London Loft Conversions
London Loft Conversions
Rising property prices go hand in hand with a greater demand for loft conversions as more householders are choosing to stay put and convert their attics, rather than move house. Districts in west London are becoming increasingly popular, with Ealing regarded as one of the most sought after areas to live. This is partly because of Crossrail, a frequent rail service for London and the South East, meaning it is possible to travel to Canary Wharf very quickly. Parts of Hillingdon, such as West Drayton, are also likely to see a rise in house prices from the “Crossrail effect”. A knock-on effect of this property boom means if you’re looking to move it can be hard to find a suitable home you can afford. As a result a rising number of householders are choosing loft conversions as a practical and economical way of extending their space, rather than endure all the upheaval of moving house.
West London is not an exact term, but here is a look at the main districts in the West London sub-region, including Ealing, Hillingdon, Brent, Hammersmith, Fulham, Harrow, Hounslow and Richmond.
Ealing has the best of both worlds: it has a semi-rural village atmosphere, and it also benefits from being within easy reach of London’s West End. The strong community feel is largely down to the fact that many people move here with the intent to stay, and as a result feel an attic extension is preferable to moving house. Examples of property in the area include period conversions, large Victorian family homes (particularly in the Mount Park Conservation Area), and the prestigious Grade II listed 1930s built Ealing Village housing estate. The arrival of Crossrail is likely to see more development over the coming years.
The borough of Hillingdon is famed for being the home of Heathrow Airport, which is a source of employment for the area. Although only 14 miles from central London, it benefits from having several green spaces, rivers, a canal and woodland. Hillingdon, which also includes the upmarket areas of Ruislip, Ickenham and Northwood, as well as Uxbridge, Hayes and Eastcote, is another part of London that is set to benefit from the arrival of Crossrail.
The borough of Brent, which borders Kensington and Chelsea to the South, also includes the districts of Cricklewood, Willesden, Kilburn and Wembley. It is famous for being home of Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena and has seen a rapid population growth in recent years, rising by 18 percent in ten years since 2001. Half the residents either own their own home outright, or have a mortgage and, as such, an attic extension may provide the solution to a growing family.
Fulham is an attractive location bordering Chelsea, and is known for its picturesque river, restaurants and appealing independent shops. As such a desirable location, more families are choosing attic conversions, rather than a house move, joining the many hundreds who have lived in the area for decades.
This is a vibrant, fashionable place to live with offices, cafés, restaurants, pubs and bustling shopping centres, such as Broadway Mall; yet it is still within easy reach of green spaces and the river. It’s popular among families and professional couples who like the mix of city buzz and open space. Among the many sought after places to live are the terraced properties overlooking the river and houses in the Hammersmith Grove area.
Home of the world famous public school, Harrow has a number of affluent areas such as Northwood, Pinner and Stanmore, but there are also some less well-off areas in the borough too. Properties include substantial detached houses, 1930s built semis and Edwardian period homes – and property prices are set to rise 20% over the next five years, giving householders a good reason to stay put.
This is another popular area because of its excellent transport links, including its proximity to Heathrow Airport. It is also home to the headquarters of major companies such as GlaxoSmithKline and the British Sky Broadcasting studios. The borough includes the popular areas of Brentford, which has a number of townhouses and apartments, and Chiswick, which saw rapid population growth in the 19th century resulting in a number of homes built in the Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian periods.
The borough is an affluent and desirable place to live as it commands some of the highest house prices outside of Central London – so many people move here to stay. One of the main reasons for its popularity is that as much as 50% of the borough is comprised of parkland, including Richmond Park, Hampton Court Park and Kew Gardens. Sought after areas to live are Richmond, Marble Hill, East Sheen and Barnes. Barnes has a strong community feel with its own village green, pubs and cricket pitch and homes include Regency style properties, Georgian houses, Victorian villas, and red brick Edwardian houses.
For high quality loft conversions in all parts of West London, contact the experts, Modern Attics today.
