l r, or ca e o lo ap r d ur y p ou Yo ert to y op d pr ere liv de
London & Southern Edition
October 2015
PROPERTY OF THE MONTH P8
MORTGAGES P23
INTERIORS P50
GARDENING P54
Spooky –
What makes a property hotspot?
homes with secrets and mysteries P6
– supplement starts P25
Play it safe –
home security tips P3 Phase one PRICES FROM £279,950
VIRIDIUM Camberley, Surrey Luxury collection of 1 and 2 bed apartments & 2 and 3 bed penthouses. Phase Two launching 5th September
Award winning development 20152015 FTB awards •• Award-winning development FTB awards
• Carpets• included Carpets included
Gated entrance with parking •• Gated entrance with parking
• Luxury •fully fitted kitchens andkitchens bathroomsand bathrooms Luxury fully fitted
Stunning spacious apartments with balcony or terrace • Help to•Buy available* •• Stunning spacious apartments with balcony or terrace Help to Buy available*
To bookan anappointment appointment call: To book call: 01276 66693 66693 01276 *Available with Help to Buy subject to terms and conditions
HODSON
DE VELOPMENTS
Phase one last few remaining
London, Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, Isle of Wight – Find your new home at Whathouse.com
A life changing move It is now a year since Steve and June Bradley moved into their new home in Durrants Village in Faygate, near Horsham – exclusively for the over 55s* and one of the latest being built by award-winning retirement lifestyle specialist Renaissance Villages.
H
aving witnessed parents leaving it too late to cope well with downsizing in their advancing years, Steve and June were keen to make their own move in good time, while they were still well able to manage the process themselves and deal with the inevitable accompanying upheaval. “We had never been to Horsham and found we really liked what we saw, plus we loved the show home. We investigated and found a great church nearby too – which is very important to us – and so, with all those things in place, we put down a deposit very quickly!”
EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY The Bradleys chose a two/three bedroom home at Durrants Village and were very pleased with the size of not only the bedrooms and en-suite bathrooms, but also the living areas. “Most of the houses we had seen with a similar number of rooms were small starter homes and, whilst we wanted to downsize, we definitely did not want to downgrade. The rooms are not only a good size but are all exquisitely fitted. The finish is of a very high standard, which is important to us.” Steve is still working parttime as a business consultant and says his new lifestyle lends itself well to those who still have a job. He says, “The fact that we no longer have to do the gardening and general maintenance is such a plus point. Now we can enjoy our leisure days knowing that
We simply love life at Durrants Village. We feel as though we are on holiday all the time!
mornings, wine tastings and parties – ideal for those living on their own, as well as couples, looking for company and friendship.
everything is taken care of. We simply love it. We feel as though we are on holiday all the time!” Durrants Village is a gated development and as the couple plan to go away for extended periods of time, knowing that they can simply ‘lock up and leave’ is something that greatly appealed to them when they first considered such a move. STUNNING CLUBHOUSE The recently opened clubhouse is a focus of social activities with fitness centre, pool, library, medical centre, games room, meeting room, bar and restaurant. A wide range of clubs and societies will be organised by the residents themselves such as art, table tennis, dancing, bridge, coffee
For more information:
01293 851 935
WWW.DURRANTSVILLAGE.CO.UK *Subject to conditions. Prices correct at time of going to press.
Steve and June Bradley: Whilst we wanted to downsize, we definitely did not want to downgrade.
PERFECTLY LOCATED Horsham, with its beautiful surroundings, historic buildings and modern facilities has also been a pleasant discovery for the couple – In a recent survey Horsham was voted the second happiest town in the UK. Steve and June have made new friends too – not only at
Durrants Village but also through their church, which has given them a new social life and one which is close by. “We would highly recommend Durrants Village for anybody who is looking to downsize and enjoy a good lifestyle. Taking that first step is often the most difficult and we would strongly advise not putting it off for years and years. We have seen too many people who have left it too late and then it becomes stressful and overwhelming. We are so glad we moved when we did.” The development enjoys an idyllic setting in 30 acres of parkland with beautifully maintained grounds and Faygate’s semi-rural location is ideal for those wishing to take walks in the nearby countryside, yet only a short drive away from all the facilities in the nearby pretty market town of Horsham. • www.durrantsvillage.co.uk
NEW SHOW HOMES OPEN SOON. PRICES STARTING FROM £249,950 PART EXCHANGE SCHEMES
COUNTRYSIDE LOCATION
PET FRIENDLY
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home security 3 TOP TEN TIPS FROM NATIONAL HOME SECURITY MONTH 1) How many people have the keys to your home? If you’ve recently moved house, it’s advisable to change the locks as you never know who may have a copy 2) Thieves don’t need to use force in 3 out of 10 burglaries, as they can instead take advantage of unlocked doors and open windows. Ensure that all windows in your home, upstairs and downstairs, are fitted with at least one appropriate lock
Home security I
t ’s National Home Security Month, and with the nights about to start drawing in and the festive period rapidly approaching, now is a great time to consider whether you are really doing all you can to keep your home safe. Securing your home can involve everything from being extra careful over locking each of your windows to installing a smart security system which can be operated remotely from your phone. Security solutions don’t have to be expensive and time consuming, and can offer great peace of mind to homeowners.
GOING ON HOLIDAY Burglaries aren’t always opportunistic, and some burglars scope out properties in advance. With this in mind, it is important to ensure your property always looks occupied. When you go on holiday, your curtains being open and unopened post piling up are telltale signs that you’re away. If you don’t have an alarm, get a neighbour to come in and pull the curtains, and invest in timer switches to turn the lights on and off. Cancel any newspaper deliveries and consider asking Royal Mail to hold on to any post until you return, if you lack a trusted neighbour to do so. You could also enlist the help of the local neighbourhood watch or ask a neighbour to park on your drive occasionally to give the illusion that people are coming and going.
DOOR AND WINDOW SECURITY Doors and windows are the easiest routes in to your property, so it is important to be vigilant. Increasing your window security can be as simple as making you keep your window keys out of sight, or as complicated as installing laminated glass or plastic glazing film, which will make it more difficult for burglars to break in. As a basic rule, for easily accessible windows, homeowners should always install double glazing where possible. In 73% of burglaries, entry is gained via a door, and in 3% of instances the door was even left open. Burglars would rather force their way in
through the door than smash windows, so ensure yours are secure. Doors should be fitted with a fivelever mortise deadlock, while wooden doors can be made stronger with steel strips fitted to the frames. If you happen to be replacing your doors, opt for door sets that are PAS 24 certified. For addition protection, consider using an internal cover plate on your letterbox and don’t leave any keys or valuables nearby. It should also go without saying that you should never leave a spare key in a visible or obvious place, such as under a plant pot or above a door ledge.
LIGHTS AND ALARMS In addition to using timers for lights around the home, consider purchasing an outdoor light, which depending on the specification can cost as little as £10. You can either use a light that is operated manually or one with a motion sensor. These sensors can be set off in various circumstances, such as a cat walking across your drive, but they could also help you avoid burglaries. When it comes to house alarms, there is a significant range of options. A good alarm system should always have a visible ‘bell box’, which will let burglars know you have security installed and act as a visual deterrent. If you can’t afford or don’t want a full alarm system, you can install a fake ‘dummy’ alarm box, which you can pick up for around £20. Alarms come in many shapes and sizes, from motion sensors to smartphone activated systems and specialist shed alarms.
SMART SECURITY The face of home security is changing, with a range of technology being introduced to the market to give homeowners increased peace of mind. Video monitoring via smartphones is an increasingly popular method, using apps that remotely inform the homeowner when there is motion in the house. Smart bulbs, meanwhile, remember how often you switch the light on and mimic it while you’re away. Even more elaborate options are available – such as devices that release smoke upon smartphone command to confuse burglars. Smartphone-controlled door locks are also available, although there is still some debate about quite how safe they really are. If you do choose to invest in home security tech, stay savvy by always changing default passwords and find out where the security company is storing your details.
3) Get an alarm – 60% of burglaries attempted on homes with alarms are unsuccessful, yet 71% of UK homes still don’t have one installed 4) Store valuable items and confidential documents/ paperwork in a home safe that is bolted to a floor or wall 5) Don’t leave ladders or tools lying around in your garden as burglars could use them to break in to your home. Always secure these kinds of items in a shed 6) The average value of an outdoor burglary is £850. Work out the value of your shed and whether it is sufficiently covered as part of your home insurance plan 7) Be extra vigilant when the clocks go back this month – the darker evenings result in burglaries increasing by up to 20% 8) Only 5% of bikes stolen in the UK are ever returned, so always secure your bike in a shed with a good cycle lock 9) Computers, cash, electrical goods and jewellery are among the most commonly stolen items in domestic burglaries, so keep yours safe and out of sight 10) S ecure external timber doors with a lock and/or nightlatch For more tips, visit www.homesecuritymonth.com
Welcome!
O
ur section on property hotspots this month reflects just how varied our property market is, with a myriad of considerations for the many types of buyer and investor out there. In the run-up to the end of the last tax year in April, there was a lot of speculation about how many people would take advantage of new pension fund freedoms, and many headlines generated by comments from pensions minister Steve Webb about pensioners buying Lamborghinis. As it has turned out, the spending frenzy expected by some has not materialised, either in terms of Lamborghinis driven off dealers’ forecourts or property speculation, from our older population. Pretty soon, it became clear that while the freedom was suddenly there, so were some pretty hefty tax penalties for withdrawing money from the pension pot to spend or invest in the free market. At a recent property investment event, I was surprised at the demographic of the attendees, which included far fewer people of pension age than I had expected to see. There were one or two young couples there with pushchairs, but the majority were singles or couples in their 30s and 40s. Buy-to-let has recently caught the eye of the Bank of England (BoE), with a report suggesting that the burgeoning market has the ability to destabilise our whole economy if interest rates start to cause problems for investors who can’t cope with increased payments The Bank published data showing that buy-to-let mortgage lending has increased by more than 40% since the 2008 banking crisis, compared to an increase of 2% to owner-occupiers. The BoE’s financial policy committee (FPC) said: “Buy-to-let investors may further exacerbate a downturn if they expect rental incomes to fall below their interest payments, and consequently add to selling pressure.” The FPC estimated that 40% of buy-to-let investors would try to sell their property if their rental income fell below their interest payments. So, buy-to-let is certainly not a guaranteed way to make money, though in the long term, property has historically out-performed banks and stock markets. Take independent advice before jumping into it and don’t expect to make a quick buck.
Keith Keith Osborne, editor. ko@whathouse.com @keithosborne69
Now on Sale:
Help to Buy
an exciting range of 2, 3, 4 and 5 bedroom homes in Brierley Hill. Choose from 10 different designs! Artisan’s Walk is a whole new community, perfectly placed almost equidistant from Wolverhampton and Birmingham, just off Brettell Lane, with views towards the Clent Hills. Beautifully built to an exacting specification using energy saving technology, all the homes at Artisan’s Walk will be economic to run. The careful design and well thought out interiors will make them practical and comfortable to live in too.
Ask about our launch incentives 2, 3, 4 & 5 bedroom homes from £155,000
Showhome open daily 10.00am - 5.30pm
Artisan’s Walk, off Delph Road, Brierley Hill, DY5 2RP Call: 0845 873 2887 or visit: www.lioncourthomes.co.uk
A chance to win £50 It couldn’t be simpler – just ‘follow’ us on Twitter (@What_House) One of our new followers from 10th October to 9th November will win £50 in Marks and Spencer vouchers
Rupert Bates, editorial director of WhatHouse? has been a property journalist for 25 years. He is an award-winning writer who started on local newspapers before becoming a columnist on The Daily Telegraph. He presents the annual WhatHouse? Awards, edits leading housebuilding magazine Show House and is property correspondent of The Field magazine.
Managing director Daniel Hill
Keith Osborne started writing about property 14 years ago and has been editor of Whathouse. com since 2010. He is currently a columnist in housebuilding trade magazine Show House and has previously written for Homes Overseas magazine. He has also been a part of the WhatHouse? Awards judging panel for a number of years.
Sales director Adrian Talbot at@globespanmedia.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.
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Editorial director Rupert Bates Editor Keith Osborne ko@whathouse.com Assistant editor Stephen Maunder sm@whathouse.com Chief sub-editor Suzanne Frost Designer Sarah Davies Contributors Nick Parkhouse Richenda Oldham
Sales manager Murad Paloba mp@whathouse.com Sales executive Andrew Sinclair as@whathouse.com Sales Ian Richardson ir@whathouse.com Sales Steven Benjafield sb@whathouse.com Advertsing sales David Wright dw@whathouse.com Head of digital Simon Phillips simon@whathouse.com Cover photo: London Square Hayes in Hayes, Bromley, from £525,000 from London Square; 0333 666 2636
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 © 2015 Globespan Media Limited WhatHouse?, ISSN: 02691310
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NHBC – the mark of a quality home Before you buy a new home, make sure it has Buildmark, which provides you with 10 years’ warranty and insurance. Then you’ll know it’s good quality and that your investment is protected.
0844 633 1000 www.nhbcnewhomes.co.uk
NHBC is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. NHBC is registered in England and Wales under company number 00320784. NHBC’s registered address is NHBC House, Davy Avenue, Knowlhill, Milton Keynes, Bucks, MK5 8FP. J441 09/15
6 six appeal
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Consort House, Brighton £3.65m Consort House in Brighton is the perfect place to enjoy a property fairytale. Not only does the crescent boast a secret tunnel in the communal grounds leading under the road to the seafront and one of the upper promenades, but it was reputedly the inspiration for the rabbit hole in Alice in Wonderland. This Grade I listed townhouse is arguably one of the finest examples of regency architecture in the country, and features four reception rooms, six bedrooms and three bathrooms. Lying in the centre of the crescent are well kept gated gardens of around seven acres, which are known as the ‘Kemp Town Enclosures’ and are for exclusive use by the residents.
The cosmopolitan marina, with its cinema, sports complex and restaurants, is less than half a mile away; East Brighton golf course is just over a mile away, and the stunning South Downs National Park is visible from the rear of the property.
From: Savills Contact: 01444 446000
Six appeal Our pick of the very best homes with secrets and mysteries The Historic Dockyard, Chatham, Kent £950,000
Linton Hills, Welcombe, Devon £1.1m
Originally built in 1727, this delightful Georgian home features a secret staircase which leads to a hidden walled garden to the rear of the home. The secret garden is accessed via a flight of granite steps and extends to 130 feet. The terrace of 12 properties was constructed to provide homes and offices for the officers of the dockyard, and occupies a prominent position overlooking the tennis lawns. After careful renovation work, the property offers great peace and tranquillity. This home has range of period features, including panelled doors, high corniced
From properties with secret passageways to one that is a secret in its own right. Linton Hills is hidden away in the middle of 100 acres of woodland in a privately protected valley running down to the sea on the north coast of Devon. The property itself is a large and attractive home perfectly equipped for modern living and boasting a separate two-bedroom cottage that would be ideal as a holiday home or weekend retreat. All of the rooms here face south, and the original part of the property is believed to be around 400 years old. Buyers are sure to
ceilings and feature fireplaces. A separate staircase gives alternative access to the rear wing, with an en suite bathroom and library which lends itself to a self-contained annexe for relatives or an au pair. Although the property is located in a quiet, tucked away position, the historic Chatham Dockyard is ideally situated close to the local restaurants, pubs and cinema at Chatham Marina.
From: Fine & Country Contact: 01474 700009
be particularly impressed by a superb studio/ library which takes up the whole second floor. Much of the setting here is a designated nature reserve, with dramatic cliffs and small remote beaches. For explorers, the network of footpaths which lead to the sea at Marsland Mouth will be a real attraction.
From: Knight Frank Contact: : 01392 248898
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Papillon Hall, Henley-in-Arden, Warwickshire • £4.995m This contemporary English ‘Chateau’ in the Warwickshire countryside has its own cinema and pool rooms hidden in the depths of the house. The plot of this seven-bedroom luxury home extends to around 18 acres, including gardens, outbuildings and stables. Set over three floors, the property is perfect for buyers looking for a taste of luxury living, with a stunning leisure and recreational suite and an indoor/outdoor infinity swimming pool among the main draws. The suite offers the ideal workout solution, with a sauna and steam room among its features. For those
who want to relax, the semisubterranean cinema room is an unexpected and versatile place to chill out or even use as a party space or club. The dominant elevated setting allows for stunning views over the Cotswolds and Malvern Hills, with the master suite on the first floor opening onto a wide balcony. The hall is also ideally located for easy access to the motorway network and the surrounding towns.
From: Fine & Country Contact: 0121 746 6400
West Wing, Meopham, Kent £975,000 Bembridge House, Fareham, Hampshire £900,000 To Hampshire, for a unique opportunity to purchase a detached period residence with an interesting twist. Bembridge House, in Fareham, is a stunning family home with distinctive period features such as high ceilings, picture rails and extensive period cornicing. For mystery lovers in search of a property with a real talking point, the dining room can be accessed by
moving the red book on the third shelf of a bookcase, which works as a mechanical trigger for a hidden door. The extensive property boasts two storeys to the front, which have distinctive features such as high ceilings, picture rails and extensive period cornicing. The rear of the house consists of three storeys which are the original
servants’ quarters. Externally Bembridge House has grounds consisting of a beautifully treelined, lawned garden with shrubs and a patio affording privacy in a quiet space.
From: Fine & Country Contact: 02393 277277
West Wing is a charming fourbedroom property with many character features dating from the Elizabethan period, including a stunning castellated tower and a secret garden. The property boasts high ceilings, exposed timbers and open fireplaces, as well as a striking encaustic tiled floor in the music room. Arranged over three fours and with a flintstone outbuilding, the accommodation provides versatile living suitable for modern families. The property is approached through double wooden gates
leading to a gravel drive, while the established gardens and secret garden amount to a total of just under 2 acres. Accommodation here is arranged on the first and second floors. The master bedroom has high ceilings, a square bay window, a fireplace, wardrobes and a dressing area. Among the highlights is the second floor bedroom, which is located in the tower and features a triple aspect with a vaulted ceiling.
From: Savills Contact: 01732 789700
BHO30134 St Jo's DPS Editorial 550x340 AD 06/10/2015 12:13 Page 1
8 property of the month
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The premier choice for an exclusive lifestyle Aerial view of St Joseph’s Gate
Computer generated illustration indicative only
Berkeley’s St Joseph’s Gate development has homes nearing completion and with residents moving in time is running out to secure one of these prestigious new homes.
S
t Joseph’s Gate continues to be the premier choice for exclusive, luxurious living in the sought after environs of Mill Hill. Situated high on a hill with views towards the capital, within 7 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, bordered by mature trees and with a feature pond, this select collection of 2 and 3 bedroom apartments and penthouses, ranging in size from approximately 1200 sq ft to 2500 sq ft, blends Grade II listed historic charm with the best of contemporary convenience. For
over 150 years this iconic building has made an impressive architectural contribution to the Mill Hill landscape. A cherished local landmark, Grade II listed St Joseph’s Gate has been the subject of meticulous restoration and refurbishment, with Victorian features retained and luxurious living spaces enhanced with the incorporation of state-of-the-art kitchens and technology systems. A substantial project in both scale and undertaking, Berkeley’s unerring passion and attention to detail has created an exceptional
St Joseph’s Gate parkland
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property of the month 9
St Joseph’s Gate Showhome
The Gatehouse
collection of homes that pay inspirational homage to their historic roots. Newly built wings have been created which perfectly complement the existing historic fabric of the building, with homes that benefit from period style features, spacious living areas and specifications of uncompromised quality. Underlining Berkeley’s commitment to exclusivity, residents enjoy the advantage of electrically operated access gates and concierge services. Forthcoming residents include Company Director Steven Emden and his wife, who are looking forward to moving into their new apartment in Spring 2016. Having lived on the edge of Hampstead Heath, Mr and Mrs Emden started the search for a property that gave them a countryside setting, yet was close to their children and grandchildren in Mill Hill. St Joseph’s
St Joseph’s Gate Showhome
Gate ticked all the boxes, including its proximity to Mill Hill Broadway station with its links to central London.
The Grotto
The stunning duplex showhome in the original Elmbridge Wing bears testament to the quality and character of St Joseph’s Gate, with elegant living spaces, a contemporary and comprehensively appointed kitchen, luxuriously appointed en suites and period features including warm, bare-brick walls to the stairs to the upper floor. Apartment 46, located in the newly built Fairford Wing, is a fabulous second floor 3 bedroom home of approximately 1535 sq ft. This highly specified apartment features an open-plan kitchen/dining area with Italian designer kitchen by Lida Cucina, Italian composite stone worktops and a comprehensive range of Siemens integrated appliances. The master suite enjoys the luxury of a dressing room and en suite with Villeroy & Boch sanitaryware, complemented with
St Joseph’s Gate Showhome
polished porcelain floor tiles and Hansgrohe fittings. Both the master suite and guest suite have fitted wardrobes. A noteworthy feature of Apartment 46 is the all-weather balcony for year-round enjoyment of this spectacular environment. Available now and scheduled for completion October/November 2015, Apartment 46 is priced at £1,550,000.
2 and 3 bedroom apartments and penthouses from £899,995 - £2,300,000
For further information visit the Information Centre and Showhomes, telephone 01753 257832 or email sales.oxford@berkeleyhomes.co.uk
Information Centre and Showhomes open daily from 10am - 5pm, Lawrence Street, Mill Hill, London NW7 4JZ. Telephone 01753 257832 www.stjosephsgate.co.uk Proud to be a member of the Berkeley Group of companies
Exterior images depict St Joseph’s Gate parkland. Interior images depict the Showhome at St Joseph’s Gate and are indicative only. Prices and details correct at time of going to print.
WE CAN GET YOU MOVING Mastermove helps you buy at Kingston Riverside while we take the hard work out of selling your existing property, by arranging valuations, appointing an estate agent, taking care of all the paperwork and even paying the agents’ fees. Mastermove helps you move into your brand new Redrow home in three simple steps: Step 1 - Choose your Redrow home at Kingston Riverside and register on Mastermove. Step 2 - We’ll appoint an estate agent to market your property. Step 3 - When a sale is agreed, Redrow will pay the agent’s fees leaving you free to reserve your new Redrow luxury apartment. Call now to find out how simple your move could be.
13334 Kingston Riverside - Whathouse - 340x265 wc060415.indd 1
Luxury 2 & 3 bedroom apartments with stunning panoramic views over Kingston with prices from £750,000
020 3581 2003
Kingston Upon Thames
kingstonriverside.com
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01/04/2015 15:41
london
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City pads With Druce in Marylebone
W
en it comes to luxury homes, it’s not all about a big house in the country. h For buyers with a few million to spare, a city pad is the ideal place to be at the heart of the action. This month, the Marylebone branch of Druce estate agents shares its favourite pads currently on the market. Find out more at www.druce.com; 020 7935 6535
Nottingham Place • £4.595m
11
Great Portland Street • £999,999 This is a bright, second floor, two-bedroom apartment in a period building on the corner of Great Portland Street and New Cavendish Street. The apartment is in an ideal location for the local shops and restaurants, as well as transport links via Oxford Circus and Great Portland Street stations. This apartment offers a modern, open plan kitchen/ reception, two double bedrooms and a family bathroom.
Fitzrovia penthouse, Fitzrovia Apartments • Guide price - £6.995m A rare opportunity to acquire a truly fabulous, period, freehold house in the heart of Marylebone Village. The property benefits from plenty of natural light, excellent entertaining space, high ceilings and a landscaped patio garden. Comprising five bedrooms and four bathrooms, this is a wonderful family home with excellent room proportions.
Here we have one of the finest penthouses in Fitzrovia, offering superb accommodation and two stunning roof terraces, which boast panoramic views across central London and Regent’s Park. This apartment has been beautifully designed and finished to the highest of standards including comfort cooling and an integrated audio visual system. The kitchen is open plan to the fabulous reception room, which provides access on to the duplex roof terrace. The apartment is part of a landmark new development offering 24-hour concierge, contemporary common parts, lift access and underground parking.
different by design
CONTEMPORARY PROPERTIES FOR SALE • Located in London, Bristol, Cardiff, Bournemouth, Newquay and St Ives, Cornwall • From 1 bed apartments to 4 bed houses • Beautifully designed, fitted with the latest kitchens, bathrooms and finished to a high specification • Family homes, second homes and investments • Prices from £130,000 to £1,430,000 • Show homes available to view
Offices in London, Bristol, Cardiff, Southampton and Newquay For more information contact us on:
t: 01637 876000 e: sales@acornpg.org w: acornpg.org A mixture of computer generated images and actual photography of Acorn developments for illustrative purposes only. Final finishes / details may vary. Terms and conditions apply, see website for details.
Octagon is truly delighted to extend a personal invitation for you to view and admire the hand crafted perfection and unrivalled quality of Burford Place, an impressive new country house set within 5.5 acres of mature, secluded grounds. Located on the Surrey/Hampshire border, this elegant family home offers luxurious countryside living with 5 reception rooms including a cinema room, 7 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms and a detached triple garage. The house is set back behind electric gates with a sweeping main drive and beautiful grounds ideal for a pony paddock and stables with additional storage barn, if desired. Pickets Hill is within 5 miles of the A3, to the west of Haslemere and to the south of Farnham. There is a choice of mainline train stations at Liphook, Haslemere, Bentley and Farnham, with regular services into London Waterloo taking approximately 1 hour.
Octagon has other fine properties for sale in North London and the Home Counties with prices currently ranging from £3.25m. Please see our website for details.
www.octagon.co.uk
Price £4.75m Burford Place, Picketts Hill, Hampshire GU35 8TD Open weekends 10am – 4pm or by appointment Octagon: 020 8481 7500 Strutt & Parker Farnham: 01252 821102
In The Country
london
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In the spotlight: London Borough of Southwark New homes and a thriving market in one of London’s most vibrant boroughs
15
NEW HOMES
The Residence, Blackfriars Road Affinity Sutton The Residence, Blackfriars Road is a collection of apartments available through shared ownership, allowing buyers to purchase as little as a 25% share of a home. Through the scheme, buyers purchase a share of a property (between 25% and 75%) and pay a reduced rent to Affinity Sutton on the remainder. Here, there are 10 one- and two-bedroom apartments available, and each has been designed to suit a range of buyers from singles or couples to young families, and there is even a two-bedroom wheelchairaccessible apartment.
The homes are fitted to a high specification with spacious, openplan living areas with large windows enabling natural daylight to fill the rooms, and each boasts a a private balcony or terrace with spectacular views of London’s stunning skyline. The nearest tube station, Southwark, is only a two-minute walk from The Residence and the development is a 10-minutes walk from Waterloo mainline railway and tube stations. Price: From £590,000 Find out more at www.affinitysutton.com; 0300 100 0303
Two Fifty One, Southwark Bridge Road Oakmayne Properties
WHERE IS IT? The borough borders the City of London and Tower Hamlets to the north, Lambeth to the West, Lewisham to the east and Bromley and Croydon to the South. Mayor landmarks include The Shard, Tate Modern, Globe Theatre, Imperial War Museum and Borough Market. Southwark is also known for its network of iconic bridges, including Tower Bridge, the Millennium Bridge and London Bridge.
WHO LIVES THERE? As of May 2014, the population of Southwark was 293,530, with this number expected to increase by 21% over the following decade. The borough has a young population, with 42% of its residents aged 20-39, compared to 35% in London and 27% in England as a whole.
WHAT IS THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE LIKE? Southwark has three parliamentary constituencies – Camberwell and Peckham, Dulwich and West Norwood (shared with Lambeth), and Bermondsey and Old Southwark – all of which are controlled by the Labour Party. In the most recent local council election, Labour gained 48 of the 63 seats.
WHAT DO HOUSES COST? Southwark saw the biggest price rises in London during September, with property costs hitting £631,055, an increase of 8.7% since August. The trend isn’t a new thing, however, with figures from last November showing increases of 27.9% year-on-year in Southwark, second only to Lewisham. At the time of the 2011 census, the borough’s rented sector comprised 53.4% of its housing, one of the highest rates in England, and also had the greatest proportion of social housing in England – 31.2%.
IN THE NEWS A derelict shed behind a launderette in Dulwich recently sold at auction for £440,000, well above its guide price of £325,000, despite needing a complete rebuild to make it in to a two-bedroom home. The shed was first used as a blacksmith’s workshop before falling in to disrepair.
REGENERATION There’s plenty of change afoot, with Southwark council embarking on a programme to regenerate 11 different areas. Here’s the lowdown on some of the biggest changes set to happen in the coming years.
Two Fifty One Southwark Bridge Road is a landmark mixed-use scheme by Oakmayne Properties, in conjunction with Lone Star. The 0.51-acre development features a residential tower providing 335 apartments and penthouses. There will be 270 private sale apartments and penthouses here, providing studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom properties. The highly specified apartments are designed to maximise space, light and views, with contemporary style, beautiful materials and bespoke finishes designed to create cool and stylish homes, with items carefully chosen for both their aesthetics and quality. Construction of Two Fifty One is commenced last winter, with completion expected in 2017. Price: From £390,000 Find out more at www.twofiftyonelondon.com; 0203 4689 251
Aylesbury Estate The first new homes here were completed in 2012, and plans are underway to take the regeneration of the area forward across four phases over the next 20 years. The project will include nearly 4,000 new homes, of which 50% will be affordable, in partnership with Notting Hill Housing Trust.
Bermondsey Spa Working alongside the Hyde Group, Southwark Council plans to create over 2,000 new homes, with more than 40% of these classified as affordable housing. In addition, there will be two new health centres, a new pharmacy and new leisure and retail space.
Canada Water The regeneration programme here is delivering a new town centre for Rotherhithe, with around 900 homes and a state-of-the-art library. Working with the local community, the council also plans to deliver a further 2,500 new homes and generate around 200 new jobs in the future.
Elephant and Castle Elephant and Castle is undergoing a £3bn regeneration programme over the next 15 years, with the creation of a new pedestrianised town centre and 5,000 new and replacement homes.
Athenlay, Nunhead Empyrean A rare collection of just nine new Victorian-style terraced homes is nearing completion in Nunhead. The spacious three-storey, four-bedroom family homes are located in a quiet tree-lined road within walking distance of two mainline stations. The development on Athenlay Road, SE15, has two show homes nearing completion this autumn, with the entire scheme scheduled for completion before the end of the year. Each home here has a separate living room to the front and a contemporary open-plan kitchen dining room at the
rear of the property, with glass doors opening out on to the patio and a garden laid to lawn. The four bedrooms are spread over the first and second floors with en suites to the master and bedroom two on the first floor. The location is a commuters’ dream, being within walking distance of Nunhead Station (Zone 2) with fast rail services to the city. Honor Oak Overground station (Zone 3) is also nearby, and trains to Canary Wharf and Shoreditch take around 20 minutes. Find out more at www.empyreandevelopments.co.uk; 020 3397 9800
CITY LIVING OR COUNTRY LIFE
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Vista, Drayton Garden Village
Creating new communities across the South
Inland Homes are currently regenerating areas across the South providing quality homes with an emphasis on design and sustainability. Visit our fabulous range of Showhomes to discover more.
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For further details call 01494 762 450 or email sales@inlandhomes.co.uk Showhome open at this development
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Alexandra Gardens, Iver 2, 3 & 4 bedroom houses Rutherford Park, Stanbridge 1 & 2 bedroom apartments and 2, 3 & 4 bedroom houses
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18 london
For the latest on the property market
New homes round-up – the pick of today’s new build property in London
T
he latest research from estate agent Savills shows that there are 58 stations on the Tube network where residential property prices average more than £1m. This staggering figure is up from just 11 in 2010 and clearly illustrates how the last five years have radically changed the property market in the capital, as demand from all over the world – combined with a lacking of new and other housing stock for sale – has pushed new areas into the millionaire league. While many are in prime central London – districts around Knightsbridge, Sloane Square and South Kensington, for example – there has been a ripple effect out to Zones 2 and 3 (such as Vauxhall, Finchley Road and Golders Green) and even out to Zone 6, where prices in leafy Moor Park exceed £1.6m on average. Recent numbers from across the
industry have shown that the rate of price growth in the prime areas has diminished considerably, and this may lead to areas outside the centre looking more attractive. National housebuilder Redrow is now concentrating on suburban districts rather than the capital’s super-prime central quarters. Founder Steve Morgan said: “You can divide London into two areas really. Central London has quite definitely softened since the stamp duty announcement, so high price properties have come off, but in the London markets, which I class ‘London for the Londoners’, where people actually live, demand continues to be very, very strong. It’s definitely a two-tier London at the minute.” Here are some of the developments currently on offer around Greater London – and you don’t have to be a millionaire to afford most of them!
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Kidderpore Green in Hampstead (Barratt London) Launching this month, this new development of 128 new and refurbished homes in the sought-after London village of Hampstead has been influenced by a unique relationship between the developer and the Hampstead School of Art (HSoA). Set in 2.4 acres of landscaped gardens, Kidderpore Green is centred on a new state-of-the-art pavilion for the HSoA that will not only enable it to honour its ethos as an independent institution for artistic excellence but provide a heart for the new residential community around it. Designed by Allies & Morrison, the new-build villa apartments will complement the conversion of the Caroline Skeel Library into apartments and penthouses and the refurbishment of the existing Arts and Craft buildings into duplexes. The first homes will be ready to move into this autumn, with full completion early in 2017. Price: From £675,000 Find out more at www.barrattlondon. com/kidderporegreen; 0844 811 4321
London Square Hayes in Hayes (London Square) Just launched is this development in the borough of Bromley from award-winning developer London Square. Set behind gates on West Common Road, the former Grade II listed office building will be sensitively converted into a collection of heritage apartments with style and individuality, while nine new and impressive mews houses and six luxury detached houses will be built in the six acres of grounds. All homes will have views over the green open space and historic lawn area.
Specialist architect Formation Architects will retain and restore period features in the listed apartment building. The practice has experience of working on highprofile listed buildings including Lots Road Power Station, The Berkeley Hotel and The Langham. Another award-winning company, Alexander James, will create the interiors in the contemporary show home. Price: From £525,000 Find out more at www.londonsquare.co.uk; 0333 666 2636
Premier Collection at Hurlingham Walk in Fulham (St James)
Clay Street in Marylebone (Druce) This is a bespoke collection of five new townhouses in the heart of Marylebone, W1. Each house provides four thoughtfully designed floors of luxurious and meticulously selected finishes, as well as a private parking garage and balconies, set in a sought-after central London address close to the West End and with a multitude of transport connections within a few minutes’ walk.
These luxurious properties have been designed to echo the grand façades of West London’s traditional Edwardian and Victorian mansion block architecture. In fact, Hurlingham Walk is the first new build mansion-style development to join Fulham’s architectural landscape since the 1930’s. The new Premier Collection comprises 12 (out of a total of 68) luxuriously finished apartments located on the fourth floor. All the properties have been designed with high ceilings, full-height doors to the balconies and great use of space and light. These enhanced homes will include superior finishes such as a fully fitted Sonos sound system with
The textured brick façade of the townhouses boasts clean lines, highlighted with rich timber, for depth of character and a welcoming feel. Step inside and there is an immediate feeling of spaciousness, coupled with a sense of privacy and warmth. Price: From £3.8m Find out more at www.druce.com; 020 7935 6535
built-in speakers in the living rooms, bedrooms and bathrooms; an Italianstyle kitchen with marble worktops and integrated Miele appliances; comfort cooling in the bedrooms and sitting rooms; and underfloor heating throughout. The Premier Collection also benefit from the security of restricted lift key access. There is also a dedicated concierge, 24-hour security, a private landscaped garden with infinity pond and courtyard accessible to residents-only and gated basement parking. Price: From £695,000 Find out more at http://whathou.se/ V9l9Yu; 020 3151 7844
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Currently available at Jessop’s Building is a selection of one- and two-bedroom apartments offering spacious accommodation, with balconies to most apartments. The homes are available through a shared ownership scheme, which allows buyers to purchase between 25% and 75% of the property, paying subsidised rent on the remainder. The scheme is specifically designed for first-time buyers whose household income is less than £71,000 a year and priority will be given to those who live or work in Tower Hamlets. The area is bustling with an array of eateries and bars, hotels
and leisure facilities, all in the shadow of Canary Wharf. Across the river, the O2 Arena boasts one of the largest live venues, home to various sports and entertainment shows, as well as a choice of bars and restaurants, cinema and the famous Indigo2 nightclub. Less than 30 minutes away from New Providence Wharf by Tube is Westfield Stratford City, the largest urban shopping mall in Europe, boasting over 500 shops, a cinema, bowling alley and casino. Price: From £95,563 (25% share) Find out more at www.genesishahomes. org.uk; call 0800 954 0040
Stratford Gate in Stratford (L&Q) L&Q is currently selling a collection of three one-bedroom apartments and six two-bedroom properties at Stratford Gate, with a minimum 35% share under the governmentbacked shared ownership scheme. The development offers local renters a chance to step onto the property ladder in this highly desirable location, which just a short walk from Stratford station and the former Olympic Park. The legacy of London 2012 places Stratford Gate at the heart of Stratford with the wealth of shops in Westfield, the leisure facilities of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and the excellent transport links that connect Stratford to central London and the surrounding boroughs and counties.
Part of the Elmington Estate regeneration, this scheme has a mix of open market, shared ownership and social rent homes in a distinctive contemporary style, where the homes benefit from generous space and an abundance of natural light. On the shared ownership side, there is a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments available, with a good specification that means buyers really only need to provide somewhere to sit and
somewhere to sleep – the kitchen comes with a healthy amount of storage and a good range of builtin appliances. There are superb bus links across London almost from the doorstep, and a variety of Tube and national rail services within reach, such as Oval, Denmark Hill and Elephant & Castle. Price: From £147,000 (40% share) Find out more at http://whathou.se/ MQQ2Nz; 020 3151 7673
Price: From £110,025 (35% share) Find out more at www.lqgroup.org.uk; 0844 406 8706
Enfield
The Residence in Southwark (Linden Homes)
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Camberwell Fields in Camberwell (Notting Hill Housing)
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Find your new home at whathouse.com/new-homes
Lewisham
Merton Bromley Sutton
Croydon
Eighty per cent of the apartments have already sold here, so opportunities are limited to grab one of these one-, two- and threebedroom properties on Blackfriars Road, just a short walk from the Thames. Ideally suited to investors or young professionals sharing, each of the open-plan properties at The Residence either has a private balcony or terrace, as well as residents-only access to a
landscaped rooftop garden. Dylan May, Linden Homes South East land, sales and marketing director, says: “The Residence offers a particular chemistry of location and quality that has really caught the attention. People can see that the apartments offer an exclusive lifestyle, not just a high-quality home. Price: From £765,000 Find out more at www.lindenhomes.co.uk; 02035 533 866
Rosendale Road in Brixton (Peabody) Located at the heart of a thriving new community in south London, Rosendale Road is at the centre of popular areas Herne Hill, Brixton, Dulwich and Camberwell. The development comprises a collection of two-bedroom apartments and cottages which border Brockwell Park, home to Brockwell Lido, endearingly known as ‘Brixton’s Beach’. This much-loved local landmark is famed for its Olympic-size 50-metre pool, surrounded by a superb Grade II listed art deco building, which now houses a state-of-the-art gym and studios.
Apartments boast private balconies and cottages with rear turfed lawns and timber picket fencing at the front. Each home is completed to a high specification, with integrated Bosch appliances, Kahrs Oak Weimar parquet flooring and brushed steel switches and sockets Herne Hill station just a 10-minute walk away and there are national rail and Tube services in the surrounding area in Dulwich and Brixton. Price: From £480,000 Find out more at www.peabodysales.co.uk; 020 7226 6611
VERY EXCITING
Redrow homes have undeniable kerb appeal with distinctive, detailed architectural touches that set them apart from the competition. Very Inviting, Very Inspiring, Very Redrow.
NEW SHOWHOMES
COMING SOON TO
Hinckley and Tamworth We are pleased to announce that we will be opening the doors to our beautiful showhomes at Park View, Hinckley and Pennine Grange, Tamworth in July. Come along to Park View, Hinckley, today where the Marketing Suite is now open and we have a selection of 3 and 4 bedroom homes available from £224,995
Park View
Pennine Grange
Coventry Road, Hinckley LE10 0NU Visit: redrow.co.uk/parkview Call: 01455 698336
Pennine Way, Tamworth B77 4JF Visit: redrow.co.uk/pennine Call: 01827 902025
Image typical of Redrow homes. Price correct at time of going to press.
01252 356000 your property, our business
Ethical Leasehold Management – leading the way in leasehold property management Ethical Leasehold Management – leading the way in leasehold property management
Why choose ELM Group? • Higher sales & rental values achieved with our outstanding property management service • We advise & assist with RTM & self-enfranchisement setup for our clients • We offer bespoke leasehold property management to our clients • Advisory head-lease setup service for developers
• ELM Group are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Homes & Communities Agency • Two months FREE property management fees on a minimum fixed one year contract We are proud to present our partner for sales & lettings in the South East of England www.elmgroup.org.uk enquiries@elmgroup.org.uk
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We’re open for business, whatever the climate.
For the last 40 years, through all market conditions, we’ve consistently lent to residential property developers. So if you’re looking for funds, you won’t find a more experienced, flexible and reliable business partner. To find out how we can help your development, please call Close Brothers Property Finance on 020 7655 3655 or visit closepropertyfinance.com
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For the latest on the property market
@What_House
mortgages 23
The return of the 95% mortgage Two of the UK’s biggest lenders have announced that they are expanding their range by reintroducing 95% deals
S
e ven years after the global financial crisis all but ended high loan-tovalue (LTV) mortgages. Santander and Nationwide have announced that they are going to offer mortgages for borrowers with a 5% deposit, increasing the choice of high loan-to-value deals available. There are a number of 95% deals available at the moment through the government’s Help to Buy scheme but these two high street lenders have decided to go it alone by offering deals directly to consumers.
NATIONWIDE OFFERS STANDARD 95% MORTGAGE FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2008 95% mortgages were one of the first casualties of the global financial crisis and there have only been a handful of these products available in recent years. The Help to Buy scheme increased the choice of deals to homebuyers but now Santander and Nationwide are set to reintroduce 95% mortgages as part of their core offering. It the first time Nationwide has offered a 5% deposit mortgage of this
kind to all customers since 2008. The two-year fixed-rate deal has an interest rate of 3.99% and a fee of £999. “Nationwide’s move significantly increases the society’s lending in the first-time buyer market and widens consumer choice,” says Henry Jordan, Nationwide’s head of mortgages.
‘HEALTHY MARKET’ FOR LOW-DEPOSIT MORTGAGES Santander have also announced that it is launching 95% mortgages ahead of the withdrawal of the Help to Buy mortgage
guarantee scheme in 2016. The lender said it was “ready to extend our commitment to lending up to 95% loan-to-value without the need for government support”. Miguel Sard, Santander’s managing director of mortgages adds: “Help to Buy 2 has achieved its goal ahead of its three-year term. The government’s guarantee scheme has been successful in encouraging lenders to re-enter the 95% LTV space and in giving confidence to prospective borrowers who don’t have a large deposit. “After almost two years’ lending in the scheme and given the quality of loans issued over the period, we’re ready to
extend our commitment to lending up to 95% LTV without the need for government support. “There is now a healthy market for customers with smaller deposits.” Keith Osborne, editor of new homes portal Whathouse.com, welcomed the news: “Many first-time buyers struggle to find a 10% or 20% deposit in order to get onto the property ladder and so it’s brilliant news that there are going to be more 95% deals available. “With Help to Buy ending in 2016 it’s vital that some mainstream lenders start offering these deals on a permanent basis and Santander and Nationwide have done exactly that.”
There may be trouble ahead...
Nearly a million interest-only mortgage holders have no way of paying back their loan, says Nick Parkhouse
N
e w research from a leading charity has revealed that the number of interest-only mortgage holders with no way of paying back their home loan could be much higher than previously predicted. Citizens Advice says that almost a million homeowners have no strategy in place for paying back their home loan, much higher than previous estimates. Regulators have urged lenders to treat interest-only customers fairly but the charity believes ‘time is running out’ for thousands of homeowners.
It says that there are 3.3million interest-only mortgages, with just over half of these borrowers saying they had no linked repayment vehicle and 934,000 having no strategy for paying back the loan. More than 430,000 people “have not even thought about how they will repay the capital”, it said.
LENDERS URGED TO TREAT INTEREST-ONLY BORROWERS FAIRLY
INTEREST-ONLY MORTGAGE PROBLEM BIGGER THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT Interest-only mortgages became popular in the run-up to the global financial crisis. Under the agreement, borrowers pay back interest to the lender on a monthly basis but never any of the capital. Homeowners then make other arrangements – such as an investment plan or ISA – to pay back the mortgage at the end of the term. However, research from Citizens Advice has suggested that 934,000 people in the UK have an interestonly mortgage and no plan for how they intend to repay the debt. The charity says that “time is running out”
for many borrowers who would be forced to sell the property to pay back the mortgage or face the prospect of repossession. The survey is the latest to look at the problem of interest-only mortgages and reveals that the number
of people with no way of paying back their mortgage is much higher than previously thought. Research in 2013 by the Financial Conduct Authority estimated the number at just 260,000. The FCA data showed that 2.6million interest-
only mortgages will mature by 2041 but that nine in 10 borrowers had a repayment strategy in place to repay the loan. However, Citizens Advice says that the regulator may have hugely underestimated the size of the problem.
Gillian Guy, chief executive of Citizens Advice, says: “People buy a home for stability – but interest-only mortgages have forced many into a financial black hole. It’s time to level the playing field so that interest-only customers get the same protections [as other borrowers] when their mortgages mature.” The regulator has said that it expects banks and building societies to treat interest-only customers fairly and not “exploit” their difficult situation. In its guidance, the FCA said it recognised that “customers are responsible for repaying their loans, and repayment of the capital at the end of term is a contractual requirement”. While it acknowledges that lenders “are not obliged to offer options at maturity”, such as extending the mortgage term, they should consider what they can do to help.
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Dorset and Powys. Investors look at a number of variables when weighing up the risk of a property and those relying on cash flow will look at high annual yields to keep the coffers full month-to-month. HSBC’s annual buy-to-let report named its top 50 towns and cities for the best yield, topped by Manchester, Kingstonupon-Hull and Blackpool. This is based on hard data on average house prices and average rents. Amenities and infrastructure, present and future, pay a big part in an area’s potential. Central Birmingham has benefited from big investment around New Street station and would hope to see even more with the arrival of the mooted HS2 rail link. HS2 is also one of the keystones of the government’s push to grow the ‘Northern Powerhouse’, its epithet for a collection of urban areas across the north of England. Around London, Crossrail is just a few years away from launching and this new link between east and west London has sparked considerable property price growth from Shenfield in Essex and Abbey Wood in southeast London to Reading in Berkshire. Talks of Crossrail2, linking southwest with northeast London, could provoke similar increased demand, despite being little more than a concept at the moment and many years away from completion. In this month’s supplement, we hope to inspire you to consider what your property hotspot might be, whatever kind of home you’re after.
UXBRIDGE ROAD
Bentley Court is a new development of nine, 2, 3 and 4 bedroom homes tucked away in a gated court located off Uxbridge Road in Hanwell, Ealing. All the properties have private gardens and parking making this a fabulous environment for London living.
The development is located next to St Mellitus Church, an imposing Gothic style building of the Edwardian period situated in the heart of Hanwell.
hotspot’?
E | sales@leavalleyhomes.co.uk W | leavalleyhomes.co.uk
at h makes a destination a ‘property hotspot’? Perhaps it’s part of our national property obsession, but we seem to be inundated with new and reports naming the latest “best” place to buy a home. In truth, a spot is only hot if it closely fits your idea of where you want to live, and of course that very much depends on your circumstances. What a young, single person looks for is quite different from the wants and needs of a family, which in turn are different from the priorities of an older person. And if you’ve got an investment hat on, your criteria for selecting a place to buy a home will most likely differ from the qualities you’d be considering if you were buying a property to live in yourself. Among the more recent ‘hotspot’ reports is one from online estate agent HouseSimple, which looks at data on transport links, places to eat and a young demographic to determine the places likely to see the best growth in prices over the next few years. It identified a wide spectrum of desirable places with potential, from coastal resorts such as Hove and Hythe to cities such as Manchester and Leicester. Prudential looked at retirement locations in its report this summer, for which its considerations included estimated longevity, crime levels and the per capita number of healthcare professionals in each county. Its top destinations were topped by Devon,
Specification includes Paula Rosa Manhattan kitchens with granite worktop, integrated AEG appliances, flooring throughout, contemporary fully tiled bathrooms and en-suites.
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.
Prices from £650,000
‘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: Fully fitted kitchens with integrated appliances including range cooker and wine cooler Flooring throughout Contemporary fully tiled bathrooms & en-suites, including vanity units and heated towel rails Oak panelled internal doors with pewter finished handles.
Tel : 01923 251799
Email: sales@leavalleyhomes.co.uk www.leavalleyhomes.co.uk
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LUXURY LIVING FOR THE OVER 55S NEAR BATH A collection of fourteen, 1 & 2 bedroom apartments and 2 & 3 bedroom cottages located in the beautiful heritage village of Norton St Philip, 6 miles south of Bath. Designed and finished exclusively for the over 55s and positioned in a unique setting and part of a multi-award winning development.
OPEN TO VIEW FRIDAY TO SUNDAY 10 A M - 4 PM Apartments priced from £250,000 - £347,500
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Houses priced from £500,000 - £539,500
t: 0203 468 4933 | e: cgleed@savills.com For more information please visit www.churchview-nsp.co.uk
Prices correct at time of going to print
Winner
For the latest on the property market
buy-to-let 27
@What_House
Buy-to-let tips for first-time buyers
B
u y-to-let is a potentially very profitable way to invest cash. In the last 20 years, the property market in the UK has outperformed the the stock market and traditional bank/ pension investments. In a country where we are not building enough houses and where getting mortgage finance is by no means a guarantee for many, there’s strong rental demand and steady appreciation of property values. If you think you’d benefit from putting your hard-earned money into property, take the time to consider a few key points that will help make your first buy-to-let property a success. 1. D O YOUR RESEARCH – Before taking the plunge, study the different types of investment property and consider what you’re hoping to get out of it (eg are you looking for regular income, or more interested in capital growth over a period of time). Look at as many options as possible before handing over
any money. 2. L OCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION – Just as you would if you were planning to live in the property yourself, weigh up the pros and cons of different locations. Ask yourself whether you need or want to be close to your investment property, or are happy to be many miles away. 3. U SE YOUR HEAD – Of course, it’s an exciting prospect, but don’t let your heart rule your head when it comes to making your mind up. Property investment is a business and you need to detach some of your personal feelings from the decision-making process. Look at the property and local area as a potential tenant would and act accordingly.
5. M ANAGED OR SELF-MANAGED? – One major consideration is whether you are happy to take care of the property and tenants yourself, or whether you pay someone else to do it for you. If your time is precious, it may be worth the extra expense to have a reputable agent look after all the paperwork, rent collection and tenant issues for you. Do you really want calls about a broken boiler at 3am?
4. W ATCH YOUR FINANCES – The profit potential of a good buyto-let portfolio is considerable, but be sensible when it comes to your investment finances.
Take at look at all our buy-to-let advice and search for a buy-to-let property at www.whathouse.com/ advice/buy-to-let
Investment property – pros and cons
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Don’t always think in terms of the maximum returns – take into account the running costs, professional fees and tax implications of your portfolio, and that there might be times when you don’t have a tenant (a ‘void period’), which may tilt profit into loss.
h en it comes to buy-to-let property, there are so many options that you might not know where to start. The major points we mentioned above – location, short- and long-term financial aims, personal involvement with your buy-to-let property – are just the start. From a cheap “doer-upper” to a prime new residence, your choice of investment property, even just in the UK, is enormous. Add the option of an overseas home and the possibilities are even greater. As part of your research process, take a look at the table and think about the advantages and disadvantages of investing in different types of property before taking the next step.
Type of property
Pros
Cons
New build
• Potential for capital growth • Regular income • A ‘hands-off’ option – it doesn’t matter where the property is located
• Large deposit required, typically minimum 25%
Off-plan
• High potential for capital growth • Choice of plot • Able to personalise areas of specification
• Won’t be seen until complete • Potential for delays to completion may slow income and capital growth
Student property
• Strong UK student market • Often guaranteed income
• Rent guarantee built into price • No exit strategy • Unmortgageable?
Renovation
• Potential to increase value
• Should be close to home for ease of renovation • Experience needed • Time requirements
Overseas
• Many potential growth areas to consider • Personal use of the property • Potential to take advantage of favourable exchange rates
• Viewings are a necessity • Distance and language can mean limited communication with agents
N ALS ALS N SO N! SOECNi ! ECi EA O EA’S SpO ’S Sp F S WF S r W r O O O GE O GE D E ND ANEA N ANA EN L EN M L M SA urSA Our O r r FO FO LL LL CA CA
VisitEngland
VisitEngland
A brand new development of luxury holiday homes in the Surrey Hills from just £150,000 A brand new development of luxury holiday Edgeley Country is yourSurrey idyllic destination for endless holidays and£150,000 weekend escapes. homes inParkthe Hills from just Located just over an hour from London and Gatwick, luxurious lodges, 26-acres of landscaped woodland and first class onsite leisure facilitiesfor make for a holidays perfectlyand accessible rural escape. Edgeley Country Park is your idyllic destination endless weekend escapes. Located just over an hour from London and Gatwick, luxurious lodges, 26-acres of landscaped Our latest development of 9 luxuriously appointed holiday lodges has been released for sale. woodland and first class onsite leisure facilities make for a perfectly accessible rural escape. With sensational interior design schemes and the benefit of Haulfryn’s 5-star sublet scheme, not will you enjoy endless holidays but earn income tolodges offset your running costs.for sale. Our only latest development of 9 luxuriously appointed holiday has been released With sensational interior design schemes and the benefit of Haulfryn’s 5-star sublet scheme, not only will you enjoy endless holidays but earn income to offset your running costs. For more information
call 01483 315149
For more information or visit www.edgeley-country.co.uk
call 01483 315149
Edgeley Country Park, Farley Green, Albury, Guildford, Surrey GU5 9DW
or visit www.edgeley-country.co.uk
Edgeley Country Park, Farley Green, Albury, Guildford, Surrey GU5 9DW
A Haulfryn country park A Haulfryn country park
✓ Only minutes from Guildford & just over an hour from London Free throughout the park OnlyWi-Fi minutes from Guildford & just over an hour from London Fully furnished, sited and ready enjoy immediately ✓ to Free Wi-Fi throughout the park ✓ in a safesited & and ready ✓ Located Fully furnished, secure to enjoyenvironment immediately ✓ ✓ ✓
✓ access ✓ Full Located in atosafe & pool, securesauna environment & fitness room ✓ Full access to ✓ Parking available pool, sauna & fitness room ✓ Parking available
EDGELEY EDGELEY
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property hotspots 29
Luxury village living for retirees near Bath
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o cated in the pretty and historic village of Norton St Philip, just 8 miles south of Bath, Church View is a collection of 14 individually designed character homes created exclusively for the over 55s. By award-winning Lochailort Investments, the quality homes include eight luxury two- and threebedroom houses and six exclusive oneand two-bedroom apartments. A great deal of care and attention has gone into crafting this interesting mix of home styles, with a charming mews feel to the scheme. Church View has seen a great deal of interest, with 30% of the homes already reserved or sold.
EVERYTHING ON YOUR DOORSTEP A desirable place to live, Church View
has first-class road links to Bath and is surrounded by rural beauty. Close by there is also a shop, two pubs, a school and a church, all of which combine to offer a very high quality of life for purchasers. Residents also have access to extensive services on site with the inclusion of an estate manager. The manager can take delivery of items, arrange for the external maintenance and cleaning of windows and take care of properties while residents are away. A regular bus service also runs into Bath every hour from the centre of the village; while every home has also been allocated an individual and nearby parking space.
QUALITY IN EVERY DETAIL The interiors have meticulous attention to detail with a high quality
specification and materials sourced from the best suppliers. The kitchens are in a traditional style, with granite or Silestone worktops, and are in keeping with the traditional character of the homes. Each kitchen has been carefully designed for the particular property, but also benefits from the latest modern technology. Other highquality specifications include designer white sanitaryware to the bathrooms, oak flooring to halls, kitchen and cloakrooms, wet underfloor heating to the majority of rooms, double-glazed timber windows and deep painted skirtings and architraves. Energy efficiency has also been prioritised, with homes featuring concrete floors for its insulative properties. The majority of the properties also benefit from Jetmaster
freestanding multi-fuel stoves and full working chimneys, creating a focal point in living rooms, while contributing to the traditional character of the houses.
COMPLETE PEACE OF MIND While the estate manager can keep a watchful eye over the homes, each property is also fitted with a state-ofthe-art Tunstall Telecare system, which enables residents to subscribe to a 24hour, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, UK-based, call centre support service. The homes are also fitted with zoned alarm systems and mains power smoke detectors. The apartments have a secure key fob entry system, to prevent key duplication, for ease of use for residents, and a video entry system. A lift is provided to all floors of the apartment building.
A UNIQUE SETTING Church View is so named from its rural outlook towards Church Mead cricket green and park as well as the village church, with vistas over trees and fields. The landscaping of the whole development is a high standard throughout, incorporating many semi-mature trees, bushes and hardy plants. Each of the houses at Church View also benefits from individually landscaped private gardens with pretty patios and flowerbeds. There is also a communal garden area bordered by a path and with extensive mature planting. Price: From £250,000 Find out more at www.churchview-nsp.co.uk; 0203 468 4933
YOUR BESPOKE HOME IN AN EXCLUSIVE AND TRANQUIL OXFORD SETTING The Acre, by Kevin McCloud’s HAB Housing, is an exciting new development of five individually-designed detached homes. Set in a premium location on Oxford’s Cumnor Hill, the homes all give you the opportunity to save thousands on Stamp Duty and tailor the internal layout and finishes to suit your lifestyle.
Prices from £1,425,000
Visit: habhousing.co.uk/theacre
Call: 0117 4030715
Images used for illustration purposes only. Prices correct at time of print Oct. 2015
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property hotspots 31
Hotspot hotlist Your property hotspot of choice will very much depend on your buying situation. Here are some great new homes for sale in some of the most recently announced hotspots, with appeal to a wide range of property hunters... PENSIONER WELLBEING – HONITON, DEVON
BEST RENTAL RETURNS – MANCHESTER
Holyshute Lodge (Churchill Retirement Living, from £177,950)
Abbot Gardens, Moston (Redrow, from £114,995)
The South West held seven of the 20 top spots in Prudential’s survey, which looked at the best places for over 65s to live. Developer Churchill says: “Holyshute Lodge is a beautiful retirement development of 41 one- and two-bedroom senior apartments...Well located on the edge of the town centre the development is ideally placed for the high street which is home to a number of independent and specialist shops.”
HSBC’s annual review of rental returns is led by northern towns and cities, with Manchester just edging it from Kingston-upon-Hull and Blackpool. Redrow says of this development: “With a welcoming, community feel and friendly atmosphere, Moston is ideally placed for those who want easy access to the city, without any of the city stress.”
http://whathou.se/hNlMLn
http://whathou.se/qh5yT6
LONG-TERM PROSPECTS – BRIGHTON & HOVE
THE CROSSRAIL EFFECT – WEST DRAYTON (LB OF HILLINGDON)
One Hove Park, Hove (Hyde New Homes, from £425,000)
Drayton Garden Village (Bellway Homes, price TBA)
Online estate agency HouseSimple’s survey had a distinctly youthful basis, with places boasting trendy eateries, good transport links and a young population scoring strongly. Hyde New Homes says of these apartments: “Sympathetic to the surroundings of the Hove Park Character Area, One Hove Park is truly one of a kind... You are quite literally on the doorstep on of Brighton and Hove’s most appealing open spaces.”
JLL have named a few of the stops on the new Crossrail route as especially ‘hot’, including Woolwich and Whitechapel. Bellway says of this soon-to-be-released development: “Exciting one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom houses set in an award-winning 21st-century village...benefitting from excellent transport links into central London.”
www.hydenewhomes.co.uk
www.bellway.co.uk
32 property hotspots
Eastern promise
Find your new home at whathouse.com/new-homes
Essex developments an attractive option for priced-out London commuters
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h ough the market in the capital is cooling, the last few years have seen property prices surging across London, making it very difficult for people on an ordinary salary to afford a new home there. Even those living in London are finding it a good time to cash in on what they’ve gained and get much better value in the Home Counties. David Wilson Homes Eastern Counties has two great developments in Essex which are perfectly situated for buyers who need easy access to central London via convenient railway stations, while having the opportunity to enjoy all that Essex has to offer, whether it’s the peace of the countryside and coast, or a spot of shopping. Clements Gate in Hawkwell is a thriving community in a picturesque village location. You will find a
selection of independent shops and a variety of pubs to choose from in neighbouring Hockley while the village of Hawkwell is home to a doctor’s surgery, schools and a leisure centre. And if you want to spend time exploring, the beautiful surrounding countryside of the historic district of Rochford offers a chance to get away from it all Like Clements Gate, at Ashcroft Place you will be part of a strong community. Located in Thundersley, you will have a wealth of amenities within easy reach plus there are many sports and leisure facilities close by. A number of larger towns are easily accessible including the seaside town of Southend which is just seven miles from the development. And parents will be able to choose from the wide range of excellent, well-performing schools on offer in the local area. At Clements Gate you will find a
welcoming environment of green open spaces. The homes range in size from three to five bedrooms and have been thoughtfully designed with bright and airy rooms and open plan spaces. The attractive homes at Ashcroft Place offer bright and spacious rooms. You are sure to find something to suit your needs whether it’s the beautifully designed four-bedroom ‘Hannon’, which has separate living and dining rooms plus a kitchen with a dining area, or the spacious ‘Emerson’ which is split across three floors. Direct services run from Hockley station to London Liverpool Street in 46 minutes while the journey time from Benfleet to London Fenchurch Street is also 46 minutes.
Clements Gate
Find out more about Clements Gate at http://whathou.se/VlnHiG; 0844 811 3888 Find out more about Ashcroft Place at http://whathou.se/j9xJUV; 0844 811 3888
Ashcroft Place
Are you dreaming of your own idyllic Surrey retreat? Your ideal holiday bolt hole may be closer to home then you think
F
r om quick getaway breaks, to long weekends, to summer-long sanctuaries, a holiday home at Edgeley Country Park can, according to the company behind it, become something of a way of life. Set in the rolling Surrey Hills, just one hour from London and a mere 45 minutes from Gatwick Airport, the park is a haven of peace, tranquillity and rural beauty. Edgeley boasts superb facilities and a location which may persuade you against returning to
the hustle and bustle of everyday life!
Owners all enjoy an indoor heated pool, sauna, gym & tennis court Owners are free to unwind in the indoor heated swimming pool complete with sauna, burn off steam in the fitness room or hone their skills on the tennis court. Within minutes you are strolling amongst the 26-acres of stunning landscaped woodland, so there’s no need to venture far to enjoy relaxing family walks and picnics.
Further afield, you’ll find the delightful villages of Shere and Cranleigh, the dramatic North and South Downs and the charming towns of Godalming and Guildford – all of which offer a selection of highly rated restaurants and pubs to suit all tastes and budgets.
could offset your running costs and generate a small surplus. The Edgeley management team works closely with highly reputed holiday home experts Hoseasons to attract like-minded holidaymakers each year, so occupancy rates have historically been impressive.
It can pay to share when you’re not there
New development nine new luxury homes available to view now
Choose to sub-let your home to paying holidaymakers when you’re not there and you can generate an income which
For the first time in many years, Edgeley has been able to offer for sale a substantial new development of
luxury holiday homes. The homes are fully fitted throughout, so you’ll never tire of returning home to the stylish interior design, a cosy and sumptuous environment, and state-of-the-art fixtures and furnishings. If you feel holiday homeownership at Edgeley might be for you, you can book an Experience Day today and let one of their dedicated holiday homes specialists help you to explore Edgeley Country Park and the homes on offer. Find out more at edgeley-country.co.uk; 01483 315149
ELEGANCE & ARTISTRY CR AF TED RESIDENCES IN HISTORIC SMITHFIELD, EC1 PRICES FROM £815,000* 020 7726 8995 | BARTSSQUARE.COM
*Price correct at time of going to press. Computer generated image of Barts Square.
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55+? Did you know you can rent private retirement property on a Life Long Tenancy which gives you the right to remain living in the property for as long as you wish, with service charges and maintenance included in the rent? ty Spec r e
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Our favourite property with Geering & Colyer in Faversham
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h is month, our featured property is an elegant, threebedroom, two-bathroom first-floor apartment in Lees Court, a Grade I listed mansion in Sheldwich, near Faversham, currently on the market with a guide price of £425,000-£450,000. Sheldwich is a popular Kentish village with a cricket green, an outstanding primary school and a 12th-century church, surrounded by farmland and woodland on the edge of the Kent Downs. This stunning first-floor apartment is situated on the southwest side of the mansion, which is understood to have been originally built around 1652, before being converted into apartments around 30 years ago.
Residents here share the use of the magnificent 15-acre gardens, tennis court and swimming pool, while a single garage in a shared block comes with the property. Sheldwich is situated close to Faversham, a charming market town which has a range of amenities including a cinema and a leisure centre and a train station with a direct train link to London Victoria. For sporty types, there are golf courses in the nearby villages of Belmont and Boughton under Blean. There are also road links to Canterbury, renowned for its excellent schools and university, and Dover via the M2. Find out more at www.geeringandcolyer.co.uk; 01795 458009
Housebuilder sees confidence in Tunbridge Wells market Increased demand for upmarket homes at Dukes Grange, says CALA Homes
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n improving housing market, better mortgage availability and continuing low interest rates are the factors encouraging buyers to make the move to a new homes at Dukes Grange on Bayham Road in the south of Tunbridge Wells, according to housebuilder CALA Homes. “We are definitely witnessing confidence returning to the market in Tunbridge Wells, with buyers in a more informed position to make the decisions they were putting off,” says Alison Deakin, sales and marketing director for CALA Homes. “House prices across the UK are continuing to rise and with speculation over interest rate rises, buyers are keen to move now to make the most of competitive mortgage deals. Plus, with Help to Buy and our 100% part exchange scheme, now is a good time to talk to CALA about buying a brand new home. There are 45, semi-detached and detached homes being built at Dukes Grange, many of which have a separate study in addition to their three, four or five bedrooms. The properties are arranged around a central green, just over a mile from the town centre. The development also provides new children’s play facilities,
new landscaping and designated space for ecological enhancement. “Tunbridge Wells is an extremely sought-after location to live in and this has been reflected in the demand we have seen to date for the homes at Dukes Grange,” adds Deakin. “The development offers something for everyone, from young professional couples and downsizers through to families looking for a spacious, low-maintenance family home. Our first homeowners are now moved in, work on the entrance to the development is all complete and the landscaping around the communal areas is maturing and looks fantastic.” Being on the edge of town brings equal convenience of access to the central shopping area and railway station, and to the surrounding Kent and Sussex countryside. The rail commute from Frant or Tunbridge Wells stations takes around an hour, while road users will find the A21 and M25 within easy reach. Education, both state and independent, is also well catered for nearby. The sales office and show home at Dukes Grange are open Thursday to Monday, from 10.30am to 5.00pm. Find out more at www.cala.co.uk; 01784 862751
CALA’s Home of the Month
The four-bedroom ‘Knolton’ offers accommodation over three floors and is priced at £899,950, with a £25,000 contribution towards Stamp Duty. Also available is a selection of three-bedroom semi-detached homes from £499,950 and four- and five-bedroom detached family homes priced from £995,000.
The Hyde Housing Group Making a lasting difference, Working with Local Authorities The Hyde Group is an award winning provider of The Hyde Group is an award winning provider of homes and makes a significant contribution to homes and makes a significant contribution to meeting housing needs and improving people’s meeting housing needs and improving people’s quality of life. quality of life. Hyde is one of the largest housing associations working in England, Hyde is one of the largest housing associations working in England, owning or managing circa 50,000 homes with a focus on London, owning or managing circa 50,000 homes with a focus on London, Kent and the South Coast of England. Kent and the South Coast of England. Hyde built high quality new homes for 4,413 people in 2014/15. Of these, 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 83% pay a subsidised price, with 3,643 people housed in a new Hyde affordable home. affordable home. Hyde is acutely aware of the housing crisis in the UK. A continuing Hyde is acutely aware of the housing crisis in the UK. A continuing decline in levels of house building, combined with increased demand, decline in levels of house building, combined with increased demand, particularly within London and the south east of England, has increased particularly within London and the south east of England, has increased housing costs significantly and impacted on local economies. housing costs significantly and impacted on local economies. Members of our team will be at MIPIM 2015 promoting New Members of our team will be at MIPIM 2015 promoting New Challenges; Challenges; New New Partnering Partnering Solutions our Local Authority Offer launched earlier this year. Solutions our Local Authority Offer launched earlier this year.
CGI CGI of of proposed proposed Hyde Hyde HA HA Development Development in in Harrow, Harrow, London London
Hyde Hyde is is committed committed to to tackling tackling the the housing housing shortage shortage and and reducing reducing some some of of these these impacts impacts by: by: • • Developing 1,000 mixed tenure homes a Developing 1,000 mixed tenure homes a year with a focus on increasing this further year with a focus on increasing this further • • Delivering quality management services Delivering quality management services across all tenures and uses across all tenures and uses • • Maximising life chances for residents Maximising life chances for residents through Hyde Plus’ support service through Hyde Plus’ support service • • Retaining a strong financial covenant and Retaining a strong financial covenant and commitment to invest for the future commitment to invest for the future
We believe that the answer to delivering more We believe that the answer to delivering more homes, particularly ones that are affordable homes, particularly ones that are affordable or are available for low cost ownership, is to or are available for low cost ownership, is to work collaboratively with local authorities. A work collaboratively with local authorities. A partnership approach allows local authorities partnership approach allows local authorities to match their assets with our experience of to match their assets with our experience of mixed tenure development and regeneration, mixed tenure development and regeneration, to create housing and communities in the to create housing and communities in the most cost-effective and sustainable way. most cost-effective and sustainable way. True True partnerships partnerships can can be be achieved achieved in in aa number number of of ways: ways: • • A joint venture model with sharing of risk A joint venture model with sharing of risk and reward and reward • • Sharing the build programme: Hyde Sharing the build programme: Hyde develops and sells the commercial develops and sells the commercial elements of a mixed tenure scheme and the elements of a mixed tenure scheme and the local authority develops and retains some or local authority develops and retains some or all of the affordable/social homes, to deliver all of the affordable/social homes, to deliver an ongoing revenue an ongoing revenue • • Hyde acts as the development and/or Hyde acts as the development and/or sales agent for the local authority sales agent for the local authority • • Traditional regeneration projects Traditional regeneration projects • • Stock transfer opportunities Stock transfer opportunities
We have the financial capacity, A1 Moody’s We have the financial capacity, A1 Moody’s credit rating and the highest validation credit rating and the highest validation from the Homes and Communities Agency. from the Homes and Communities Agency. Equally, our reputation for innovation and Equally, our reputation for innovation and creativity in designing new solutions for creativity in designing new solutions for delivering affordable homes means we are delivering affordable homes means we are an ideal partner for local authorities. an ideal partner for local authorities. We are committed to communities and We are committed to communities and places for the long term, supporting our places for the long term, supporting our developments with high quality, coordinated developments with high quality, coordinated management services. These core objectives management services. These core objectives as a registered provider distinguish us from as a registered provider distinguish us from other market housing developers. other market housing developers. We are open to ideas, so let’s do more to We are open to ideas, so let’s do more to work together, pooling resources, ideas and work together, pooling resources, ideas and ambitions, to create homes for people that ambitions, to create homes for people that need them the most. need them the most.
We look look forward forward to to working working with with you you We in the the future. future. To To arrange arrange aa meeting, meeting, in please contact: contact: please Simon Vevers Vevers Simon Development Director, Regeneration Development Director, Regeneration simon.vevers@hyde-housing.co.uk simon.vevers@hyde-housing.co.uk Tom Shaw Shaw Tom Development Director, South Coast Development Director, South Coast tom.shaw@hyde-housing.co.uk tom.shaw@hyde-housing.co.uk Mike Johnson Johnson Mike Development Director, London and Kent Development Director, London and Kent mike.johnson2@hyde-housing.co.uk mike.johnson2@hyde-housing.co.uk
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.
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hampshire 39
Hot Property with Penyards in Winchester Lee Jeffery of Penyards estate agents tells us about his favourite property currently on the market in Hampshire.
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s the saying goes, a picture paints a thousand words, and this idyllic thatched cottage provides a picture-perfect country home or a rural weekend retreat in a truly magical setting, nestling peacefully in the heart of the New Forest National Park. Privacy is ensured within its surrounding grounds, which extend to approximately 23 acres and which provide a superb equestrian site, further enhanced by the immediate access to open forest riding. Steeped in local history, Foxgloves is understood to have served as a former dairy. However, years later it lay abandoned, and rumour has it a local army brigadier only knew the cottage existed when he discovered it from the air by accident in 1956. Since this time, the cottage and undergone a meticulous programme
of restoration and was acquired in 1993 by the current owners, who have created not only a stunning rural home but have also invited a menagerie of animals to join them, increasing from just a few donkeys initially to in excess of 20 animals. Outside, the cottage is surrounded by beautifully manicured lawns, interspersed with rose bushes, honeysuckle and shaped box hedging. An attractive thatched seating area provides a lovely place in which to unwind and observe the activity created around the beehives and dovecote, and a thatched hut lies adjacent to a wildlife pond. To the rear of the cottage there is an extensive stone terrace with a heated swimming pool, while mature hedging and trees provide privacy and seclusion within. There could be no better location for the equestrian enthusiast, with
access to open forest riding being provided directly from your own gates, while a range of useful stables, field shelters and outbuildings provide extensive shelter and storage facilities. Find out more at www.penyards.com; 01962 860300 (price on application)
Time running out for buyers at Havant scheme Bloor Homes sees “unprecedented pace” of sales at Cooper’s Grange
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s pike in sales at the sought-after Cooper’s Grange development in Havant means opportunities to buy a home at the popular Bloor Homes development are running out. Over 75% of the 55 homes which comprise the scheme are now sold, following an “unprecedented pace” of sales at the development. Kim Willcock, regional sales director for Bloor Homes, says: “At Cooper’s Grange, we are not only able to offer you a stunning location, we are also dedicated to building homes that stand the test of time. Our approach has proved very popular with homebuyers in Havant, and we’re now looking to completely sell out at the site much sooner than we previously thought. “With over three-quarters of homes at Cooper’s Grange already sold or reserved, we are urging interested home-hunters to move quickly or risk missing out.” In fact, 31 properties have already been sold at the development, and a further 13 reserved for purchase. This leaves just 11 homes remaining for sale
at the popular development. One of the remaining homes, the three-bedroom ‘Langley’ at Plot 3, is priced at just £275,000 and boasts a spacious, modern layout. Alternatively, the ‘Oxbridge’ at Plot 50 is priced at £311,000 and also offers three bedrooms, with a family-friendly layout over three floors. The Havant area has a wide range of established amenities to provide people with everything they need, from an excellent range of schools for those with families, to fantastic leisure facilities and transport links. Cooper’s Grange is situated in the heart of the market town with excellent transport links close by, being just a few minutes from both the A27 and A3, giving quick access to Portsmouth, Southampton, London, and the rest of the south of England. To find out more about the remaining proerpties for sale at Cooper’s Grange, house-hunters are invited to the sales centre located on New Lane, Havant (satnav: PO9 2GE), which is open daily from 10.00am to 5.00pm. Find out more at bloorhomes.com; 0330 123 9284
LIME WALK WEMBLEY
SHOW HOME NOW OPEN LIME WALK COMPRISES A CONTEMPORARY COLLECTION OF 1, 2 & 3 BEDROOM APARTMENTS • Intelligently designed layouts offering a fantastic specification
• A 5 min walk from Wembley Park Station with links to the West End within 30 mins on the Jubilee line*
• Moments from Wembley Stadium, the SSE Arena and the London Designer Outlet
• Less than a mile from Fryent Country Park offering 254 acres of open space*
Prices from £280,000† Flexible buying options available Marketing Suite & Show Home open Thursday to Monday, 10am to 5pm, Sunday 10am - 4pm Viewings by appointment only
networkliving.co.uk
0203 667 1516
LIME-WALK.CO.UK
Computer generated image of Lime Walk. Internal images of previous Network Living developments. *Travel times and distances approximate only taken from Google maps and TFL. †Prices correct at time of press.
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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Hills angels Heavenly setting and views for luxury new homes in Shackleford
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o cated in the rural area of Shackleford, to the north-west of Godalming, Fidlers Green is an exclusive development of luxury homes by Cleanslate, overlooking rolling hills and green pastureland
deep in the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It has already proved popular with house-hunters looking for the quality of a brand new home in a delightful countryside setting, with 13 of the 15 executive homes on this development
Luxury homes with John D Wood & Co
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c harming English cottage set in an idyllic and picturesque location. Lying equidistant between village life in Claygate and a wider range of amenities in Esher, Arbrook Lane is a particularly sought-after lane just a short walk from Claygate rail station. On the ground floor, there is an entrance hall with the formal sitting area to the left with beautiful views overlooking the green. The formal reception room benefits from a country style with tongue and groove walling, original beams and a working fireplace featuring a modern wood burner. Directly ahead from the entrance hall takes you into the open-plan family space, which has solid oak flooring throughout and features some exposed beams from the original cottage. First you reach the family snug area then move into the recently fitted country style kitchen/breakfast
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area with ample space for entertaining. Oak French doors lead out onto the westerly facing garden, which features a number of mature shrubs. Upstairs there are three bedrooms with the main bedroom benefiting from an en suite and views over Arbrook Lane green. The house is perfectly situated on Arbrook Lane green, a popular location for families, walkers and horse riders to enjoy the Arbrook Woods and Esher Common. Externally, the house enjoys a delightful outlook across the green and there is a pretty English cottage garden to the front. The cottage is locally listed and the white weatherboard style dates back over 200 years. The house was sympathetically extended by its current owners, who wanted to retain the charm of the cottage style and features, while providing the benefits of a modern family home. Find out more at www.johndwood.co.uk; 01372 462211
have already been sold. One of the remaining two properties is the five-bedroom ‘Marston’ on plot 5, at £1.75million. A beautiful entrance opens into a galleried hall with a central staircase, and from the hall you can find a range
of generous reception rooms. At the front of the house are a study and family room, while at the rear are the large kitchen (with separate utility room), dining room and sitting room. Each of the rear rooms has its own access via French doors to the rear garden. The master bedroom has an en suite with bath, shower and his-andhers basins plus a balcony. Two of the other bedrooms have their own en suite shower rooms and all bedrooms have built-in wardrobes. The property has impressive gardens and a detached double garage. Shackleford is a prime location for country living, small but with access
to a full range of amenities in the nearby market towns of Godalming and Farnham as well as in the major town of Guildford, with its cathedral and university. It’s a perfect spot if you’re a fan of outdoor life: the countryside is on your doorstep, with lots of activities to keep you occupied, including horse riding, golf, cricket and even boating and angling on the River Wey. Nearby Godalming and Guildford railway stations offer regular and fast services into London Waterloo, in 50 and 35 minutes respectively. Find out more at www.fidlersgreen.co.uk; 01483 415252 (Gascoigne-Pees)
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Come one, come all Great selection of new homes in Hailsham has broad appeal to local buyers
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new homes scheme in Hailsham is appealing to a wide spectrum of buyers looking for a brand new home in the popular East Sussex town. Woodacres is a collection of two-, three- and four-bedroom houses located off Arlington Road East, with
a host of carefully considered details from developer Kitewood. With 70 homes in all, including 21 affordable homes for housing provider Affinity Sutton, these properties have been carefully considered to provide a stylish, low-maintenance home finished to the latest energy standards with high-performance double glazing
Rural living
with Mansell McTaggart in Crawley Woodreeves, Lambs Green, Rusper • £1m
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o odreeves is an impressive fivebedroom, Grade II listed property which dates right back to 1347. Located in the rural hamlet of Lambs Green, just one mile from the village of Rusper, the property is situated within its own secluded grounds of three acres and is accessed from a private drive. Woodreeves has an abundance of period features including striking beams, and boasts what is reputedly one of the first unsupported roofs in the country, containing an early example of King and Queen posts.
Originally a ‘Hall House’ called the Manor House, the property boasts an oak-panelled reception hall with a handmade oak staircase leading to a second hall with a separate external door, two bedrooms and a bathroom – an area which could easily be altered to become a separate self-contained flat with its own separate access. The gardens here are both pleasing and calming, offering a wonderful and natural country atmosphere for family life and a secure environment for children. Find out more at www.mansellmctaggart.co.uk; 01293 533333
and gas central heating. Kitchens are individually designed and include a built-in oven, fully integrated fridge/freezer and dishwasher. Bathrooms are tastefully finished with heated towel rails, chrome fittings, quality tiling and contemporary sanitaryware. Each of these homes has a garage, carport
or allocated parking and the gardens benefit from a lawn and patio area. Kitewood’s sales and marketing manager Susan Nicklen says: “Woodacres is a collection of high quality affordable homes surrounded by stunning countryside. The schools are excellent and residents can commute to London, Brighton, and Tunbridge Wells.” Hannah Thomas, new homes manager at selling agents Fox & Sons, adds: “Due to it being situated on the outskirts of town, Woodacres is easily accessible for commuters and provides residents with a peaceful location opposite Abbotts Wood – 889 acres of woodland full of beautiful forest trails, adventure playgrounds, and barbecue and picnic sites. “We expect purchasers to be a mix of first-time buyers, families, downsizers, and commuters to Brighton and London. Hailsham is also relatively affordable, attracting buyers priced out of areas such as Brighton and Hove.” Hailsham is a market town rich in heritage in a delightful corner of
south-east England, surrounded by the wooded hills of the southern Forest Ridge and the countryside of the South Downs. At only seven miles from the coast, it’s perfect for families or anyone who loves the ‘great outdoors’. Families will also appreciate the good choice of schools in the neighbourhood, including a handful of primary schools, a ‘sports college’ secondary school and coeducational independent school, Bede’s School, which accepts children from nursery all the way through to sixth form. Attractions within the town include Hailsham Museum and Heritage Centre, high street pubs, restaurants, local independent shops and national retailers, a street market and farmers’ market, cinema, and a leisure centre. Trains are available from nearby Polegate station with journey times to Brighton of around 26 minutes and London Victoria in 1 hour 23 minutes. Prices at Woodacres start at £215,000. Find out more at 01323 843554 (Fox & Sons)
The Townhouse Collection BATTERSEA PARK ROAD, SW11 4NB
The City
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The Townhouse Collection is an exclusive selection of elegant 4 and 5 bedroom homes perfectly located moments from Battersea Park with excellent transport links into the city.
CALL: 0207 228 0174 OR FIND OUT MORE ONLINE AT SHANLYHOMES.COM
These impressive townhouses have been built to the highest standard featuring a luxury specification, flexible layouts as well as private gardens, terraces and secure underground parking accessible via a car lift.
Location photography of Battersea and surrounding areas. Prices correct at time of press.
Land & New Homes
50 interiors
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Some like it hot Neon colours are a fun and vibrant way to bring excitement to your home. Just a splash of neon will give added lift to a plain living space, says Richenda Oldham
Twinkle twinkle little star - LED lights in neon colours light up when you squeeze this pillow; £19.99, www.tesco.com
This charming house-shaped wire magazine rack is ideal for introducing a spot of neon into your living space; £29, www.oliverbonas.com
Bring your dining table alive with these neon candleholders; www.aprilandthebear.com
Have fun cooking with these fluorescent pink retrostyle kitchen scales; £32.95, www.rigbyandmac.com
Get the cutting edge with this Acacia chopping board with neon pink border; £25, www.berryred.co.uk
Toast of the town
The classic toaster has been replaced by progressive models that do everything bar the washing up. Richenda Oldham picks some likely winners
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1 The Delonghi Distina Black is a four-slice toaster with extra lift position for easy removal of small slices. It has electronic controls, which allow you to reheat, defrost, one-side bagel and cancel; £99.00, www.housingunits. co.uk; 2 The Hotpoint TT44E AB0 is a four-slot digital toaster with electronic controls that allow the user to choose between eight different browning levels; £49.99, www.hotpoint.co.uk; 3 Tefal’s Toast ‘n Egg is a fabulous breakfast gadget, as it features two slots for toast, as well as a steamer tray for boiling eggs and a poaching tray for poaching eggs. It has wide slots too for muffins, bagels and croissants; £33.99, domu.co.uk; 4 Russell Hobbs 18954 two-slice toaster in grey is a budget-priced appliance with extra wide slots and a defrost function – all for just £19.99; Currys PC World; 5 Hot stuff – Morphy Richards Accents 2422004 is a four-slice toaster in a striking red finish. It has a defrost and warming function and has a high-lift eject; £39.99, Currys PC World;
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Rustic rules Do you secretly long for a bit of floral? Do you lust after tweed and belfast sinks? Resist no longer, embrace the chintz and become a rustic rebel, says Richenda Oldham.
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o untry style is one of the most enduring looks in interior design and it’s not hard to see why this versatile mode has sailed through endless changing trends just doing its own thing. Unpretentious, comfortable, relaxed and welcoming are all words that epitomise this much-loved trend, which can move effortlessly in any direction from cosy traditional with coordinated chintzes and the ubiquitous Aga to an edgier, more contemporary style with bleached wood, natural fabrics and heaps of texture. It is also an extremely forgiving style in terms of proportions and even the age of a house doesn’t alter its ability to go with the flow. So, while properties oozing wooden beams, panelled walls and flagstone
floors are the perfect canvas for classic country style, so too can a modern box benefit from a rustic makeover, particularly as the materials for such character transformations are now readily available. All sizes of property can be accommodated within the country style genre equally well. So whether your home is a castle or a farmhouse, a modern semi or a coastal cottage, there is an element of country that will suit the architectural framework. For grander properties that are more manor house, everything needs to be on a larger scale with generously proportioned furniture, including oversized sofas and armchairs, floorlength curtains with bold tie-backs, substantial tables, oversized artwork and capacious lanterns or chandeliers. Colours should be elegant, muted
and graceful. High ceilings lend themselves to more dramatic effects such as striped fabrics and tweed, vast fireplaces with painted overmantels. The odd, stuffed stag’s head or pheasant wouldn’t go amiss either… A rural farmhouse, featuring lower ceilings and heavy, chamfered wooden beams is a different proposition altogether, which needs sensitive treatment if it is not to become stuffy and cluttered. This type of house can benefit greatly from soft cream tones, which work well where there is plenty of wooden texture. It requires a simpler treatment, so team sofas upholstered in soft checked fabrics with distressed painted chests or dressers. Animal motifs, whether on cushions, paintings or china are a classic ingredient that always fits the bill. An Aga or range cooker, preferably in classic cream, will
warm the kitchen. Use stone flags and loose rugs made from coir or seagrass to finish the look. Modern new builds should be viewed as blank canvases with heaps of potential, rather than as boring characterless boxes. They are, in fact, just waiting for someone to inject some personality. Starting with the hallway, make sure it has plenty of robust storage in the form of a traditional peg rail with shelf above. Always try and use good-quality pieces made by traditional craftsmen. Add in plenty of wicker baskets and storage for welly-boots, plus limestone flags. A comfortable chair piled with traditional weave blankets or cushions and big bunches of cottage garden flowers will all add to the charm. Continue this look throughout the rest of the house and you are on to a winner.
1 This floral bed set is based on the classic chintz pattern but its charcoal and pink colour combination gives it an appealing and fresh twist; Roseneath double side quilt, www.wallacecotton.com 2 This charming, country-style kitchen has all the right ingredients: oak beams, cream Shaker-style units, beech worktop, a range cooker, belfast sink and poultry-themed roller blind (Feathered Friends Apple) from www.directblinds.co.uk 3 Made from pure wool, tweed is an impeccable upholstery cloth being smart, warm and hardwearing; Hebrides chairs in Harris Tweed, £899 each, www.darlingsofchelsea.co.uk 4 Accessories play a big part in achieving a country look – be brave and openly display everyday items such as kitchen utensils so that they become part of the overall design; www.ikea.com 5 Stag prints are still very much in vogue and are perfect for rustic style rooms; Stag hug rug, £39.99, www.modern-rugs.co.uk
52 interiors 1
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The art of deception
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Trompe l’oeil architectural features and finishes are a way of creating optical effects that are both sophisticated and entertaining. Richenda Oldham talks about the history behind faux-effect wallpapers
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i nce as far back as Pompeii (c 70AD), artists have been using a fascinating art form known as trompe l’oeil to amuse their customers. Quite literally, trompe l’oeil means to ‘deceive the eye’ and it uses lifelike images to form optical illusions, which encourage people to think that the object being viewed is three dimensional - in other words, real. During the Renaissance, when the use of perspective reached a highly sophisticated level, trompe l’oeil was used to great effect by artists such as Andrea Mantegna and Melozzo da Forli to paint illusionistic ceiling paintings to create the impression of three-dimensional space on otherwise flat surfaces (known as Quadratura). Some of the most outstanding examples use foreshortening techniques to produce domes and even open skies, such as Mantegna’s ceiling fresco in the Palazzo Ducale in Mantua. On a smaller scale, artists used amusing trompe l’oeil details to startle and challenge the people viewing a painting. Examples such as a fly, which appears to sit on the edge of picture frame or a fake curtain concealing part of a picture, blur the boundary between the subject of a picture and reality. For pure beauty, though, the lifelike
paintings of fruits and vegetables from this era, provide us with some of the most fascinating studies of what our ancestors ate. In the 17th century, Flemish and Dutch painters produced astonishing pieces of trompe l’oeil still-life art (known as quodlibet), which was particularly popular. These focused on everyday objects and produced beautifully executed and highly realistic paintings of items such as combs, ribbons, pin cushions, notebooks, jewellery, stationery, scissors and even a deck of playing cards laid out on a table. Ever since Michelangelo used trompe l’oeil on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, this fakery technique has played an important role in architectural detail. Walls, floors, and ceilings have all benefited from painted illusions, which, when skilfully executed, become an important part of the building itself. Fake stonework, windows with vistas, doorways, columns, stonework, statues, fountains, ornaments, trees and plants, can all be painted on to flat surfaces. A spectacular example of how the ordinary can be elevated into something extraordinary, is the Italian Chapel, which was built inside two Nissen huts by Italian prisoners of war on Orkney during World War Two. The interior of the chapel was transformed
by outstanding trompe l’oeil murals featuring columns, angels, sky, arches and stone block work. For those of us not blessed with either artistic talent or a hefty budget to commission a trompe l’oeil specialist to transform our homes, the modern world has fortunately given us trompe l’oeil wallpapers. These are now more widely available and consequently are more affordable than they were ten or 15 years ago. In fact, the range is so good that it now offers limitless scope to metamorphose plain interiors into, well, anything you wish. So for a library, you can create bookshelves packed with tomes that can never be read but will look the part. Fancy a Georgian panelled dining room? No problem, there are many fake panelling wallpapers in different colours to choose form. Or are you hankering after something more baronial, with stone blocks? Again, there are a number of very fine wallpapers depicting stone blocks to which you can add columns and even a fresco or two. Alternatively, why not opt for something more contemporary in the shape of concrete-effect walls. Then if that’s too brutal for your taste, how about driftwood planks for a beach hut look? You can even add a fake window with a sea view!
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1 Sometimes the simplest effects are the best; white panelling wallpaper inspired by Georgian architectural details, £70 per roll, www.housejunkie. co.uk 2 The clarity of this wallpaper, which features a photographic snapshot of reclaimed wood cladding is quite exceptional; Scrapwood, £199 per roll, www.theorchardhomeandgifts.com 3 Create your own reading room with
this vintage bookshelf wallpaper; £70 per 250cm (l) x 50cm (w) roll, www.lukuhome.com 4 Beautifully lifelike, classic trompe l’oeil stone-effect wallpaper; £40 per roll, www.digetexhome.co.uk 5 This stunning wallpaper is designed to mimic the look of vintage painted tiles found in North American warehouses; Brooklyn Tins Wallpaper by Merci, £219 per roll, www.vivalagoon.com
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54 armchair gardener
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Temperatures rising Our changing climate is giving British gardeners the ideal opportunity to experiment with Mediterranean planting, says Richenda Oldham
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arm summers and dry winters are becoming a prevailing trend here in the UK and not surprisingly this is having an effect on the traditional British garden, which isn’t used to long periods of drought followed by a drenching. So rather than do battle with our changing climate, why not embrace it and use it as an opportunity to try a new form of gardening, using plants that thrive in drier conditions? In other words, why not try creating your own Mediterranean garden? The great thing about a Mediterranean garden is you don’t need a villa in Tuscany to reap the benefits of one. Even the smallest English backyard, as long as it is
sheltered and sunny, will do just as well and you can have lots of fun putting a framework in place for the plants you are going to choose. Structure, as with any garden, is key. Grass is out and gravel, paving and terracotta tiling together with clay pots are in. Because Mediterranean gardens are all about outdoor living, it is important to incorporate living areas, both for dining and just relaxing, into your design. Café-style tables and chairs, rustic benches and rattan loungers should be accompanied by plenty of colourful cushions, tablecloths and lanterns. Shade is an important feature of the Mediterranean lifestyle. A pergola is an essential purchase as it fulfils a number of tasks, including providing shade, a structure for climbing plants
such as a grapevine or colourful flowers such as wisteria, bougainvillea or campsis. Scent plays a vital role, too. Orange and lemon trees, jasmine, herbs such as rosemary, bay, thyme and lavender all have their own striking and Mediterranean evocative smells, plus are useful culinary ingredients. Natural materials are key if you are to create the right ambience, because a Mediterranean garden is not a modern setting. Avoid concrete paving slabs and choose sun-kissed terracotta tiles, offset by flat, pebble-style gravel. Natural stone as well as wood in the form of benches and pergolas will all help set the tone. Containers such as terracotta pots in varying sizes, but grouped together, will be another major asset.
PLANTING SUGGESTIONS Geraniums (or pelargoniums) – look wonderful planted in terracotta pots or window boxes, especially if there are lots of them grouped together. Olive trees – should be planted in pots, too, so they can be brought indoors for wintering.
Euphorbia – this large evergreen is a sun-loving species with small amber flowers. Aromatic herbs – rosemary, lavender, sage, thyme and bay are all superb for colour, scent and culinary use.
Santolina – otherwise known as cotton lavender, this plant has silvery grey foliage and contrasting small yellow flowers. It can be cut into round balls or low hedges. Cypress – the classic tree which epitomises Mediterranean garden style.
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2 1 Gravel and paving are a key feature of Mediterranean style-gardens (image courtesy of www.gardenhousedesign.co.uk) 2 Terracotta pots in warm pinky orange colours and assorted colours are ideal for helping create a Mediterranean feel in your garden 3 A pergola is perfect for creating a shady spot – better still, use it to support a grape vine 4 Grow aromatic evergreen herbs, such as rosemary (shown here), lavender and thyme for both colour and culinary use 5 Half-hardy geraniums (pelargoniums) cope well with heat and drought, yet still produce plenty of colourful flowers, and can be grown in pots or window boxes
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Discover Highbanks, an exclusive development of one, two and three bedroom apartments situated in the heart of Southend-on-Sea. With stunning picturesque views of the coast and high-end specification, you’ll find Highbanks is a special place to live.
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