Car-free life sounds good
Homes near to cycleways are becoming a real selling point after lockdown saw a pollution dip, reports DEBORAH STONE
ONE CONSEQUENCE of lockdown that will stay long in many people’s memories is the absence of cars, pollution and noise.the effects were possibly most apparent in London, where the hubbub of non-stop traffic and the fug of exhaust fumes simply disappeared. Birdsong and blue skies were became normal; walking and cycling the only way to travel.
Now, with shops reopening and a return to workplaces, there’s a reluctance to lose that surreal tranquillity. It’s one reason why developers are pushing their car-free and cycle-friendly credentials so strongly.
No matter how many families are now looking to leave London for more spacious houses, there will always be people who want to live in maintenance-free, new-build developments with easy access to the city.
These include Molly Baldwin and CJ Walford, who have bought a flat at Strawberry Star’s new Bronze development in Wandsworth, on the doorstep of Cycleway 8 which leads towestminster.
Although Molly, 23, uses public transport – they are 15 minutes’ walk from East Putneytube,wandsworthtown railway station and Thames Clippers boats at Putney Wharf – her partner CJ, 29, cycles to work.
“My commute to King’s Cross is 50 minutes, door to door, and it’s great for CJ’S cycle into central London,” says Molly.
It’s a real selling point for Bronze’s 77 one, two and three-bedroom apartments and three-bedroom duplexes, which are on sale from £445,000 with Help To Buy available (020 3811 0000; strawberrystar.co.uk).
The new High Street Quarter in Hounslow is near the proposed route of Cycleway 9 and only a five-minute walk from Hounslow Central and Hounslow East Tube stations.
Prices at the development of one, two and three-bedroom homes start from £367,000 (barrattlondon.com), and the area is gaining in popularity thanks to work opportunities.
Ajay Chacko and wife Thanuja have bought their first home at another new Hounslow development, The Assembly, a car-free community of 131 one and twobedroom apartments fewer than 10 minutes’ walk from the Tube station.
“Hounslow is transforming quickly,” says IT worker Ajay. “Many colleagues live in the area because there are many opportunities in our sector. Over the next few years there will be even more, thanks to companies like Sky, IBM and Cisco basing themselves here.”
Apartments at The Assembly are built around a garden square with tree-lined walkways. Ground-floor flats have gardens and there are balconies or roof terraces for upper levels.
Prices start from £320,000 (020 3892 4740; theassembly.london) with Help To
Buy available and Ajay says: “As a family who thought homeowning was out of reach, I’d recommend Help To Buy to anyone.”
Help To Buy was crucial for Navaniita and Ambar Chakrabarty, who moved into an apartment at Elements in Enfield, a Countryside development that includes free car club membership for residents.
“While it took some sacrifices to save up for the deposit, it’s more than paid off.we’re now spending about half as much on the mortgage as what we were paying in rent,” says Navaniita.
One and two-bedroom apartments start from £320,000 (020 3797 1868; elementsenfield.com) at Elements, part of a large regeneration project opposite Ponders End railway station.
Countryside is delivering 993 homes plus community facilities that include a gym and medical centre, office space and shops.
But Navaniita says: “What really attracted us was just how quickly the area is changing – as well as the amazing location for the commute.”