Bridget (37) has always dreamed of putting down roots in London, but for the past three years she has struggled to find a home within her budget.
“I am originally from North London, and most of my friends and family still live here, so it was always a goal of mine to be able to afford my own home nearby. I rented on and off for 10 years and found searching for affordable and suitable apartments became quite hard work, which really forced me to start looking for my own home. But it wasn’t easy”, says Bridget.
Journey to homeownership
Bridget first heard about Pocket Living at the London Home Show five years ago. She was really interested in the opportunity to buy a discounted Pocket home, but there weren’t any in her area at the time. Finally, she received a notification about Harbard Close IG11 in Barking.
“I’ll admit that I was sceptical when I saw that the one-bedroom apartments, in a Zone 4 location, were available for around £190,000, which was so much less than the other flats I had viewed. But I decided to take a look and was pleasantly surprised – not least because the flat I almost bought in Kingston was nearly £100,000 more expensive and a quarter of the size.”
The growing community
For Pocket, it is all about creating thriving new communities at their developments, which is something Bridget quickly noticed when moving in.
“I really loved that everyone moving into Harbard Close were first time buyers. My neighbours are very friendly, and we all have a great deal of respect for one another. We have a WhatsApp group where we organise social events and keep an eye out for each other’s deliveries and we also often use it to share tips to help us settle into our new homes. It has also made me feel really safe and connected – which is important when living alone”, says Bridget.
At Harbard Close, residents have access to on-site allotment beds for green-fingered buyers to use and secure bike storage inside the building, as well as the Garden Room, which is a free communal space that is for residents to use and includes dedicated co-working spaces and pods.
“When I first moved in, I didn’t have a desk to work from, so I made great use of the Garden Room, which was really convenient. I have since created a pull-out work-from-home station in my hallway, which really allows me to keep work separate from my living space and bedroom”.
Living in an up-and-coming neighbourhood
Bridget lived in Barking around seven years ago, staying at a friend’s flat, and so she thought she knew the area fairly well. However, since buying a home in Barking, she really noticed how much it has changed, including the recently opened Barking Riverside station and lots of great bars and restaurants. Barking Station is also less than a 10-minute walk from Harbard Close, offering access to the District and Hammersmith & City Lines.
As of August 2022, all of the homes at Harbard Close are reserved, but apartments are available at our other schemes in Waltham Forest, Barnet and Croydon with prices from £230,000. Have a look here to find out more, or call our friendly sales team on 020 7291 3683.