Rest And Relaxation Up On The Roof At Upton Gardens
The spacious roof garden at Barratt London’s Upton Gardens has been one of the most enjoyable features of moving home, according to new resident Susanne Becker.
Susanne is a quantity surveyor who is semi-retired and works part-time as a consultant. She recently moved into a one-bedroom second floor apartment at the development in Upton Park, E13, and is now enjoying plenty of time outside.
She had owned her own maisonette in West Hampstead for 30 years, so it wasn’t easy deciding to make a change. “It was a bit of a shock realising I was now 65,” she admitted. “The main thing that persuaded me to move was that the maisonette was on the second and third floors with no lift and as I’m getting older it wasn’t ideal longer term.”
No longer working every day and spending more time in her apartment, also made Susanne crave some outdoor space – but she didn’t want to buy a ground floor flat for security reasons.
“I love the balcony in my apartment, but the communal roof terrace on top of the building is perfect for me,” she said. “I’m training in tai chi and I can go up there in the evening to practice and usually find there’s no one else up there. The views over the city are splendid – absolutely breathtaking. On days when I don’t go out to work, I can go up the stairs and walk around the roof garden and enjoy some exercise while looking at the brilliant views.
“It’s quite a large area, with paving, decking, artificial grass and green roof sections. There are two sets of tables with benches and a planted area with a tree. You can go up there and sit and read a book or eat your lunch – it was a real attraction for me. There’s a maintenance charge, but personally, I think it’s perfectly reasonable as the gardens are well maintained and the communal areas are all kept clean and tidy.”
Despite her career in the construction industry, Susanne is no fan of getting her hands dirty. “I really wanted a new build as I’m not great at DIY,” she admitted. “I’m good at the theory but not at the practice! The rooms are pretty spacious for a new build and I was pleasantly surprised how generously sized it is.”
When Susanne first started looking at Upton Gardens she wasn’t sure if the area appealed to her, but, she said, “I kept being drawn back over and over again because the flats were so very nice. I like the configuration. It has one bedroom, like my previous home, but what was a really pleasant surprise was that it also has a store room, which is a great as I have rather a lot of stuff. The living room is open-plan with the kitchen at one end – I know that is the trend because I have worked on some very high-end flats in Canary Wharf and they have similar open-plan kitchens.”
She has found herself enjoying the eclectic vibe of Upton Park, which is being regenerated by the Barratt London development on the old Boleyn football ground. “I have definitely warmed to it,” she says. “I’ve found my feet in the area and there are hidden gems, like the local independent bookshop around the corner which is very good. I’ve also found the Womens Institute and got stuck in there. It’s really quick to get to Canary Wharf for the big Waitrose and transport is easy as we’re on the District and the Hammersmith & City Lines.”
According to Pam Reardon, sales and marketing director at Barratt East London: “Health and wellbeing is an important aspect of life at Upton Gardens. As well as the spacious rooftop gardens to help people relax, residents also have access to a gym where they can burn off some stress and keep fit. Having access to fitness facilities on site – whether it’s the space to practice yoga or tai chi in the open air, or the latest cross-trainers in the gym – is a great help for busy people who struggle to find the time to work out.”
Upton Gardens is located in Zone 3, the development is a short walk from Upton Park Tube station which has services to Liverpool Street in 15 minutes and the West End in 31 minutes. Westfield Stratford, the fourth-largest shopping centre in the UK, is just 11 minutes away, but local food shopping is right on the doorstep as Upton Gardens is set on bustling Green Street which has fruit and veg stalls, bakeries, independent shops and restaurants with food from around the world.
When completed, Upton Gardens will comprise 842 one- to four-bedroom homes, along with a proposed café and car club. Properties currently available start from £367,000 for a one-bedroom apartment with a private balcony.
Find out more about Upton Gardens from Barratt London.
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