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 & South Edition
March 2015
Making London greater To meet our ambitious growth strategy we need to acquire over 2000 plots in the next 12 months. Therefore we are urgently seeking land in the M25 area suitable for 30 to 500 units. To find out more about London Square’s plans turn to page 25
All enquiries to Adam Lawrence on 01895 627 302 Brian Betsy on 01895 627 323
LONDON SQUARE FULHAM
NOW OVER 80% SOLD Award winning collection of forty luxury townhouses, ranging in size from three to ďŹ ve bedrooms, set around three stunning garden squares in the heart of fashionable Fulham. Photography depicts London Square Fulham
LONDON SQUARE EASTCOTE A gated collection of one, two and three bedroom apartments in a beautifully landscaped setting just off Eastcote high street, with underground parking.
Computer generated image is indicative only.
01895 627 333
Computer generated image is indicative only.
www.londonsquare.co.uk
View from One Commercial Street
l r, or ca e o lo ap r d ur y p ou Yo ert to y op d pr ere liv de March 2015
London & South Edition
ONE COMMERCIAL STREET Penthouses from £2.95m Soaring twenty-one storeys above Aldgate East underground station, One Commercial Street is a masterpiece in panoramic skyline views. Only a collection of contemporary Penthouses remain at this striking development which offers views of London’s most iconic landmarks including The Shard, Gherkin and London’s Tower Bridge. The façade of the skyscraper has been designed as a ‘brise soleil’ feature, while Penthouses epitomise modern
living, featuring luxurious, spacious interiors and a grand entrance lobby, providing the ambience of a stylish hotel reception area. The release of the Penthouses marks the final stage of the development’s completion which includes 137 homes as well as six floors of commercial space. Residents will also benefit from excellent transport links, including the £110m redevelopment of nearby Whitechapel Station which will offer access to Crossrail in 2018 and Liverpool Street underground station, both a short walk away.
www.onecommercialstreet.com
NORTHWAY HOUSE 1 bedroom apartments from £305,000 and 2 bedroom apartments from £450,000 Northway House is set to rejuvenate a stretch of Barnet between central London and the rolling Hertfordshire countryside. Boasting 149 one, two and three bedroom apartments and Penthouses, the scheme will transform a tired looking 1970s commercial building into a collection of desirable new homes in Totteridge & Whetstone, North London. The development presents a unique opportunity to own a home close to the
prestigious Totteridge Lane, which is home to film stars, celebrities and some of the country’s richest families. This coveted part of the Capital’s suburbs offers a plethora of parks, allotments, tennis clubs and golf courses.
www.northwayhouse.com
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London & Southern Edition
March 2015
AUCTIONS P4 GARDENS P37 INTERIORS P39 PROPERTY INVESTMENT P53 MORTGAGES P54
Adding value to your home P3
The best of British –
new homes at the heart of regeneration P21
A specialist Land & New Homes department providing a unique and professional service
Unrivalled network of 38 Sales and Lettings branches within the M25 and a further 300 nationally
0208 394 2993
Dedicated Land team
focusing on the acquisition and disposal of land and development opportunities
Specialist team of New Homes Managers
www.barnardmarcus.co.uk
co-ordinating and overseeing the sales of New Homes developments through our network of high street branches
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Whatever your requirements we can tailor make a service for you
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Adding value to Y your home
Welcome!
W
e will soon emerge from the cold winter months, and as the temperatures increase so too will property prices, albeit at a slower rate than in 2014. Demand continues to outstrip supply in many areas,
STARTING POINTS Deal with structural problems first Before considering any cosmetic improvements, ensure you assess any structural problems, which can range from rotten windows and rising damp to broken roof tiles. These are the first things a surveyor will pick up on when they come to view your home.
Ensure your utilities are efficient Your heating, electricity and plumbing services should be efficient and up to date. Your boiler needs to be in good working order, your pipes shouldn’t be rattling around and you should consider updating your electrics if your property has not been rewired in many years. Flourishes such as underfloor heating are desirable but not imperative.
Double glazing Double glazed windows are expected as standard even at the bottom end of the market, and having them installed could add 10% to the value of your home. If you are selling a
but there are signs that we are slowly moving back towards a buyer’s market. Buyers are getting fussier too, and if you want the best price for your home you’ll need to make it as attractive to them as you possibly can. We’re here to help you along the way. One of the first things you’ll need to decide is
period property, think carefully before opting for double glazing and always replace like-for-like, as plastic can ruin the aesthetic of the home and is not permitted in conservation areas.
Broadband Recent research found that fast broadband has moved above offstreet parking at the top of the list of demands from would-be buyers. With an increasing number of people working from home for at least part of the week, this perhaps should not come as a surprise. You don’t necessarily need to have fibre-optic broadband installed, but having a fast connection can add up to 5% to the value of your property, and as much as 8% in London.
BIG PROJECTS Conversions and extensions The best way to add value is to add space. Popular options include loft conversions, garage conversions, conservatories and garden rooms. Research conducted last year by Nationwide found that an attic room can add £37,000 to the average home (21%), while an extra bedroom
when you’re thinking of moving. If you are looking to move in the immediate future, your focus will be on making aesthetic improvements to make your home more ‘sellable’. Alternatively, if a move is a year or more away you could benefit from taking on a more significant project to add value to your home.
can add £20,000 and an extra bathroom £8,900. Due to the variables involved, it is difficult to predict exactly what an extension to your home might cost. Basic loft conversions start at around £10,000, but the average spend tends to be in the region of £20,000£30,000. Adding a conservatory can be a considerably cheaper option, but won’t add comparative value.
Weigh up your options If you decide to add an extra room, make sure you get the balance right. Adding an office to your garden is a great idea for many homeowners, but if your plans get too ambitious and it ends up taking up the vast majority of your outdoor space you could end up losing rather than adding value. Always do your research and be realistic – swimming pools and Jacuzzis look great, but they are unlikely to cover their installation costs.
LOW COST OPTIONS Declutter If you can’t physically add space, then create the illusion of extra space
instead. A recent survey by Big Yellow Self Storage found that removing bulky items from your property can boost its sale price by up to 11%, and that two thirds of sellers who thoroughly decluttered before viewings received a higher offer than expected.
Remodel your existing rooms Freshen things up by considering ways in which you could improve the current specification of your home. A new bathroom or kitchen suite will entice buyers who don’t want to spend time renovating, and can also be a good way of ridding yourself of any value-sapping rooms you might have.
Give the garden a makeover Don’t worry if you’re not an expert, as this can range from cutting back overgrown trees and tidying up the borders to completely redesigning your garden. Buyers don’t just love seeing big spaces inside the house; they want them outside too, especially when purchasing a family home. Fences and mature trees create a valued sense of privacy, while a well-designed decked area will extend the illusion of having extra living space.
EXPERT ADVICE Julia Kendell, interior design expert and co-presenter of ‘60 Minute Makeover’ 1. M ost buyers are prepared to pay considerably more for a house with new bathrooms and kitchens to avoid the upheaval and expense of replacing such important rooms. Tick as many ‘wish-list’ boxes as possible, such as a range oven, island unit, solid surfaces and walk-in shower.
3. W allpapering a room prior to marketing is rarely a good idea as it is a risk to assume that potential buyers will like your taste. However, if the walls are in bad condition, it is worth skim-plastering and repainting. Most buyers are pretty savvy and can see if a new coat of paint is disguising a bad surface.
2. M aximise the feeling of space and light. Consider simplifying the window treatments by replacing heavy curtains with shutters, woodslat or flat fabric blinds. In the same vein, replacing a carpet with a hardwood floor or a good quality laminate alternative will provide a more open feel.
4. Good lighting is key to showing a home at its best, both in creating the illusion of space and to produce an interesting and ‘designed’ look. Use good quality fittings to highlight good features and move the emphasis away from the less impressive. A statement chandelier or contemporary piece will add sparkle and raise the tone of the property substantially.
u may have seen an o article on Whathouse. com that highlighted an estate agent’s photograph of a house for sale where one of the rooms had a pig in it (http://whathou.se/ VWKMcz). If you didn’t, it’s worth taking a look at it, and you’ll also enjoy a selection of sales photos with strangely placed toilets, mysterious stains and awkward-looking residents in the frame. Not long ago I was sent a book, authored by Andy Donaldson, full of truly awful estate agents’ photos but even a cursory search on the internet will bring up some pretty bad ones. OK, not all of them show a lavatory in the kitchen or garden furniture gracing the dining room, but you’ll see a hatful of uninspired pictures that fail epically to stimulate the urge to give closer consideration to the home. To be fair, many agents have long-since cottoned on that today, especially with the hi-res screens we’re used to using, a good picture speaks its thousand words (the picture:word exchange rate hasn’t changed for decades) more than ever. Most reputable agents either train their staff to use goodquality cameras and equipment or employ professionals to do the job for them. It might seem expensive to get this done, but when you consider the price of even the most humble of dwellings, it’s an expense that is definitely worth paying. A properly composed and lit photo can really transform an ordinary room into something appealing and can make a great room an extraordinary one. Of course, it helps whoever is taking the photo if you’ve given the place a good going-over before they arrive. Removing unnecessary clutter, spring-cleaning surfaces and hiding any blemishes that you may well have lived with for years will not only present the room to a stranger in its best possible light (no pun intended), it could actually be a cathartic experience for you, too. The same goes for outside, too – tidying up the garden, clearing paths and drives and mending tiles and brickwork will more than repay the efforts and costs if it presents a welcoming home and makes the house-hunter feel they would be happy there.
Keith Keith Osborne, editor. ko@whathouse.com @keithosborne69
4 competition
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Competition l iona g Nat uildin g eb tin Homenova & R Show
We have four pairs of tickets to give away for the upcoming National Homebuilding & Renovating Show, which takes place at the Birmingham NEC from 26th to 29th March. To enter, simply follow and tweet us @What_House with the hashtag #WhatHouseComp before March 19th.
@What_House
25/01/2015 18:54
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 What House? Awards, edits leading housebuilding magazine Show House and is property correspondent of The Field magazine.
Managing director Daniel Hill Editorial director Rupert Bates
Keith Osborne started writing about property 12 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 What House? Awards judging panel for a number of years.
Sales director (new homes) Mark Edmondson me@whathouse.com
Stephen Maunder is assistant editor of Whathouse.com, having previously spent 18 months there as a freelance special correspondent. He has a background in academic research and has worked at Sky News as a picture researcher. He has also written for BBC News, Huffington Post UK and the Shropshire Star newspaper.
Account manager Ann Chaloner ac@whathouse.com
What House?
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Editor Keith Osborne ko@whathouse.com Assistant editor Stephen Maunder sm@whathouse.com Chief sub-editor Suzanne Frost Designer Sarah Davies Contributors Marc Da Silva Nick Parkhouse Richenda Oldham
Head of Sales (London) Andy Lunn al@whathouse.com Sales manager Jay Ali ja@whathouse.com Business development manager Richard Woodruff rw@whathouse.com Business development manager Steve Coyle sc@whathouse.com
Head of digital Simon Phillips simon@whathouse.com Cover picture: Marrow Meade, Elvetham Heath, Hampshire courtesy of Romans Fleet, 01252 743 732 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 Š 2015 Globespan Media Limited
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
...Buying a new home is a big decision, so you’ll want to know that your property is of good quality and your investment well protected. Only builders approved and registered by NHBC can offer Buildmark, and they must build to the detailed technical standards we have been developing and updating for more than 75 years. It will give you peace of mind to know that all new homes with NHBC’s Buildmark have been independently inspected at key stages during construction, and come with 10 years’ warranty and insurance. This gives you the reassurance that, on the rare occasion when something does go wrong, we’re here to help you.
So, before you buy a new home, make sure it has Buildmark.
Talk to us...
Call us now on 0844 633 1000 and ask for ‘Customer Services’. Or visit www.nhbc.co.uk/myhome H391 08/14
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6 six appeal
Find your new home at whathouse.com/new-homes
Burleigh Woods, Crawley Down, West Sussex • From £293,000
The village of Crawley Down is situated in the Mid Sussex district (17th nationally in the Halifax list and 9th in the South East), midway between East Grinstead and Crawley. The Burleigh Woods development is adjacent to mature woodland and just a short walk from shops and amenities. It features a mix of two-, three- and four-bedroom homes within easy reach of local schools and shops. In fact the popular local primary is one of the village focal points, and its pupils move on to the ‘outstanding’ Imberhorne Secondary in East Grinstead. Quality-of-life features include proximity to numerous outdoor activities, from football and fitness centres to fishing; the delightful scenic landscape of The Weald close-at-hand; easy access to theatre and cinemas in East Grinstead and Crawley; community events at the village hall; and a mix of independently owned local shops nearby, typical market town high streets at its two near neighbours.
The big-name brands at the large mall at Bluewater in Kent are easily reached by road. The district is well connected by road and rail. Rail services run to London Victoria from Three Bridges near Crawley and from East Grinstead, both with journey times of around 40 minutes; the route from Three Bridges also serves Gatwick Airport, which is 15 minutes’ drive from the village. Junction 10 of the M23 is around three-and-a-half miles away, and there are local bus services from stops just a few minutes’ walk from the development.
From: Miller Homes Contact: 0808 252 9640
Six appeal Our favourite properties on the market right now in the best Quality of Life areas Rankings come from the Halifax Quality of Life Survey 2014, which assessed all 405 UK local authorities for criteria such as residents’ health and life expectancy, wellbeing, weather, employment levels and earnings, crime rate, broadband internet and housing.
Hepworth Court, Walton-on-Thames From £710,000
3 Marrow Meade, Elvetham Heath, Fleet, Hampshire • £685,000
Typical Linden interior
The Surrey district of Elmbridge is at number two in the national survey this year and is a frequent high-flyer in many quality of life surveys. It is archetypal “stockbroker belt” territory, combining proximity to London with verdant surroundings and many well-to-do villages and market towns. In popular Walton-on-Thames, a new collection of just 10 three- and four-bedroom family homes in a leafy spot within walking distance of the peaceful banks of the River Thames is being launched this spring by Linden Homes. Hepworth Court offers its residents the scenery and bustling community life of the riverside while also being close to the charming centre of Walton-on-Thames and The Heart shopping centre. The town has a vibrant and
artistic character with an arts centre, playhouse, cinema and local shops, bistros and restaurants. There is a great selection of schools for all ages, including the Ofsted-rated ‘outstanding’ Ashley C of E Primary School just half-a-mile away. For commuters, Walton-on-Thames railway station is a mile away from where services reach London Waterloo in as little as 30 minutes. Junction 1 of the M3 is only 10 miles away and the A3 and M25 are within easy reach too. For getting out into the great outdoors from Hepworth Court, there is Wisley Common just eight miles away and Bushy Park a little over four miles down the road, as well as riverside strolls just round the corner.
From: Linden Homes Contact: 01926 497 028
Fleet is the major town of the district of Hart in the northeast of Hampshire, which has retained its position at number one in the Halifax national survey. With a stunning view of Elvetham Heath’s nature reserve and pond, this five-bedroom detached family home is on the market with no onward chain and boasts over 2,500 sq ft of accommodation. A spacious entrance hall welcomes you, providing centralised access to all three reception rooms, the cloakroom and stairs to the first floor landing. The 25ft living room leads into a sizeable conservatory and the dining room. The kitchen/breakfast room is also of a generous size, with the added benefit
of having an offset utility room, and the study can be used for a variety of purposes. The galleried landing is light and spacious, with access to all five bedrooms and the family bathroom. It is worth noting that there are en suites to both the master and guest bedroom. The double garage is located at the rear of the property and the garden is southeast facing, and mainly laid to lawn. This property is within easy reach of both the railway station and the M3, as well as the fairways of North Hants Golf Club.
From: Romans Contact: 01252 743 732
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Redwood Place, Sevenoaks, Kent From £360,000
Sevenoaks is at 14 in the Survey (climbing 33 places from the previous year) and the seventh best district in the South East. The town is just 20 miles from Charing Cross and with fast and frequent rail services and good road connections, has become a firm favourite with commuters. Sevenoaks is located amidst the countryside of the North Downs and was originally named after seven oak trees in the town, many of which were sadly lost in the great storms some years ago. It is home to an eclectic mix of shops, trendy restaurants, pubs and eateries plus delightful pavement cafés, which all create a lively ambience. Just two luxury apartments are for sale from the present phase at Redwood Place, with a collection
of duplexes now being sold offplan. Most properties have large balconies and each home comes with allocated parking. These properties, situated an easy walk from the station, are available with a number of incentive schemes, including Hillreed’s own part exchange and Home Change schemes and the government-backed Help to Buy initiative.
From: Hillreed Homes Contact: 01874 720 112
The ‘Halsted’ at Foundry Court, Wokingham, Berkshire £715,000 ‘Lauriston’, Wych Hill, Woking, Surrey £925,000 Woking, at 36 in the report, just makes it into the top 10% of districts. The town centre has undergone considerable regeneration in recent years and commuting residents benefit from numerous quick rail links and proximity to A3, M3 and M25. This beautiful four-bedroom detached family house comes with all the charm and character you would expect of an Edwardian home built in 1902. It is within one mile of the town centre and station, standing on a plot of approximately
one third of an acre which provides a south-facing private rear garden. The property has retained many of its original features such as high ceilings, picture rails and the original servant bell system. There are three separate reception rooms, a downstairs cloakroom, fitted kitchen, four bedrooms and a family bathroom. The organic garden is in our opinion one of the many outstanding features on offer. The detached garage is currently being used as a workshop and there
is also a separate outside studio and parking for several cars on the driveway. Numerous state and private schools lie under a mile-and-a-half from this home, together with a range of parks, open spaces and golf courses, make this a great choice for families and “empty nest” downsizers.
From: Carson and Co. Contact: 01252 844300
The district of Wokingham is always in and around the top ten of this report, making it to number nine this year, and in fact frequently makes it to the top of other surveys, for example from Public Health England and The Sunday times. This well-connected Berkshire town ticks lots of boxes for all sorts of property buyers, The five-bedroom ‘Halsted’ house type at Foundry Court is currently priced at £715,000. It’s a great option for family buyers, with the kitchen featuring a range of integrated appliances and stylish fitted units, as well as featuring bi-fold doors that open out onto the rear garden. This level also offers a large living room overlooking the rear of the property and a private study.
The master bedroom is fitted with wardrobes and also boasts an en suite. All of the bedrooms are spacious double rooms with ample storage space, and there is a fifth bedroom that could be used as a children’s play room. All bedrooms are served by the stylish main bathroom, which features contemporary white sanitaryware and a heated towel rail. Wokingham train station is just over a mile and half from home, with direct services into Reading taking 10 minutes and London Waterloo in around 70 minutes. London Paddington is also less than an hour away, via Reading train station.
From: Bellway Homes Contact: 0845 459 1060
The Hyde Housing Group Making a lasting difference, Working with Local Authorities The Hyde Group is an award winning provider of homes and makes a significant contribution to meeting housing needs and improving people’s quality of life. Hyde is one of the largest housing associations working in England, owning or managing circa 50,000 homes with a focus on London, Kent and the South Coast of England. Hyde built high quality new homes for 4,413 people in 2014/15. Of these, 83% pay a subsidised price, with 3,643 people housed in a new Hyde affordable home. Hyde is acutely aware of the housing crisis in the UK. A continuing decline in levels of house building, combined with increased demand, particularly within London and the south east of England, has increased housing costs significantly and impacted on local economies. Members of our team will be at MIPIM 2015 promoting New Challenges; New Partnering Solutions our Local Authority Offer launched earlier this year.
CGI of proposed Hyde HA Development in Harrow, London
Hyde is committed to tackling the housing shortage and reducing some of these impacts by: • Developing 1,000 mixed tenure homes a year with a focus on increasing this further • Delivering quality management services across all tenures and uses • Maximising life chances for residents through Hyde Plus’ support service • Retaining a strong financial covenant and commitment to invest for the future
We believe that the answer to delivering more homes, particularly ones that are affordable or are available for low cost ownership, is to work collaboratively with local authorities. A partnership approach allows local authorities to match their assets with our experience of mixed tenure development and regeneration, to create housing and communities in the most cost-effective and sustainable way. True partnerships can be achieved in a number of ways: • A joint venture model with sharing of risk and reward • Sharing the build programme: Hyde develops and sells the commercial elements of a mixed tenure scheme and the local authority develops and retains some or all of the affordable/social homes, to deliver an ongoing revenue • Hyde acts as the development and/or sales agent for the local authority • Traditional regeneration projects • Stock transfer opportunities
We have the financial capacity, A1 Moody’s credit rating and the highest validation from the Homes and Communities Agency. Equally, our reputation for innovation and creativity in designing new solutions for delivering affordable homes means we are an ideal partner for local authorities. We are committed to communities and places for the long term, supporting our developments with high quality, coordinated management services. These core objectives as a registered provider distinguish us from other market housing developers. We are open to ideas, so let’s do more to work together, pooling resources, ideas and ambitions, to create homes for people that need them the most.
We look forward to working with you in the future. To arrange a meeting, please contact: Simon Vevers Development Director, Regeneration simon.vevers@hyde-housing.co.uk Tom Shaw Development Director, South Coast tom.shaw@hyde-housing.co.uk Mike Johnson Development Director, London and Kent mike.johnson2@hyde-housing.co.uk
10 auctions
More about auctions at whathouse.com/property-auctions
Building a property portfolio at auction Dozens of property auctions take place across the UK every month, and they’re the perfect place to build a buy-to-let portfolio, says Marc Da Silva
W
i th the outlook for savers continuing to look dismal, a growing number of people are choosing to invest in the tried and tested route of bricks and mortar which generally offer significantly higher returns, especially as far as the buy-to-let market is concerned. A recent report from the Financial Conduct Authority revealed that most big high street banks are offering savings rates of just 0.5% or lower. In stark contrast, the gross yield on a typical rental property in England and Wales now stands at 5.1%, with total annual investment return – rental yield and capital growth - currently at 11.1%, supported partly by a 3% rise in private rents last year to an average of £767, the latest figures from Your Move and Reeds Rains reveal,
illustrating why buy-to-let is such an attractive investment option. With demand from tenants heavily outstripping the supply of available housing in the rental sector across many parts of the country, many landlords are actively planning to add to their property portfolios by purchasing UK homes this year, according to fresh research from Platinum Property Partners (PPP), a buy-to-let business. The study found that 23% intend
to expand their portfolio by one property, while 14% hope to acquire two or more rental homes in 2015. Separate research by the National Landlords Association (NLA) also indicates that a significant proportion of landlords will purchase more investment properties in the coming months. The NLA survey found that 31% of landlords will look for additional buyto-let lending or to re-mortgage in the coming months with a view to making further property acquisitions. When it comes to buying property, there are various choices available, with a private treaty sale traditionally the most common option. But many astute investors also choose to buy property at auction – the place to potentially pick up a bargain. “The main advantage to me of buying at auction has got to be the price,” said Don Lee, a residential
property investor. “Compared with the prices going through high street estate agents I paid 33% less [when buying at auction].” Aside from sell an individual property, auctions also provide property dealers with an ideal platform to dispose of a collection of homes at once, presenting investors with a good opportunity to acquire a ready-made portfolio of properties. A diverse collection of lots, ranging from multi-storey apartment blocks to a group of properties, can often be found listed for sale within one auction catalogue or another. But whether you are choosing to buy an individual property or a collection of homes, the rules remain the same; carefully plan, research in advance and ensure that you have the finance in place to move forward with confidence.
l a n t a n a estates sales
lettings
* 1 & 2 b e d ro o m a p a r t m e n t s n o w a v a i l a b l e t o re s e r v e ‘ o ff p l a n ’ a t Tr a m w a y P a t h , M i t c h a m . Completion Summer 2015. E n q u i re N o w.
OUR TOP TIPS TO BUYING PROPERTY AT AUCTION: • Develop an auction strategy that suits your aims and objectives. • Plan in advance by conducting your own research before attempting to buy a property at auction. • Ensure you are free to view the property/portfolio of homes at the set times and dates listed in the auctioneer’s catalogue. • Always conduct all necessary due diligence by undertaking detailed research about the property or collection of properties for sale pre-auction. This should include professional legal advice. • Make sure that you have the finance in place – cash or loan – before bidding on the lot (individual property or collection of properties) because you will, at the fall of the auctioneer’s gavel, enter into an immediate and legally binding contract to purchase the property/properties. You will need to pay a deposit of around 10% of the final purchase price on the day of the auction, with the remaining balance due within a relatively short time scale – typically 21-28 days. • Auctions can be rather nerve-racking and so it is crucial that you gain a feel for how auctions work by attending at least one sale in advance of bidding - a ‘dummy run’. Look, listen and learn by sitting at the back of the auction room in order to best prepare you for when it comes to bidding on property in the future.
london
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11
Live the park life in Kingston Stylish, contemporary homes unveiled in southwest London
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a ckson-Stops & Staff has just launched 219 Park Road, a boutique development of six homes situated in the heart of one of Kingston-uponThames’s most sought-after residential areas. Comprising two detached fivebedroom houses and four semidetached four-bedroom houses, each arranged over four levels, the homes – which meet Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4 – combine
122 nEWgatE StrEEt london EC1a 7aa
contemporary architecture with high levels of attention to detail inside and out. The result is a collection of homes which combines a clean, modern look with a homely and welcoming feel and particularly suited to entertaining guests. Entered via private gates, 219 Park Road forms a quiet enclave away from the main road, with a landscaped central courtyard offering a close-knit community feel that many of today’s buyers are in search of.
Internally, the homes, developed by Mondial, have been designed with flexibility in mind, with large open-plan living spaces, while each home also features a sunken decked terrace area. Together, these elements provide the perfect place for formal or informal entertaining with friends and family, with clever design of the site and individual homes affording a high level of privacy. Internally, no expense has been spared with the specification, with
key features including contemporary Schuller kitchens with integrated appliances and bean-to-cup coffee machines, a Rako programmable intelligent lighting system, underfloor heating, inset LED lighting and Italian porcelain floor and wall tiling in the bathrooms. Richmond Park is literally a few minutes’ walk from the front door at 219 Park Road, while Kingston town centre is just one mile away, offering a myriad of boutiques, cafés,
bars and restaurants. Local schooling is excellent, with both state and private schools providing the main draw for families moving to the area. Transport connections are also good, with London Waterloo just 25 minutes away. Prices start at £1.475m for a fourbedroom semi-detached home. Find out more at 219parkroad.co.uk; 020 8943 9777
T: 020 7600 0026 W: www.scottcity.co.uk e: property@scottcity.co.uk
BarBiCan, EC2 £825,000 LeasehoLd
farringdon, EC1 £785,000 LeasehoLd
St. PaulS, EC4 £395 Per Week
WESt SmithfiEld, EC1 £440 Per Week
A well-presented spacious ONE BEDROOM apartment in SEDDON HOUSE, BARBICAN with South facing views from balcony towards ST PAULS CATHEDRIAL. The apartment retains many original features including kitchen, bathroom, toilet, good size bedroom and study/dressing room.
City View Apartments located close to Farringdon and Chancery Lane Stations, easy access to the City. TWO BEDROOM apartment benefits from a high standard of fixtures and fittings, under floor heating, walnut veneer doors, oak wood flooring, granite worktops and natural stone bathrooms.
ONE BEDROOM DUPLEX APARTMENT, Located on the first and second Floor of the building. This spacious property has a Large reception room and is currently Being redecorated and being supplied with brand new furniture, and is AVAILABLE NOW.
This 645 Sq. Ft ONE BEDROOM apartment is situated in a Modern development. The property offers a fully fitted kitchen, and finished to a very high standard. Other key features of this marvellous flat are it has a wonderful limestone bathroom and 24 hour concierge. AVAILABLE APRIL.
St PaulS, EC4 £525,000 LeasehoLd
tEmPlE, EC4 £1,550,000 LeasehoLd
BarBiCan, EC2 £335 Per Week
St. PaulS, EC1 £380 Per Week
ONE BEDROOM apartment in Priory House located in a conservation area between St. Paul’s Cathedral and Blackfriars Station. The building was originally a print house. The property offers one bedroom, bathroom, open plan kitchen and reception room, and is situated on the lower ground floor.
Luxury TWO BEDROOM apartment situated in TEMPLE HOUSE. This flats on the ground floor of the building and has been finished to a very high specification and offers fully fitted kitchen, modern bathroom and en suite shower room, two bedrooms, utility room and reception room, high ceilings and secure parking.
This LARGE-STYLE STUDIO flat located on the 5-th floor which benefits from views of the city. The property is fully furnished with big fitted wardrobes, underfloor heating and large original windows leading to a balcony. This property has a light and bright feel, enhanced by the 5th-floor aspect, viewings highly recommended. AVAILABLE EARLY MARCH.
This ONE BEDROOM apartment in a modern development on the fifth floor comes fully furnished throughout and has wooden flooring with exception of the tiled bathroom and fully fitted kitchen. Other key features of this flat include that there is a small private balcony situated off of the bedroom and that there is a day concierge. AVAILABLE NOW.
12 london
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Berkeley serves up ace new homes in Wimbledon Three luxury homes already reserved at Marryat Place
A
t a time of year where opportunities are few and far between to practice one’s forehand, award-winning developer Berkeley Homes (Southern) is putting the finishing touches to a boutique development of just six substantial properties just a short walk from the All England Tennis Club and Wimbledon Village centre. Marryat Place offers a mix of four- and fivebedroom houses set in a private cul-de-sac, but if you’re seriously interested in finding out more, you’re urged to act quickly, as the first three homes are now reserved. The developer is now launching the final three properties, all of which
are now available to view and will be ready for Spring 2015 occupation. Striking a balance between traditional and contemporary living, the large townhouses, which provide accommodation of between 2,783 sq ft and 3,534 sq ft, combine the architecture and grandeur of a traditional British residence, with modern attributes that buyers today require. Behind an impressive period façade, the interiors have been designed to a very high specification and finish, with a grand entrance hall which leads onto living space spread across four floors. The lower ground floor of each property encompasses a huge open-plan kitchen/dining
area enhances by a double-height glass atrium, creating a focal entertaining space complemented by bi-fold doors which open onto a private terrace. There is also a utility room, plus a media/ au pair room with adjoining en suite. A formal drawing room is located on the ground floor, plus and another reception room to create a more formal dining area, study or TV room. A cloakroom and a media cupboard offer convenient extra storage space. Upstairs, spread across the upper two floors, the homes have a further four bedrooms, including a master bedroom suite with a dedicated dressing area. The main bathroom is on the first floor, and a guest suite with shower room inhabits on
the top floor. Ben Annetts, sales and marketing director for Berkeley Homes (Southern), remarks: “These properties will appeal to a mixture of purchasers; locals who are keen to upsize to a new-build property in a prime location in the village, also London buyers prepared to increase their commuting time, in order to benefit from the greater quality of life on offer from suburban areas like Wimbledon Village.” Prices for the last three homes at Marryat Place start from £2.65m. Find out more at www.marryatplace.co.uk; 020 3697 9330
London has been our home for over SE A H P ASED L A FIN T RELE JUS
More West W10 2 bed apartments and duplexes Prices from £616,000 Call: 020 3369 8782
Computer generated images are indicative only and subject to change. Prices correct at time of going to press.
ING H C N L AU S O O N
ARF H Y W INS R A CAN IN 13 M
Rosendale Road SE24
Merchants Walk E3
2 bed apartments and cottages Prices from £480,000 Call: 020 3369 8725
Studio,1, 2 & 3 bed apartments Prices from £310,000 Call: 020 3369 8684
Find your new home at whathouse.com/new-homes
london
13
Property of the month from Wooster & Stock in Camberwell
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ocated halfway down Grove Hill Road, this fourbedroom property is within an easy walk of East Dulwich, Bellenden Road and Camberwell. The accommodation here comprises a large double reception, kitchen/ diner, four double bedrooms, shower room and bathroom. Throughout, the decor is subtle and sympathetic, with various character features including
an original staircase and polished Travertine stone flooring. Downstairs, the kitchen includes a full range of integrated Neff appliances, granite worktops and underfloor heating, while the dining area rests below a large skylight. The first and second floor each feature two double bedrooms, with the master bedroom boasting an original feature fireplace and bespoke glass fronted wardrobes.
Superbly located, this house is within a ten minute walk of Denmark Hill mainline station (Zone 2) with fast and frequent links to Victoria, London Bridge and Blackfriars (approx 8 minutes). This property is currently on the market for ÂŁ1.4 million. For more information see www.woosterstock.co.uk or call 020 7708 6700.
150 years. Make it yours. AS E L ITT POSIT L S A DE 5%
Move in today with as little as 5% deposit with Help to Buy Just two stunning 2 bedroom apartments remain at The Peltons SE10, both available for immediate occupation. Prices from ÂŁ467,500 Call today to reserve your new home 020 3369 8677
peabodysales.co.uk
14 surrey
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Fit for a King Millgate recognises the nostalgia for traditional rooms and a ‘childhood home’ in the unique five-bedroom house at Kingsworthy, in Kingswood
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w beautifully dressed o as a show home, ‘Kingsglade’ comes complete with an orangery, drawing room, utility room and a study potential purchasers will now be able to view this stunning property, perfect for those looking for their dream family home. Sales and marketing director for Millgate, Jonathan Cranley says: “’Kingsglade’ is extra special because it is the only house launching on our new private Kingswood development among a superb collection of seven exclusive two- and three-bedroom apartments. The design is classically inspired to give a period and uniquely British style that we are sure will make it the ideal home for one family. On top of this, it’s elegant and spacious, designed and finished to the highest standards that Millgate is renowned for.” This prestigious new address in Kingswood closely follows Millgate’s success at the 2014 What House? Awards for another development in the county. The luxury developer won Gold in the Best Interior category
for ‘Chart Ridge’, Trevereux Hill, a ‘one-of-a-kind’ residence on the edge of the picturesque North Downs in Oxted, Surrey. True to Millgate’s awardwinning nature, the interiors of both ‘Kingsglade’ and the seven luxury apartments launching in April are complete with the very best specification and materials, while outside the gardens are thoughtfully laid out by a Chelsea medal-winning landscape designer. ‘Kingsglade’ is priced at £1.9m and prices for the two- and threebedroom Kingsworthy apartments start from £700,000. Find out more from selling agents Richard Saunders on 01737 360000; sales@richardsaunders.co.uk
From top: Millgate has just launched the ‘Kingsglade’ show home in Kingswood A typical Millgate kitchen The high-specification extends throughout the interior of every home at the Kingsworthy development
INLAND HOMES
BUILDING SUPERB NEW HOMES THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH
Vista, Drayton Garden Village
St John’s, Chelmsford
Charterhouse Mews, Chelmsford
Inland Homes are currently regenerating areas across the South providing quality homes with an emphasis on design and sustainability. Visit our fabulous Showhomes and discover more about our range of new homes.
Carter’s Quay, Poole
Carter’s Quay, Poole
1 & 2 bedroom apartments and 2, 3 & 4 bedroom houses Vista, Drayton Garden Village, West Drayton
2, 3 & 4 bedroom houses St John’s, Chelmsford
2, 3 & 4 bedroom houses
The Comptons,Wooburn Green
COMING SOON: Charterhouse Mews, Chelmsford 1 & 2 bedroom apartments and 2 bedroom houses The Comptons, Wooburn Green 1 & 2 bedroom apartments and 3 bedroom houses Queens Road, High Wycombe 1 & 2 bedroom apartments and 3 bedroom houses
Abbeywood Park, Markyate
1 & 2 bedroom apartments and 2, 3, 4 & 5 bedroom houses
Call 01494 762 450 or email sales@inlandhomes.co.uk for details Showhome open at this development Please check website for current availability. Computer generated illustrations are indicative only and subject to change.
www.inlandhomes.co.uk
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18 surrey
Find your new home at whathouse.com/new-homes
Focus on: Haslemere
H
FEATURED PROPERTIES Lythe Hill Park – £575,000 A three-bedroom duplex penthouse at a very historical estate in Haslemere. Boasting far-reaching views and only one mile from Haslemere High Street, this property provides a wonderful setting for active retirees and/or young families.
a slemere is a great place to live and raise a family. This historic market town has become a popular hotspot on the commuter belt map, which has helped drive property prices up in recent years. James Clare of Keats estate agents in Haslemere gives us the lowdown.
OVERVIEW
SHOPPING
LEISURE
Haslemere is a picturesque, bustling market town situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the Surrey/Sussex/Hampshire borders. Residents enjoy an excellent quality of life, from young professionals and families to couples and retirees. Many move from London to seek country living, a stress free environment and more value for their money, yet still be within an hour of the city.
There are two main shopping areas in Haslemere - the High Street and Weyhill, which is only a two-minute drive away. One of the many joys of Haslemere is how close the communities are, which is reflected in the interesting array of independent shops.
Haslemere and its surrounding area boast a number of leisure centres and sporting venues as well as spas for those who enjoy a relaxed break. Old Thorns Golf and Country Club and Champneys offer health and spa facilities and are a 15-minute drive away.
TOP STREETS
Parents have plenty of excellent state and private primary/secondary schools to choose from. Primary include Camelsdale, St Bartholomew’s, Highfield & Brookham and Barrow Hills. Secondary includes Bohunt, King Edwards and The Royal School. The well-known private schools of Charterhouse, St Catherine’s and Cranleigh are a short drive away.
PROPERTIES Types of property in the surrounding villages range from traditional English cottages and equestrian dwellings to beamed barns and farmhouses. Properties in the pretty town centre range from new-build developments and Victorian and Georgian townhouses and beamed flats, which sit nicely above the independent shops, to a mix of contemporary and traditional luxury apartments and penthouses at Lythe Hill Park.
At the higher end of the property market the most sought-after streets are those with grand family houses, close to the station. These include Tennyson’s Lane, Weydown Road and Three Gates Lane. Park Road and Hill Road are popular in the mid-tier market due to the choice of large 1920’s family homes. Lythe Hill Park is also popular due to its range of luxury apartments, houses and cottages. Meanwhile Lion Lane and Kings Road are most popular with first-time buyers and investors.
St. Christopher’s Road £850,000 An eight-bedroom house with a two-bedroom garden studio currently used for multigenerational living. The property is located close to the shops and amenities of Weyhill and Haslemere High Street.
SCHOOLS
Woodpeckers – £1.285m A delightful and individual fourbedroom cottage style home. Woodpeckers is a delightful Rhodes family house with distinctive ‘eyebrow’ rooflines above leaded light windows, and today it represents a home of outstanding quality set in wellkept mature gardens and grounds.
TRANSPORT There are regular train services directly into London Waterloo that take less than an hour. There is also easy access to the A3 and the Coast.
Contact: www.keats.biz; 01428 661622
Knowledge with the personal touch
Specialists in new homes sales, lettings, management
020 3589 0250
hello@wigmorejones.com
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Bryan & Keegan Estate Agents are a
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360 Brockley Rd Brockley London SE4 2BY www.bryanandkeegan.co.uk
You can keep in the picture with Veyo Chain View Launching in Spring 2015, Veyo is a comprehensive conveyancing portal that will enable Estate Agents and their clients to view the status of other transactions in the housing chain. Find out more at www.veyo.co.uk
“The portal will offer greater transparency to everyone involved in the sale and transaction of a property�
W Special feature supplement
i th the MIPIM property event taking place in March (more about that inside), and these editions of our newspaper being distributed at the show, we thought it was a great opportunity for us to look outside our usual geographic areas and focus our attention on some of the other major cities around the UK. MIPIM attracts thousands of investors from around the world, but as we’ve often said in the past, you don’t have to be a professional to get onto the investment ladder, and in fact, the popularity of buy-to-let has been surging for many months.
So inside this supplement, you can read about the regeneration plans of nine of the UK’s most important urban centres and take a look at some of the residential property developments for sale now and in the near future. Successful investors are always looking ahead to see how future plans might affect the areas they are interested in. Redevelopment and regeneration, when done well, can transform a modest neighbourhood into a hotspot, improving likely rental returns and increasing the capital value of the investment property. We hope you enjoy reading about the investment going on in our cities and that it might inspire you to investigate their buy-to-let potential.
The Regeneration Game
British cities invest in the future
Rathbone Market, London, courtesy of Notting Hill Housing
PA RS O N A G E C R O F T
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A delightful collection of 3, 4 & 5 bedroom homes in the picturesque village of Etchingham
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HIGH S T R E ET, E TC HI NGHA M TN 19 7 A D
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Prices from £350,000
PEA = B
Show Home Open Thursday - Monday 11am - 5pm For all enquiries please call 01580 388007
www.parsonagecroft.com
More news and interviews at whathouse.com/news
best of british 23
Cannes do attitude WhatHouse? editorial director Rupert Bates explains why the MIPIM property event is far more than a sun-soaked industry bash
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IPIM, in its 26th year, is quite simply the world’s biggest property event. From 10-13 March the French town of Cannes on the Côte d’Azur will be home to 21,000 delegates from 93 countries, with 2,225 different companies exhibiting their products and investment opportunities. Regardless of the property showcases – be they residential, commercial, retail or leisure – the fact that the event is held on a Mediterranean beach ensures many senior executives clear their diaries every year. Cynics ask who has the biggest yacht? Who’s employed the most attractive staff at countless cocktail parties? Who racks up the biggest expenses claim? But don’t be fooled by the largesse and excess; there is success too, with deals, very big deals, done, setting the international property agenda and mapping out the future of many towns and cities across the globe. London is invariably a star of the
Riviera and, according to Colliers International’s Global Investor Sentiment Report 2015, the UK is the preferred European destination for property investments. Other UK cities such as Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow and Cardiff also have significant presence at the show, as well as regional towns and development hubs, looking for investment to fund new projects and create economic growth and job opportunities. WhatHouse? is distributed at Cannes, with newspapers available at the airport, major hotels and restaurants, as well as in and around the exhibition in the Palais des Festivals. Its sister publication Show House magazine – the leading trade title for the UK housebuilding industry – will also be at Cannes. One of the highlights of MIPIM will once again be the WhatHouse? Round Table in partnership with Countrywide, where property industry leaders will ask ‘where are the builders of tomorrow?’ We know thousands of new homes are needed, but who is going to build them?
Tony Pidgley, chairman of the Berkeley Group and president of the London Chamber of Commerce & Industry, says it is imperative to tackle the huge skills shortages and promote the value of a career in the housebuilding industry to young people. “We need to take action to resolve this. We have to motivate companies to bring more young people in, to invest consistently in training and to develop the specific skills required today,” says Pidgley. Many UK housebuilders, as well as local authorities, will be represented at MIPIM, including a number of WhatHouse? Awards winners, seeking investment partners for future projects, or on fact-finding missions to source fresh ideas on development, design, or funding from around the world – the ultimate meeting place for international real estate. Meetings held and decisions taken annually at Cannes will directly impact on the future of UK towns and cities and the provision of new homes and supporting infrastructure.
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, home to the London 2012 Olympics, has been short-listed in the MIPIM Awards in the Best Urban Regeneration Project category.
Apartment scheme One Central Park in Sydney, Australia is a finalist in Best Residential Development at the MIPIM Awards.
The smart money knows when to move,
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If you’re looking to buy an Edinburgh property valued over £325,000, then now is time to make your move. From 1 April 2015, Stamp Duty will be replaced in Scotland by the Land & Buildings Transaction Tax, which will benefit purchasers of
Main image:
lower priced properties, but will cost buyers of higher priced homes thousands of pounds more. Fortunately, at AMA, we have a
Caer Amon Apartments, Cramond
range of superb detached family homes and award-winning apartments throughout Edinburgh available to purchase now. If the
Images (clockwise from top left)
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For further information telephone 0131 226 1780 or visit www.amahomes.co.uk
Shandon Garden Marchmont School Printhouse, Canonmills
More news and interviews at whathouse.com/news
best of british 25
London calling Adam Lawrence, founder and chief executive of London Square, talks to Rupert Bates, editorial director of WhatHouse? and Show House.
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o theby’s in London’s Mayfair is home to great works of art. But for Adam Lawrence none is more precious than the napkin the contract to fund the birth of London Square was scribbled on when negotiating over coffee at the legendary auction house. For it was on a paper napkin from the Sotheby’s café that the London Square founder and chief executive sealed the deal to fund his start-up London housebuilder – the £100m napkin. If he still had it, he would frame it and display it alongside the many awards, including several WhatHouse? Awards, that London Square has already won in its first five years. The latest accolade is being named in The Sunday Times 100 Best Small Companies to Work For. It is a remarkable story by any standards. Suggesting to banks and other lenders in the desperate depths of the last property recession that you wanted to start up a housebuilding company provoked the same reaction King Herod would have got if he’d proposed setting up a chain of crèches. “I was even thrown out of one bank when they realised the business I was seeking funding for,” says Lawrence. He drank his body weight in coffee as he sought the requisite finance. “Many times I stared into the bottom of my cup, asking ‘what am I doing?’ Being an earthy builder I did not speak the language of corporate finance, but we got there in the end.” However this is just the opening chapter of a compelling tale of perseverance and the pursuit of excellence in product, people and performance, with the company already firmly established as one of London’s leading residential developers, with its design innovation and excellence adding to London’s rich and varied architectural heritage. Lawrence, after ‘kissing a lot of frogs’, eventually secured £50m funding from private equity house Graphite Capital, with a total funding package of £100m – a mix of equity capital and senior bank debt. “The difficult part was getting the bank debt,” says Lawrence. Last year Ares Management, a global investment firm with £54bn of assets under management, acquired London Square from Graphite Capital for an equity value of £110m. “We had invaluable support at the start from Graphite who backed us at a challenging time for the property market. As we move on to the next stage in our plans for growth, the backing of Ares Management is a tremendous vote of confidence to support our expansion and the delivery of homes at all levels of the London
Clockwise from top left: Award-winning London Square Fulham, prices from £3.3million; London Square Putney, with properties from £545,000; London Square Teddington, where apartments start from £445,000 and townhouses start from £1.325m market in areas where people want to live.” The market may be in a far better place and with more liquidity, but with greater competition and fresh challenges as part of a £1.6bn expansion towards building 1,000 homes a year. The planned trajectory of projected growth is from a £150m turnover in 2015 to a £600m turnover in 2018. Backed by Ares Management, London Square will be acquiring more than 2,000 plots over the next two years. “Clearly we need to establish a forward land position and the Ares investment, in a very capital intensive business, will allow us to do that, to fill up the tank and fuel the growth.” Lawrence extends the motoring analogy, likening London Square to a racing car. “Graphite helped build the car, got us on the grid and we competed in and won a few races. Now we have enough fuel to enter and potentially win all the races.” While funding is key; nothing is more important than the people. Prior to setting up London Square, Lawrence had been chairman of Barratt London and Thames Gateway, responsible for
more than 3,000 homes a year and an £800m turnover. To start London Square, he surrounded himself with an experienced team he knew and respected.
“I am very fortunate in working with a cracking team across the business and we have a fantastic culture and working environment.” Driving performance last year were
sites ranging from transforming a run-down light industrial estate into a £130m residential square in Fulham, to £250,000, high-specification starter homes in Ruislip and Eastcote and apartments in Putney, on the site of redundant office blocks, with prices from £595,000. London Square is about to start on the restoration and conversion into apartments of the historic Grade II listed former Royal Star & Garter Home on Richmond Hill, with its breathtaking view over the Thames, which is protected by an Act of Parliament. Both the Fulham and Richmond schemes are being developed jointly with Ares. “I remember standing on a balcony at the Royal Star & Garter on a crisp, spring morning and taking in this extraordinary view across a mistcoated River Thames, thinking ‘this is so spectacular, I am going to end up buying it.’ I then questioned myself. Was I letting my heart rule my head? But every way I looked at it, although immensely challenging, it made sense,” says Lawrence. A latest development is a square of apartments and houses in Teddington
in southwest London and London Square is also heading east with a site in Chigwell, Essex. “Our range of product is from £250,000 all the way to £10m and everything in between. We don’t want to be pigeon-holed as having only one type of product and customer,” says Lawrence. “If you restrict yourself, you can overpay and buy sites simply because you don’t know when the next one tailored to your product will come along.” London, as a global city, is a magnet for international investors, but London Square always buys sites they can confidently sell to the local market as well. The London is obvious and the Square is a brand play to reflect the company’s design ethos based on the principles of the capital’s famous squares, with open spaces and amenities. “It has been an astonishing five years, but the next five could prove even more exciting,” says Lawrence. There are plenty more chapters and squares in this story. Keep reading.
26 best of british
For the latest on the property market
London
1
O
n e look at the skyline from almost anywhere in the capital will demonstrate the level of building and regeneration taking place, from the high-profile development in the shadow of iconic structures such as Tower Bridge and Battersea Power station to major face-lifts in almost every inner and outer borough. Other cities may aspire to the title, but London is arguably the leading choice for international property investors. As Greater London reaches a record population of 8.6million, Mayor Boris Johnson has published the draft London Riverside Opportunity Area Planning Framework (OAPF), his blueprint for the creation of 26,500 new homes and up to 16,000 jobs in brownfield sites in eastern boroughs along a 12km stretch of the Thames. The Olympic Games was the catalyst for the dramatic redevelopment of Stratford, which has also rippled out to neighbouring areas, while major projects are already transforming long-neglected areas such as Hackney, Kidbrooke, North Greenwich and Woolwich in the east and southeast. Northern and western boroughs are also set to undergo considerable changes if the HS2 rail project finally gets underway and whichever of London’s airports finally gets the go-ahead to expand, the decision will certainly resound across the city and its suburbs.
This 21-storey tower, Redrow London’s first flagship development, is a central part of the extensive redevelopment of Aldgate. These studios, apartments and penthouses are within walking distance of The City and Whitechapel’s new Crossrail station, due in 2018.
Olympic Park
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A second phase of new homes is now available through Shared Ownership. The development will create 650 new homes as well as a library, ‘community hub’ and trader’s store, all set around a new central market square.
5 www.redrow.co.uk
2 Vision at Grahame Park, Colindale The largest self-funding project in Europe, the scheme will create a new neighbourhood of over 3,400 homes, a re-landscaped park and a variety of community and commercial facilities. Private sale homes will fund other affordable housing and community facilities.
New Festival Quarter, Poplar New Festival Quarter is a landmark development within the Lansbury ‘Festival of Britain’ conservation area in Poplar, East London. Studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom homes benefit from a 24-hour concierge service, private residents’ gym, secure parking and extensive landscaping. www.bellway.co.uk
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www.genesisha.org.uk
The Peltons, Greenwich
Henley Homes has transformed a crumbling, listed 1960s school, within earshot of Big Ben in SE11, into 149 awardwinning apartments and townhouses, each with a high-quality interior specification, all set in 3.2 landscaped acres in Zone 1.
The Peltons, one of Peabody’s latest private sale developments, sits in the desirable conservation area of East Greenwich, less than 750 metres from the River Thames with the backdrop of Canary Wharf and the Greenwich Peninsula. www.peabodysales.co.uk
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Merchant Square, Paddington
Hyde Park
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Rathbone Place, Canning Town
www.nottinghillhousing.org.uk
Baylis Old School, Kennington
Hampstead Heath
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One Commercial Street, Aldgate
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@What_House
This major mixed-use regeneration scheme by the Grand Union Canal brings luxury living and a new garden square to an area of London close to transport links and the West End. It will include Westminster’s tallest tower.
6 www.baylisoldschool.com
www.chestertons.com; www.jll.co.uk/residential
We don’t just build homes, We build relationships
Operating through 8 regional offices covering the majority of the UK and with over 70 years’ experience in new homes construction, Kier Living is the Residential Division of Kier Group. Kier Living is a multi-disciplined residential house builder and developer with extensive experience in contracting for third parties, mixed tenure housing and private house building. We pride ourselves in being forward thinking with a well-earned reputation for attention to detail and exceeding expectations.
• Customer satisfaction measured above 90% • Specialists in mixed tenure & contract house building • Extensive public & private client base
To discuss our capability to undertake all forms of housing throughout the UK please contact:
John Anderson, Executive Director john.anderson@kierliving.co.uk
kierliving.co.uk External photography of The Waterfront and Connect 21.
28 best of british
Birmingham
Find your new home at whathouse.com/new-homes
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The Founders, Perry Barr
Lighthouse
Part of Birmingham Municipal Housing Trust’s Birchfield Gateway project, regenerating an area three miles north of the city, this forthcoming development of one- to fivebedroom homes is named after the founding fathers of the Industrial Revolution. www.mansellhomes.co.uk
Overlooking Birmingham’s City Park - the first public park to be built in the city in 150 years – this collection of 14 high-quality apartments is adjacent to the site of the Curzon Street terminus for the proposed HS2 rail link.
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Knowle
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Two-and-a-half miles from the lively, attractive centre of Solihull, Knowle is one of the most sought-after residential areas in the Midlands. Arden Fields is a development of two-, three- and four-bedroom homes close to High Street amenities. www.millerhomes.co.uk
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This brand new 27-storey tower is situated in the heart of Manchester city centre providing 173 high-spec, one-, two- and three-bedroom luxury apartments. These will include floor-toceiling glazing that maximises the views across the city. axistower.com
Arden Fields, Knowle
Manchester
Broughton Park
Axis
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M5
nyone who has travelled by train through Birmingham is likely to have had first-hand experience of one of its biggest current development projects, the transformation of New Street station, which is set for completion this autumn. That’s just the start for the city, though – and its stations are forming the focal point of some of the most impressive schemes, which are covered in the ‘Big City Plan’, Birmingham City Council’s masterplan to transform 800 hectares of the city with new homes, public spaces and businesses. The plans include work on the city’s Snow Hill area to turn it into a global business hub similar to London’s Canary Wharf. This transformation will bring 200,000m² of new office space and 4,000 new homes, and is scheduled to cost some £600million. It is hoped that it will create 10,000 new jobs and increase Birmingham’s appeal as a considerably less expensive, alternative hub to London. Another important factor in Birmingham’s future is the HS2 rail link, with proposals to regenerate 141 hectares around the new High Speed station at Curzon Street. This will include new homes and business space as well as a ‘skypark’ similar to New York’s High Line.
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New Broughton Village
These houses and apartments offer panoramic views of Salford and Manchester and proximity to both. Around 20 minutes walk from Heaton Park and half-a-mile from Salford Sports Village, this development has excellent local amenities and transport links. www.millerhomes.co.uk
Launched in 2006, New Broughton Village is Countryside’s flagship suburban regeneration scheme on the edge of Manchester city centre. These homes and apartments are surrounded by local amenities and green open space and welcomed their 1,000th resident in January 2015. www.newbroughtonvillage.co.uk
r eater Manchester encompasses nearly 500 square miles, taking in a host of large towns such as Bolton, Rochdale and Stockport as well as two cities, Manchester and Salford. Salford has been a focal point for regeneration thanks to the high-profile relocation of the BBC to MediaCityUK and its transformation continues with projects such as Greengate, that will provide 1,300 new homes and a renewed link to Manchester. The £650m revamping of the Pendleton district will refurbish old properties and a park and provide 1,600 new homes alongside new footpaths and cycle routes. Refurbishment and new homes are also on the agenda in Aldwick, to the east of Manchester city centre, with a budget of £100m to update the Brunswick estate. Just a little further out, the Eastlands Regeneration proposes creating some 7,000 new homes on derelict industrial lands between Manchester City’s football stadium (originally created for the Commonwealth Games in 2002) and the city centre. Manchester will be one of the northern cities to benefit from HS2, the High Speed link from London via Birmingham, with links proposed at Piccadilly station and at Manchester Airport and the opportunity to create thousands of new homes and jobs.
30 best of british
Bristol
For the latest on the property market
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@What_House
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ristol is the UK’s eighth-largest city by population and has established itself as one of the country’s leading centres in financial services and digital industries. Just 90 minutes from London, Bristol is well connected to the rest of the UK by road, rail and air. The city has joined forces with neighbouring Bath to promote the region’s ambitions for inward investment, identifying six enterprise zones as focal points for regeneration. The Cities Outlook 2015 report by Centre for Cities revealed that Bristol is in the top ten cities for growth in number of businesses, as well as for growth in number of new homes, with 9.8% more of the latter between 2004 and 2013. Among the most high-profile residential schemes of recent years in the city was the regeneration of the harbourside, recently completed having brought a significant number of new homes to a revived city centre location. Bristol city Council has indentified five Neighbourhood Planning Areas: Old Market Quarter and Redcliffe Way in the centre and Lockleaze, Lawrence Weston and Knowle West further out. These plans cover the provision of new housing together with the provision of other local amenities
The General, Redcliffe
Electricity House
Located on the popular harbourside, the restored and converted former Bristol General Hospital is Bristol’s newest development of new build and converted luxury apartments and houses together with a collection of highly individual waterfront commercial units. www.cityandcountry.co.uk
This art deco Grade II listed building was designed by renowned architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott and is being restored with many of its original 1930s features to create 85 luxury one- and two-bedroom apartments and three-bedroom duplexes. www.crestnicholson.com
3 University of Bristol
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Danescourt Sophia Gardens
Cardiff Pointe With one- and two-bedroom apartments through to three-, four- and five-bedroom family homes at a unique waterside location, this development offers city centre living combined with waterfront views and carefully landscaped open spaces. www.cardiffpointe.co.uk
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The Square at Cheswick The development will provide 93 one- and two-bedroom apartments. The scheme will also provide a host of retail and leisure facilities to include an attractive selection of cafes, bars and restaurants along with a new nursery, all arranged around a central square. www.mansellhomes.co.uk • www.harvardestates.co.uk
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Cathedral House
St Denys Gate, Lisvane
This office conversion provides 20 two-bedroom apartments and one penthouse in one of Cardiff’s best residential areas, with higher floors enjoying great city views. The properties will be ready for occupation in the summer of 2015. www.acorncardiff.co.uk
Located in the highly sought-after suburb of Lisvane, this development of the housebuilder’s premium executive house types offers high-specification, luxury living in a village setting, minutes from local amenities, schools and transport links. www.redrow.co.uk
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t the end of 2014, not one but two plans to regenerate an important part of Cardiff city centre were unveiled. The first proposes a makeover for the city’s Central Station. The Foster & Partners plans suggest retaining the station’s art deco façade and providing the area with a new public square, multi-storey car park, offices and shops. Central Square has been chosen for the preferred new headquarters of BBC Wales. The other is a £500m scheme to transform a derelict riverside site at Dumballs Road, which will include 2,150 homes, a new primary school, shops and restaurants in addition to a new bridge across the River Taff. The homes will be a mix of open-market units and affordable housing. The developer says this project will create over 3,000 construction jobs over the next six years and inject more than £1bn into the local economy. Around 1,000 full time jobs in the commercial, retail and accommodation sectors will eventually be supported by the scheme. In fact, City of Cardiff Council boasts of some 57 projects that have been completed within the city since 2000/2001, including improvements to homes and amenities in West Adamsdown and North Grangetown.
FAIRLAWN WARREN ROAD • COOMBE HILL • KINGSTON UPON THAMES
Firgrove Homes present the opportunity to savour elegant living at Fairlawn, an exclusive gated collection of just four beautifully appointed luxury residences benefitting from landscaped gardens, a private meadow and three secure parking spaces per property. Comprising a Victorian mansion sympathetically renovated and converted to two 5/6 bedroom homes and two new detached 4/5 bedroom homes built in complimentary style, these homes blend classic and contemporary and exude quality and style. Two available, prices from £2.5million
elegant living on kingston’s private coombe hill estate
Showhome open Wednesday to Sunday from 11am - 5pm Warren Road, Coombe Hill, Kingston upon Thames KT2 7HY
JOINT SELLING AGENTS A DEVELOPMENT BY
www.firgrovehomes.co.uk
020 8947 9393
020 8971 8111
FIR29117 Fairlawn - What House? Magazine CD: 25/11 (created week 49) Size: 168x265mm
Fantastic Investment Opportunity Prices from £134,995 for a 2 Bedroom Family Home “The Tweed” at Tannery Court, Tasker Street, Walsall, WS1 3QW
FIND US ON:
Call 0845 873 2888 or email tannerycourt@lioncourthomes.com Tannery Court, 45 - 51 Tasker Street, Walsall WS1 3QN www.lioncourthomes.com
32 best of british
Edinburgh
Find your new home at whathouse.com/new-homes
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he Scottish capital’s city council has outlined a number of ambitious plans to regenerate a number of districts, some of which are scheduled to take place over many years. This follows considerable investment for many years that have seen the growth of the city’s financial district and the founding of a new business and technology park. In 2011, the city adopted a new masterplan for the redevelopment of the port of Leith, which proposed some 15,000 new homes set in nine waterfront ‘villages’, interspersed with new civic spaces and framed by a 3km coastal boardwalk. Future plans focus on the Calders and Harvesters Way areas in the western outskirts of the city and Curriemuirend Park and Moredunvale in the south, which have all been lined up for significant additions to the existing housing stock, with a high proportion of affordable homes an important part of the plans. Edinburgh Waterfront is one of the most significant waterfront regeneration projects in Europe today, timetabled to create around 30,000 new homes over a 30-year period. The area will also be home to new schools, health facilities and public open spaces as well as brand new retail, commercial and leisure facilities.
Woodcroft, Morningside
Caer Amon, Cramond
This 4.9-acre, £50m scheme in one of Edinburgh’s soughtafter central districts is set to provide a collection of 24 three-storey, four-bedroom townhouses and 57 twoand three-bedroom apartments, including a number of penthouses. www.rettie.co.uk
Located at Cramond, in the northwest of the city Edinburgh, Caer Amon offers purchasers a luxury mix of two- and three-bedroom apartments and detached houses with sophisticated, contemporary designs, with some properties providing uninterrupted views of Firth of Forth. www.amahomes.co.uk
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Inverleith Park
Hillwood Park
Edinburgh Castle
Holyrood Park
Edinburgh Zoo
Urban Union’s Pennywell Living is the largest housing project of the City of Edinburgh Council’s 21st Century Homes initiative, delivering up to 750 new homes over the coming nine years in the Muirhouse and Pennywell areas of north Edinburgh. pennywellliving.co.uk
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Taylor Wimpey has received detailed planning consent for 612 new homes as part of this major scheme to the southeast of Glasgow, situated in a designated ‘Community Growth Area’ for housing and infrastructure including a new primary school and retail space. www.taylorwimpey.co.uk
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Pennywell Living
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Richmond Gate
The Village, Dalmarnock
Bett Homes’ Richmond Gate development is the jewel in the crown of the Oatlands area’s regeneration – a collection of high-quality housing at affordable prices in a striking waterfront location on the River Clyde, a short walk from the city centre. www.betthomes.com
City Legacy, a consortium of developers and construction companies, has taken the Commonwealth Games athletes’ village in the city’s East End and from it created The Village, utilising contemporary, sustainable design principles in a green setting. www.citylegacy.co.uk
y some way Scotland’s largest city (around 600,000 people, with Edinburgh following at 470,000), all eyes were on Glasgow in 2014 as it hosted the Commonwealth Games. The event was a focal point for numerous projects around the city, including Clyde Gateway, which provided the athlete’s village which has been transformed into a 700home riverside residential scheme. Investment specialists JLL reported in late January 2015 that confidence has returned to the residential apartment market in some parts of the city, in particular the West End and prime areas of the South Side. House prices increased by over 8% in 2014 and rental values rose by more than 10%. The city’s suburbs have also witnessed significant development activity. JLL forecasts that city centre prices will rise by around 3% in 2015 and by around 16.5% over the next five years. Other major projects taking place around Glasgow include Clyde Waterfront, transforming 20km of historic riverside land; Glasgow Harbour, where £1.2bn of investment would build a new mixed-use scheme; the regeneration of its Canal Corridor to create new residential and ‘creative’ quarters; and new neighbourhoods taking shape in Oatlands, Garthamlock, Drumchapel and Nitshill.
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FIND US ON:
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34 best of british
Liverpool
For the latest on the property market
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@What_House
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Ellergreen, Norris Green
NGV is one of Countryside’s most successful regeneration schemes, which once complete will comprise 825 new homes neighbouring the historic Norris Green Park. Countryside recently unveiled the development’s latest phase, 170 family homes at The Avenue at NGV. www.ngvliverpool.co.uk
New City Vision’s will provide 800 homes on the old Boot Estate, in the northeast of the city, replacing sub-standard old housing with aspirational, energy-efficient properties to create attractive, new neighbourhoods and communities.
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NGV, Norris Green
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Bootle Stanley Park
Liverpool Lime Street Albert Dock
The Studios at X1 The Quarter
3 Sefton Park
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The third phase of a five-development project, this scheme comprises 221 studios over 10 floors, with an additional private fitness suite and communal area just a five-minute walk from the marina and only 15 minutes from Albert Docks. www.knightknox.com
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Meadowgate Park Meadowgate Park in Crossgates comprises a collection of three and four-bedroom homes. This popular and vibrant eastern suburb is located midway between Roundhay Park and Temple Newsam, with a home farm, lakes and stately home. www.ben-baileyhomes.co.uk
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number of significant projects for this historic city have already made many headlines over the past couple of years, including £260m proposals for regenerating the home of Liverpool Football Club, Anfield, which includes expanding the stadium and providing new houses, and a £1.5bn scheme to bring new commercial and leisure facilities to Kings Dock and Lime Street. Liverpool City Council has set up a joint venture with regeneration specialist Sigma Inpartnership Limited called Regeneration Liverpool which is set to last 15 years to areas across the city, starting initially with the 63acre, former Boot Estate in Norris Green. Regeneration Liverpool has already set out a £200m framework of investment opportunities in Liverpool over the next 10 years. In fact, the joint venture has recently been extended to include Neptune Developments and Countryside Properties to plan work on other priority sites. Liverpool Vision is the Mayor of Liverpool’s economic development company and they are leading the way for the city at this year’s MIPIM property fair in France. There, they hope to show major investors from around the globe the range of development opportunities available around the city to provide new jobs, homes and amenities.
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Bodington Manor, Abel
To the southwest of the city centre, close to the station, shops, river and South Bank regeneration zone, this development of two- and three-bedroom homes is coming soon, setting high-specification properties in landscaped street scenes. Strata.co.uk/flaunt
This new community of four- and five-bedroom detached family homes is in the highly desirable suburb of Adel. The development offers a rural family lifestyle with good local amenities and links to the city centre and other towns. www.dwh.co.uk
e eds, the heart of the West Yorkshire Urban Area, is the UK’s third largest city and third-largest manufacturing economy. Served by three universities, it also boasts the UK’s fourth-largest student population and a number of substantial student accommodation projects, such as Opal 3 and The Plaza, have drawn investment into the city. Substantial commercial and retail investment has also taken place over the last decade, for example in creating the digital hub of Holbeck Urban Village, and current and pipeline projects total £5.8billion. Leeds City Council is tackling regeneration on a number of fronts. Leeds South Bank will host the city’s proposed HS2/HS3 railway station, and has a handful of residential, commercial and leisure projects already given the green light, such as the second phase of the Tower Works mixed-use scheme and up to four acres of new homes and redevelopment in Bath Road. Together with the city’s Enterprise Zone and the City Centre North redevelopment, the council hopes this next tranche of regeneration will create some 35,000 new jobs. In mid-February 2015, Leeds City Council approved a public consultation to review plans to build 66,000 new homes in the city by 2028 in over 750 sites.
Show homE opEn
wEEkEndS only from
march 7th-29th between
11am-3pm
prices from £610,000
Eight unique Grade II listed 2, 3 and 4 bedroom barns converted to a high specification, retaining many original features. All properties have private gardens with plots 1, 2 and 8 having the added benefit of a paddock. ‘The Barns’ Merton Grange is situated in an idyllic rural location on the edge of Gamlingay in South Cambridgeshire. The approach is via a private drive with far reaching views either side across fields.
Specification includes: A range of contemporary and traditional kitchens Stoves Richmond 900EI Stainless Steel Range Cooker* Stainless Steel Cooker Hood Integrated Neff appliances Integrated Prima wine cooler Utility rooms (not applicable to plot 3) come with either a washer/dryer or washing machine and tumble dryer Bathroom and En-Suites have contemporary bathrooms with Ideal Standard Sanitaryware and are fully tiled with Porcelanosa tiles
Floors are finished with Porcelanosa floor tiles to Kitchen, Utility, Bathroom, En-suite, Cloakrooms and Carpets to all other areas* Oak panelled internal doors with pewter finished door handles Built in wardrobes to most bedrooms – please refer to sales layouts – with oak panelled doors and pewter finished door handles Air Source Heating, offering reduced running costs, with under floor heating to all ground floor areas and radiators to upper floor rooms with 5 year service and warranty package.
*Where possible we will be able to offer buyers variations and choices on the internal finishes, although the availability of this will depend upon the stage of construction that each property has reached when a reservation is made. For full specification details please see the brochure.
Tel : 01923 251799 Email: sales@leavalleyhomes.co.uk www.leavalleyhomes.co.uk
We aim to relieve you of as much of the burden as possible Nick Sellick founded Estate Insurance Group to provide a unique property owners insurance product. Since then we have grown with our clients, providing insurance for their ever diversifying business needs. Part of this growth has been delivered by the successful incorporation of Ian Gibson Ltd who have brought with them their considerable experience and knowledge. Our clients include large corporations, SMEs and high net worth individuals. On their behalf we insure: Residential portfolios Commercial premises Sports facilities Shopping Centres Project Developments
General Office Industrial Parks Hotels Investments Abroad and many more
Our goal is to simplify your search for insurance by delivering a consistent, professional and cost effective service, backed up by risk management and advice relevant to your needs.
To find out how we can help you with Property Owners’ insurance, Commercial insurance, Contractors’ All Risk insurance and Environmental insurance contact us on +4420 7939 7200 or email info@eig.biz www.estateinsurancegroup.com
Find your new home at whathouse.com/new-homes
armchair gardener
37
Rising stars Climbers are versatile plants that can do wonders for screening unsightly walls and adding height to borders. Richenda Oldham finds out what’s at stake...
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patch or a spacious, sunny, dry garden, you will find a climber to suit. Some climbers prefer walls to fences, many can be grown in containers and some can be grown as ground cover.
the traditional fairy tale Jack and the n Beanstalk, the eponymous hero trades the family cow for a handful of magic beans, which after being thrown into the ground, grow overnight into a giant beanstalk. While growing climbing plants doesn’t promise the same level of adventures that Jack encountered at the top of his beanstalk, there is certainly a great deal of satisfaction to be gained from planting climbers and watching them quickly cover up a bare wall or fence.
WHEN TO PLANT
WHAT’S SPECIAL ABOUT CLIMBERS?
HOW TO PLANT
Climbing plants are extremely versatile and grow upwards in a number of different ways, from twining and hugging to suckering, clawing and rooting. There are climbing plants for all garden types, so whether you have a small, damp shady
As long as the ground isn’t waterlogged or frozen, container-grown climbers can be planted at any time of year, but February is the perfect time to choose to plant climbers for spring and summer. • Climbing plants need support to get started, so make sure you have a suitable support ready. This could be a wall, fence or ideally trellis. Drill holes in the fence post and and fit eyebolts, then attach wire. On walls, hammer vine eyes into the mortar and thread wire through.
• Before planting, water the plant well and allow to drain. Dig out a hole about twice the size of the pot and half as deep. Make sure the hole is at least 45cm away from the wall or fence so that it gets plenty of moisture. • Ease the plant out of its container and position centrally in the hole, fill the hole in and firm up gently. Water again, then cover the soil around the plant with a generous layer of mulch. • Discard the old cane support and tie all the stems onto the new support system.
CLIMBER IDEAS Be creative and plant your climbers next to trees, shrubs and hedges, so they grow through them. Don’t despair if you have a tiny garden, just make sure that you choose plants that will thrive in the available growing conditions.
POPULAR CLIMBERS
Wisteria - this deciduous climber flowers from April to June and should be planted in spring or autumn. Wisteria prefers a sunny position and needs to be kept well watered.
Clematis - this hugely versatile plant is one of the most popular climbers as it can be grown on walls, pergolas, frames and even in containers. Most species will grow well in full sun or partial shade and the flowering time is winter to late summer.
Honeysuckle (Lonicera) - the climbing types of honeysuckle have highly perfumed blossom, which flower in summer and look wonderful grown against pergolas or supports. They are easy to grow and prefer sun or partial shade
Roses - beautiful and scented, roses come in many different colours and can be grown over arches or pergolas, against walls or in containers. They flower in the summer and autumn and you can choose from varieties which are suitable either for sun or shade.
Virginia Creeper - for a shady north or east-facing wall, Parthenocissus, also known as Boston ivy or Virginia creeper is ideal. This is a deciduous self-clinging climber with amazing colours in the autumn. But be warned, it can damage the mortar between bricks.
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For the latest on the property market
interiors
@What_House
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Come outside
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If you’ve been longing to design your own outdoor space, why not try out these tips from Richenda Oldham and have a go at creating the ultimate outdoor lounge?
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t ’s not hard to see why outdoor rooms have become such a big trend. On the plus side, an outdoor living space is the new extension that you won’t have to build. It’s also a completely flexible area and of course it’s the perfect excuse to invest in some new outdoor furniture and accessories. Greater environmental awareness and the fact that we are all being encouraged to save our planet through sustainability have helped boost the appeal of outdoor rooms. However, they are also a reflection of an increasing desire to connect with nature – particularly for urban dwellers. The 2008 economic downturn has also had a hand in fast-tracking the trend for outdoor living. Instead of investing in a new extension, people looked to their gardens for additional space and found there was a lot more scope there than they had realised. Outdoor rooms started off quite simply – a picnic table, a couple of folding chairs and a barbecue was all
that was first required. These days, they have morphed into something altogether more sophisticated, featuring kitchens and fireplaces, rugs and specialist lighting, as well as sofas, armchairs, dining furniture and outdoor heaters.
PLANNING YOUR OUTDOOR ROOM Of course, you can just let your outdoor space evolve naturally, by adding bits and pieces ad hoc. But if you really want to make the most of your new outdoor living area, it’s a good idea to plan it. Here are some points you may want to consider: • Location • Landscaping/planting • Furniture • Shade and shelter • Size • Privacy • Colour scheme Outdoor rooms have their challenges, not least the elements, because you need to consider how you will provide
shade from the sun and protection from the wind. Do you want a poolside “room” or do you have a patio in mind? How much space do you want to allocate? Will it be an outdoor living room or a dining area, or both? What’s your ideal colour scheme?
FURNITURE ACCESSORIES This has to be the best bit about creating an outdoor room. Just because it’s an “extension” of your home, doesn’t mean you can’t create a whole new look. This could be your opportunity to make a minimalist Zen like space. Or perhaps a Mediterranean theme, with plenty of cobalt and turquoise? If it’s something exotic you are after, with a touch of the casbah, then a Moroccan bazaar has plenty of inspiration to offer, with texture, pattern and plenty of hot spicy colour. Don’t forget lanterns and cushions, which you can use to create an instant mood.
1 Personalise your outdoor dining area with pretty cushions, lanterns, planters and even decorations to hang from trees or shrubs, the accessories shown here are from www.retreat-home.com
4 For a simple, but fun outdoor room, create an area of decking, and furnish it with brightly coloured pouffes, cushions and deckchairs, 64 x 58 x 43cm pouffe, £250, www.dashandalberteurope.com
2 Rattan furniture is versatile and robust enough to suit indoor or outdoor use. This modular set, complete with parasol, is ideal for an L-shaped patio, Valencia sofa set, £899, www.livingitup.co.uk
5 Keep cool and protected from the sun with a sail shade, Kookaburra 3.6m square blue sail shade, £63.95, www.primrose.co.uk
3 When the evenings get cooler, a wood burning chiminea will help keep your outdoor living area cosy, Colorado medium steel chiminea, £99.95, www.whitestores.co.uk
40 interiors
Find your new home at whathouse.com/new-homes
Cool customers Fridges have evolved from unremarkable metal boxes into innovative technology-led goods that offer both style and sophisticated features, says Richenda Oldham 1
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1 The Samsung RF24HSESBSR is a stainless steel hunk, which offers a whopping 495 litres of refrigeration and freezing space, together with filtered still or sparkling water and ice at the touch of a button, £2,299, www.johnlewis.com 2 Swan’s vintage top mounted fridge/ freezer, £699.95, is ideal for small families as the freezer compartment can store unto 2kg of frozen food. It comes with two salad crisper drawers and a chrome wine rack, www.ao.com 3 If it’s hi-tech cool storage you want, then Miele’s KFN 37692 iDE fridge freezer has all the bells and whistles you could wish for, including a humidity-controlled system that keeps the moisture in food for longer, £2,400, available from all good electrical retailers, or call Miele on 0330 160 6600 4 Smeg’s new FT41BXE one-door and two-drawer Multizone fridge-freezer has a 316-litre fridge, 96-litre frostfree freezer and 54-litre Multizone compartment, which can be used as either a fridge or freezer, £1,199, www.smeguk.com
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5 Freestanding fridge and freezer paired combinations are currently extremely popular and look stunning in a kitchen. CDA’s contemporary stainless steel A++ rated fridge and freezer can even be invisibly linked to look like one giant cooling centre, just over £1,000 for the pair, www.cda.eu
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Cambridge 3 seater sofa was £1459 - now £969
Chesterfield 3 seater sofa was £1299 - now £889
If you are searching for the finest hand-built leather upholstery without the usual extravagant price tags, then you need to look no further than the latest Thomas Lloyd brochure. By selling direct from our factory you get furniture at Trade Prices and of a far higher quality than you would from your local shops at similar prices.
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interiors 41
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Arabian nights
Indigo bazaar cushions, £5.99-£12.99, www.dunelm-mill.com
Richenda Oldham shows you how to create a Moroccan themed interior
Moroccan vintage effect candle holder with cut-out detailing, £34.95, www.madewithlovedesigns.co.uk
Kasbah mother of pearl mirror, £189, www.atkinandthyme.co.uk
Marrakesh Veda Mid roller blind, www.directblinds.co.uk
B
o rdered by the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, Morocco is a fascinating and culturally rich country that has been influenced from a diverse range of civilisations, including Berber, Jewish, Arabic, French and Spanish. Moroccan interior style is a colourful and exotic melting pot that is actively drawn from Moorish architecture with its characteristic domes, detailed carvings, decorative tile work, courtyards and many different styles of arches from lancet to keyhole. This incredibly versatile genre runs from the heavily ornate with bold use
Traditional Moroccan tea glasses, £18.50 for a set of six, www.maroque.co.uk of colours and intricate patterns to simple whitewashed walls and spicy shades. The blend of cultures provides a heaven sent opportunity to create an eclectic look that mixes different styles and colours freely. This is a decor that can evolve slowly over time allowing you to select really special pieces of furniture or accessories.
RICH COLOURS Colour is everything for a Moroccan theme - the more dramatic the better. Eggplant purple, cinnamon red, saffron gold, terracotta, crimons and dusky burnt orange will provide a seductive atmosphere. Not surprisingly, Morocco’s different coastlines bring
Spanish influenced geometric patterned encaustic tiles, £99 per square metre, www.alhambrahome.co.uk
with a profusion of blues, including cobalt and turquoise.
CALM CONTRASTS It is altogether appropriate to create a simple, peaceful retreat using neutrals, such as cream, white, taupe and sand colours on the walls and focusing on accent colours and patterns to form the Moroccan theme.
PATTERNS Mathematically precise geometric shapes form the foundation of Moroccan decoration with a recurring theme of squares and rectangles. The eight-pointed star is another common motif, as well as flowing plant forms and traditional
calligraphy. Pattern can be used to create a sense of harmony, whether it is in scatter cushions, lampshades, upholstery fabric, a blind or loose rugs.
FURNITURE Just a single item of Moroccan furniture can transform a room, so think carefully before you rush out to buy something new for the sake of it. Plain sofas can be themed by brightly coloured cushions and throws with geometric patterns. You can’t beat a low coffee table in the form of a traditional Moroccan brass or silver tray on metal legs. Alternatively invest in silver, brass or mother of pearl mirrors with delicate arched or handcarved frames.
ACCESSORIES You cannot get enough loose rugs for this look – they add a luxurious feeling and will help create the right atmosphere. Similarly, scatter cushions can be put everywhere - piled in heaps on the floor, on sofas and chairs and on beds. When choosing curtain or blind fabrics, select patterns that are appropriate - stripes are always a good option. Lamps, fabric shades, lanterns and candles are all important for creating mood. There are some amazing designs to choose from, including coloured glass lanterns and punctured metal designs.
42 sussex
Find your new home at whathouse.com/new-homes
A life of luxury
Adelaide Crescent, Hove • £750,000
with Fine & Country
I
f you’ve got a spare million or two lying around, your options extend far beyond penthouse flats in the capital and country manors. This month, we take a look at something a little less typical, and there is no better place to find a unique property than Brighton & Hove. Here, you can purchase a stunning one-off home within easy reach of the seafront and vibrant city centre. For those who work in the capital during the week, there is also the benefit of fast and direct train services. Here, the luxury home experts at Fine & Country in Brighton and Hove introduce us to three of their favourite unique properties, with an old church and a converted schoolhouse making the cut.
Located on the Crescent’s eastern south-facing arm, this gorgeous apartment is part of the Brunswick Town Conservation Area. Its Neo-classical attributes of lofty ceilings, tall windows, ornate coving and cornices fuse with contemporary styling. This home has been updated over the past five years with meticulous attention to detail.
Contact: www.fineandcountry.com; 01273 739911
Old Schoolhouse, Brighton • £1.495m
French Reformed Church, Brighton • £1m
This converted traditional Sussex flint and red brick Victorian school spans across four floors and is a house of three parts: one part contemporary home, one part annexe with home offices and one part a stylish basement flat. Skilfully renovated over the last four years, its sum total is a unique, spacious and welcoming family home.
In a quiet mews just yards from Brighton’s seafront, this imposing Victorian red-brick property sits incongruously between the Metropole Hotel and a row of traditional terraced cottages. Meticulously converted, its original features have been retained and fused with modern styling to create a unique and private home. Detached with a roof terrace, this is an inspired home that is entirely unique.
The anticipation. The planning. The completion. The elation. Your kitchen. Your adventure. Every aspect of Rightside Kitchens service is focused on you.
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Living on the edge
Home choices at The Ashmiles Two bedrooms There are four two-bedroom house types to choose from at The Ashmiles, the ‘Waterush’, the ‘Flaxen’, the ‘Barley’ and the ‘Heather’. The different layouts with appeal to a variety of requirements, whether it be a semi-detached home with a garage, openplan living space for entertaining, an en suite to the master bedroom or a well-appointed garden.
Sympathetically designed homes set new levels of quality in West Sussex village
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SA £1 VE 00
Three bedrooms With no fewer than eight options, this size of house indicates the core audience of The Ashmiles. The ‘Wheatgrass’, ‘Buckwheat’, ‘Rye’, ‘Foxtail’, ‘Woodreed’, ‘Springsedge’, ‘Lavender’ and ‘Oatgrass’ mean that if you’re looking for a detached or semi-detached home with three bedrooms, there is something in this development to suit you.
themselves is their location. The Ashmiles is located on the outskirts of Barns Green, a settlement with its own archetypal village green, village hall, pub, local store and farm shop. Berkeley is contributing to the provision of a brand new primary school to accommodate the growing population of the village, whose popularity can be attributed to its combination of semi-rural charm and proximity to the market town of Horsham. With such an array of property types to choose from, this new development is likely to attract a diverse mix of house-hunters. First-time buyers, young and growing families and downsizers should find a home style to suit them while the village location and short journey to comprehensive commuter links with have wide appeal.
Four bedrooms The ‘Starflower’, the ‘Tussock’ and the ‘Cornflower’ are the three four-bedroom property types on offer, houses that offer extra accommodation in the form of open-plan kitchen/family rooms, separate, formal dining rooms and generous bedrooms, as well as the convenience of a private garage and extra driveway parking.
Five bedrooms Four five-bedroom house types provide househunters with choice at the top end of this development, catering for the needs of those who want the luxury of a spacious layout, an abundance of rooms and a double garage. Separate living, dining and family rooms offer the option of privacy or an extensive entertaining space, while an extra bedroom can also serve as a playroom, studio or study.
Find out more at www.berkeleygroup.co.uk; 01594 240 178
W S St e ar HO up oc e ki op W to 47 ng en R Ga a fu Mo OO tw ll nd M ick ra ay Ro nge s-S NO ad o u , C f b nd W ra ed ay O s w le s a , 1 PE n 0 y RH d f am N 10 urn -5 9R itu pm D re
o r some people, the thought of a new homes development on the edge of a quintessential English village would get them writing their best “Disgusted of West Sussex” to the national press. But The Ashmiles in Barns Green is a great example of what careful design, considered planning and a collaborative approach between the developer and the existing community can achieve when it comes to providing the new homes our country needs. Berkeley Homes has already sold nearly one third of this collection of 69 new houses, which offers a wide range of property types with two to five bedrooms, each with the latest high-quality interior specification, a practical layout and appealing vernacular external design – not least the show home, which is a thatched ‘Starflower’ house type. As appealing as the homes
43
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EATON ROAD, HOVE
• Delightful Fifth Floor One Bedroom Flat • Balcony & Allocated Parking Space • Gorgeous Views & Share Of Freehold • City Centre Location • Sale By Tender
• Sixth Floor One Bedroomed Purpose Built Flat • Distant Sea Views & Views Over Cricket Ground • Close To Hove Station & Town Centre • Communal Roof Terrace & Laundry Room • No Ongoing Chain
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DYKE ROAD DRIVE, HOVE
£250,000
• Superb Newly Refurbished First & Second Floor Maisonette • Two Bedrooms • Bathroom & En Suite Shower Room • Share Of Freehold • No Ongoing Chain
£235,000 - £250,000
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WESTERN STREET, BRIGHTON £425,000 - £450,000 • Stunning Refurbished Three Bedroomed Town House • Superb Roof Terrace With Views • Bathroom & En Suite Shower Room • Highly Sought After City Centre Position • No Ongoing Chain
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• Highly Sought After Second Floor Two Bedroomed Apartment • Fabulous Views & Balcony • Popular Location Opposite St Ann’s Wells Gardens • Communal Parking & Gardens • Long Lease
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kent
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New residences in Aylesford capture Wolf Hall zeitgeist
W
i th the TV adaption of Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall reigniting interest in the life and times of Henry VIII, it’s an apt time for Weston Homes to launch its residences at Preston Hall in Aylesford. While parts of the Grade II listed mansion date back to 1102, for over 400 years it was the country residence of the Culpeper family, relatives of the Dukes of Norfolk, whose descendants included Joyce Culpeper (mother of Catherine Howard, fifth wife of Henry VIII). Later Sir Thomas Culpeper, courtier to Henry VIII, became Catherine’s secret lover, a liaison for which they were both executed. Weston Homes has now launched 36 luxurious one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom properties at Preston Hall. The award-winning developer
is restoring the mansion, retaining numerous original features both on its beautiful external architecture and on its sumptuous interior. The company has already begun the restoration of this fascinating building, working on its grand stone façade with large bay windows, coats of arms, turrets and towers. In the grounds, the work will include renovating the orangery and ornate stables. The stone entrance portico leads into a hallway whose marble diamondpatterned flooring and elegant walls and ceiling have been carefully refurbished to create a striking visual impression for residents and visitors alike. This opens up into the dramatic three-storey-high great hall, topped by a glass roof cupola. The original grand staircase gives access to a galleried landing and the first floor of the manor house.
Each of 36 residences has an individual marketing name and unique layout and features. Many of the apartments, mews houses and villas combine the charm of period details including wall panelling, fireplaces, ceiling coving and moldings with stateof-the-art specification including designer fully fitted kitchens, stonepanelled bathroom suites and spacious living rooms and bedrooms. The two-bedroom show home (‘The Duke’) demonstrates this perfectly, with a 16ft-high reception room with mezzanine, contemporary chandelier and a spectacular master bedroom suite which has its own private foyer, a walk-in wardrobe and walls lined with opulent period wood panelling and shelving. Weston Homes has also restored the rear gardens of Preston Hall, utilising Edwardian-era photography
as a guide and inspiration for the new landscaping. Along the rear façade of the mansion is a new gravel-lined promenade terrace with stone steps and tiered lawns leading down to the main garden and its centrepiece, a renovated Versailles-style stone fountain with four mermaids, dating from the 1830s. Prices at Preston Hall range from £195,000 to over £700,000+. The two-bedroom ‘Duke’ show apartment is one of the premier residences and is priced at £650,000. The first phase release consists of 16 residences including four premiers. Occupation of this first phase of homes is anticipated to be June 2015. The hall is open to visitors seven days a week from 10.00am to 5.00pm. Find out more at www.westonhomes.com; 01279 873 333
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46 kent
For the latest on the property market
In the picture
TUNBRIDGE WELLS Connaught Way
£899,950 Benefitting from a convenient location for access to the town and grammar schools, this four-bedroom 1930’s detached property is offered in good order and boasts an excellent rear garden.
with Hamptons International
T
@What_House
h is month, we get the lowdown on some of the best properties currently on the market in Kent from Carl Davenport and Andrew Farmer, branch managers of Hamptons International in Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells respectively.
SEVENOAKS
Broadwater Down
£675,000 Situated along Broadwater Down, a sought-after, tree-lined road on the southern side of Tunbridge Wells, this exceptionally spacious apartment is on the ground floor of a fine Victorian house and has the great benefit of opening onto its own large west-facing garden.
Knockholt
Town Centre
£1.295m This detached family home has both spacious and versatile accommodation and mature secluded gardens. It is ideally located at the end of a highly regarded no-through road in a tucked away position less than a mile from Tunbridge Wells station.
Yalding
£649,500 £1.65m Cherry Tree Cottage is a thatched, Grade II It is rare to find such a great looking newbuild home that delivers such excellent family listed chocolate box home. This is the type accommodation throughout. The design and of house I would dream of buying in the country. The accommodation is flexible and quality of the materials used here really set the home boasts a great one-acre “gardener’s this property apart. This home is located in garden”. Yalding is a very beautiful Kent Knockholt, an undervalued lineated village village with a great sense of community, and a few miles north of Sevenoaks that offers a I would class it as a hidden gem to the east charming feel from the past. of Sevenoaks.
Contact: www.hamptons.co.uk; Sevenoaks: 01732 423127; Tunbridge Wells: 01892 597039
Buying overseas? Don’t miss out on your FREE overseas property guide Buying a property overseas can be easy when you’ve got the right team on your side. To see what’s happening at your destination, or for tips and guidance on the overseas property-buying process, visit everythingoverseas.com.
Wherever you’re going, we’ve got you covered Australia Florida France New Zealand Portugal South Africa Spain Download your free guide at everythingoverseas.com
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23/02/2015 12:01
OUR NEW DEVELOPMENT HAS ARRIVED!! SUPERB OFFERS INCLUDING HELP TO BUY AVAILABLE* This much anticipated new development opens 28th February. Consider yourself invited to come along and see the first release of stunning homes available to reserve now. We’re sure you’ll find the perfect home for you.
Timperley Place Church Lane, Deal, CT14 9QG Our Marketing suite opens 28th February to 2nd March from 11am to 6pm
2, 3 and 4 bedroom homes. Prices from £185,000 FOLLOWING THE LAUNCH, MARKETING SUITE OPEN THURSDAY TO MONDAY 11AM TO 6PM. CALL US 01622 626 816† FOR EXCLUSIVE OFFERS VISIT PERSIMMONHOMES.COM Imagery is for illustration purposes only. External elevations including treatments, materials, window positions and sizes are subject to change at any time. *Available for a limited period only, subject to status. Terms and conditions apply, including full asking price. Some offers may be subject to availability and/ or stage of construction, and offers may be withdrawn at any time without notice. This offer may not be available in conjunction with any other promotions or schemes. *The Help to Buy scheme has specific terms and conditions and is subject to affordability criteria as defined by the Homes and Communities Agency. Help to Buy equity scheme is available on all plots in England, with a full purchase price up to £600,000 subject to status. Terms and conditions apply. This scheme is subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Not to be used in conjunction with any other purchase assistance scheme, offer or promotion. YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE, YOUR EQUITY LOAN OR OTHER DEBT SECURED ON IT. Full details available on request. †Calls will be charged at fi ve pence per minute from a BT landline and may cost considerably more from mobile and other phones. Contact your service provider for more details. Details correct at time of going to press.
AUCTION
23 March - Kent & SE London 24 March - Essex & N & E London 25 March - Hampshire & Isle of Wight 26 March - West Country 27 March - Sussex & Surrey
Sussex & Surrey Lots - Friday, 27 March at the The Hilton Brighton Metropole - commencing 11am
Mixed residential and commercial investment
TICEHURST
EASTBOURNE
BEXHILL-ON-SEA
A range of Sussex & Surrey Lots including:-
Guide: £195-210,000 epc:tbc
Freehold commercial investment Guide: £95-105,000 epc:tbc
ANGMERING
N
0m
25m
50m
Minos
Oxford Cottages
Brighton Road
75m Ordnance Survey©Crown Copyright (2014). All Rights Reserved. Licence Number LIG1016. Plans are for location purposes0m only.
Ordnance Survey © Crown Copyright 2015. All rights reserved. Licence number 100022432. Plotted Scale - 1:1250
Former caretaker’s bungalow Guide: £200-220,000 epc:tbc
Guides are provided as an indication of each Seller’s minimum expectation. They are not necessarily figures which a property will sell for and may change at any time prior to Auction. Unless stated otherwise, each Lot will be offered subject to a reserve (a figure below which the Auctioneer cannot sell the Lot during the Auction). We expect the reserve will be set within the guide range or no more than 10% above a single figure guide. Please check our website regularly at cliveemson.co.uk, or call 01273 571853, in order to stay fully informed.
ST LEONARDS
LOWER KINGSWOOD
Flat for investment/occupation Guide: £150-160,000 epc:tbc
Land lying to the north of Brighton Road, Lower Kingswood, Tadworth, Surrey
1.88 Acres of woodland Guide: £20-25,000
Catalogue Hotline
(60p per minute at all times)
09068 517744
25m
50m
N
18
Wartling Close
Ordnance Survey©Crown Copyright (2014). All Rights Reserved. 75m Number LIG1016. Plans are for location purposes only. Licence
Land with planning 19 Wartling Close, St Leonards-On-Sea, East Sussex Guide: £140-150,000
Ordnance Survey © Crown Copyright 2015. All rights reserved. Licence number 100022432. Plotted Scale - 1:1250
LAND & PROPERTY AUCTIONEERS
View Lots and download catalogues via our website cliveemson.co.uk
50 hampshire
More news and interviews at whathouse.com/news
Agent Insight
We speak to Bobby Hall, partner at The Buying Solution (Southern Counties)
An organised linear Roman layout forms the heart of Winchester, upon which has been constructed a range of medieval, Georgian, Victorian and, more recently, detached houses in the centre and to the south of the city. On the outskirts of Winchester, particularly on the eastern, northern and southwestern parts of the city, one finds post-war and modern developments, the majority of which are detached properties. Depending on how our clients get to work and the route of their school run, there is a wide range of options with a variety of styles and budgets catered for, all within relatively close proximity to the city centre.
What are the current property trends in Hampshire? The current trend we are noticing is significant activity below £1m, particularly with new-build properties. Outside of the city we are seeing surrounding areas mirroring this trend and I do not expect to see top-quality, fresh stock come to the market this side of the election. What do you expect to happen in the market this year? There are a number of events that will make a material difference to the market that are difficult or impossible to predict at this stage. Top of the list
N O I T U L O V E DIGITAL R
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is the general election, and with talk of a mansion tax back on the agenda many of those operating at the top end of the market will be given cause for thought. A rise in interest rates is also coming closer, but its timing is still unpredictable. Following the election, we expect to see the launch of some significant country houses in and around
Winchester with more valuable stock in the city itself being launched. We expect to see a substantial increase in buying activity, particularly with people moving to the area from London in advance of the new school year in September. Find out more at www.thebuyingsolution.co.uk; 01488 657912
+44 (0) 7976 430 372 or
BOOK A MIPIM MEETING
What property types are particularly popular in Winchester?
What other areas are popular at the moment? Outside of Winchester, our clients are drawn to the villages to the east along the River Itchen and Alresford, down through Cheriton and into the Meon Valley. To the west of Stockbridge and the River Test are the villages of Sparsholt, Hursley and Kings Somborne.
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We find that our clients are attracted to Winchester for a number of reasons. Firstly, the combination of wonderfully unspoilt architecture ranging from the cathedral, through Georgian and Victorian times out to modern developments both within and on the outskirts of the city. Schooling is excellent and many are drawn to the region for the excellent education opportunities offered by the renowned Winchester College and the equally impressive Peter Symonds College. Winchester is only 60 miles from London and the station is a draw, with a simple 70-minute commute from the centre of Winchester to London Waterloo. We find clients moving from London to Winchester and also from the surrounding country into the city when downsizing. Winchester sits just to the north west of the South Downs National
Park, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. To have such unspoilt countryside on one’s doorstep and yet still have convenient commutes and school runs makes Winchester a very rare and popular choice.
patrick@classicfolios.com
What attracts buyers to Winchester?
04/02/2015 11:33:43
HOW SMALL CHANGE COULD MAKE YOU BIG RETURNS There aren’t many investment opportunities with a 2,000 year old heritage. But this is a coin with the seal of approval from the first Emperor of Rome. It is a gold ‘Aureus’ struck in 15-13 BC, featuring both Augustus, the Emperor and a butting bull. This Augustan Aureus is priced at £32,000. In 2013 an Aureus from 15-13 BC was auctioned for US $425,500, 227% up on its $130,000 estimate. Another, with a unique heifer design, sold for £300,000 in 2014. Uncorrelated with other asset classes, rare coins and stamps provide several thousand Stanley Gibbons Investment clients with strong portfolio diversification and the potential for capital growth.
To find out more call 0845 026 7170 or visit sginvest.co.uk/whathouse The value of your investment can go down as well as up and you may not get back what you put in. Stamps and certain other collectibles are not designated investments for the purposes of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) Order 2001 and as such are not subject to regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) or otherwise. Stanley Gibbons Investment does not provide valuations.
investment 53
More news and interviews at whathouse.com/news Kevin Spacey’s character Frank Underwood should (in a way) be a role model for investors
Photo: Netflix
Throw off your emotional chimp! What does a psychopathic politician from the hit Netflix series House of Cards teach us about buying property?
W
e ll, in the first instance, honesty; and in the second, focus; and the third, shaping
objectives. For those who haven’t seen the series, Frank Underwood, a malevolent politician, is devoid of emotion when it comes to plotting and planning his future. When Frank is making decisions, he is able to put his “emotional chimp” to one side. While I don’t recommend Frank as a role model, I trust you can see the point I am making. So, how is the process of investing in property different from that of buying a property? A few basic points to bear in mind. If you are buying, it’s a place you wish to live. You need to check out schools, local amenities, churches and still try to buy the best house in the best street. It’s a family home, a place to entertain. If you can afford it and have the nerve, ask family to help with deposits and if you like the area, buy big and leverage up. Lots of people have done very well buying a house in the last 10 years (and just about all of them in the South East), but all ships have risen and some more than others. If you are investing, you should be looking to move into and out of hotspots and make sure your ship rests highest. That’s investing.
that hotspot. How about Spain and Greece? Well, I’m not sure where the bottom of their markets are, or will be.
BACK IN THE UK
Photo: Wikipedia
Would the relocation of Luton Town FC make the town an investor hotspot?
INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY There are plenty of cases of buying offplan, via an intermediary, which frankly have been an embarrassment to advisers and their clients. From the nightmare that is Brazilian rainforest (timber plantations), Cape Verde, Caribbean, Spanish and Polish properties, there may be winners, but I’ve not met them and from the sheer volume of Financial Conduct Authority investigations, I suspect there are not many. A simple question: if you don’t want to fly to see your building site before investing, who will want to fly to see it once it’s built? Par exemple (I’ve just got back from France), a client bought a fantastic
property in Turkey for £125,000 in 2010, within a gated community, comprising of four double bedrooms and three bathrooms. Current value is £100,000, less expenses. Overall, they have never covered their mortgage costs from rental. So, remember that value and cost are two very different bedfellows. I assume that the introducer received 5% commission. This is not a bad case and there are far worse around. A real current hotspot is an island off a large continent with high levels of high-quality inward immigration; so, that’s New Zealand off the books, for the moment, because you’ve missed that wave. We could look at a huge country with lots of land, of which very little is habitable, so that’s Canada out of the picture, because we’ve missed
Therefore, if we want to invest and I assume you wish to buy low, there are lots of places in the South East that are now overpriced for our purposes. So, where can we find a property near a train line into London, close to other hotspots, with potential? Hackney, Angel and Old Kent Road are off the board. So, how about Luton? It’s close to St Albans, Harpenden and Berkhamsted – all three towns have done very well over the past five years. It’s got a great rail route into London, an expanding airport and it’s between the M1 and A1. There’s talk of relocating the football ground, so let’s buy in a road near the development area, LU1. I have had a few looks of disbelief when I’ve pitched the Luton idea and that’s great. I would have got the same looks if I had said Hackney Marshes 20 years ago. Now, you can choose any area near you and ponder its potential. Luton buy-to-let yields are still north of 6%, so you could use that as a marker. I have discounted Folkestone, but anywhere near a fast railway route to a big city has got to be worth
considering and as long as London remains politically stable, big money will flow in from abroad. This will push out locals, who have no choice but to buy elsewhere. For example, in Luton. I am indebted to The Economist for some great work on future hotspots and, in their opinion (see Economist dated 6 December 2014), it would seem that the “burbs” are back. That article can provide more reasoning, but assuming that’s true, we need to look on the outskirts of London. So, LU1 could well be the answer – but do your own research!
Lawrence Watts is a chartered financial planner with HBB. Contact 07982 235543, 01727 862477
54 mortgages
Find a great mortage deal at whathouse.com/mortgages
The best of times for home loans
T T
h e next six months may be the cheapest time to buy a house in history for borrowers looking for a mortgage. That’s the view of leading experts after official figures revealed that the cost of home loans has almost halved over the past year. Bank of England data has revealed that a typical £200,000 mortgage is more than £100 a month cheaper than this time last year, with the cost of deals expected to fall further in the coming months.
COST OF NEW MORTGAGES “NEVER BEEN BETTERED IN MODERN TIMES” Strong competition between lenders, together with expectations of low interest rates, have pushed down the cost of new mortgages to record levels. HSBC recently unveiled a two-year fixed rate at 1.19% and many experts
believe that short-term mortgage deals could fall to below 1% this spring. Data from the Bank of England has revealed that over the last 12 months the average two-year variable rate has fallen from 2.76% to 1.64% for someone with a 25% deposit. On a £200,000 loan, the monthly repayments would be £813 before fees, down from £924. Mortgage expert Brian Murphy, told the Daily Telegraph: “The next six months are shaping up to be the bestever window to secure a low interest rate if you are looking to buy or remortgage. Today’s prices have never been bettered in modern times and given that a bank rate rise is inevitable at some point, it is unlikely they will be surpassed in the years ahead.”
LONGER-TERM DEALS FALLEN Longer term mortgage deals have also fallen in price. If you have a 25%
deposit then the average two-year, fixed-rate mortgage has fallen from 2.37% to 2.01% over the last year while the average five-year rate was down from 3.45% to 3.09%. Keith Osborne, editor of WhatHouse?, says: “As lenders fight for market share the deals on offer are becoming cheaper and cheaper. We are just weeks away from a five-year fixed rate at below 2% while it is surely only a matter of time before you will be able to take a short-term fixed deal at below 1%.” Charlie Wells, managing director of buying agency Prime Purchase, said the ‘bounceback’ was due to the Chancellor’s stamp duty reforms in December. “With interest rates unlikely to rise this year, those reliant on a mortgage will find it is a good time to buy,” he remarks. “This will particularly benefit first-time buyers and stretched young families trying to move up the housing ladder.”
Found a house you love? We’ll find you the perfect mortgage to match. We specialise in all types of mortgages including: • New Home purchases • First time buyers • Remortgaging • House Moves
• Self employed • Landlords • Buy to Let • Specialised bespoke options
whathouse.com/mortgages Prolific Mortgage Finance Ltd is a registered company in England & Wales under company number 06334944. Prolific Mortgage Finance Ltd is an Appointed Representative of Home Counties Mortgage Protection and Finance Ltd who is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. There may be occasions where we may charge a fee which will depend on your circumstances. In these situations we will inform you at an early stage, the fee typically being no more that 1% of the total loan amount.YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON A MORTGAGE OR OTHER LOAN SECURED UPON IT. The actual premium for protection products will depend upon individual circumstances. Please ask us for a specific customer illustration be contacting us by completing our enquiry form or telephone the office directly. *The above mentioned products are not regulated by the FCA and accordingly the protection normally afforded does not apply.
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interiors 55
It’s your thing Tic Tac coffee table, £255
Graffiti coffee table, £215
Custom-made furniture need not break the bank, say Zespoke Design
I
f some of these items seem to look familiar to you, it’s quite possible you’ve seen them before, as the funky items produced by the team at Northern Ireland based Zespoke Design have featured on several TV shows and at many major property shows in the three years since the company was founded. Whether you spotted the company’s range of tables, TV stands and radiator covers on Double Your House For Half the Money, Grand Designs, 60 Minute Makeover or at the Ideal Home Show, these distinctive items are not easily forgotten. Find out more at www.zespoke.com; 0800 170 1077
Modern hifi/media unit, £275
The signature look is bold curves, bright colours and strident finishes. With so many colours and designs to choose from, it’s easy to conjure up a choice that will make your item unique and perfectly fit in with your room and personal taste, whether you’re into minimalist chic or are looking for a bold, colourful statement piece Recently accredited by the Guild of Master Craftsmen, the company sells direct to the public via its website and eBay, with most orders satisfied within two weeks. Retro side table, £165
CONNAUGHT PLACE Lateral apartments from £11.75m 5 & 6 Connaught Place is a stunning collection of luxury Georgian terraces which have been brought back to life. The award winning scheme comprises seven high-end apartments and Penthouses which have been carefully designed to exude a sense of opulence and grandeur befitting of the local area. The apartments retain several original features, including large sash windows, an iconic centralised marble staircase and feature intricate Grade II listed wrought iron verandas that overlook Hyde Park and beyond. Complementing the local area, these townhouses boast stucco-fronted terraces typical of the 1800s. 5 & 6 Connaught Place is located in prime central London and within the City of Westminster. Residents are on the doorstep of some of the world’s best restaurants, shopping districts and exclusive private members clubs, with the rest of London in easy access.
www.connaughtplaceresidences.com
KINGSTON RIVERSIDE 3 Bedroom apartments from £1m Nestled on the banks of the River Thames, Kingston Riverside combines the best of sophisticated London living with idyllic serenity. Kingston Riverside is spread across two striking buildings linked by a communal sky garden providing stunning views across the famous river and the luscious greenery of Kingstonupon-Thames.
A landmark development, Kingston Riverside includes 210 contemporary one, two and three bedroom apartments and only four apartments remain at this popular scheme, providing an opportunity to own a home in an area renowned for its royal links. Residents have access to a dedicated concierge, while the locale provides a plethora of green parks, stylish shops and exquisite British eateries.
www.kingstonriverside.com
For further information visit redrowlondon.com
LONDON SQUARE PUTNEY
NOW OVER 60% SOLD This contemporary scheme of one, two and three bedroom apartments and penthouses, designed by signature architects Allford Hall Monaghan Morris will make an iconic addition to the Upper Richmond Road. Computer generated image is indicative only.
LONDON SQUARE STREATHAM
COMING SOON London Square Streatham Hill is a two acre site of former leisure and retail space, acquired with planning consent for 243 apartments and retail space. We are currently working with the London Borough of Lambeth in order to review the existing planning consent. Computer generated image is indicative only.
www.londonsquare.co.uk
01895 627 333
THE STAR AND GARTER
COMING SOON A visionary restoration of the Grade II Listed Star and Garter building on Richmond Hill, creating a unique collection of luxury apartments and duplexes, with a range of residents’ amenities including a leisure suite with pool, screening room and concierge.
Computer generated image is indicative only.
MAKING LONDON GREATER STILL We take our name from the ethos of London’s famous squares and the sense of community and enduring legacy they have provided over the centuries. We are committed to creating exceptional properties which reflect the aspirations of our residents, stimulate thriving communities and set a new benchmark for modern living in the capital.
All enquiries to Adam Lawrence on 01895 627 302 Brian Betsy on 01895 627 323 www.londonsquare.co.uk
Our ambitious growth strategy delivers 150 units this year and we are set to deliver 1000 units a year within 4 years. These will include starter homes, city apartments, family houses and refurbishments as well as mixed use schemes to include commercial units. We urgently require suitable sites within the M25 area, suitable for 30 to 500 units.