Consistently ranked amongst the best cities in the world, London is an undeniably popular place to live, but as demand for housing increases, property prices have been pushed up to nearly double the national average for the rest of the country*, and many city workers are being priced out of the market. Commuting into the city has become an increasingly logical practice, with over 700,000 people travelling into the capital every day**. This allows many young professionals to out-smart the London property market, such as Richard Sandlan and his girlfriend Jessica Johnson, who looked to City & Country Group’s development The Galleries, in Brentwood, to provide a commuter home which, though a little further away from work, provides far better value for money than its inner-city alternatives.
Richard, 27, and Jessica, 23, both work in central London and previously lived in a rented one bedroom flat in Canary Wharf. After saving enough for a deposit to buy, they began to hunt around for a larger property, but quickly found that London home prices don’t necessarily reflect the amount of space on offer.
Richard comments: “Whilst we had been quite happy at our former apartment, it became increasingly apparent that we needed more room. We wanted another bedroom and also wanted to stay near work, but when we began looking for a home in the same Docklands area, we were shocked at just how high prices were for relatively small properties. Although we could afford some of these places, we didn’t want to feel like we had overpaid, and so turned our attention to the commuter belt, where we knew we could get far better value for money.”
Having found their two-bedroom apartment at The Galleries online, the couple immediately knew it was exactly what they had been looking for. Located close to the bustling town of Brentwood, the couple’s home is only a half-hour train journey from the office, yet provides so much more for their budget.
Richard says: “We were really spoiled when we lived at Canary Wharf so I was a little worried about the added travel time from our new home, but I must admit it really hasn’t been a problem; we are so close to Brentwood station, and with direct train services into London Liverpool Street every 10 minutes, the daily commute is easy, and so worth the extra space you get in properties outside of the city.”
Richard and Jessica fell in love with the unique design of their home, which boasts a wealth of traditional features alongside contemporary interior décor. The couple enjoy active social lives, and loved the open-plan layout of their apartment, which they knew would be ideal for socialising and hosting friends and family who live close by.
Richard comments: “Our apartment has a really airy and spacious feel, and everyone who visits is so impressed with the amount of space we have here. Jessica and I held modern styles as a priority in our house hunt, and the high-gloss interiors, including integrated appliances and luxury flooring, more than deliver on this front. We hadn’t looked at any period properties, but the traditional architecture of the buildings at The Galleries is amazing and creates a real wow factor; we’re really proud to own such a distinct and historical property, which we certainly wouldn’t have been able to afford in the city centre.”
The local area around the development has a lot to offer a young couple such as Richard and Jessica. There is a wide selection of shops, restaurants, bars and clubs just a 10-minute walk away in the bustling town centre of Brentwood, which offer a great and varied social life when the pair are not in the capital. Thorndon Country Park is also nearby, providing plenty of natural land in which to exercise and relax away from the crowds, and Richard and Jessica have just bought bikes to make the most of exploring this outdoor space.
The development boasts beautifully manicured landscaped gardens which are maintained by a separate management company, and Richard explains how the lack of maintenance responsibilities was a real draw for him and his girlfriend. He says: “Jessica and I are both young and were keen to avoid a home that would need lots of time spent on it to keep it in good condition. The gardens surrounding our apartment are beautiful, and the picturesque views they provide are such a bonus at the already stunning development; it’s great to know that we can just relax and enjoy them without worry.”
The development is also partly gated, providing an added sense of security that is particularly reassuring for Richard and Jessica, whose jobs mean they are away from their property for long periods of the day.
Richard says: “We have absolutely no regrets about moving out of the city, as our new home in Brentwood provides everything we need. Our apartment is incredible and so much bigger than anything of a similar price in central London, and the extensive lands and period features really make us feel like we own something significant and unique. Brentwood offers a great social life, and we are still close enough to the capital for an easy commute to work. The staff at City & Country Group were so friendly and really helped us in the process of buying our dream home here; we understand the struggle many first-time buyers face in getting their foot on the property ladder, so we really feel like we’ve hit the jackpot at The Galleries, and look forward to our future here.”
Helen Moore, Managing Director at City & Country Residential, comments: “We are thrilled that Richard and Jessica have chosen to buy their first home at The Galleries. The homes appeal to a diverse range of buyers, from young professionals to retired downsizers, all of whom enjoy the sense of style and character offered at the development. By choosing on a managed development like The Galleries Richard and Jessica, like all our other residents, can benefit from living in a beautifully maintained environment while having time to enjoy other interests. Brentwood is one of the most desirable towns in the commuter belt, and we are really pleased that Richard and Jessica have been able to find such a unique home to enjoy here.”