WhatHouse? On Tour: Temple Wharf, Strood

WhatHouse? recently left the office behind and went to visit a new homes development first-hand, Redrow Homes’ Temple Wharf development in Strood, Kent. 

As its name suggests, it’s a collection of homes in a waterside location on the north-western side of the River Medway, opposite Rochester. The view along and across the water will be a major selling point for many. 

We’re welcomed by regional sales director Rachael Baillie, who takes us through in detail the plans for the development. One of the two show homes is an apartment reached via the marketing suite in Riverside House. It’s a one-bedroom apartment, fully designed and decorated by Redrow’s Emma Brindley and Show Business Interiors, and combining the impressive standard specification (including the fully fitted kitchen, built-in wardrobes to the master bedroom and a separate laundry/storage space) with some upgrade options including, flooring throughout, a dishwasher and a demister bathroom cabinet.

Through the front door and up the hallway, the master bedroom is to the right, a double bedroom with fitted wardrobes and with a large window making it well-lit even on the grey morning we were there. Opposite is the bathroom, a comfortable size with a nice combination of fittings and tiles.  

The end of the hallway opens up into the open-plan kitchen/dining/living room. With the kitchen and its range of appliances at one end, the rest of the room is open to the buyer’s choice of layout, with room to organise furniture around personal preference rather than limited options.  

There are double doors leading out to one of the key features to these homes, the generously sized private balcony, which has room for seating, tables and plants and is much more than a token space. 

The development is bringing a real variety of homes to the area, and around three-quarters of the homes in the first phase m here have already been purchased, many off-plan. Currently for sale are apartments, with a two-bedroom property priced from £254,995 in Riverside Court, a three-storey building facing the Medway. The layout of each unit makes the most of this sought-after position, with a spacious kitchen/living room leading out to a sizeable private balcony. The next phase of homes will bring a collection of three- and four-bedroom houses to the market. 

Rachael said: “The apartments at Temple Wharf are ideal for young aspiring professionals and right-sizers looking for a beautiful yet convenient location. It has been fantastic seeing each customer move in to their new home and the new community taking shape. In the summer months the riverside plaza will be a great space for people to meet and enjoy the riverside view.”

Houses from a previous phase are already completed and buyers are moving in. A walk around the site gives a real impression of exterior design and how the development as a whole is set out, including its completed play area for youngsters. There’s also some landscaping taking place that provides an attractive space between the riverside path and the development itself. 

Strood, along with its Medway neighbours, is taking off not just for its rich history and the appeal of riverside living, but also through the practicality of a High Speed rail link into London St Pancras (a journey time of 33 minutes) to complement the standard North Kent Line services into Charing Cross. Strood station is 1.5 miles from Temple Wharf – about an eight-minute drive, 11-minute cycle ride or a 30-minute walk. The M2 is on the doorstep. 

Very close to Temple Wharf are a number of eateries and leisure facilities, and the High Street is just four minutes away by car (under 20 on foot). Within 20 minutes on the road are Dartford and Maidstone, with Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells and Canterbury between 30 and 60 minutes away. The branch line from Strood station makes a day out in a picturesque village in the North Downs a great option too. 

To find out more about the current and future properties at Temple Wharf, the large marketing suite has all the information a potential buyer might be looking for, with a traditional, physical model of the development to look at in addition to an interactive digital platform to look at details of each unit, and brochures and information sheets to take away.  

The team can also explain the purchase assistance schemes available, Help to Buy and Help to Sell. Help to Buy is the well-known government-backed equity loan scheme requiring a 5% deposit and a 75% mortgage and open to both first-time buyers and homeowners. Help to Sell is Redrow’s own scheme to take the hassle out of moving home, taking over the administration of the valuation and sale of your existing property and paying a contribution to the agent’s fees. 

Redrow is currently WhatHouse? Housebuilder of the Year – the most prestigious title in the new homes industry – and last year celebrated building its 100,000th home since it was founded in 1974. On the most recent Home Builders Federation’s Customer Satisfaction Survey, Redrow has been given a 5-star rating for buyers happy with their own buying experience and willing to recommend to others. 

The Redrow sales team at Temple Wharf is available Monday to Sunday from 10.00am to 5.30pm and an appointment can be booked in advance on 01634 934131.