The WhatHouse? team recently visited the High Street Quarter development in Hounslow to ask what our hosts Danny Farenden (projects director), Jane Hunt (field sales manager) and Nathan Smith (senior project manager - regeneration, construction) of Barratt London believe are the ten best reasons to buy a new home there.
Reason 1: It’s 11 minutes to Heathrow Airport.
It’s just 11 minutes on the Tube from Hounslow Central to Heathrow Terminals 1-3 on the Piccadilly line. Airport staff and pilots have already been showing great interest in the first new homes on sale here (in phase one, over 65% are sold, including all three-bedroom apartments, with one- and two-bedroom plots still available). Whether for work or travel, it’s easy to get to London’s largest airport.
Reason 2: It’s creating a new central hub.
In addition to the 528 apartments being built at High Street Quarter, there will also be new shops, cafés, restaurants and a 10-screen Cineworld. A new public square is being created with characterful pedestrian links to surrounding streets.
Reason 3: Its town centre location.
These new homes are on the doorstep of Hounslow’s town centre, which has plenty of places to shop and eat, including an Asda Superstore and popular market, in addition to practical places like banks, gyms and doctors’ surgeries. Hounslow Central and Hounslow East stations are both very close, and there are numerous bus services to places like Heathrow, Twickenham, Isleworth and Surbiton.
Reason 4: It offers great-value properties.
Prices at High Street Quarter currently start at £344,000 for a one-bedroom apartment and £422,000 for a two-bedroom apartment. All homes come with private outside space, and access to residents-only landscaped gardens, and there are 568 storage areas for bikes and motorcycles. There are a limited number of lower basement parking spaces for selected apartments. 59% of the development is properties for private sale, the rest will be housing available via Shared Ownership and affordable rent.
Reason 5: London Help to Buy is available.
The government-backed London Help to Buy scheme can be used to purchase a new build home priced up to £600,000. Open to all buyers, not just first-timers, it requires a 5% deposit and provides a 40% equity loan (interest-free for five years), with a mortgage needed for the remaining 55%. For a one-bedroom apartment priced £344,000, you’d need a deposit of £17,200 and the government will provide a Help to Buy loan of £137,600, leaving you requiring a mortgage of £189,200.
Reason 6: Barratt has a 5-star HBF rating.
The Home Builders Federation publishes its National New Homes Customer Satisfaction Survey (CSS) every year, which asks new homes buyers a number of questions about the quality of their home and the service they have had from the housebuilder. If a company would be recommended by over 90% of its customers, it is given a top 5-star rating. Barratt Developments, which includes Barratt Homes, Barratt London and David Wilson Homes brands, received its 10th successive 5-star rating in March 2019.
Reason 7: We’re a marketing-leading developer.
Barratt Homes built its first development in London in 1982 and currently delivers over 1,500 new homes to the capital every year. Ed McCoy, sales and marketing director for Barratt West London, comments “Barratt London is dedicated to delivering outstanding homes across the capital. High Street Quarter is a great example of how we are in the process of transforming Hounslow to not only create many new homes but create jobs and boost the economy.”
Reason 8: We’re committed to customer service and exceptional homes.
Ed McCoy explains: “At Barratt London, we are committed to delivering a ‘5-star builder’ service to our customers. This means that we listen to our customers needs, provide practical advice and arrange support when needed. Barratt London don’t just build high-quality houses, we create homes.”
Reason 9: We’re the UK’s biggest housebuilder.
Building high-quality, new build homes since 1958, Barratt Developments is the largest housebuilder in the nation. It creates homes across the entirety of the UK, with a wide variety of developments suitable for a range of budgets and requirements, from apartments ideal for first-time buyers to large, spacious homes for growing families.
Reason 10: We have more Pride in the Job award winners than any other housebuilder.
The National House-Building Council (NHBC) presents annual Pride in the Job awards, recognising the skills of site managers at new homes building sites around the UK. With around 16,000 of them around the UK, just 450 win a prize in the first round – and this year, Barratt Developments won a record 84 of them.
In fact, High Street Quarter’s project director Danny Farenden has won multiple Pride in the Job awards. He comments: “I’m delighted to have won multiple Pride in the Job awards throughout my career with Barratt London, it’s a pleasure to work with so many talented staff across projects. High Street Quarter is no different and I’m excited to see the impact that this regeneration project is going to have on the wider area”.
Prices at High Street Quarter currently start at £344,000 for a one-bedroom apartment and £422,000 for a two-bedroom apartment. Proposed initial annual ground rent and estimated service charges covering the apartment blocks and the estate are:
- One-bedroom home – ground rent £350, service charge £1,750 to £1,920
- Two-bedroom home – ground rent £450, service charge £2,310 to £2,435
- Three-bedroom home – ground rent £550, service charge £3,010 to £3,275
The marketing suite is open on Monday from 12.30pm to 5.30pm, and Tuesday to Sunday, 10.00am to 5.30pm
Find out more here or by calling 0333 210 0076. Please tell the team there you heard about it through Whathouse.com.
All our new homes in Greater London can be found here.