Buyer enjoys refreshing taste of home ownership in Barking

First time home owner Wendy Wang knows for sure that she’ll appreciate the location of her new two-bedroom apartment – because she’s been living there for the last 12 months!

City worker Wendy Wang has just bought a property in The Lemonade Building, the fourth and final phase of Redrow’s innovative Barking Central regeneration scheme, having been a tenant in one of the earlier phases for the past year.

Wendy moved to London two years ago from New Zealand for a job relocation. She now works for a financial services company in the City.

Said Wendy: “I couldn’t afford to buy a property of my own so have been renting since I moved to London. Although some people told me that Barking wasn’t the most sophisticated place, personally I think it’s a great area to live.

“The regeneration zone where this development sits is really quite charming and it’s so convenient with five different supermarkets close by and lots of other shops. The station is very near and I can be at my desk in the city, door to door, inside 30 minutes.”

Wendy has used Redrow’s ‘easi:buy’ incentive to purchase a two-bedroom property in The Lemonade Building, which has allowed her to defer 25% of the purchase price for up to 10 years without any interest to pay.

“Without this help I would have found it much more difficult to get onto the property ladder, especially as it meant I only had to find a small deposit to put down on my flat,” she added.

“I think buying at Barking Central is a great investment; this area of East London - Stratford, West Ham and Barking - has got great potential for price growth and I’ve got in at a low entry point while regeneration is still in full flow.”

Wendy also loves that her apartment is brand new and will require very little looking after: “I’m a busy professional and at this stage of my life I don’t want to be worrying about decorating or refurbishing a property. I think most young professionals like me would prefer a new property to old, everything is clean, shiny and new; you can just move in and get on with your life. In addition, it is safe and convenient because it has 12 hours of concierge services each day to sign for post, etc.

“The properties at Barking Central are very modern and enjoy a high specification, there’s also outdoor space, landscaping and some nice sunny aspects.”

The 17-storey Lemonade Building – so named because it’s close to the site of the former R. White’s lemonade factory – features 136 one and two-bedroom apartments, on the doorstep of the Thames Gateway. It’s 19 minutes from the 2012 Olympic Village, 20 minutes by train from Canary Wharf, 15 minutes from Fenchurch Street and 33 minutes from Waterloo.

Residents benefit from a concierge service, while a new Tesco store, state of the art library and lifelong learning centre, NHS facilities and a theatre are on the door step. There’s also a specially created arboretum planted with 40 mature trees, all right in the heart of Barking’s regenerated town centre.

One and two-bedroom apartments boast balconies and contemporary kitchens in gloss black and white or walnut and cream, with fully integrated appliances including oven, hob and extractor, fridge-freezer, washer/dryer and dishwasher. Two-bedroom properties enjoy the luxury of en-suite to master bedroom.

Current prices start from just £112,500* for a one-bedroom apartment using Redrow ‘easi:buy’, which allows purchasers to defer the 25% developer contribution interest-free for up to 10 years.

Show homes are open daily. For more information log on to barkingcentral.com.

* Based on a purchase price of £149,995, less 25% easi:buy contribution, giving an initial purchase price of £112,500.