Downsize to life on an island
Making the decision to downsize from a family home does not mean compromising on quality of life. At Riverside Quarter on St Mary’s Island in Chatham, a collection of beautiful waterfront apartments is now available from Countryside Maritime, all within reach of excellent leisure facilities for an active lifestyle.
St Mary’s Island is Britain’s only strategically planned island community and part of Chatham Maritime, the regeneration scheme being sensitively built on part of the Old Naval Dockyard.
With 20 acres of open space linked by footpaths and cycle-ways, there are plenty of opportunities to get outdoors or onto the water. From walking and jogging to sailing and windsurfing there is something for everyone at Riverside Quarter; you can even moor a boat at the nearby marina. And at the end of the day you can relax on your balcony and watch the ever-changing river views.
The beautifully designed apartments at Riverside Quarter offer spacious open plan living with glazed doors opening onto private balconies, providing a great extension to the light-filled living space. The homes are finished to a superb specification and have a range of ‘green’ features that can help to reduce energy costs.
Tony Travers, Managing Director of the New Homes and Communities division of Countryside Properties comments: “The apartments at Riverside Quarter offer an incredibly serene location with fantastic views across the River Medway. This is the perfect choice for people looking to downsize from a larger home but retain a fantastic quality of life. These spacious homes offer open plan living accommodation and each property benefits from a balcony, all of which overlook the water.”
The master bedroom has en-suite facilities and fitted wardrobes. There is also a guest bedroom, and family bathroom. The fully fitted kitchens include contemporary style units with glass splashback to the hob, laminate work surfaces, ceramic flooring and a range of integrated appliances. Bathrooms include white sanitary ware, chrome fittings and ceramic wall and floor tiling.
Designed to achieve Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, the apartments include a photovoltaic system providing solar powered electricity and a mechanical heat recovery system which continuously circulates fresh air throughout the property, whilst extracting heat from the recycled air, both of which help to reduce the homeowner’s energy costs.
The development has everything a thriving community needs, including nearby shops, restaurants and a doctor’s surgery. There is a Community Centre and residents are kept informed of the programme of events and activities through the local Maritime Messenger magazine. Just over the bridge, a wider range of facilities includes shops, restaurants, a multi-screen cinema and a number of leisure facilities.
St Mary’s Island offers easy access to Ebbsfleet International, which offers fast connections into London, with a journey time to Stratford of 12 minutes and St Pancras in 17 minutes. Eurostar services to the Continent include trains to Paris in around two hours. By road, the island is within a short drive of both the A2 and the M2, providing access into London and down to Dover.
The apartments at Riverside Quarter are priced from £185,000 for a two bedroom property. These homes are also available through the ‘Help to Buy’ scheme, the government initiative which enables buyers to purchase a new home with a mortgage of 75% of the cost of the property, provided they can put down a 5% deposit. Those who qualify will be eligible for an equity loan worth up to 20% of the value of the property, funded by the government, which will be interest-free for the first five years. The maximum property price that will be considered is £600,000 and there is no cap on the maximum amount someone can earn to be eligible.
For further sales information, visit riverside-quarter.co.uk.
