Kent Commuter July2017

AN ESSENTIAL MONTHLY PROPERTY GUIDE FOR ANYONE MOVING OUT OF LONDON – FROM TIMES LOCAL NEWSPAPERS

P EEK U FRPIC

TO

JU LY ED I T I ON

Swap your urban life for one that's in the Garden of England When it comes to finding a great place to live Kent has it all…

I

f you’re a regular commuter on the tube or overland train in London then you’ll no doubt have spotted the numerous scenic snaps of Kent that have been splashed over billboards and digital advertising platforms since early summer.

It’s the work of the tourist organisation Visit Kent who are calling on capital dwellers and commuters across the South East to come and sample the ‘exotic fruits of the Garden of England.’

historic high streets to explore, Kent really does offer something for everyone, whatever your age or status.

Add to the mix glorious parks, wonderful vineyards and idyllic villages and even though we’re obviously biased, Kent really does have it all.

Visit Kent’s Head of Marketing, Sinead

Hanna, certainly agrees: “Whatever your interests or travel preferences, Kent has something to offer everyone - from culture-filled city escapes and get-awayfrom-it-all rural retreats, to jaw-dropping history and incredible family adventures.”

Deposits reach record sum Home buyers across the South-East are putting down deposits of almost £90,000, according to research by mover conveyancing service My Home Move.

The average deposit of £87,641 is the second highest figure after London – £123,347. Across England and Wales the figure is an average of £59,633.

See page 2 for more on making that move >>

Rates to increase?

‘KENT HAS SOMETHING TO OFFER EVERYONE - FROM CULTURE-FILLED CITY ESCAPES TO JAW-DROPPING HISTORY’ Inspired by this striking advertising campaign which features the stunning Hever Castle, Ramsgate’s Royal Harbour and Viking Bay in Broadstairs, The Kent Commuter decided that as it’s almost the summer holidays what better time could there be to do a recce on Kent to prove that this is the county for you to make your next move to?

With a wealth of stately homes, cool coastal towns and thriving independent

HOT PROPERTY NEWS

Interest rate-setter Ian McCafferty has confirmed his backing for a hike in interest rates. He said at a monetary policy committee there was ‘a need for change’ as inflation soars. Watch this space…

The only way is up

JEWEL IN THE CROWN HEVER CASTLE

Housebuilder Persimmon said the property market took the snap General Election ‘in its stride’ as the firm racked up another set of rising sales. In a half-year trading update they said revenue grew 12% to £1.66 billion, with the average price of its homes growing 3.5% to around £213,000.

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But as brilliant as it is for a summer staycation or great day out Kent is also a great place to put down roots. So once you’ve been down and experienced the county, which offers culture as well as plenty of countryside and coastal beauty - all within really easy reach of London - it’s time to pin point where you want to live and why.

Industry experts the HomeOwners Alliance recommend putting in the legwork – quite literally – so you can be sure you’ve found the right village or town to move to.

“It can take time to get to know an area well enough to know whether you would like to live there, and many of the issues will not be apparent from just visiting,” advises a spokesperson.

“The UK housing market is highly localised, and only by thoroughly researching individual areas and streets can you ensure you don’t make a mistake.”

YOUR ESSENTIAL CHECK LIST FOR MOVING TO A NEW AREA: Commute: How easy will it be to travel to work? Will you have easy access to a mainline train station or key road route in and out of your place of employment?

Schools: Is there a good selection of both primary and secondaries? Or perhaps a variety of selective and independent offerings? If you have older children are you happy to live in a place where they might have to rely on you or public transport if they can’t walk to school?

Social Scene: Do you want to be in a happening place, with lots of life or do you want to be somewhere more rural?

Do you relish a laidback lifestyle or will you get bored? Are there lots of groups around such as sports teams, amateur dramatic societies, gardening clubs?

Green and pleasant land There are many bonuses to living in the countryside but the icing on the cake has to be being situated on a traditional village green. Here Natasha Selbie of Savills Tunbridge Wells, tells The Kent Commuter why this is the ultimate sought after location in a small town or villlage What could be more idyllic than living on a village green? Originally used as a common land for grazing, greens today are considered the heartbeat of a rural community, providing a perfect spot for village fêtes, cricket matches and picnics.

For homeowners, proximity to a village green is an important selling point. Such properties are few in number and don’t come to the market very often, which means they are likely to attract a premium when they do. This

Practicals: Do want to be able to walk to the shops, or are you happy having to get in a car to get a pint of milk? Does the village have a shop or post office?

What are the council tax and crime statistics like?

has been particularly the case in recent years when demand for village life has surpassed that for more isolated rural living.

For buyers the appeal is primarily down to the central location, within easy walking distance of the village shop, pub, church and school.

An added attraction is that picturesque and well-utilised greens also tend to be surrounded by the best properties in the village, ranging from Tudor cottages to grand Edwardian country homes.

Top 10 Commuter Stations in West Kent as at 05/04/17* Sevenoaks

Staplehurst

Tonbridge

Maidstone East

Tunbridge Wells

Hildenborough

High Brooms

Headcorn

Paddock Wood

Marden

*INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY SOUTHEASTERN

The Old Institute, Langton Green, guide price £945,000

The Gate House, Frant, guide price £975,000

11 Church Road, Southborough, guide price £550,000

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July 2017

How to convert your dream home into an achievable reality SJD offer services to land and property owners looking to sell sites that have the potential for some form of development. Its MD Stephen Donnelly explains the benefits of creating your own bespoke home CAN YOU PLEASE TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS? SJD was formed over 10 years ago to specialise in the sale and acquisition of land and development opportunities. These can range from single plots suitable for an end user through to multiple unit sites for large scale housing schemes. In addition, the company deals with commercial freehold sales and investments.

HOW DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED IN IT? I have been in the property business for over 30 years but decided to concentrate on development in 2000 when I joined a national estate agency as a land manager. Before parting company, my role was as land director overseeing the whole of the UK.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ARE THE KEY BENEFITS OR CREATING YOUR OWN HOME? New build homes are very energy efficient and can reduce the running costs of a home significantly. Equally as important though is the ability to design the perfect home rather than trying to adapt a second hand property. Being able to live in an often idyllic location with a house that meets all your needs, is an aspiration of many home owners.

WHAT KEY PIECES OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE CONSIDERING BUYING SOME LAND TO DEVELOP OR BUILD FROM SCRATCH ON? Unless you are certain that planning will be granted, I would not advise anyone without an understanding of planning and development to purchase unconditionally.

It is always best to get a team of experts around you to comment on any opportunity and take on board their advice. Where possible purchase subject to planning or at the very least have a pre-application meeting with the council who will make a small charge for providing an informal opinion. Just remember planning is a very grey area and even sites that look as though they should get planning – or had planning previously – are not guaranteed as policies change regularly.

HOW POPULAR ARE CONVERSIONS SUCH AS PUBS TO TURN INTO HOMES? Commercial buildings of all types are becoming sought after for residential conversion. Permitted development rights allow for some office buildings, commercial buildings, barns, pubs and a variety of other previously used properties to be converted to residential. We sell more commercial buildings than residential currently, due to the planning potential of commercial buildings which offer interesting designs and often retain the existing character.

WHERE ARE THE TOP SPOTS IN KENT YOU WOULD RECOMMEND BUYING LAND? Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge, Sevenoaks are always popular as are coastal towns and those that are within or close to the M25. For a typical self-build project, the more rural locations seem to appeal as the views and tranquillity are major attractions.

Online estate agent records giant leap in sales Revenues at digital estate agency Purplebricks more than doubled last year as people continue to desert traditional high street agents, helping the firm narrow losses.

Group revenue rocketed 151% to £46.7 million in the year to April 30 after it sold and completed on more than £5.8 billion worth of UK property on its platform. This meant that losses halved from £11.9 million to £6 million.

Purple Bricks boss Michael Bruce said: "This has been a very successful year in the early development of the Purplebricks model

and brand.

"We have materially grown our national footprint and have built a growing brand awareness and reputation for delivering customers a more convenient, transparent and cost-effective service."

Purplebricks, which also has operations in Australia, booked its first UK operating profit in the year, which came in at £196,290.

Average income per instruction for the UK was up 14.8% to £1,035 and its website visits increased to more than 2.5 million per month.

The firm said its UK revenue expectation for the current year

RIPE FOR CONVERSION This property and bottom left are ripe for conversion

SJD’S TOP TIPS ON HOW TO ACQUIRE THE RIGHT PLOT OF LAND FOR YOUR BUILD Location is key. Finding a plot is not that difficult, but find• ing a plot in a desirable area can be a lengthy process. There

are not many companies like us that specialise in land, but traditional estate agents also have the occasional plot, so my advice is to contact the most relevant companies operating in your chosen area.

Work out a budget for the entire project and get an under• standing of the ideal opportunity you require.

Buy a plot with planning permission. This is more expen• sive but will pose less risks. On the down side, you have to either build what the plot has planning for, or go back to planning to redesign. There is of course a chance that you would not get planning for an alternative proposal.

or property with potential. This can be a gamble • asBuyyoua plot are outlaying the money in the hope of a successful planning application. The chances are however that the plot will be slightly cheaper.

Buy a plot or property subject to planning. With this • there’s little risk except for planning costs but not all

vendors are prepared to wait for the time it takes to get planning – especially when there is no guarantee that a consent will be given.

Employ the right experts and take their advice so you can • make an informed decision when making a purchase.

Editor

Eileen Leahy eileen@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk Design and Production Manager

Lee Smith lsmith8@markerstudy.com Commercial Director

stands at £80 million, a near doubling from the £43 million last year.

Purplebricks is backed by fund manager Neil Woodford and a group of prominent investors.

Nick Moore nmoore@markerstudy.com Contact sales: 01892 774781

jrose@markerstudy.com jreville@markerstudy.com

ONE MEDIA AND CREATIVE UK LTD 16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1NU 01892 779 650 • www.one-media.co

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AWARD WINNING Berkley’s Ryewood development

Date for your diary On Saturday July 15th, Berkeley and John Lewis will be hosting an event to celebrate the launch of a brandnew show apartment at Ryewood, Berkeley’s award-winning development on the outskirts of Sevenoaks near the town’s Wildlife Reserve.

The new show apartment, part of the Woodland Avenue collection, has been expertly designed by leading retailer John Lewis, and will offer buyers the latest opportunity to experience life inside the sought-after neighbourhood.

The open day will take place between 10am and 4pm. As part of the event, Berkeley will also be offering buyers £5,000 towards a furniture package for their new home.

The brand new two-bedroom apartment is finished to a high specification synonymous with Berkeley. An individually-designed kitchen adjoins the spacious open plan living and dining room with dual-aspect Juliette balconies and a charming terrace.

Surrounded by scenic lakes and

greenery of the expansive Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve, homes at Ryewood include elegantly landscaped grounds with children’s play areas, water features and open spaces.

Despite the development’s rural setting, residents benefit from easy access into London from Dunton Green railway station, just a few minutes’ walk away. Regular direct train services take 37 minutes, and services via Orpington just 29 minutes.

The development is also just five minutes from the popular and vibrant town of Sevenoaks and is close to some of the country’s best schools including St Thomas Catholic Primary School, Sevenoaks School and Lady Boswell’s C of E school.

Prices at Ryewood start at £380,000 for a two-bedroom apartment. Also available are three and four-bedroom homes from £560,000.

For further information or to register, please visit www.ryewood.co.uk or call 01732 740402.

SHOW HOME: An example of Ryewood’s John Lewis interiors

July 2017

Building a much brighter future for homeowners

Bellway Homes recently announced that they will remain committed to building new homes in Kent after Theresa May was re-elected as Prime Minister in the general election.

The Conservative Party won the most seats in the election and will run the UK with a minority government.

The party pledged to create a million new homes by 2020, and a further half a million homes by the end of 2022, as well as supporting local authorities to help build more social housing, as part of its manifesto.

Bellway Homes, which has its Kent division based in West Malling, says it will continue to focus on meeting the well documented need for new homes across the region.

Managing Director for Bellway’s Kent division,

Chris Moore (pictured left), said demand for new homes still outstrips supply and all the early signs show that the market remains buoyant.

He added: “It’s very much business as usual for us at Bellway Kent, and we’re looking forward to continuing to help meet the strong demand for new homes in the region.

“There were no signs in the run up to the general election that people were holding off on their decisions to purchase a new home, and now the election has been decided and the confusion has been removed, we expect more people to start looking for a new home.

“People are still looking to take advantage of the low mortgage and interest rates which are currently available for purchasers, and new build homes are currently as popular as they have ever been.

“The demand for homes in this country is well documented, and it is our duty as a housebuilder to continue to create new communities which provide for people at all stages of the housing ladder. We’re committed to continuing to build homes at our developments across the region.”

Bellway’s Kent division is currently building new homes at developments across Kent, including 1811 in Leigh, West End Quarter in Folkstone and Imperial Park in Maidstone.

For more information, go to www.bellway.co.uk.

On the right track Southeastern rail network is responsible for running the UK’s only high speed train line. Their ‘Javelin’ trains travel at high speeds of up to 140mph. There are two main routes, from London St Pancras or Stratford to either Ebbsfleet or Ashford, that call at many stations across Kent including Canterbury, Margate, Ramsgate and Dover and some of the Medway towns. This obviously is a huge bonus if you are thinking of living that little bit further down into the countryside or on the coast because your journey time, although longer in terms of miles, is a lot quicker thanks to the Javelins’ high speed.

The 68 mile track opened in 2009

and is also part of the Channel Tunnel link so you could effectively travel from your office to a weekend break in France without having to swap trains. The UK to Europe track is provided by Eurostar with journey times from London to Paris’ Gare du Nord in just 2 hours and 15 minutes.

Meanwhile if you’re travelling into London from Canterbury for example it’ll take you just 56 minutes and cost approximately £31 for a day return ticket.

Not a bad price to pay for enjoying all the wonderful bonuses of a life in the beautiful countryside and still being able to easily access all the benefits the capital has to offer…

KEY FACTS • Southeastern introduced the UK’s first domestic high speed service from East Kent to St Pancras International in June 2009 • This service has hugely cut journey times between Central London and Kent • It cost £5.8 billion to build • The high speed trains played a key role during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games as the Javelin shuttle service. Many of the trains are named after Olympic athletes • All high speed services on routes to Kent are Hitachi Class 395 trains • The line crosses the River Medway, and goes under the River Thames • Trains reach speeds of up to 300 kilometres per hour (186 mph) on section 1 (Channel Tunnel to Fawkham Junction) and up to 230 kilometres per hour (143 mph) on section 2 (Ebbsfleet International to London St Pancras) • Intermediate stations are at Stratford International in London, and Ebbsfleet International Station and Ashford International in Kent Information and statistics provided by Southeastern.

For more details on tickets and train times see www.southeasternrailway.co.uk

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July 2017

Mortgage Matters All the latest mortgage deals, news, rates and need-to-knows from the mortgage world impartial advice from the Home Owners Alliance mortgage partners.

THE VIEW FROM THE ESTATE AGENT: This month The Kent Commuter asks Kevin Hall, Director of Martin & Co Ashford and Canterbury Offices, about what the current political turmoil means for the housing market and for those buying and selling We are certainly living in turbulent economic times, in fact only the other day I said to my colleague ‘uncertainty is the new certainty’ and that was before we had a hung parliament!

What does it mean for the property market? Well I can only speak for the Ashford, Canterbury and the surrounding towns and villages.

However what we have seen for some time is a distinct lack of stock.

Houses coming to the market (irrespective of agent) are at their lowest levels and therefore simply applying basic economics mean that their prices will rise. Agents are building in single digit annual increases into valuing and I see nothing currently to disturb this in the short term.

The economic uncertainty of Brexit accompanied by an unhelpful stamp

duty regime will always be a bar to moving, although at some stage we would expect supply to loosen as people look to move to larger or smaller properties. Mortgage rates continue to be offered at historical lows and despite the previous government’s best efforts investors are still buying properties as they recognise the long term benefits of property ownership.

Twist or stick? Harder than ever to say. Personally if my circumstances lent me to looking to upgrade or indeed downgrade then I would not be put off by the market conditions.

Historically, following market corrections we have a few years of stable prices followed by seven years, give or take, of growth. If this is repeated then we have another three years of growth to go.

Ultimately we buy homes to live in just like we buy washing machines to clean our clothes. The difference with property is that we have some certainty that we can sell them later, usually with a healthy profit.

The mortgage market can be a tricky one to navigate. With rates changing on an almost daily basis, constant mutterings about what’s going to happen to the Bank of England base rate and new products being launched – and pulled – regularly, it can be difficult to know where to start when you’re looking to finance (or re-finance) your home. But worry not, the Home Owners Allliance’s rundown which is updated fortnightly will give you everything you need to know: Base rate gossip With inflation rising, talk continues of the possibility of an increase to the Bank of England base rate (which has been at 0.25% since last August and hasn’t been higher than 0.5% since 2009). According to reports, almost half of the Monetary Policy Committee member voted for a hike

at the Committee’s last meeting.

However, Bank of England governor Mark Carney takes a different view.

Speaking at the Mansion House dinner in London, Mr Carney claimed that, given the ‘mixed signals on consumer spending and business investment’, now is ‘not yet the time’ to increase rates. Watch this space…

Loyalty pays Metro Bank has decided to reward loyalty by scrapping fees for existing customers looking to switch rates or seeking a further advance. The lender says it wants to establish a ‘long-term relationship’ with its customers. Of course, while it would be nice to get a free pass on fees, it’s important to remember that this is just one element of the mortgage. Try not to be swayed by a deal sweetener too much. Make sure you’re not missing out on a better deal elsewhere. You can get fee-free,

Rate news Virgin Money has cut rates on several of its fixed rate mortgages. The range now includes a two-year fixed rate at 1.28%, available up to 65% loan-to-value (LTV), a two-year fixed rate at 1.52% (up to 85% LTV) and a fiveyear fixed rate at 1.82% (up to 65% LTV). All three have a £995 product fee. Nationwide Building Society has also been slashing its rates. It recently reduced its five-year fixed rate mortgage to 2.34%. It’s available up to 85% LTV and comes with a £999 fee. In a bid to woo buyers, the mortgage includes an added incentive of free valuation plus £500 cashback for first time buyers (or £250 for remortgage customers). The AA has some good news for buyers with a small deposit with the launch of its five-year fixed rate at 3.99%, available at 95% LTV. Those borrowers with a 10% deposit can access a rate of 2.88%.

Both have no fees. Competition is hotting up in the variable rate market too thanks to Tesco’s new two-year tracker at 0.98%. Available up to 65% LTV only, however, it’s unlikely to be an option for first timers. Coventry Building Society also has some attractive variable rates on offer at present, including a rate of 1.75% up to 85% LTV. There is no early repayment charge and a fee of £999.

Information supplied courtesy of HomeOwners Alliance

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July 2017

KENT FACTS Employment Kent has an employment rate close to the national average with 74% of people in work

Income People living in the west of Kent have higher earnings than in the east. The highest earners live in Tonbridge and Malling borough and have average weekly full time earnings of £655.10

Home values in Kent All homes Detached Semi Terraced Flats

AVG VALUES £332,440 £532,612 £323,973 £252,099 £202,240

1 YR +3.65% +3.92% +3.54% +3.4% +4.16%

Living costs The average household weekly grocery shop costs around £63 – which is more than people pay living in inner London.

Petrol prices are pretty average, however, at 117p.

Kent’s Top Hot Spots The Garden of England, as Kent is affectionately known, is brimming with beautiful villages, cool coastlines and smart, sociable towns. Here are a few places that are proving popular right now…

Apart from boasting a perfect picture postcard little village with traditional weather boarded houses, windmills, vintage shops, charming cafés and pubs, its renowned secondary school for boys and girls makes Cranbrook a major draw.

Commute: You can pick up a mainline train from Staplehurst station (15 mins by car) which travels into London terminals.

Frequency of trains: 3 per hour (peak).

First train: 05.20; last train home: 00.40.

Average journey time = 1 hour 2 mins.

Annual season ticket: £4,816.

Location: Cranbrook is situated in the Weald of Kent in South East England. It lies roughly half-way between Maidstone and Hastings and is about 38 miles south east of central London. It is five miles north

Research courtesy of USwitch www.uswitch.co.uk and 2011 Census

Why pick Cranbrook? As well as its aesthetic appeal and charming countryside location it’s not too far from the mainline rail link into London or nearby Tunbridge Wells. Cranbrook School is state-run secondary educational establishment and is enormously sought after by parents. It accepts day students and fee paying boarders and due to its popularity and excellent reputation houses often have an additional premium added to them if they are in the catchment area. With a farmers’ market, old mill and close proximity to other traditional villages such as Sissinghurst, Benenden and Goudhurst it’s a perfect slice of ye olde England.

If you fancy living in a small and quiet area that’s bursting with history and charming period buildings but still connected to a good road and rail network then Newington is definitely worth a punt.

Life Expectancy The average life expectancy from birth in Kent is slightly higher than overall averages for England, at 84 for women and 80 for men.

of Hawkhurst with the smaller hamlets of Swattenden, Colliers Green and Hartley just nearby.

Commute: Despite being relatively small Newington has its own station, on the Chatham line. Frequency of trains: per hour (peak). First train: 06.05; last train home: 00.10. Average journey time = 1 hour 4 mins. Annual season ticket: £4,104.

NEWINGTON

Location: Newington is located in the Swale district of Kent. It is located by the A2 between Rainham to the west and Sittingbourne to the east. The population

CRANBROOK of the parish in 2011 was 2,551.

Why pick Newington? Newington acquired its name (originally Newetone) in Saxon times meaning ‘New Town’.

According to the history books the original town was probably Roman and the remains of a Roman villa were discovered at nearby Boxted Farm, in 1882. Its parish church, St Mary the Virgin, is a grade I listed building and was once owned by Henry VIII who gave it to the Provost and Fellows of Eton College in 1531. The patron today is the Archbishop of Canterbury. Newington also has a number of World War I pill boxes (or bunkers) at various locations and holds the national collection of witch hazel.

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July 2017 West Malling is a historic market town in the Tonbridge and Malling district of Kent.

Its attractive town centre includes many period buildings and gastro pubs, a couple of churches and a slew of independent shops and cafés. It’s very close to major road links but still has that essential country feel to it.

Commute: Direct trains into London Victoria. Frequency of trains: 4 per hour (peak). First train: 05.57; last train home: 00.14. Average journey time = 53 minutes.

Annual season ticket: £4,208.

Location: West Malling is approximately 35 miles from central London, and around 50 minutes from the coastal ferry ports of Folkestone and Dover down the M20. It’s also close to the M26 and M25. Thanks to

its good road and rail links and pretty town centre it has become very popular with commuters over recent years.

Why pick West Malling? The Beatles famously stayed in The Bear pub on the High Street when they were filming Magical Mystery Tour in 1967. They, like many others, enjoyed the many trappings of this pretty town which has olde worlde charm by the bucketload tempered with a good selection of pubs, scenic walks and shopping. The houses are not bad either with most of those located in the centre being Grade I or II listed. West Malling’s neighbouring villages of Mereworth, Yalding and East Malling mean it’s surrounded by lots of stunning scenery and interesting places to visit.

MARGATE Over recent years, Margate has transformed itself from a rundown ragged coastal town to quite the funky happening place to relocate to from London. With the internationally acclaimed Turner Contemporary Art Gallery now there it attracts the creative crowd and thanks to its recent regeneration programme has a lot of cool café culture to offer alongside its charming old town vibe.

Commute: You can access both Southeastern and the Highspeed Rail Link into London terminals and St Pancras respectively. See www.southeasternrailway.co.uk for details on the latter. Frequency of trains: 3 per hour (peak). First train: 04.43; last train home: 23.31. Average journey time = 1 hour 50 mins via usual rail link. Annual season ticket: £5,280.

Location: Margate lies in the district of Thanet, approximately 20 miles from Dover and 38 miles from Maidstone. It’s incredibly accessible both rail and road wise thanks to the fact it is served by the country’s only high-speed rail service. There are good road

links to Canterbury, Sittingbourne and Dover and both the A2 and M2 are within easy reach.

Surrounding Margate are the areas of Cliftonville, Garlinge, Palm Bay and Westbrook.

Why pick Margate? If Brighton is out of your price range then this is a pretty good place to try. Brimming with artistic energy courtesy of the Turner Contemporary and the fact that celebrity creative Tracey Emin hails from here it’s a good choice if you want a bit of culture on your doorstep. Then of course there are the seasonal attractions such as the sea, sandy beaches and the recently regenerated Dreamland amusement park which attracts visitors from all over the South East. Margate’s old town certainly helps to give it some old fashioned charm and there are plenty of cool cafés, bars, restaurants and vintage shops to choose from. Close enough to the Channel it’s also a great base for those who like travelling to France and beyond. The Hornby Visitor Centre, Theatre Royal – the second oldest in the country - and Winter Gardens are just some of Margate’s popular attractions.

WEST MALLING

YOUR GUIDE TO SOME OF THE KEY KENT COMMUTER TOWNS Kent town

Kent commute station to London station

Commute time

Frequency of trains

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

Tunbridge Wells station to London Charing Cross

57 minutes

5 per hour (peak). First train in: 5.21am; last train home: 12.15am

£4,484

HYTHE

London Terminals (via Folkestone)

3 per hour (peak times).

First train: 4.41am; last train 00.22

£5,252

1 hr 27

3 per hour (peak). First train: 5.40am; last train home: 00.07

£4,732

WHITSTABLE

Whitstable to London St Pancras or Victoria via Javelin high-speed rail link

56 minutes (peak times)

Annual season ticket

SEVENOAKS

Sevenoaks to London Terminals

26 minutes

6 per hour (peak). First train in: 5.55am; last train home: 11.47pm

£3,380

ASHFORD

Ashford International to London St Pancras

37 minutes

3 per hour (peak). First train in: 5.13am; last train home: 12.12am

£4,668

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Talking Heads Each month, The Kent Commuter asks two local Head Teachers for their opinion on topical education issues.

This month, we talk to Martyn Ward, Head of Marlborough House, in Hawkhurst and Matthew Tompkins, Principal at The Skinners’ Kent Academy in Tunbridge Wells, about the alternative and additional education options their establishments offer…

FOREST SCHOOL EDUCATION SCHEME

Martyn Ward, Marlborough House

The Scandinavian ideal of outdoor learning first emerged in the early 1900s so in that respect, Forest Schools are hardly new and many schools now offer timetabled teaching sessions in the great outdoors. Woodland settings are a natural stimulus for creativity and for developing a willingness to learn something new, but I believe the trick is to view Forest School less as an ‘alternative education option’ and more as an essential and integral part of the whole school curriculum, where lessons taught outside impart knowledge and skills that actually enhance a child’s learning potential back in the classroom and vice versa.

In addition to our accredited Forest School leaders, it is no coincidence that our head of Design Technology feels very at home in our outdoor learning setting, given her out of hours’ passion for wild camping pursuits, bee keeping, dry-stone wall build-

July 2017 ing and repairing mountain bothies. The children frequently apply knot-tying skills learned in her DT lessons, to fixing a leaking roof on a woodland shelter or unstable floor in an insect ‘hotel’. Mathematical skills also come into play in orienteering

‘WOODLAND SETTINGS ARE A NATURAL STIMULUS FOR CREATIVITY AND FOR DEVELOPING A WILLINGNESS TO LEARN SOMETHING NEW’ tasks and map design, with geographers applying their knowledge of rock and soil formation as they lay the foundations for a new fire pit and environmentalists rehousing a family of woodlice with the greatest of care and environmental forethought.

Forest School helps children quickly develop confidence in their ability to overcome obstacles – both physical on the forest floor, emotional in their day to day routines and mentally when academic challenges in the classroom present themselves.

The principles of teamwork; diplomacy, leadership, self-motivation, problem solving and risk management are all learned in Forest School from nursery all the way up to year 4 at Marlborough House. They are the foundation and natural by-product of outdoor learning, helping to equip the children with a life ‘toolbox’ to take with them on their journey into secondary education and beyond. I believe that when essential life lessons are learnt in this way, with subtlety and almost subliminally in an environment devoid of visible signs of teacher accreditation and assessment, they are more likely to endure.

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July 2017 THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE

Matthew Tompkins, The Skinners’ Kent Academy The Skinners’ Kent Academy is the first non-selective school in England to become an authorised International Baccalaureate World School for both the Middle Years Programme in years 7 – 11 and the International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (CP), which is taught in the sixth form.

The Middle Years Programme (MYP) develops students emotionally, physically, intellectually and ethically. By offering this internationally focused curriculum framework option, it encourages them to be independent and connect traditional subjects with the real world and current issues.

Students have the ability to develop skills and attitudes for both their academic and personal success. Developing their communication skills and encouraging them to reflect on their work promotes a positive attitude to their learning which we seek to

develop in all of our students.

Equally the International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme offers sixth form students a flexible, innovative and challenging programme of study, developing them as lifelong learners. The programme provides students with the stepping stone, skills and knowledge

‘THE PROGRAMME PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH THE STEPPING STONE, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE TO ACCOMPLISH A WEALTH OF HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES’ to accomplish a wealth of higher education opportunities such as university, apprenticeships and work placements; they also benefit from the International Baccalaureate being recognised across the globe as a high level academic qualification.

At The Skinners’ Kent Academy, we ensure our curriculum offers both breadth and depth. We offer a range of subjects at both MYP and CP level and personalise the offer to set it in a

relevant and international context. Students are prepared to apply their learning throughout life. The Academy encourages students to explore concepts and issues with both local and global significance, using their increased knowledge of language and culture.

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July 2017

Time to play the waiting game?

Why the current climate of uncertainty is likely to be causing some hesitancy among buyers and sellers Industry experts the HomeOwners Alliance (HOA) recently reported that there is a palpable air of hesitancy in the air when it comes to buying and selling.

“While house prices are up in the past month (with a shortage of homes available for sale), transactions have fallen,” reports a HOA spokesperson. They went on to say: “This is likely to be caused by

uncertainty surrounding Brexit negotiations and with more uncertainty ahead as a result of the snap election and uncertain result, we expect to see a continued slowing of activity.”

A Nationwide respresentative adds: “It is early days, but this provides further evidence the housing market is losing momentum. This may be indicative of a

June 2017 House Price Watch

wider slowdown in the household sector, though data continues to send mixed signals in this regard. Given the ongoing uncertainties around the UK’s future trading arrangements and election, the economic outlook is unusually uncertain, and housing market trends will depend crucially on developments in the wider economy.”

Rightmove concludes: “We normally

see a high proportion of market activity in the first half of the year, and in spite of potentially disruptive events the pattern is continuing. It remains to be seen how much momentum may drop away in second half of the year with stretched affordability, though competition among lenders keen to lend will help some to push their budgets higher.”

June 2017 House Price Watch indicates that house prices are up on average 0.2% in the past month and up 3.6% in the past year. House price growth resumes despite fall in activity

10

8

Avg % Monthly Change Avg % Annual Change

Most of the major house price indices report a rise in house prices in the past month. Land Registry reporting April figures (+1.6%), LSL reporting March figures (+0.5%), Halifax reporting May figures (+0.4%), Nationwide reporting May figures (-0.2%) and Rightmove reporting May asking price figures (+1.2%).

6

4

2

JA

N FE 13 B M 13 AR AP 13 R M 13 AY JU 13 N JU 13 L AU 13 G SE 13 P O 13 CT NO 13 V DE 13 C JA 13 N FE 14 B M 14 AR AP 14 R M 14 AY JU 14 N JU 14 L AU 14 G SE 14 P O 14 CT NO 14 V DE 14 C JA 14 N FE 15 B M 15 AR AP 15 R M 15 AY JU 15 N JU 15 L AU 15 G SE 15 P O 15 CT NO 15 V DE 15 C JA 15 N FE 16 B M 16 AR AP 16 R M 16 AY JU 16 N JU 16 L AU 16 G SE 16 P O 16 CT NO 16 V DE 16 C JA 16 N FE 17 B M 17 AR AP 17 R M 17 AY 17

0

Information supplied by HomeOwners Alliance

Windsor Meadow

A taste of country living Another date for your diary is the weekend of July 15th and 16th when Millwood Designer Homes will be previewing their new and exclusive Kent Collection at Windsor Meadow, situated in the picturesque village of Marden ahead of their official launch this October.

On from 10am and 3pm this will be a chance for prospective buyers to have a look at this impressive collection of homes all built to a high

specification in keeping with the architectural style of this corner of Kent.

Windsor Meadow is located on Plain Road, close to the centre of Marden, and accessed via an idyllic country lane. Comprising 86 houses, including 2 and 3 bedroom terraced and semidetached homes and 3, 4 and 5 bedroom detached homes, the development benefits from a selection of local amenities. Marden Station, just over half

a mile away, offers direct trains to London in just under an hour, making Windsor Meadow a rural retreat ideal for commuters.

Some of the homes have traditional styled feather edge weatherboarding and reclaimed bricks. Once complete, modern kitchens will feature a comprehensive range of units, ceramic floor tiles, worktops and fully integrated appliances, whilst bathrooms will offer contemporary white suites and chrome fittings.

Prices start from £320,000 at Windsor Meadow for a two bedroom home. For more information please visit www.millwooddesignerhomes.co.uk

Chevening Plot 73

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July 2017

John Bullock: Design

Designs on your listed building Upgrading or rebuilding a graded property can be a planning nightmare if you don’t know what you are doing. In the latest of his regular columns, architectural designer John Bullock offers advice on how to avoid the pitfalls, and how talking to experts will help save you valuable time and money Your question: Dear Kent Commuter, We are in the process of moving out of London and buying a house that is just outside Tunbridge Wells.

The house we are buying has been owned by the same family for over 40 years, and although it has been reasonably well maintained, it needs updating and quite a lot of work to make it into something that would work for us.

Upstairs there are five bedrooms and a family bathroom, and we would like to add an en-suite bathroom and dressing room to the master bedroom. We don’t mind losing a bedroom for this.

On the ground floor the layout is a little awkward as it doesn’t have a really good family kitchen/dining room.

As a family we spend a great deal of time together and enjoy cooking and entertaining, and we would like to create a large, lightfilled space that leads out on to the garden.

We feel the only way we can create this is to add an extension. The house also needs completely upgrading as the electrics and plumbing are ancient.

Outside there is also a small, detached brick outbuilding. We have a lot of friends who would like to visit us in Kent and we would like to create a small annexe with a bed/sitting room and bathroom where they can stay and be a little independent.

We are also thinking ahead, and ultimately this could be used for elderly parents sometime in the future.

The current garage block is a horrible 1950s concrete sectional building comprising three bays, and we would like to replace this with an oak-framed open-bay garage that we feel would be more appropriate.

And we would then like to enclose one of the garages with large doors for the safe storage of our garden machinery.

In the garden there is also an old swimming pool which we will refurbish, and we would like to build a tennis court.

We have just found out that the house is a listed building (Grade II) and wondered if this would cause a problem for us obtaining permission for any of the works?

I understand that as a Grade II listed building we can do anything inside without permission. Is this correct?

Yours, Henry and Jessica, Tunbridge Wells

Our answer:

outbuildings, garden features, walls or enclosures, and where this occurs these structures are also protected.

“The Act 1990 also requires that works of demolition or alteration of a listed building, that affects its special architectural or historic interest, require listed building consent, a process administered by the Local Planning Authority.

“It can be argued that the removal of a single brick and its replacement with a brick of a different colour, texture or size is an alteration that could affect the special architectural or historic interest and therefore requires a consent.

“In practice, there is a level of ambigu-

Owning a listed building can be a real pleasure and joy. But owners of historic buildings are also its custodians, and it is important to understand a building to ensure that the brief is fulfilled without damaging the integrity of the listed structure, and maintaining it for future generations to enjoy.

There is a very common misconception that with a Grade II listed building it is only the external envelope that is listed and you can make any changes to the interior without obtaining planning or listed building permission. This is incorrect and potentially any alteration will require consent.

We asked Mark Stephenson, Principle ‘WE ENCOURAGE CLIENTS TO Conservation Officer at Tunbridge Wells MOVE IN AND LIVE WITH THE Borough Council, to clarify the position.

BUILDING FOR A FEW MONTHS “As a starting point, I would emphasise BEFORE CRYSTALISING PLANS FOR the following: A building is listed under ALTERATIONS AND EXTENSIONS’ the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 for its special architectural or historic interest. ity in determining exactly what does and “When a building or other structure is does not require consent, and in many placed on the list it is given a descripcases this can come down to the individual tion, the content of which is primarily for building itself. It is therefore difficult to identification. What the description is not give generic guidance on this subject. intended to do is identify what parts of a “Given that unauthorised works to a building are listed. listed building are a criminal offence, if “Once a building has been listed, the you are proposing any work to your listed whole of the building, inside and out, property, it would be prudent to first check is considered to be listed and therefore with your local planning authority as to protected. the need for consent.”

“Listing can extend to including some This might all sound rather onerous, but

it isn’t. The key here is to work closely with the local conservation department and engage with them at an early stage to discuss ideas about what might or might not be possible to take on board, and work with their advice.

By doing this, the best results will be achieved both to fulfil the brief and also preserve the integrity of the listed building.

When clients buying new houses approach us, and when it is possible, we always encourage them to move in and live with the building for a few months before crystalising their plans for alterations and extensions.

This offers them the opportunity to understand the spaces, how they relate to one another, how they work or don’t work, and how the light works at different times of the day.

This knowledge is important and can then inform the brief, and ultimately the resultant design.

On listed buildings, Mr Stephenson recommends: “When considering works of alteration, demolition or extension to your listed building, the starting point is to understand the significance of the many parts of your building and of the building as a whole.

“Significance can be derived from the age of the physical parts of the building, the materials used, the sequence of change over time, the level of craftsmanship, the quality of design, its representation of particular architectural fashions, represen-

If you have a question you’d like John Bullock to answer, then please email it to: newsdesk@kentcommuter.com Please mark the subject as: Design Team You can also write to us at: Design Team The Kent Commuter, 16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1NU

theKentCommuter | 19

July 2017

tation of society at a particular time (social context), association with famous individuals, innovative technologies, the setting of your building, the architectural form (shape of the building), massing (solidity and relationship of shapes) and scale (relationship with its surroundings), and so on.

“Different aspects of your building may have very different levels of significance.

All will contribute to the significance of the building as a whole.

“Significance, therefore, is far more than simply the appearance of the building, but also derives from its very fabric, its design, its relevance to history and its setting.

“Once you understand the various levels of significance of your building, you can then work out where changes you would like can be accommodated, and the impact that will have on the overall significance of your property.

“This should be the starting point for all decisions you subsequently take when considering how you wish to change your building.

Historic England has good advice on its website if you are interested in learning more. Visit www.historicengland.org.uk/ advice/your-home “For your local conservation officer, the appropriateness of your proposals will be determined using the following processes: n Where

does the significance lie for the existing building? n How has the proposal been developed and how has it reacted to significance? n What is the impact of the proposal on significance (beneficial or harmful)? n If there is harm, what is the level of harm? n Is there a good reason for that harm (justification)? n What is the balanced outcome (level of harm versus level of justification)? n Are there alternatives, or can improvements be made, to the proposal to reduce

harm?

“The ambition is to produce proposals that cause no harm to the significance of your building.

“Given that this is the process your local conservation officer will generally follow, it would seem logical that when you are considering your proposals you follow the same process, and that your analysis is clearly shown in your application generally through a heritage statement and a design (and access) statement.”

So, there is a great deal to consider, but with professional guidance and advice this is in fact all fairly straightforward.

Your potential new home has a great deal of character and we have worked on many similar projects. Let’s take the points individually: Tennis Court: The position of this in context with the listed building has to be carefully considered and I would suggest moving this as far away as possible from the house.

Given the size of garden there appears to be sufficient space for it to sit comfortably on a north/south axis within the residential curtilage.

It is the court fence which will have the most impact, and this triggers the need for a planning application.

It is also worth considering the colour of the court, as a green colour is more likely to blend in with the garden than a blue or red one.

Garage: The existing garage is unsightly and sits uncomfortably with the house.

A new oak-framed garage structure incorporating a store could have significant benefits, and whilst

it will have a pitched roof instead of the existing flat roof, it could significantly improve and enhance the setting of the listed building.

It might also be worth considering adding a small ‘cat-slide’ roof area to one side, which will add character, and also can be used as a log store.

Outbuilding/Annexe: Although it is set a little way from the house, this structure is potentially curtilage-listed. We would need to seek guidance on this.

It is within planning policy to convert outbuildings to ancillary accommodation, and if it is cartilage-listed, the conservation officer would be keen to ensure its conversion is not detrimental to it or the setting of the listed building.

With careful design, this could create a really good asset which would preserve the building and put it into use. I would suggest keeping it fairly simple with an open-plan sitting room and bedroom with en-suite.

Extension: In principle, an extension should be acceptable, but it is crucial to consider this in context of the existing structure; not only in terms of scale, mass and bulk but also in design.

Over the past few years we have undertaken many extensions to listed buildings, some traditional in form and others with a more contemporary approach.

A large family kitchen/dining room and entertaining space is now part of how we all live, and to achieve this the key is to look at what is appropriate, to be flexible in the design, and not to have too many preconceived ideas as any extension should be site-specific in its design.

See Historic Scotland’s advice on extensions at www.historicenvironment.scot/

archives-and-research/ publications Internal Alterations: It looks like there is currently a door between bedrooms one and two; utilising this and creating an ensuite and dressing room in bedroom two would be the most logical solution.

Installing new plumbing and electrics does not generally require listed building consent in dwellings, but any alterations to the fabric of the listed building might.

Therefore it is prudent to discuss with your electrician and plumber how they intend undertaking the works – in particular, how new cable and pipe runs will be installed and if any new opening in the external walls will be required for flue pipes or externally-run drainage and soil pipes.

The best approach is to engage with a professional at an early stage and pull together a master plan for the entire property.

This would include an appropriate level of assessment of significance, drawings of the design proposals and layout of the site to show how the whole relates to the existing.

Once this has been defined, then an approach to the conservation officer for informal ‘pre-application’ advice can be made. It is likely that the conservation officer would wish to visit the site and assess any potential impact.

Although there is a fee payable for this service, it is a worthwhile process as it will give a clear indication at an early stage as to whether the proposal will be acceptable or, if not, what other parameters there might be to fulfil the brief.

Once the design approach has been agreed then formal planning and listed building applications can be submitted, and hopefully permissions granted.

This process takes around eight weeks, and then discussions with builders can commence.

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council provide excellent advice on planning and listed buildings, and our thanks go to Mark Stephenson for his contribution to this month’s article.

John Bullock

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July 2017

AT A GLANCE

n Reception hall/garden room

PROPERTY

FOCUS

n Sitting room n Dining room n Family room n Study n Kitchen/breakfast room n Pantry n Utility room

n Principle bedroom with

mezzanine dressing area n Bathroom n Two further bedroom suites n Fourth bedroom n Integral garage n Gardens and grounds just under 2 acres

A MOST IMAGINATIVE AND SUPERB CONVERSION

Horsmonden & Maidstone

A stunning detached converted barn in a glorious rural setting on the village outskirts For sale through Hamptons International 01892 516611 www.hamptons.co.uk

SWIGS HOLE BARN HORSMONDEN

£1,650,000

homes portfolio: RESIDENTIAL ARNOLD BRAE OAST MAIDSTONE

£1,300,000

TRADITIONAL TWIN ROUNDEL KENTISH OAST A most handsome house, converted to a luxurious family home set in 2 acres of garden and paddock For sale through Strutt&Parker 01227 451123 www.struttandparker.com

AT A GLANCE

n Reception hall n Drawing room n Dining room n Family room n Study n Kitchen/breakfast room n Utility room n Cloakroom

n Master bedroom with en

suite bathroom

n Two bedrooms with en suite n Further two bedrooms n Family bedroom n Outdoor kitchen n Triple garage n Garden and paddock

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VIEW HOUSE

BURWASH, EAST SUSSEX

PROPERTY

FOCUS

GUIDE PRICE

£950,000

AT A GLANCE

July 2017

n Entrance hall

n Utility room

n Drawing room

n 2 further bathrooms

n Dining room

n Family bathroom

n Kitchen/breakfast/family

n Double garage

room n 2 bedrooms with en suite bathrooms

n Store room n Garden n Approximately 0.20 acres

CONTEMPORARY HOME WITH

Burwash &

WEALDEN COUNTRY VIEWS

Tunbridge Wells

A beautifully presented, contemporary 4 bedroom house with stunning views over the surrounding Wealden countryside For sale through Knight Frank 01892 515035 www.knightfrank.co.uk

homes portfolio: NEW HOUSES

LATEST STAGE IN A NEW PRESTIGIOUS TUNBRIDGE WELLS DEVELOPMENT Collection of homes at esteemed new development Royal Wells Park in Tunbridge Wells For sale through Berkeley Homes 01892 532 011 www.royalwellspark.co.uk n Three, four or five bedroom

houses

AT A GLANCE

n Dining room n Living room n Many with spacious open

plan kitchens n Individually designed kitchens n Full suite of integrated appliances n Separate dressing areas to select bedrooms

n Bespoke fitted wardrobes n Many with bi-folding doors n Private gardens n Balconies and terraces n Off-street parking available

at many properties n Set within landscaped grounds with mature trees n Children’s play area n Attractive water feature n Contemporary and modern styles

REGENCY PLACE ROYAL WELLS PARK PRICES FROM

£700,000

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July 2017

Think you’ve got an eye for property?

Have you ever wondered what piques a potential buyer’s interest and what puts them off when viewing a property? A new study has done just that, and revealed some interesting results. Here, Mark Hayward, Chief Executive of NAEA Propertymark (National Association of Estate Agents) reveals what your home says about you and what you need to know in order to make that all important and successful sale in order to move up the property ladder Property development experts Anglian Home Improvements recently conducted a study to determine what potential house-buyers actually look at whilst viewing a property.

By using eye tracking technology, they were able to analyse viewers’ eye movements, taking note of what they looked at, what disrupted their natural eye movements, and what they lingered on - and this is what they found...

Be clean and clutter free Almost a quarter of all eye movements (24 per cent) lingered on clutter and mess in the home, proving that if sellers haven’t tidied up, it won’t go unnoticed! Throughout the entire study, when a participant’s gaze panned a room, the eye-line was often disrupted by clutter.

Whilst potential buyers did not mention clutter or mess to agents in their post-view-

ing feedback, their eyes were repeatedly drawn to it when viewing a room.

In comparison, and probably one of the most interesting findings is that the layout of the house took up just four per cent of the participants’ focus during the viewing.

Repairs or structural features also made up just four per cent of participants’ viewing behaviours; this included checking door frames, sliding doors and light fittings in need of repair.

Who lives in a house like this?

The study found that participants’ eye movements were often drawn to personal features within the house, with photographs particularly common in disrupting a viewer’s eye path across all participants.

Female participants were found to spend more time looking at the personal touches in the home such as photographs and furnishings, while the male participants focussed on external features, the building itself and the outside space.

This suggests that females spend more time looking at how a house is made into a home and understanding what it would be like to actually live there, while males tend to focus more on the practical side of a house, its features, stability and value.

This perhaps favours the notion that potential viewers like to understand who

currently lives in the house they’re considering purchasing.

Taking in the surroundings Throughout the study, 17 per cent of all participants’ focus behaviour was spent looking through the windows. The findings revealed that during the viewings, participants often commented on the view, and how close the neighbours were to the house.

‘THE STUDY FOUND THAT PARTICIPANTS’ EYE MOVEMENTS WERE OFTEN DRAWN TO PERSONAL FEATURES WITHIN THE HOUSE’ The garden and outside area were also a key focal point. 22 per cent of participants lingered their gaze on the outdoor space, often pausing here for a while, proving that viewing a property factors in much more than just the house itself.

Interior design While any estate agent will tell a potential buyer to try and look past the décor of a property, sometimes it’s unavoidable. The study showed that 27 per cent of all behaviour was spent looking at furnishings and décor, perhaps suggesting that non-stand-

ard fixtures could pose more of a risk in terms of influencing a buyer’s decision.

However, this could potentially be seen as a positive, should the viewer be drawn to these fixtures because they have a similar taste to the current home owner.

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July 2017

ESTATE IN TRANQUIL VILLAGE Beautifully refurbished Georgian house in picturesque village

PROPERTY

For sale through Savills 01732 278 9760 www.savills.co.uk

FARNINGHAM MILL FARNINGHAM

Farningham & Sevenoaks

£2,900 PCM

AT A GLANCE

FOCUS

n Four bedrooms n Three bedrooms n Three reception rooms n Kitchen with breakfast

room n Communal garden n One allocated parking space

homes portfolio: LETTINGS SACKVILLE PLACE SEVENOAKS

£4,500 PCM SPACIOUS APARTMENT WITH EXTERNAL ACCOMODATION Outstanding penthouse apartment overlooking the vine within an exclusive development

AT A GLANCE

For sale through Savills 0173 278 9760 www.savills.co.uk n Penthouse apartment

n Large roof terrace

n Three bedrooms

n Two underground parking

n Two reception rooms n Contemporary kitchen n Roof top orangery

spaces n Basement storage room n Views over The Vine