Breaking The Rental Cycle At Historic Development In Slough

After more than two decades being stuck in the rental cycle, James Frater has been trying to save for a deposit towards buying his first home.

Deliberating when would finally be the right time to bite the bullet, earlier this year his landlord unexpectedly raised his rent by a staggering 40%. This substantial increase proved to be the catalyst he needed to initiate his search for a property to buy. Although he had some flexibility in terms of location, his ideal purchase would be within an hour's commute of his workplace in Moorgate, where he is part of the broadcast events team for a large film and television company. However, his job often requires him to frequently travel for work abroad, so great transport links and close proximity to Heathrow were also key.

James identified a range of commutable areas extending as far as Reading to the West. Beginning with properties in Reading, he gradually worked his way back along the M4, exploring various towns until he reached Slough.

It was at this juncture that his search presented him with the Berkeley development Horlicks Quarter where he found a number of apartments within his budget.

Having considered a few older style properties necessitating renovation, James was thrilled to discover what his budget would buy in this vibrant new community being created on the site of the former and iconic Horlicks Factory.

The Horlicks Factory has been the town’s most recognised and loved icon for over a century. Today, this iconic landmark has been meticulously refurbished to create contemporary apartments taking inspiration from its industrial heritage.

He explains: "I was astonished... I genuinely hadn’t expected to find something in the Horlicks Factory within my price range. I was first struck by the high-end kitchen and bathrooms being installed and the quality of the finish planned for each of the properties. But it was everything else that the Horlicks Quarter development offered that really appealed! The amenities available to residents are truly remarkable. My front door will open onto a floating walkway over the internal atrium gardens, with a glass elevator going up to an amazing roof terrace. I will also have access to a concierge, residents’ lounge, games room, cinema room as well as a gym and secure cycle storage. The real highlight for me though is the co-working space, that will be a couple of floors up from my new apartment.

“Like many people, since the pandemic, I've had the option to work remotely. While I am really looking forward to working in my new living room/dining room, it will be great to have access to a purpose built, shared workspace being created in the original Clocktower. I’ll be able to nip upstairs where I can have a change of scenery and interact with my new neighbours. The location is also perfect in terms of commuting into the office as the transport connections in Slough are great. The station is less than 10 minutes’ walk away, with trains into central London taking just 15 minutes, the Elizabeth line taking me all the way to the city and Heathrow is only a short drive.”

To top it all off, the entire buying process also proved to be a smoother experience than he had anticipated. James adds: “The Berkeley sales team have been exceptional; they have provided support and guidance at every stage of the process, including recommending suitable mortgage lenders and solicitors. They were incredibly patient and supportive while I deliberated over whether entrusting my life savings as the deposit was going to be a sound investment. It was a monumental decision for me, so it had to absolutely be the right choice.”

James is scheduled to move into his new apartment in early January 2024 and is eagerly anticipating the change in lifestyle.

One-, two- and three-bedroom apartments are available from £279,950.

View more developments currently available from Berkeley

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