Watford Cross, a stylish development by Weston Homes in the vibrant town of Watford affords convenient access into London, making it the ideal place to live for young people, like newly married couple Megan and Panny Lavidas, who recently moved into their first home at the development.
Watford Cross on St. Albans Road offers an exclusive collection of 1, 2 & 3-bedroom apartments situated in the heart of Watford, only 20 minutes away from Euston on the train, which was a key attraction for the couple as they wanted to find a home within commutable distance of London without needing a car.
Data consultant Megan and her husband Panny who works in finance, decided to leave Megan’s hometown of Glasgow to move closer to their London offices and Panny’s family in Pinner, Harrow. After being forced to leave their rented property due to the landlord wanting to sell, they decided that it was time to leave the rental market and purchase their first home together.
Panny, 31, says: “Whilst we both work from home the majority of the time, we still needed to be within easy reach of central London for the one or two days a week we both commute into the office. As neither of us want to drive, being close to good public transport was a must”.
For 28-year-old Megan, it was important that she live somewhere close to the excitement of the city: “Having grown up in a big city, I thrive on a metropolitan buzz! Going to the country for the weekend really is not for me”, Megan laughs. Therefore, Watford with its lively redeveloped town centre and close proximity to London was the perfect option for the young couple.
“I quite fancied living in a spacious, open-plan apartment with high ceilings and big windows and so when I came across Watford Cross, an attractive complex of apartments close to the station, I was immediately interested”, says Panny.
However, the popularity of Watford Cross meant that it was almost sold out. Megan, somewhat hesitantly, went to see one of the remaining homes, not wanting to get her hopes up. The apartment that appealed to Megan was a two-bedroom penthouse with balcony views over the town and surrounding countryside, but it had been snapped up. However, Megan walked into the sales office, and to her surprise was given the news that the buyer had been unable to proceed with their purchase and therefore, the apartment was unexpectedly available.
Megan was thrilled. “We were meant to get it,” she says. “Everything was right. I wanted to be at the top of the building, with no one above. I felt we were getting lots of products included for free, like the oven and fridge and fitted cupboards, that other developers just did not offer.
“I love the modern thinking behind everything, too. The digital water-saving taps, the multiple USB points – we both liked the layout and the finish on the kitchen cupboards, and with us both working from home, we needed the hyperfast 1Gbps broadband.”
The two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment suits them both perfectly, for Megan loves having a bath, whilst Panny prefers the large shower in the other bathroom. As the couple both work from home often, it is important that they have separate space to work, which is possible in their spacious new home with a second bedroom that can be used as a home office.
Living in an area that felt like home was important for the couple, which they have found since moving into their penthouse apartment at Watford Cross: “Since Covid, things have changed. We were both daily commuters but not anymore and therefore, local community is important. We want to belong and support people. I shop in the market and get my coffee at a local café; it keeps the money local and means that I make friends and feel the community spirit massively”, says Megan.
The elegant kitchens with quartz stone worktops include a stainless steel electric fan oven, hob, integrated fridge/ freezer, a washer/dryer and dishwasher. The kitchens provide LED lighting under kitchen wall units and Fascino instant boiling and filtered water taps.
Luxurious bathrooms and en-suite bathrooms have Fascino digitally controlled Smart Taps, Smart Mirrors with LED lighting, shaver socket, digital clock and de-mist feature as well as Smart showers and baths.
For first time buyers like Megan and Panny, the government-backed Help to Buy scheme is available at Watford Cross until applications close on the 31st of October 2022, enabling first-time buyers to buy their home with a deposit of 5% and a Help to Buy equity loan of up to 20% on selected apartments, subject to terms and conditions.
Suzanne Aplin, Group Sales & Marketing Director at Weston Homes says: “Watford Cross provides the perfect apartments for young professionals who commute into London. For those who are looking to get out of the rental market, these apartments are ideal for first-time buyers who seek a high-quality home in a convenient location. With just the last few homes remaining, we would encourage prospective buyers to contact us”.
The last remaining two-bedroom homes at Watford Cross are ready to move into. Prices start from £380,000.
