Lewisham – In the zone for style and value

The London Underground’s Zone 2 is a dramatic series of contrasts – to its north and west, the “Millionaire’s row” suburbs of Fulham, Hampstead, Kensington and Notting Hill provide tree-lined serenity. A perfect counterpoint to this is the grittier, more urban feel of Brixton and Clapham to the south, and the pristine elegance of glass-draped Docklands to the east.

The contrasts extend to more than just the feel of the neighbourhoods however, but also to the prices. What if you want the convenience of living in Zone 2, only a few minutes’ train ride from the centre of town, but without the high prices of Kensington, or the city slicker prices of Docklands?

So far little touched by the property boom that swept the nearby Docklands and Greenwich, Lewisham, tucked quietly away at the end of the Docklands Light Railway and on the mainline to London Bridge, is one of the next big opportunities for those looking to take advantage of increased affordability coupled with the promise of impressive regeneration plans.

As part of Lewisham’s regeneration, a huge number of new shops, restaurants, bars and cafes are planned for the area, as well as a multi-screen cinema, new urban park and town square. Residents will also benefit from the project’s plans for an improved road layout including uninterrupted pedestrian access from the rail and bus stations and high street.

Yet, despite all this planned development, the area’s potential as a base for upwardly mobile young professionals is relatively untapped. Lewisham is close to Maritime Greenwich with excellent transportation links to the South Bank, the Tate Modern and the West End. The area is served directly by the railway network from Charing Cross, Waterloo East and Cannon Street and is only 8 minutes from London Bridge.

One developer that has seen the area’s potential is St James Urban Living, whose Silkworks residential scheme will provide 330 city suites, and one and two bedroom apartments in the area.

A striking redevelopment of a former silk mill site, set in landscaped grounds, Silkworks has seen great interest from owner-occupiers and investors alike. Ideal for first-time buyers, young couples and city executives, the scheme comprises a collection of well-appointed and designed apartments within a modern ten level building located close to Elverson Road DLR station.

Many apartments have balconies or roof terraces, providing cool, contemporary urban oases. Interiors have been intelligently crafted for today’s modern lifestyles with designer kitchens and areas for living and entertaining. Energy efficient kitchen appliances, low water-use bathroom fittings, solar thermal hot water and low energy-use light fittings are used throughout. Large windows in light and spacious rooms, finishes of the highest order and specifications of an exceptional standard combine to complete the offering at Silkworks.

Ideal for the time-conscious commuter, Silkworks is also located just 250 metres from Elverson Road DLR station, which offers journey times to Canary Wharf of 15 minutes and Bank underground station of 25 minutes.

Catherine Oliphant, Head of Sales and Marketing for St James Urban Living comments: “Affordability in London, even for the upwardly mobile young professional can be a problem these days, so it really is time for buyers to start looking at areas of the city that are relatively untapped.

“Silkworks provides the kind of city living combination of style and convenience that younger buyers crave, and even though you’ve got great transport links on your doorstep, massive regeneration on the way, and an extremely stylish specification, prices at Silkworks are still very reasonable.”

Prices at Silkworks start from £199,000 for a city suite. To register your interest, visit the marketing suite on Deals Gateway, off Blackheath Road, SE13 7SE, or log onto Silkworkslondon.co.uk.