From Sunday 6 November, the Elizabeth line running from Shenfield and Abbey Wood to Reading and Heathrow takes another big step forward and puts the focus on the route’s appeal as a place to live – and the extensive range of brand new homes available in these towns and suburbs.
With the new timetable, trains from Shenfield, Essex, which currently terminate at Liverpool Street, will run through the city to Paddington. In addition, the Abbey Wood branch that currently runs to Paddington will extend out to Reading and Heathrow.
As the line approaches full operational service with the opening of Bond Street station, home-seekers are once again looking at the benefits the line brings with its state-of-the-art trains whisking people on speedy, frequent services that have dramatically improved the journey times from east to west of the capital.
In the first part of our review of the current range of new homes for sale and rent along the line, we start in the east and look at some of the station stops on the routes from Shenfield and Abbey Wood to Liverpool Street.
Shenfield
41 Shenfield Road is development of just nine two- and three-bedroom luxury apartments under a mile from Shenfield station and the town’s range of shops and amenities. These spacious properties come with air conditioning and a high specification throughout. Currently, a two-bedroom, two-bathroom property at this scheme is priced at £850,000. Find out more at russellquirk.com.
1023 West
Brentwood
1023 West is a collection of contemporary one- and two-bedroom apartments from Weston Homes, a multiple winner of prestigious WhatHouse? Awards. These news homes are under a mile from the station and a host of shops, bars and restaurants. Prices start at £265,000, with selected properties available through a Discount Market Sale (DMS) scheme which offers 20% off the open-market price (terms and conditions apply). Find out more.
A 20-minute walk from the station, Fairview New Homes in constructing one- and two-bedroom apartments alongside two- and three-bedroom houses at Brentwood Acres. Home of the Week here is Apartment 132, called ‘The Celandine’ and priced at £407,000. This two-double-bedroom, two-bathroom home has a 21ft open-plan kitchen/living/dining area which opens onto a private balcony. There’s also allocated parking. Find out more at www.fairview.co.uk.
Warley HQ is a development of 330 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments on the former site of the headquarters of the Ford Motor Company. Facilities include a house manager, a yoga room, gym, communal gardens, on-site café and a range of flexible workspaces. Prices start from £267,500 for a one-bedroom apartment and £355,000 for a two-bedroom apartment. Find out more at [email protected].
Harold Wood
Herald Court comprises just six two-bedroom apartments situated opposite Harold Wood station, with a great choice of shops and places to eat and drink on the doorstep. The development has a residents’ roof terrace. A two-bedroom apartment here starts at £425,000 and features a fully fitted kitchen, a private balcony, secure entry system and an en suite to bedroom one. Find out more at www.delaneyproperties.co.uk.
Bellway is inviting interest is a brand new development launching this winter. Located in Harold Hill, under two miles from Harold Wood station (around 8 minutes by car, 34 minutes on foot), Roe Wood Park will offer one-, two- and three-bedroom property types to appeal to a range of prospective purchasers. Prices are yet to be announced. Find out more at www.bellway.co.uk.
Lita Mews
Romford
Lita Mews is coming soon to Junction Road, just a ten-minute walk from Romford station. It’s an exclusive collection of just nine contemporary-design two- and three-storey three-bedroom houses. Each comes with private garden/terrace and parking. Prices start at around £600,000. Find out more at www.litahomes.co.uk.
Goodmayes
Last year, plans were approved for Weston Homes to build 1,280 new homes at Tesco Goodmayes and a new entrance for the station. The project will also deliver a brand new primary school. This mixed-use development is called Lorimer Village and the plans include 14 residential towers, with some 35% of homes to be classed as ‘affordable’ in different tenures. Find out more about current Weston Homes developments.
Forest Gate
Just a few minutes’ walk from the station is Upton Lofts from developer GS8. It’s an Art Deco-style boutique development of 10 apartments and three houses, a mixture of one-, two- and three-bedroom homes. A one-bedroom apartment here is priced from £400,000. Find out more at www.stowbrothers.com.
Stratosphere Tower
Stratford
Stratosphere Tower is one of the popular Built to Rent developments in the Stratford area. It offers a host of different apartment styles, from studios to penthouses, suiting an array of needs and budgets. Residents have a 24-hour concierge service, private, roof-top gymnasium and Wi-Fi lounge. A two-bedroom apartment is available from £3,100pcm. Find out more.
Taylor Wimpey is nearly sold out at Phase 4 of Chobham Manor, part of the development in the Olympic Park, under a mile from Stratford station. 98% of the properties are sold, but there’s a final chance to purchase a one-bedroom apartment with the remaining homes starting at £450,000. They come with a high standard specification and their own private outside place. Find out more at www.taylorwimpey.co.uk.
Abbey Wood
Southmere is part of a major regeneration of the Thamesmead estate and is close to the lake and Southmere Park. It’s just a 10-minute walk to Abbey Wood station. Peabody has a great range of properties available through Shared Ownership at Crane Court: one-bedroom homes start at £95,250 for a 30% share(full market value £317,500), two-bedroom apartments start at £121,500 for a 30% share (full market value £405,000) and three-bedroom apartments start at £160,500 for a 30% share (full market value £535,000). Find out more at www.peabodysales.co.uk.
Royal Arsenal Riverside
Woolwich
Royal Arsenal Riverside is a massive, successful development from multiple WhatHouse? Award-winning Berkeley Group. On the doorstep of Woolwich station and a host of shops, amenities and eateries, currently for sale are a range of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments priced from £542,500 to £920,000, some ready to move into. There’s a 1km riverside walk and residents-only luxury spa and gym facilities. Find out more.
Custom House
Just over a mile from the station, Redrow has just a few homes still for sale at Pontoon Reach, with one-bedrooms priced from £387,500 to £450,000. Set in the Royal Docks area, it’s also convenient for DLR services and numerous on-the-doorstep shops, services and entertainment venues, as well as the green space of Thames Barrier Park. Find out more at www.redrow.co.uk.
Part of the same development, Peabody is offering a number of brand new homes on the Shared Ownership scheme. There’s a concierge service and a communal rooftop garden. Two- and three-bedroom homes start from £118,375 for a 25% share (full market value £473,500). Find out more at www.peabodysales.co.uk.
South Quay Plaza
Canary Wharf
Awarded Gold for Best Large Housebuilder at the WhatHouse? Awards 2021, Berkeley Homes builds across GreaterLondon and one of its current sites is South Quay Plaza. Surrounded by 2.6 acres of landscaped gardens, this Foster + Partners-designed tower has a residents’ club lounge and terrace on the 56th floor. There’s a 24-hour concierge service and residents become exclusive members of The Quay Club. Prices for the remaining apartments currently range from £763,000 to £1.8625million. Find out more.
Under a mile from Canary Wharf station is New Union Wharf. Here, L&Q currently has a range of one- and two-bedroom apartments for sale through Shared Ownership. Prices start at £98,125 for a 25% share (based on full market price £392,500). Each home comes with a private balcony and there’s a landscaped garden, children’s play area and a riverside walkway to share. Find out more at lqhomes.com.
Vertus is a landmark Built to Rent development offering a choice of luxurious studios and one- to three-bedroom apartments served by a round-the-clock concierge service. Facilities include a range of social areas such as terraces, lounges and self-service bars, as well as private spaces to hire for parties or meetings. There’s an events calendar too, creating a real sense of community. Find out more at www.thisisvertus.com.
The Silk District
Whitechapel
The Silk District is a collection of high-specification studios and one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments set across three buildings, complemented by flexible working spaces, a gym and spin room, café, cinema room and roof terrace. Residents are served by a 24-hour concierge. The final homes are currently for sale at the 25-storey tower, The Bouchon. Prices range from £587,000 to £738,500. Find out more at mountanvil.com.
Calico Lofts is a development of just five two-bedroom loft-style apartments, on the site of a former warehouse. This history is reflected in the design, which includes dog-tooth exposed brickwork, frameless glazing and copper cladding. Prices on application. Find out more at www.calicolofts.co.uk.
Just a ten-minute walk from Whitechapel station (and 12 minutes to Liverpool Street), The Osborn Apartments from developer Goldenstone is a warehouse-style development of just 15 new apartments with one-, two-and three-bedroom units, including a three-bedroom penthouse. Architecturally, it has a modern take on its industrial past. Features include Crittall-style windows, high ceilings and open-plan layouts. Some of the properties have a private balcony. Prices currently start at £575,000. Find out more at www.goldenstone.co.uk.
One Bishopsgate Plaza
Liverpool Street
The Sky Residences at One Bishopsgate Plaza, on Houndsditch, are part of a luxury tower just moments from Liverpool Street station, firmly in the heart of The City. The private properties are located on Levels 21-41, meaning residents can have panoramic views and benefit from five-star hotel à la carte services and amenities including a gym, Mindfulness Studio and sauna/steam rooms, a fourth-floor swimming pool, exclusive private lounge bar, library and meeting rooms, and a Sky Terrace on Level 34. Prices of the available homes right now range from £1.325million to £3.92million. Find out more at onebgp.com.
The Stage in Shoreditch is only a five-minute walk from Liverpool Street. It’s a major development bringing 412 private residential apartments rising to 37 storeys, as well as commercial and retail space, and places to eat and drink in neighbouring buildings, right on the doorstep. There’s a 24-hour concierge and first-class facilities on-site including a gym, a bowling alley and games room, two private cinemas, business spaces to hire and a 32nd-floor sky lounge and terrace. Prices on application. Find out more at www.thestageshoreditch.com.
Developments in our title image, clockwise from top left: 1023 West; Brentwood Acrs; Upton Lofts; 41 Shenfield Road; Royal Arsenal Riverside; Vertus; Chobham Manor; Warley HQ.