Multiple WhatHouse? Award-winner Berkeley is seeing a whole array of buyers attracted to its growing Oval Village in Vauxhall, whether purchasing their very first home, getting themselves a city pied-à-terre or expanding their investment portfolio.
We speak to a few of them to find out what brought them to Oval Village.
Vartan buys his first home
When looking for his first home to buy, 23-year-old Vartan wanted to live near the centre of London but was equally keen that it should be in a green setting and close to gardens and parks. He found the perfect match at Oval Village and was swift to reserve a one-bedroom apartment off-plan in the first phase, Phoenix Court, and will move in when it is finished in 2023.
Vartan, who works as an accountant for a multinational accounting firm, said: “I’m currently sharing a flat in Reading with two other people, and find it tough working from home with so little space. This has made me appreciate getting outside even more. At Oval Village I will have the choice of being able to relax and work outdoors in the residents’ garden or walk to the park.”
He explained: “I am buying my home with financial support from my parents. We decided that it should be in the heart of London, and Oval Village’s Zone 1/Zone 2 location is ideal. We love the buzz of being so close to central London and within easy reach of areas such as Kensington and Chelsea.
“When I move in, I’ll have an easy commute from Oval Village to my company’s head office in Canary Wharf. I currently work in Reading, but when I finish my accountancy exams in two years’ time, I expect to move back to head office to progress my career.”
Quality and value were very important to Vartan and his family: “The show home at Oval Village is stunning – everything looks very luxurious and expensive, but it’s very good value. The facilities – including a gym and swimming pool – are fantastic and there’s also a 24-hour concierge, which is really important for safety and convenience.”
Buying off-plan suits Vartan, as he explained: “I’m happy to wait. It’ll be two years before I need to relocate from Reading to London for work, and it gives my family plenty of time to arrange payment without putting their finances under stress.”
He added: “Berkeley’s service is excellent – my sales consultant has been very thorough and clear in explaining everything and extremely supportive. Berkeley’s Customer Relations team is showing me what the apartment will look like and giving me guidance on colour choices, which is hugely helpful.
“I’m so looking forward to moving into the apartment and having my own space.”
A second home for Peter and Sarah
With a main home in West Sussex and regular visitors to London, Peter and his wife Sarah, both in their 60s, were looking for a pied-à-terre with three major features – quick access to the West End, good security and quiet surroundings. They found what they wanted at Oval Village and have purchased a one-bedroom apartment off-plan.
Peter, a consultant who works from home, explains: “We initially set out to buy an apartment at the lowest price possible, but after a few viewings we realised that we didn’t want to be stuck in a tiny room, even for short stays, and we upgraded our aspirations. We thought it would be a good idea to buy a higher quality apartment off-plan, for maximum value. Oval Village came up during our online search and the location looked ideal. We requested details from Berkeley, visited the show home in January 2020 pre-lockdown and reserved the following month.
“We wanted to be close to the river and to have a quick journey home after visiting central London, without spending a fortune on taxis. Oval is a very attractive area, and the transport links are great; there are two stations within walking distance and bus routes just outside our building, so we can get to the West End quickly and easily.”
“The 24-hour concierge service at Oval Village will be a huge benefit; good security is essential for a lock up and leave apartment and takes away the worry.
“Our apartment is on the 11th floor and we anticipate it will be very quiet. It has the added advantage of great views – from the balcony we will be able to see The Shard and other landmarks in the distance, which add to the atmosphere of a London home.”
“We haven’t bought a property from Berkeley before, but know that they are a reputable high-end developer,” commented Peter. “The finish of the show apartment was very good. The service we’ve received from Berkeley has been fantastic.”
“Berkeley’s plan to create a development with a village feel, and surrounded by gardens, appeals to us very much.”
An investment property for David
David, 53, is director of a property advisory company in London, has bought a two-bedroom apartment in Phoenix Court, the first phase of Oval Village. This is his second investment property; his first property is a terraced cottage in a small village in Surrey.
He said: “I had wanted to buy an apartment in London for some years but was biding my time waiting for the right opportunity; it needed to offer good value now but also with a good prospect of capital growth in the medium to long term, to create wealth and an income stream in retirement.”
“I looked at various schemes from different developers in areas such as Bermondsey, Southwark and Battersea, but felt that Vauxhall is an emerging location and represents better value for money. My decision to buy at Oval Village was influenced by the high quality of the development together with the location, accessibility and potential for growth. Quite simply, Oval Village ticked all the boxes.”
“Transport links were definitely an important consideration in the buying decision. Oval Village is very well connected with three stations, both underground and national rail, in close proximity. My family lives south of London, and Vauxhall is easily accessed by car as well as train.”
“The green space and parks around Oval Village were not immediate considerations in my decision to buy, but are very important in the longer term, together with other amenities including the food store on the ground floor, the on-site concierge, gym and pool. These all add greatly to the appeal of the development.”
“I don’t plan to live in Oval Village myself, certainly not full-time, but the apartment may be used by my family, when visiting or working in London. It also has very good rental potential, and if I decide to rent, I anticipate and would be happy with generating a yield of around 4%.”
“Buying off-plan was not a concern because Berkeley is a highly reputable high-end developer and a robust company that I expect to be around in the long-term. In addition, I have complete confidence in the quality of the homes that Berkeley delivers.”
“The buying process is progressing very well. The team at Berkeley is extremely helpful and keeps in close touch with updates and reminders. It’s early days, and it will be a couple of years before Phoenix Court is complete, but from my experience and what I have learned about the scheme, I would be happy to recommend Oval Village to other prospective investors.”
Situated by the famous Oval cricket ground, Oval Village will comprise a collection of Manhattan, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments with a host of on-site facilities including a gym, luxury swimming pool, residents' lounge, private residents' cinema, work space and 24-hour concierge.
First phase, Phoenix Court, is set in extensive landscaped gardens with access to a private roof terrace. The south core of Phoenix Court will be 16 storeys tall and offer both north and south views across to The City and to the Oval Cricket Ground. Juniper Gardens is set over 16 storeys set around a landscaped central garden.
Less than a ten-minute walk away from Oval Village are three Tube stations, with three parks and the River Thames also a stroll away.
The current homes for sale in Phoenix Court and Juniper Gardens at Oval Village are priced from £585,000 to £1.56million. The site is open to visitors daily 10.00am to 6.00pm (10.00am to 8.00pm on Thursdays). Find out more from Berkeley.
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