Wharf Life Property Supplement, Oct 4-18, 2023

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by Jon Massey

This is an incredible opportunity to buy a stylish high-quality home of your own that you will proud of, which is affordable and in a great location close to central London, with excellent transport links,” said Becky Boden, head of sales at London Square.

“Every aspect of Square Roots Lewisham is beautifully designed, with high specification and attention to detail, to deliver a great lifestyle.”

Square Roots – established by developer London Square two years ago to provide shared ownership properties – is making waves in the market. Its Kingston scheme won Best Medium Development at First-Time Buyer magazine’s awards last month.

Now it’s unveiled a collection of 141 homes located seven minutes from Lewisham station on foot. Part of the widespread regeneration of the town, the development is located beside the River Ravensbourne and will feature landscaped gardens and play areas when work is complete.

One, two and three-bedroom apartments and two-bedroom duplexes are available at the scheme with prices starting at £111,250 for a 25% share – based on a full market value of £445,000.

That means those eligible to purchase under the scheme could buy a home with a deposit of £5,563. Square Roots says monthly costs start at £1,454pcm, which compares favourably with a sample local rental range of £1,850pcm to £2,000pcm.

As buyers own a share of the property under the scheme, there’s also no threat of tenancies being ended.

But what do you get for your money? The entry level one-bed

extends to 543sq ft of internal space and, like all Square Roots Lewisham homes, comes with a 990 year lease.

Communal facilities include cycle storage and a rooftop terrace, while the development is well located for all the amenities of Lewisham town centre.

These include a blend of restaurants, shops, bars and cultural attractions including places to soak up independent theatre and film.

The apartments themselves feature open-plan living areas fully fitted kitchens and bathrooms, workspaces and private balconies or terraces. Those on the upper floors enjoy views across the London skyline.

Chief among the attractions of the Square Roots scheme is its connectivity. Lewisham station offers connections to London Bridge in 10 minutes via frequent rail services, while Canary Wharf and east London are also directly linked to the area via the DLR. Vibrant Deptford and historic Greenwich are both also nearby and are easily accessible via public transport, cycling or even walking.

That means vast open spaces such as Blackheath and Greenwich Park can be reached easily as well as more local destinations such as Hilly Fields and Brookmill Park.

Those interested in securing a home at Square Roots Lewisham should call 0333 666 4747 or go online to find out more. Apartments are expected to be ready to move into from March 2024. Go to squareroots.co.uk for more information

Scan this code to find out more about Square Roots Lewisham

how Square Roots Lewisham offers shared ownership properties within easy commuting distance of the Wharf

Shared ownership properties have been launched at Square Roots Lewisham

All properties boast open-plan living areas and private outdoor spaces

An artist’s impression of how Square Roots Lewisham will look when work is complete

25%

Minimum share of a property available at Kidbrooke Square – the newly launched two-beds start at £111,250 based on a full market value of £445,000

Show home interiors at Kidbrooke Square by NHG Homes, which is set to launch a fresh collection of two-bedroom apartments

spaces wide open

how NHG Homes’ Kidbrooke Square shared ownership properties are a sweet deal

Food trucks, cocktail classes, dog treats and even a baking contest with a £250 voucher as the top prize. These are just some of the ways NHG Homes – the sales arm of housing association Notting Hill Genesis – is marking the launch of a new collection of two-bedroom properties in the borough of Greenwich.

Part of a collection of 619 apartments arranged around Kidbrooke Square, the homes will be available on a shared ownership basis with prices starting at £111,250 for a 25% share (based on a full market value of £445,000).

The properties are set to be at the heart of NHG’s Understanding Shared

Ownership Day on October 14 –coinciding with National Dessert Day – with a range of activities on offer from 10am-4pm. The event is free to attend, although tickets must be booked in advance to ensure entry.

The aim is for attendees to be able to literally taste life at the scheme, which is located on the doorstep of Kidbrooke Station – a little over 20 minutes via DLR and rail services from Canary Wharf. Financial advice and guidance will also be on offer for those considering purchasing through shared ownership.

NHG Homes head of sales Amie Triphook-Cole said: “Kidbrooke is truly one of London’s hidden gems, and we’re excited to be helping even more first-time buyers onto the property ladder with this brilliant new range of homes.

“This neighbourhood is a prime location for a first home in the capital – proving that buyers with entry-level budgets don’t need to compromise on quality or location. We’re looking forward to welcoming buyers at our event on October 14 for a fantastic day of sweet treats and shared ownership insight.”

As for the apartments themselves, homes at Kidbrooke Square come with an open-plan design including fitted kitchens with Zanussi appliances plus separate utility cupboards with washer-dryers. Bathrooms feature porcelain floor tiles, white sanitaryware and chrome finished heated towel rails.

Kidbrooke Square is close to an array of restaurants, bars, cafes and other amenities and benefits from its proximity to Cator Park. This

expansive open space includes an extensive adventure playground by east-London based firm APEs – and won the Sir David Attenborough Award for biodiversity in 2022. Its proximity to the station means much of the capital is easily accessible via public transport, with London Bridge only 16 minutes away. One-beds and three-beds are also available at the development with prices starting at £93,125 and £158,750 for 25% shares respectively. Go to nhgsale.com or call 020 3797 8176 for more information

Scan this code for more about homes at Kidbrooke Square

by Jon Massey

Kidbrooke Square is located between Kidbrooke Station and Cator Park

£96,875

Starting price for a 25% share of a property at East River Wharf in Royal Docks, based on a full market value of £387,500

An artist’s impression of how East River Wharf will look when complete

Show home interiors at the development

by Jon Massey

Getting on the ladder is what shared ownership is all about – but where to look? Legal & General Affordable Homes is keen for prospective buyers to consider its East River Wharf scheme. Located on the edge of Lyle Park and forming part of Ballymore and Oxley’s Riverscape extension to its extensive Royal Wharf development, its two 11-storey blocks with red brick façades house one, two and three-bedroom homes.

Set to welcome their first residents this year, the apartments feature open-plan living areas, dedicated workspaces, balconies to all homes and fitted kitchens with integrated appliances.

But they also offer connectivity. There’s the DLR at nearby Pontoon Dock and Silvertown stations – offering links to London City Airport and Woolwich or the City and Canary Wharf respectively.

And then there’s Royal Wharf’s river bus pier, with connections all the way to Putney via the Uber Boat By Thames Clippers.

Cyclists and pedestrians can also explore the area’s extensive map of dedicated routes, with a proposed new bridge over Royal Victoria Dock that puts the Elizabeth Line at Custom House within easy walking distance.

For those who prefer to drive, Legal & General Affordable Homes is currently offering buyers a free three-year membership of ZipCar when they move in, plus £50 in driving credit, to help them get around.

Residents’ facilities at the development itself include a fitness studio, a residents’ gym, a spa, a swimming pool plus 24-hour concierge and security services. They will also be able to use a 16th-floor lounge with views over the Thames and the London skyline.

“We are so proud to launch our new homes at East River Wharf and help more people get on the property ladder with shared ownership,” said Jennifer Cobley, head of sales at Legal & General Affordable Homes.

“The amenities here are best in class, with a state-of-the-art residents only gym, pool and spa.

“Plus there’s a concierge service and 24-hour security to ensure

our residents always feel at home. There is also a primary school located on the development, which is perfect for growing families.

“Whatever your stage in life, East River Wharf is a modern and secure place to call home with shared ownership.”

In addition to Lyle Park, Thames Barrier Park is within easy walking distance as are the attractions of Royal Victoria Dock, which hosts open water swimming, wakeboarding and numerous places to find refreshments, including a regular street food pop-up.

As London’s only enterprise zone, the area is also set to see some £8billion of investment as work to regenerate it continues. For buyers, this means property price growth in future as further development and infrastructure arrives.

This includes a planned upgrade of the DLR and a blossoming programme of cultural events across the area.

Prices for properties at East River Wharf start at £96,875 for a 25% share of a one-bedroom home. This is based on a full market value of £387,500 and could see buyers put down a deposit of less than £5,000 to secure the minimum share.

Buyers pay rent on the remaining proportion of the property, which typically works out cheaper than renting a comparable apartment.

The share a buyer owns can also be increased up to 100% over time in a process known as staircasing. Go to landgah.com for more information or search #LandGAH on Facebook or Instagram

how East River Wharf is delivering properties beside Lyle Park at the heart of London’s vibrant enterprise zone

Whatever your stage in life, East River Wharf is a modern and secure place to call home with shared ownership

Jennifer Cobley, Legal & General

up to London

Royal Wharf Pier offers connections to Greenwich, Canary Wharf and beyond

l The Dockland Settlements aims to provide support to local communities who live close to our centres in Newham, Southwark and Tower Hamlets.

l As a charity we provide sporting, social, recreational and educational activities as well as low cost playcare to help parents go back to work or remain in work.

l The Calder’s Wharf centre opened its doors on the Isle of Dogs in January 2020. It hosts playcare services and its halls are home to a variety of activities for the community including sporting, social, recreational and educational activities. The centre also has a spa room which is used for massages and beauty related activities. Its halls are also available for hire.