Monthly Archives: July 2017

New homes are being created across Barking and Dagenham

Barking and Dagenham is taking an innovative approach to housing that could see as many as 50,000 new homes created in the Borough in the next 20 years. The focus is on building affordable homes that attract all kinds of people, including employees from creative industries and the arts. The local council stress the focus is not gentrification, rather it is on building properties accessible to Londoners. Continue reading

The smaller the home the more important the design

Mapleton Crescent is proving to be one of the most popular Pocket Living developments in the whole of London. The apartment building has won numerous plaudits for the quality of the design and the housing on offer. The 27 storey modular tower was the largest residential building of its type when construction began on it in 2016. It was also the first development by Pocket in Wandsworth. Continue reading

Boom followed bust in Waltham Forest

The global financial crisis in 2009 caused a huge downturn in property values around the world. Even high profile markets like London and New York were hit, causing a fall in property prices as demand fell. According to figures from Lloyds Bank, at the worst the average house price in London hit £362,641. The recovery has been fantastic though. Today, less than a decade later, the average has risen by almost 60% to £578,381. Continue reading

The UK’s first eco friendly sustainable suburb

Twenty years ago Hackbridge went from being a relatively unknown Edwardian suburb in Sutton to a hot spot for sustainable living. The arrival of BedZED (Beddington Zero Energy Development), a new community complete with homes, public facilities, and even a college, transformed the area. This pioneering project inspired others, ultimately turning the destination into the first eco suburb with sustainability at its heart. Continue reading

Redbridge Council is encouraging more landlords to be responsible

One of the biggest current problems in the private rental market is “absentee” landlords. When a landlord or the managing agent is not proactive and involved it can lead to big problems for tenants. For example the lack of attention could allow the condition and standards to drop to the point where the property is unsanitary or unsafe to inhabit. This could lead to all kinds of penalties. Continue reading