Riverside property in docklands

By Tom Derbyshire on February 7, 2008 11:12 AM |

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MORE and more of us have been choosing a greener lifestyle but now it seems there is a new option.

This year consumers are beating the January blues by ‘buying blue’.

The aesthetic benefits of living by or near water are all part of a new shift in lifestyle priorities identified by Trendwatching.com, an independent trend agency.

Statistics released by British Waterways Corporation suggest that living beside water reduces stress, benefits health and well-being and once people have experienced the lifestyle they are reluctant to leave.

The report, commissioned to explore the growth and impact of waterside housing across the UK and research the lifestyle and psychological benefits of living beside water, has produced some overwhelming results.

Three quarters of people polled declared that living close to water contributed towards a less stressful lifestyle and 63 per cent stated that it improved their overall health and well-being.

So areas such as Docklands are a prime target for those investors who are ‘feeling blue’.DTZ Residential is currently marketing two exclusive waterside developments – Creekside Village in Deptford and Royal Arsenal in Woolwich.

Creekside Village is by Deptford Creek, the last tidal stretch of the River Ravensbourne before it flows into the Thames.

The arrival of the Laban Centre, a leading contemporary dance school, has helped put the area on the map and now there is even talk of a jazz academy coming to the area.

Creekside Village is a mixed-use, five-acre scheme bordering The Laban Centre. It will have 900 apartments with three striking glass towers connected by a podium and 300,000 sq ft of commercial space.

Royal Arsenal in Arsenal Way fuses converted Grade II-listed buildings with contemporary new-build architecture offering new homes, office space, leisure outlets and landscaped communal areas.

Transport links include the Thames Clippers ferry service which stops at Canary Wharf, Embankment and Westminster.

The next phase of Royal Arsenal, The Armouries, includes a collection of one, two and three-bedroom new build apartments.

Prices start from £242,500 for a one-bedroom apartment, £300,000 for two-bedrooms and £315,000 for three-bedrooms.

Mike Bikerton, associate director, DTZ Residential, said: “Homes located near water are some of the most desirable property types today. Our waterside developments in London hold particular appeal as waterside living offers a relaxing environment, beautiful views and a wide range of leisure activities ranging from the adventurous to the relaxing.

“Both schemes are designed to provide a retreat from the stressful city lifestyle and give owners a sense of well-being.”

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