Woodberry Park offers a view to a thrill
The view from the upper floors at Woodberry Park must be seen to be believed: a panoramic sweep across a picturesque boating lake, fringed with trees and pleasant paths, towards the majestic skyline of central London, including the city’s latest architectural icon, the Shard. You would expect to pay a premium for this kind of view, yet the price for a room with a view in Genesis’ landmark regeneration project is just £58,750.
It’s not just the value of the property that is boosted by a view: government research shows that a green outlook pays dividends in health and well-being too. In June this year, Defra published the National Ecosystem Assessment (NEA), a government report that placed monetary values on the economic, health and social benefits of the environment. It found that a view onto green space is worth £300 per year in the form of health benefits and the power of nature to lift the spirits.
Moreover, a fine outlook usually comes at a cost. Research by the County Homesearch Company found that homes with a view of a park or green space in central London – such as Woodberry Park – command an average premium of seven per cent. Yet the prices for shared ownership of the two one-bedroom apartments with the great panorama of Woodberry Park average £59,375 – just 25.9% of the £229,000 average price of a similar-sized home in the area*. The other home with a view is a spectacular four-bedroom apartment, available at just £85,000, compared with the £700,000 tag you could pay for an equivalent property*.
The rooms with a view at Woodberry Park are part of Aqua Apartments, a collection of 46 one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments; just five are still available, of which three enjoy the great outlook.
The two one-bedroom apartments are on the second and third floors and have their own private balconies off the generous kitchen/living room. A 25% share is available at £58,750, based on a full market value of £235,000, and £60,000, based on a full market value of £240,000 respectively.
The four-bedroom apartment offers all the deluxe style of penthouse living. Occupying the fifth floor of the block, it boasts a magnificent balcony that runs the full width of the property. It has a cloakroom in addition to its family bathroom, and the principal bedroom has its own dressing room leading off it. At £85,000 for a 25% share, based on a full market value of £340,000, it must be one of the biggest property bargains in town.
Every aspect of Woodberry Park has been designed for ultimate style, comfort and convenience. Interiors are finished to a superior specification, with dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows; sleekly contemporary bathrooms fully tiled with ceramic feature wall and co-coordinating ceramic floor tiling; and fully fitted Indesit appliances in the kitchen. An electronic audio door entry system ensures security and peace of mind, while stylish glass and steel balconies and paved terraces make sure that homeowners enjoy as much time outside as they will inside.
Aqua Apartments are part of the early phases of one of the biggest estate regeneration programmes in the UK, which, when complete, will provide 4,600 homes over 26 hectares of landscaped grounds and comprise a landmark ‘gateway’ development. The spacious, thoughtfully planned accommodation is ideal for singletons, couples and families. Its location, a short walk from Manor House tube station and the beautiful expanses of Finsbury Park, makes it perfect for commuters and those hankering after greenery and open space. And its smart, modern design and careful landscaping will please even the most image-conscious buyer.
Woodberry Park’s prime location on the banks of the New River and West Reservoir mean that sailing, nature trails and an abundance of wildlife are right on the doorstep. Ideal for commuters, the development is just around the corner from Manor House underground station, from where the Piccadilly Line runs services to Finsbury Park in two minutes and King’s Cross St Pancras in ten minutes – ideal for regular Eurostar users – or direct to Heathrow Airport. The Olympic site and the new Westfield Stratford City shopping destination are just 18 minutes away by tube.
Under Genesis’s shared ownership scheme, buyers can purchase between 25% and 75% of a property and pay a subsidised rent on the balance. They can increase their share at any time, all the way to 100% and outright ownership. The scheme, designed to help first-time buyers get on the property ladder, is open to anyone who doesn’t already own a property and is unable to buy a home on the open market. Their household income must be below £60,000 per annum and they will need savings of around £3,500 to cover moving and legal costs.
For more information, visit genesishomes.org.uk.
*Figures from Nestoria.co.uk
