choice of upholstery. Fabric covered sofas offer a wide choice of colours and finish, whereas leather or faux leather is tough and easy to look after, but is only available in a limited range of colours.

Clockwise from top left: 1 Loose covers are ideal for family sofas as they can be removed and cleaned; Egerton sofa, £945, www.sweetpeaandwillow.com 2 Sumptuous cushion-back sofa with stylish low arms that accentuate the deep cushioned seats; Ridley sofa £2,385, www.delcor.co.uk 2 This smart deep buttoned, fixed-back sofa has high sides for extra support; Miasto sofa

£599.99, www.my-furniture.co.uk 4 A good example of a restored and reupholstered Victorian sofa with an elegant serpentine back; £2,400, www.nataliawillmott.co.uk 5 A contemporary version of the classic Chesterfield sofa; Bagsie leather sofa, £2,595, www.loaf.com

54 interiors

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Delicate small glass vase, featuring handcrafted copper leaves fused with frostyblue enamels; £39.95, www.iapetus.co.uk Fabulous white cabbage shaped vase with a beautiful scalloped edge; £15.95, www.miafleur.com

Funky handcrafted bamboo vases made from Tiger bamboo; £6 each, www.en.dawanda.com

There is something rather cosy about this charming cableknit vase with its delicately textured ‘knitted’ effect finish; £11.95, www.melodymaison.co.uk

Holding company There are some wonderfully quirky and individual vases to choose from this season as Richenda Oldham discovers…

Let’s get whizzy The humble hand blender is the modernday solution to limited kitchen space, being capable of whisking up a small storm quickly and without fuss. Richenda Oldham takes a spin with a few of her favourites 1

2

This fun contemporary Mobi vase is designed to look like a surfacing whale, but with flowers instead of water being exhaled through his blowhole; £34.95, www.designmyworld.net

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1 The Vitamix S30 comes with all the bells and whistles to make anything from soups and smoothies to frozen desserts and nut butters. It comes with two portable containers so you can eat your healthy meals on the go; £399, www.vitamix.co.uk 2 Kenwood’s kMix hand blender is a neat little multifunctional accessory with a powerful 700W motor and five blending speeds. It comes with a processor bowl attachment, reversible stainless steel slicing and shredding discs as well as chopping blades, available in Raspberry Red (shown here) or Almond Cream; £119.99, www.kenwoodworld.com/uk 3 Swan Products 600 Watt three-in-one hand blender features a turbo function and variable control. It comes with a balloon whisk attachment, as well as stainless steel blades and a 700ml measuring cup, £51.99; www.wayfair.co.uk 4 The MagicBullet certainly lives up to its name, as it can blend, chop, mix, whip, dice and grind, to enable you to produce a delicious meal in seconds; £39.99, www.highstreettv.com 5 The Masha is a healthy-eating hand blender, which can be used to whip up dips, such as hummus, pesto and guacamole or to make soup. It even makes the smoothest mashed potatoes and can whisk the fluffiest meringues; £34.99, therange.co.uk

Specialising Exclusively in Permeable Resin Bound Paving 0800 612 6041 contact@sureset.co.uk www.sureset.co.uk

56 gardening

Find your new home at Whathouse.com

Great British garden bucket list What would the nation’s gardeners love to do with their gardens?

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a nicured lawns and flower beds were once the popular choice for homeowners, but new research reveals traditional garden features have fallen out of favour, with more lavish features such as hot tubs, swimming pools and tennis courts taking prime position on garden bucket lists.

74% of Brits dream of owning a swimming pool, whilst over half (53%) have hopes of a relaxing in a hot tub after a hard day, according to a survey of 1,000 UK adults by garden and conservatory furniture retailer Alfresia.

Also high on the wish lists of would-be landscapers are water features (67%), followed by decking or patio areas (61%), vegetable patches (43%), and summer houses (24%).

Brits also have outdoor style aspirations, with oriental water garden (32%) topping the list of dream garden themes, followed by cottage garden (21%), contemporary modern (19%), Mediterranean terrace garden (16%), and low-maintenance garden (12%).

31% would use their dream garden for throwing parties, whilst an optimistic 16% plan to use their outdoor space for sunbathing.

Nearly 1 in 10 (9%) sporty Brits dream of having their own tennis courts, and 5% fantasise about a putting green on their dream garden wish list, showing spaces for active leisure are also a high priority for British adults.

Built-in BBQ and outdoor cooking area topped the list for those aged 18-24, whilst 25-34 year-olds chose vegetable patches as their top pick, illustrating the rise in popularity of gardening among young homeowners.

Respondents admitted their aspirations were being inspired by television shows such as Big Brother, and celebrities such as the Kardashians, many of whom have lavish, featurefilled gardens.

Top 10 dream garden features Swimming pool – 74% Water feature – 67% Decking / patio area – 61% Hot tub – 53% Vegetable patch – 43% Summer house – 24% BBQ and outdoor cooking area – 23% Tennis courts – 9% Putting green – 5% Topiary – 4%

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Craig Corbett, marketing manager at Alfresia, says: “The findings are interesting, and show that most of us aspire to have some element of water in our gardens, whether it’s in the form of a bubbling hot tub, or tranquil and calming

water feature. It’s great to see the fun and quirky features the British public choose when collating their garden bucket lists.

“Dream landscapes don’t have to cost big money – improvements can be made on a conservative budget and scale.

Beginning garden renovations with a single smaller size project, such as tidying existing patio areas, or planting some seasonal pots is recommended; sowing seeds and garden maintenance can be done in smaller manageable sessions.”

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58 armchair gardener

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Up front and personal

Plant flowers in containers that can be moved around the garden for year-round interest

A well-designed front garden will welcome visitors and can add value to your home

Abundant planting, including hanging baskets has turned this tiny courtyard into a stylish urban garden

Ivy will help conceal unsightly walls or fencing and will provide pollen for insects

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Birds will enjoy pyracantha berries

Decorative gravel is an ideal permeable material for a front garden

A well-designed front garden and driveway is all about making a personal statement.

Richenda Oldham finds out how to make an entrance that welcomes with style

o w many of you steer your car into your front driveway, park it and walk through your front garden to your front door – all without giving your surroundings a second glance?

If you are guilty as charged, you are not alone. Yet first impressions are all important when it comes to your property, as you only get one chance to make a grand entrance, so make sure you get it right. After all, an impeccably designed garden will define your home and can add significantly to the value of your property.

Parking is often a priority and there has been an increasing tendency to pave over front gardens in urban

areas to maximise parking space.

However, this has been found to be counterproductive environmentally, with impermeable hard surfaces contributing to flooding.

So if you do want to provide parking in your front garden, make sure you choose permeable products that allow rainwater to soak into the ground.

These include: • Brick pavers – these offer a more traditional look and their interlocking design allows rainwater to filter between the gaps. They can be laid in attractive patterns or you could put down two rows as tyre tracks on which to park a car.

• Gravel – this is the cheapest form

of permeable hard landscaping and comes in many different colours and shapes.

• Matrix or cellular paving – relatively low cost and simple to install, this consists of plastic cells that are used to hold gravel in place.

• Grass reinforcement – there is a range of ground reinforcement products, such as grass protection mesh, which protects grassed surfaces from the wear and tear inflicted by cars or heavy pedestrian traffic.

DESIGN A front garden is the setting for your home and needs to be attractive as

Honeysuckle is an excellent climber that will attract insects well as functional. One of the most important points to remember when designing a front garden is that plants and flowers can make even the smallest space green and inviting, so make sure you incorporate plenty of greenery and colour in your plan. They also aid privacy and provide a haven for wildlife.

One of the best ways to maximise limited space in a front garden – particularly if it has to accommodate parked cars – is to think vertical and grow climbers up house and boundary walls. Use trellis to train plants to climb – you could even install an attractive archway to mark the transition from one space to another.

PLANTS TO CHOOSE There is an endless choice of plants and flowers that are suitable for front gardens, including tough varieties such as creeping jenny and thymes, which can cope with being parked over. To attract wildlife, choose shrubs, trees and hedges that will provide shelter and nesting sites. Plants such as pyracantha will provide berries for birds, while catmint, honeysuckle and ivy will provide pollen and nectar for insects.

Aim to choose plants that flower in every season, so you get the benefit of year-round interest and don’t forget to plant out planters that can be moved about the garden.

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