Live the island dream at the next phase on St Mary’s Island
The eagerly-awaited next phase of island homes at St Mary’s Island, the new community created by award-winning developer Countryside and the Homes and Communities Agency, have started selling off-plan with a number of reservations already been taken. On the site of the former Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent, the homes at Azure benefit from some of the best views that the development has seen so far including green open-space, picturesque Upnor Castle and across the River Medway.
Redeveloped into Britain's first and only strategically planned island community, St Mary's Island currently has over 1,300 homes with a mix of downsizers, families and young couples calling it home. Parklands, the first phase of new homes at Azure comprises of a selection of three to five bedroom houses. Situated to the north of the unique 150-acre island, the homes sit on the edge of this sustainable community, but with everything still within easy walking distance, including a doctors’ surgery, community centre, church and primary school. Approximately 20 acres of open space have also been incorporated into the island’s design, linked by footpaths and cyclepaths.
Iain McPherson, Director of Countryside Maritime comments: “We have seen people registering their interest in the new homes at Azure as early as 2013 when we finished selling the last phase at the Fishing Village. Much of this interest has come from people already living on the island who are looking to trade up, and other locals who have missed out on previous phases who still aspire to live on the island. The development is also attracting first-time buyers from London looking for more value for money and an idyllic, riverside location with a better quality of life, but still with a fast commute into London.”
The homes at Azure boast inspirational contemporary architecture with bold colours, timber cladding, sun decks and steeply pitched roofs. Internally, all of the properties will be finished to an excellent specification with energy-efficient qualities providing low running costs and integrated appliances.
Residents at Azure will enjoy a host of facilities available on St Mary’s Island, including an eclectic range of bars, restaurants and other amenities in Jetty 5. In addition, there is also a great range of facilities at the Dockside Outlet Shopping Centre adjacent to the bridge leading onto the island, including a pub, supermarket and over 70 retail outlets. Other restaurants, shops and leisure activities including a multiplex cinema are all within easy reach.
Ideally located to enjoy the greatly enhanced transport connections in North Kent, St Mary’s Island is just 13 minutes by car from the new station at Rochester which opened in December 2015, where high-speed services offer journey times of just 38 minutes into London St Pancras. Ebbsfleet International is also just a 20 minute drive away, where trains to Stratford take just 12 minutes, St Pancras in 17 minutes and Eurostar services to Paris in around two hours. There is also the Kings Ferry coach, which transports commuters direct from St Mary’s Island to Canary Wharf in less than an hour, the City in one hour and 20 minutes and Westminster in an hour and a half. By road, the island is within a short drive of both the A2 and the M2, providing access into London and down to Dover.
Off-plan sales are now underway from Island Homes Estate Agents on Pier 5. Prices range from £370,000 to £490,000. Help to Buy is also available on selected properties. To register your interest, visit stmarysisland.uk.com.
