New year gym’s a tonic
Flats with fitness facilities can bring us all a bit closer to our goals this year, says DEBORAH STONE
HOW’S that New Year’s resolution to exercise more coming along? Most of us have the best intentions but when it comes to fitting in a gym session before or after work we find time is not on our side. Which is why new developments with residents’ gyms or access to the outdoors are proving so popular with young professionals and downsizers.
These communal facilities are becoming increasingly important in London in particular. According to Greater London Authority statistics, an evening visit to a gym is more popular than going to the theatre – 26 per cent compared to 14 per cent – so having one practically in your own home is as convenient as it gets.
Bellway Homes’ The River Gardens in Greenwich, south east London, is a case in point. Its luxury apartments are close to River Thames walks and residents have a private gym and swimming pool.
The development is well placed to take advantage of other leisure attractions such as Greenwich Park, London’s oldest royal enclosure, where a walk up the hill to the
Royal Observatory is good exercise in itself.
Greenwich has a range of shops, from high street names to boutiques and its famous market, while transport links include the Jubilee Line from North Greenwich; Docklands Light Railway and, from December, Crossrail will stop at nearby Abbey Wood and Woolwich.
The apartments have open-plan kitchen/ living/dining areas with integrated appliances in the kitchen, a fitted wardrobe in the bedroom, contemporary bathroom and a balcony – with two balconies for three-bedroom flats.
Prices start from £445,000, rising to £590,000 for two bedrooms and £740,000 for three (0845 257 6065; belway.co.uk).
In north London, Hendon Waterside is starting the new year by opening its residents’ gym and offering up to £6,000 Stamp Duty savings for buyers who sign up before the end of January. The development is next to Welsh Harp Reservoir, which has sailing and canoeing clubs as well as footpaths and bike trails through the surrounding wildlife and nature reserve – so there are plenty of opportunities to exercise.
Having a residents’ gym is also a great way to get to know your neighbours, says Barratt west London sales director Ed McCoy, who adds: “It is so convenient not having to travel; instead you can pop in any time you have a spare few minutes and build up your fitness levels with a little-and-often approach, rather than having to wait all week in the hopes of having several hours to spare.”
Hendon Waterside will be a development of 2,000 homes with the price of a one-bedroom apartment at £384,000, although two and three-bedroom homes are also available (03331 302 663; barrattlondon.com).
All have parking spaces but Hendon railway station is a short walk away, with trains to London St Pancras International taking 17 minutes, while Hendon Central Tube station is on the Northern Line with trains to Euston.
AND IN the market town of Kingston-upon-Thames, a 30-minute rail journey from London Waterloo, the final phase of Queenshurst apartments not only offers a residents’ gym and 24-hour concierge but also a small cinema room and residents’ suite with office facilities. Prices start from £450,000 with Help To Buy available (020 3393 9886; queenshurst.co.uk).
Kingston is a shopping hub for south west Londoners but the town has lovely walks along the Thames and a gate into Richmond Park, London’s largest Site of Special Interest.
It’s an exceptional place, full of ancient oak trees and herds of deer, and is a magnet for families, walkers, cyclists and horse riders. There’s also a golf course, fishing and even power kiting available.
If your new year’s resolution is to exercise more and you happen to be looking for a new home, buying somewhere with a gym attached could be the way to go.