Barratt East London pioneers ‘car clubs’

With the Government calling for better-designed urban development and less reliance on private vehicles, car parking is increasingly being viewed as a waste of precious housing land.

Housebuilder Barratt East London is responding to the changes by pioneering ‘car clubs' which provide smart new ‘pool' cars for the exclusive use of residents from as little as £5.95 per hour including petrol.

Barratt has already introduced new car club schemes at a number of developments in the South East and the latest is at Parkside, a spectacular new landmark apartment development in Wandsworth, London SW18.

Barratt East London managing director Alastair Baird said: "While we always do our utmost to give our customers what they want - and in many cases that includes extensive parking - we have to accept that London and other parts of the South East are these days never far from serious traffic congestion. The Government knows it, we know it and so does much of the homebuying public.

"Urban land is a valuable resource and in specific cases it makes sense to use more of it for quality housing and less for parking cars, especially in urban areas like Wandsworth. Car clubs are a sensible and environmentally-friendly option."

Parkside, which overlooks 55-acre St George's Park, is centred around a 23-storey curved glass tower on the edge of Wandsworth town centre and adjacent to the Southside shopping mall.

When complete, the development will comprise two main elements - a nine-storey lower block and a sleek, curved glass-and-steel tower rising to around 70 metres. Key features of the buildings will be floor-to-ceiling glazing and spacious balconies to most apartments.

Parkside offers just 62 apartments for open market sale, located between the seventh and top floors. All have two bedrooms, two bathrooms and luxury specifications.

The development - which is being built on redundant land off Neville Gill Close - is being undertaken in partnership with English Partnerships, the Government regeneration agency as part of the London Wide Initiative, which aims to increase housing opportunities in the capital. Car parking at the development, which also includes homes for shared ownership and key workers, will be limited to just 46 places, making the car club a real asset for buyers who don't wish to own their own vehicle.

The car club scheme at Parkside is being run by specialist contractor Streetcar, which will supply, maintain and insure the club cars - all brand new VW Golfs - and control the bookings. Use of the club will be open to all residents of Parkside.

Residents pay an annual fee of £49.50 per year, after which they book the car by the hour, using the internet or telephone and unlock the cars using a supplied ‘Streetcard.' The hourly rate £5.95 per hour including petrol, or £49.50 for 24hrs. All bookings include 30 miles free mileage per day.

Said Alastair Baird: "Interestingly, there are many urban professionals who live and work in urban areas for whom cars and parking are not really an issue any more, especially when local public transport is good. They choose to live within easy reach of their work and social lives, and really only need occasional use of a car. For them, car clubs are an ideal, cost-effective way to have a car only when they need it."

Wandsworth's public transport links are excellent, with six underground and eight mainline rail stations. Parkside is around half a mile from Wandsworth Town mainline station (trains to London Waterloo in approximately fifteen minutes) and from East Putney and Southfields tube stations on the District Line.

Stunning two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments are available from seventh floor upwards from £370,000. A sales office and show apartment are now open.

For further information visit Wandsworthparkside.co.uk.

English Partnerships is the Government's national regeneration agency, aiming to deliver high quality, sustainable growth in England by developing its portfolio of strategic projects; acting as the government's specialist advisor on brownfield land; and ensuring that surplus public sector assets are used to support wider government objectives, especially those in the Sustainable Communities Plan. See Englishpartnerships.co.uk to find out more.