By Sarah Speight
The Thames Gateway covers a 40-mile-long, 20-mile-wide swathe of land along the River Thames from Hackney in East London to Sheerness in Kent and Shoeburyness in Essex.
It is the focus of massive regeneration over the next couple of decades – not only will existing towns receive a facelift, but new, sustainable communities will be created. The government has set a target to build 160,000 new homes in the Thames Gateway by 2016, and there are several new developments already built or under construction.
But if you’re looking to buy a new home in this area, where do you start? Check out our selection of new homes available now in the Thames Gateway.
1.The Bridge, Dartford, by George Wimpey
This is the first major mixed-use regeneration project in the Thames Gateway. Designed by Wayne and Gerardine Hemingway, experts in creating sustainable communities and proponents of the ‘communal living’ ethos, the scheme promises to be unconventional and innovative. Launched this month, the scheme is already proving popular - buyers queued overnight to make reservations.
The Bridge will offer more than 1,000 modern, European-style homes, with a layout that encourages the use of outdoor space and prioritises people rather than cars. This 264-acre site is close to Dartford centre, the River Thames and, of course, Bluewater, that shopping and leisure Mecca.
Transport links are good – as well as Dartford station providing rail services to London in around 40 minutes, there is the new Fastrack bus service, which aims to beat congestion and improve local connections, while the A2 and M25 are only a few miles away.
The nearby Ebbsfleet International rail station, due to open this Autumn, will give the area a real boost - services will include fast trains to London (17 minutes) and Stratford, home to the 2012 Olympics (10 minutes).
A range of one, two and three-bedroom apartments (priced from £160,000) and two, three and four-bedroom houses (priced from £225,000) are due for completion from October. Also, 70 affordable homes will be offered through local housing associations Moat and Hyde.
Contact The Bridge on 0845 676 0121.
2. Springhead Park, Ebbsfleet Valley, by Countryside Properties
Just east of Dartford, Ebbsfleet Valley is currently the site of fervent construction work. Springhead Park is the first residential development at Ebbsfleet and will be just five minutes’ walk from the new international railway station (see above).
Work only began on Springhead Park in January, so there’s plenty of time get in early. When finished, the development will offer more than 600 homes, 12 acres of open space and parkland, a community centre, a place of worship, a doctor’s surgery and a primary school.
A mixture of 388 contemporary one and two-bedroom apartments and two, three and four-bedroom houses will be available, with 25% of these to be offered through housing associations as affordable homes. Prices are yet to be announced.
Springhead Park is due to launch this Autumn, with the first properties scheduled to be ready for occupation by March 2008.
Contact Countryside Properties on 01277 697117.
3. Benedicts Wharf, Barking, by George Wimpey
If you can be quick, there are just six apartments left in the final phase of Benedicts Wharf. Located on the River Roding, most apartments boast balconies facing the water, and Barking town centre is within walking distance.
The scheme comprises one and two-bedroom apartments priced from £195,000 and £235,000 respectively, and will be ready for occupation at the end of this year.
The ground floor of Benedicts Wharf will be given over to restaurants, cafes and bars, and the scheme is well-located for shops and transport links. Nearby Barking station offers over-ground and Underground links to London in around 15 minutes, and the M25, M11, North Circular and A13 are all close.
The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham is set for massive investment, including a £1.2bn-transformation of Barking town centre, and the total regeneration of Barking Riverside over the next 20 years.
A new Docklands Light Railway link has been proposed for Barking Riverside, which - if it gets the go-ahead – should open in 2016. Plus, Stratford International station – scheduled for completion in 2010 – is less than three miles from Barking.
Contact Knight Frank on 0207 473 6820 for more information.
4. Edwin Place, Rainham, by Millwood Designer Homes
For a touch of luxury, Edwin Place is a collection of just eight individually designed detached homes. There are just three of these stunners left, two of which have four bedrooms (one has a single garage, the other a double) and a five-bedroom property with a double garage.
Expect exposed timbers, stone lintels and sash windows on the exterior, and high-quality kitchens and bathrooms and lots of gorgeous finishing touches on the inside. The development has a very attractive street layout and nestles in existing, mature woodland.
Local amenities include a Tesco superstore, restaurants and shops. Transport links include Rainham station, which provides services to London in around an hour, and for road transport the A2 and M2 are close.
Rainham is located close to Gillingham, in Kent’s Medway - another key area of regeneration in the Thames Gateway.
Prices at Edwin Place start from £468,000. Contact Millwood Designer Homes on 01634 360288.
5. Woolwich Green, Woolwich, by Countryside Properties
Woolwich Green is a great opportunity for first-time buyers and investors alike. Located at the edge of Woolwich Common, near the slightly more upmarket Greenwich and Blackheath, the area is a promising pocket of southeast London.
Woolwich is another designated regeneration area in Thames Gateway, with a number of improvements to the area already underway. An extension to the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) is planned to run from north Woolwich to Woolwich Arsenal, and is due for completion in 2009.
Transport links are currently less than perfect – it’s a 20-minute bus ride to the nearest train station - but the new DLR link will make Canary Wharf and Central London much more accessible.
The development itself comprises 141 apartments, with one or two bedrooms. The apartments, though compact, are light and airy thanks to floor-to-ceiling glazing, and all have balconies – some with views across the Common towards London.
Parking comes at extra cost, although prices for the apartments are low enough to forgive this, starting at £180,000.
Both first-time buyers and investors get a 5% deposit, stamp duty, legal fees all paid for. Plus, for investors, expected rental yields are given along with advice on what makes a good investment property.
For more details telephone 0845 402 3253.