Driving a new trend
HOMES with garages or off-street parking are a must-have for many, especially families and older people who rely on their cars to maintain their independence. So it’s a bit of a shock to realise that architects and planners are already thinking ahead to the time when most people won’t have their own cars.
In the United States it’s predicted that by 2030 most Americans will be hailing selfdriving cars, which will also impact on how US planners will design their streets.
With fewer car parks because automated cars will drop off passengers then pick up more, footpaths will be wider and there will be more land available for housing and parks.
The study by RethinkX reads like science fiction but car clubs for sharing transportation are already in the UK.
These range from international companies such as DriveNow, available in North America and several European countries, to Zipcar, with a focus on London, Edinburgh and Glasgow, and Co-wheels, which is in much smaller towns such as Chelmsford. Bellway’s Marconi Evolution development in the Essex county town includes an opportunity for residents to join Co-wheels, which means they can book a hybrid or electric car to drive themselves anywhere they want.
These cars may not be automated but the £25 joining fee and pay-as-you-go system is saving residents the cost of road tax, insurance, servicing and buying or leasing a car.
“Many of the buyers at Marconi have been first-time buyers, taking advantage of the Government’s Help To Buy scheme,” explains Bellway Essex sales manager Paul Timson.
“Generally, there isn’t a pot of money left over for running a car so the car club has been immensely popular with residents and we envisage that as people get more used to this way of life the fleet size could increase on-site.”
Marconi Evolution is now in its final stage, offering one and two-bedroom apartments just a short walk from Chelmsford railway station and the town centre.
One-bedroom apartments start from £239,995 (01245 269208; bellway.co.uk) and there’s the bonus of an on-site gym and concierge service.
Ryan Collier, director of residential estate and block management service POD Management, has noticed the importance of car clubs in other areas, particularly in London.
“We manage several large developments in and around central London and most have limited parking,” he says. “The majority of our residents don’t always need a vehicle in their day-to-day lives and commute using the other traditional modes of transport.
“At POD we aim to adapt to today’s lifestyle needs and with this in mind we recognise that car clubs can be a fundamental part of any development.
“Most recently we have been working with Zipcar to provide vehicles to our residents at a new development called Palace Court in London W2. The benefits are countless – no running costs for an expensive vehicle, no road tax, no congestion charge, no break downs, no insurance concerns. Additionally, it enhances our residents’ quality of life. If it doesn’t make sense for them to own a car, they can still use one to go on a weekend away or do the Christmas shopping.
“A car club membership gives them the flexibility to use a vehicle at any time of the day or night for as long as they need one.”
London developments currently for sale with access to car clubs include The Tramyard in Balham High Road, in the south west. This is within 500m of 21 Zipcar vehicles and developer Joseph Homes is offering new residents a two-year membership and £30 credit on its 70 one and twobedroom apartments and larger duplexes.
These start from £499,999 (020 8767 3655; tramyardbalham.co.uk) and are available with Help To Buy.
And in Ealing, west London, Notting Hill Genesis is offering three years’ free membership of a car club near its Shakespeare Road development of apartments built in a Victorian-style design.
One-bedroom flats start from £140,000 for a 40 per cent share of the £350,000 price tag (020 3815 2222; nhgsales.com). They are three minutes from Hanwell Station with links to London Paddington and Heathrow Airport.
Andy Martin, who owns a Marconi Evolution apartment and has been using Co-wheels cars for a year, says: “This is definitely the future for car use in densely populated areas. It is a shame there is not a Co-wheels hire van on the development!” FREE RIDE: Shakespeare Road buyers get a car club offer