Match made in heaven
THE grass is immaculate, the view superb, the excitement growing during the wait to see their sporting heroes at Wimbledon. But this isn’t about the run-up to the All England Tennis Club’s Championship finals this weekend: the fans are supporters of AFC Wimbledon, the League One football team that returned to its spiritual home in Plough Lane SW19 last season thanks partly to a property deal.
Land for the 20,000-seat, state-of-the-art stadium was given to AFC Wimbledon by Merton Catalyst LLP, a joint venture of Galliard Homes and Catalyst Developments – the companies behind more than 600 apartments and maisonettes next to the stadium, including affordable shared ownership homes.
Many of the buyers at Wimbledon Grounds, a series of low-level apartment blocks that overlook the pitch and landscaped gardens, are AFC Wimbledon fans. Among them is David Kenwery, 60, an Australian who lived in south west London in the 1980s but now works as an offshore wind farm site manager in Hull.
David bought a two-bedroom flat off-plan, with a friend, in the first phase Stadia Apartments, to use as a base when in London for holidays or matches – although it’s also an investment.
Ironically their flat does not have a view of the pitch, which many on sale now have, but he’s philosophical: “In theory it would have been nice to have a view of the stadium but, actually, what we do have from our balcony is nice and calm at night without any lights. “When games are being played we’ll be down in the stands anyway, the location couldn’t be more convenient.”
Wimbledon Grounds is between Wimbledon town, with excellent rail and Tube links plus shopping, and Earlsfield, which has great cafes, pubs and restaurants.
“There’s a popular craft brewery across the road and the development has so many facilities for residents to use once social distancing is over,” adds David. “It’s great to see the development as part of the wider regeneration of the area.”
All the apartments have balconies, wood-effect flooring, integrated kitchen appliances in the open-plan living room/ diner and beautiful fitted bathrooms.
Some underground parking spaces are still available and incentives include furniture packages from New Concept Furnishings that provide all the essentials including beds, sofas, soft furnishings and accessories – right down to bamboo toothbrushes.
These packages are worth £5,000 for one-bedroom apartments and £7,000 for two-bedroom flats, and are included in the price. Galliard is also extending the stamp duty holiday until January 2022, which means savings of up to £15,000. Prices start from £329,000 for a studio flat, £455,000 for one bedroom, up to £695,000 for three bedrooms and £825,000 for a threebedroom maisonette, with Help To Buy for first-time buyers (020 3355 9455; galliardhomes.com).
Each block has its own podium garden or roof gardens and the maisonettes have small private gardens, too.
As for the shared ownership homes in The Switch blocks, these are available through Catalyst with one-bedroom balcony apartments from £97,500 for a 25 per cent share of the full market value of £390,00 (020 8131 3126; catalyst. homes).
A subsidised rent is payable on the other 75 per cent of the property and to be considered for the scheme your annual income must be below £90,000.
Shops, a squash and fitness club and new cycle route will also be part of the development – along with AFC Wimbledon’s smart seven-day-a-week Phoenix bar – and it’s within walking distance of not only Wimbledon Park, with a sailing lake and tennis courts, but also the All England Lawn Tennis Club itself.
But for David and others who have moved into the Plough Lane flats, the biggest selling point will always be that, like their football club, they’re coming home.