GREEN HOMES
CASE STUDY
ERITH The Quarry
5% deposits are available from £12,500
In the heart of Erith is The Quarry, a landmark
development comprising 849 homes delivered by L&Q and Anderson on the site of a disused quarry. This new neighbourhood has been designed as a beacon for sustainable urban living by maximising fabric ef ciency, adopting low or zero carbon renewable technology and developing green spaces that increase biodiversity. Each home continues to adopt sustainable design measures to signi cantly reduce CO2 emissions by 73% over the Government’s Part L 2013 document. These measures include an energy-ef cient building fabric including thick insulation to the oors, walls and roofs, double or triple glazing in the windows, low-energy lighting, and ef cient heating and ventilation systems. All homes are provided with heating and hot water via air source heat pumps, a system that signi cantly cuts reliance on fossil fuel heating by absorbing heat from the air outside and transferring it to heat inside the home. Alongside the pumps, all houses come with photovoltaic panels, which convert light into ready-to-use energy, drastically reducing carbon emissions. The 50-acre site will establish high-quality living, along with educational and community spaces to build on the ecology of the site. Creating a family-friendly streetscape, walkways across the development will encourage pedestrians and cyclists to travel through it instead of around it, and there will be no through access for cars, promoting a sense of countryside living. As part of the site’s Grade 1 SINC status (Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation), a dedicated ecology area retaining existing grassland and shrub habitat is allocated to protect and safeguard species such as slow worms, common lizards and other reptiles. The ecology area will eventually be accessible to the public via a raised boardwalk and viewing platform, for residents to enjoy this unique ecosystem while minimising disturbance to the habitat. A series of green corridors and a village green will link the ecology area to the wider development, providing new landscaping along with further tree planting to complement the existing dense woodland belt.
Heny Debebe , an accountant, had been renting in Ladbroke Grove for several years when he decided it was time to think about purchasing his own home. Having become fed up with paying high rents in the capital, buying a property had been on his mind for a few years. Heny knew that saving to buy a home took time, and so gradually started to get his nances on track. He explains, “I’d been thinking about buying for a while, but it was never quite the right time. Of course, when purchasing a home one of the biggest factors is your deposit, which can often be a bit of a struggle. When I initially decided I wanted to own a home I didn’t have any savings, but over time I managed to save just over £20,000, which put me in a good position to start my property search.” Heny, who lives with his wife and three children, purchased a three bedroom house at The Quarry in Erith, with just a 5% deposit of £22,750. A landmark development by L&Q and Anderson of more than 800 homes on the site of a disused quarry, The Quarry is a family-friendly neighbourhood which is home to plenty of on-site amenities, including Lime Wood Primary School and a Sainsbury’s Local. He adds, “As soon as I had my deposit together, I started thinking about my checklist. Pretty quickly, I knew I wanted to purchase a new build, as the thought of moving into something that was brand new really appealed to me. I was really keen on nding somewhere that was ready to live in from day one, which is exactly what I’ve found here. I also knew that an apartment wasn’t something I wanted to purchase, given the size of my family and the fact that we wanted the space along with a garden. I started speaking to some friends who had already recently purchased a home through L&Q in an earlier phase at The Quarry and they couldn’t have sung the development's praises any higher.” Having been told about the popularity of the family homes available through private sale at The Quarry, Heny knew he’d need to act quickly to secure his home. He explains, “Once I saw the homes that were coming to the market, I registered my interest immediately. I phoned the sales team and asked about the levels of demand they were seeing. They said that the houses were really popular and that they’d already started receiving offers, so I took the chance then and there. I reserved my home while I was still on the phone to the sales team, and we got the ball rolling that day. I hadn’t been to the development or seen my home in person, but it just felt right.” Now rmly settled into his new house at The Quarry, Heny explains, “My family and I truly feel at home here. We have this huge garden that the children love spending time in, and the fact that we purchased a new build meant that we had appliances included and ready to go from the day we moved in. In terms of the area, it’s so peaceful and family friendly. The opening of the Elizabeth Line at Abbey Wood has also made life so easy, as it’s under a 10-minute drive from the development.”
lqhomes.com/thequarry/
AYLESBURY Canal Quarter, Kingsbrook
Plus an IKEA furniture package worth up to £8,500
The newest launch of one and two bedroom apartments
at Canal Quarter at Kingsbrook from Barratt Homes is part of a multi-phase development of 2,450 new homes, three new schools and community infrastructure. Partnering with the RSPB, sustainability is at the heart of this development, with a 250-acre area of wildlife-rich space, the installation of a number of bat and bird boxes and the creation of more than 100 allotments. The partnership has seen a number of conservation concerned species increase in numbers such as house sparrows, starlings and whitethroats. Homes are just a short walk from the travel hub, with regular bus services to Aylesbury station from where it takes just under an hour to reach London.
barratthomes.co.uk
24 First Time Buyer August/September 2024
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker