A first step onto the property ladder at Upcross Gardens
Taking the first step onto the property ladder is not a decision to be taken lightly. In addition to a property to suit their present needs, savvy buyers need to have one eye on the future, and view their new purchase as much as an investment as it is a home. Ritu Kiran, a graduate now working in Management Consultancy, has put this into practice with the purchase of her first home at Upcross Gardens in Reading, with a little fatherly advice to help along the way. Ritu says: “I wanted to get a foot on the property ladder sooner, rather than later, and started the search for a suitable property as soon as I graduated. Location was a major factor - while my job sees me working in central London the majority of the time, I regularly travel to Bristol, Manchester and Birmingham - so good transport links are essential. I’m presently living in Hounslow and I looked in Kingston-on-Thames and Richmond before deciding to look further out of London to try and get more house for my money.
“My dad and I did some research, and Reading seemed to be a great solution. The rail network is fantastic – I can be in London in less than 30 minutes, and the prices stack up well. The town also has a real buzz – it’s cosmopolitan, there’s an excellent shopping centre and when I want to visit friends who are still at Uni in Oxford, I can just hop on a train and be there in less than half an hour.”
While Reading provided the ideal compromise in terms of location, finding a property that ticked all the boxes still took time, as Ritu explains:
“There’s a lot of development going on in Reading and we visited a lot of properties, both new build and second hand, before we found what I was looking for. The problem with the new build apartments was that they tended to be a bit too close to the town centre and too high-rise for my liking - there wasn’t any individuality. On the other hand, while many of the second hand properties had charm, there was too much work involved to get them up to scratch - I want to be able to move straight in and enjoy my new home, not take on a project.”
The perfect solution came in the form of Millgate Homes’ Upcross Gardens, a development of just thirty-nine apartments lying off Berkeley Avenue and centred around the renovation and conversion of an imposing Edwardian building. Ritu says:
“As soon as we saw Upcross Gardens, it felt right. There’s nothing else like it in Reading – it has plenty of character and I love the way the new build elements have been designed to reflect the original building. And while central Reading is within walking distance, it’s far enough away so that you can come home and escape the bustle. The finish of the apartment is also great, and I really liked the fact that I bought early enough to be able to select my own tiles for the kitchen and bathroom, so I’ve been able to put my own touch on the property.”
And while Ritu is looking forward to moving into her new 1 bedroom apartment within the restored ‘Upcross Wing’, her father is happy that she has made the right choice - not only for now, but also for the future. Mr Kiran says:
“I am really pleased with Ritu’s choice – she’s going to have a lovely home of her own, and I’m glad that she’s just a short walk from the station and town centre. I also believe that this is a really strong investment for the future – the development has old-world charm that you don’t often get with new apartments and has real ambiance, so I am sure it will become very sought-after.
“And with a lot of ongoing regeneration work planned, Reading itself looks set to become even more of a popular location for commuters – this is one of the key things that we considered when looking further out of London. We looked at Basingstoke as a potential base, but Reading seemed to have the most going for it, both now and in the future.”
So, what exactly does Reading offer the discerning commuter? The cosmopolitan centre with its host of shops, bars and eateries provides all that residents could wish for within walking distance of Upcross Gardens. In addition to a great nightlife, links to London are excellent, with Reading station offering regular, fast services to London Paddington in as little as 28 minutes*. Meanwhile, the nearby M4 offers access to the national motorway network.
Prices start at £244,950. To see for yourself what all the fuss is about, visit the new Show Apartment open daily from 10am – 4pm. Alternatively, visit Millgatehomes.co.uk for the latest information.
*source: thetrainline.com
