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Say hello to Barratt Homes' 'Brixton Square' on Coldharbour Lane (old Cooltan site)

loulou82 said:
Oh maybe. We were on the 4th oct in the afternoon. Hello neighbour!

I was really worried as have been reading lots of negative posts about this development. We have lived in the area for years and thought we would have to move into areas far out when we could finally afford to buy but this place came up at the right time for us.

So far it seems that most people own their flats and are from London. So a very different picture from what the media is portraying of lots of overseas buy to let landlords piling into these new developments. Really hoping there is a nice community there![/quot
loulou82 said:
Oh maybe. We were on the 4th oct in the afternoon. Hello neighbour!

I was really worried as have been reading lots of negative posts about this development. We have lived in the area for years and thought we would have to move into areas far out when we could finally afford to buy but this place came up at the right time for us.

So far it seems that most people own their flats and are from London. So a very different picture from what the media is portraying of lots of overseas buy to let landlords piling into these new developments. Really hoping there is a nice community there!
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Hi Lou Lou , me and my girlfriend move in about the same time as you, I THINK ITS YOUR ROUND
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loulou82 said:
Oh maybe. We were on the 4th oct in the afternoon. Hello neighbour!

I was really worried as have been reading lots of negative posts about this development. We have lived in the area for years and thought we would have to move into areas far out when we could finally afford to buy but this place came up at the right time for us.

So far it seems that most people own their flats and are from London. So a very different picture from what the media is portraying of lots of overseas buy to let landlords piling into these new developments. Really hoping there is a nice community there!
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We had our tour the same day actually, but we were in the morning!

I will say, we bought on the new buy scheme and just happened upon the BS website. To be honest, owning was a bit of a pipe dream because rents are so expensive and it seemed we couldn't save a deposit fast enough.

When we realised we were eligible for new buy, we looked at other developments as well, and one of them was in very early stages. There was no pricing info on the website at all and i thought we found it at a good time, but when I called up for info i was told that every single 1 bed had been sold to overseas investors. I was so surprised! They said the development had only been marketed overseas, so for once it's not just the media making things up. Shortly thereafter we started getting flyers (in our old rented flat) about selling "our property", with the flipside of the flyer in mandarin. Telling indeed.
 
Strangerdanger said:
We had our tour the same day actually, but we were in the morning!

I will say, we bought on the new buy scheme and just happened upon the BS website. To be honest, owning was a bit of a pipe dream because rents are so expensive and it seemed we couldn't save a deposit fast enough.

When we realised we were eligible for new buy, we looked at other developments as well, and one of them was in very early stages. There was no pricing info on the website at all and i thought we found it at a good time, but when I called up for info i was told that every single 1 bed had been sold to overseas investors. I was so surprised! They said the development had only been marketed overseas, so for once it's not just the media making things up. Shortly thereafter we started getting flyers (in our old rented flat) about selling "our property", with the flipside of the flyer in mandarin. Telling indeed.
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Same as us, we never ever thought we would ever own a property in London. We have been so lucky to buy here. I was told that there were 20 people on the list for our flat if we didn't take first refusal. Crazy! I'm really pleased Barratt's bucked the trend and marketed this development to people living in the local area. I've seen so many new looking developments popping up that I have never even seen or heard of, and we've been flat hunting for nearly 2 yrs solidly.

We've been living on the edge of a stress meltdown for the past month though as our mortgage needed to be extended but the bank was just not pushing anything through. Finally got it sorted today 14 days before we move in so I can finally start getting excited and can believe it's really happening. We reserved the flat in January so it seems like a lifetime ago.

We are moving in to a 1st floor flat on the academy block so I'm so excited to think I will look out my window to see the trees.
 
loulou82 said:
Same as us, we never ever thought we would ever own a property in London. We have been so lucky to buy here. I was told that there were 20 people on the list for our flat if we didn't take first refusal. Crazy! I'm really pleased Barratt's bucked the trend and marketed this development to people living in the local area. I've seen so many new looking developments popping up that I have never even seen or heard of, and we've been flat hunting for nearly 2 yrs solidly.

We've been living on the edge of a stress meltdown for the past month though as our mortgage needed to be extended but the bank was just not pushing anything through. Finally got it sorted today 14 days before we move in so I can finally start getting excited and can believe it's really happening. We reserved the flat in January so it seems like a lifetime ago.

We are moving in to a 1st floor flat on the academy block so I'm so excited to think I will look out my window to see the trees.[/quo

Ooh, we were really afraid of the mortgage offer expiring but luckily our block was ready around the same time it was due to expire, so Barratts prioritised our flat so that it was ready on the very last day of the mortgage offer. We were very lucky but as I said before the staff here were really helpful - and we were so grateful. It could have been a huge nightmare without them. Good luck with everything, by the time you move i I think it will all be done! They mentioned something about a party for all the residents, hopefully that goes ahead!
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Why do I keep doing that??

Ooh, we were really afraid of the mortgage offer expiring but luckily our block was ready around the same time it was due to expire, so Barratts prioritised our flat so that it was ready on the very last day of the mortgage offer. We were very lucky but as I said before the staff here were really helpful - and we were so grateful. It could have been a huge nightmare without them. Good luck with everything, by the time you move i I think it will all be done! They mentioned something about a party for all the residents, hopefully that goes ahead!
 
Don't want to get myself into any trouble, but we went there for a glass of champagne to celebrate the night we completed. It also happened to be the night it opened and the night of the protest. It was interesting lol.
 
Champagne-flaunting flat buyers: what do you have to say to those who claim you are taking up residence in a "gated community"?
 
gabi said:
You would assume that a residents' party might be for 'residents'.

We're having a Halloween party in my building tomorrow. It's for residents. A good opportunity to actually meet my neighbours. Does that seem weird? Should we post the invite in the South China Morning Post?
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I don't know about you, but if I was putting on a private residents' party I wouldn't be posting up about it in a public forum.
 
teuchter said:
Champagne-flaunting flat buyers: what do you have to say to those who claim you are taking up residence in a "gated community"?
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I disagree...I mean it's an outdoor space for residents only. In my opinion this is akin to me not being able to come and hang out in your back garden. A gate does not a gated community make, otherwise some council estates would also qualify.
 
teuchter said:
Champagne-flaunting flat buyers: what do you have to say to those who claim you are taking up residence in a "gated community"?
Click to expand...
I can't wait to live in a building that has a really big and really strong gate. I have been burgled 4 times in my current flat, the last time being 3 weeks ago. This time it was pretty violent. Our door was totally smashed down and our belongings thrown everywhere and precious items taken. I really hope there is a nice community within the gate but i'd like to think the gate keeps us secure from crime not because of any other reason. Behind the gate it's a little square with a bin store and some cycle storage and 2 disabled parking spaces. It now has some trees to make it look nicer. Nothing too secret.

With regards to the party I'd find it a bit weird if people were invited who didn't live in the flats, and weirder if they turned up. I want to be able to form relationships with people who live there, I don't know my neighbors at the moment (I have tried chatting but nobody really bothers) and I find that quite sad, the people I have met so far who are moving in and Stranger and Mr Bim seem keen to get to know other residents and I find that so refreshing.
 
loulou82 said:
I can't wait to live in a building that has a really big and really strong gate. I have been burgled 4 times in my current flat, the last time being 3 weeks ago. This time it was pretty violent. Our door was totally smashed down and our belongings thrown everywhere and precious items taken. I really hope there is a nice community within the gate but i'd like to think the gate keeps us secure from crime not because of any other reason. Behind the gate it's a little square with a bin store and some cycle storage and 2 disabled parking spaces. It now has some trees to make it look nicer. Nothing too secret.

With regards to the party I'd find it a bit weird if people were invited who didn't live in the flats, and weirder if they turned up. I want to be able to form relationships with people who live there, I don't know my neighbors at the moment (I have tried chatting but nobody really bothers) and I find that quite sad, the people I have met so far who are moving in and Stranger and Mr Bim seem keen to get to know other residents and I find that so refreshing.
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Ohhhhh I can feel a revolution coming, we are growing in numbers and getting stronger by the day lol
 
Strangerdanger said:
I disagree...I mean it's an outdoor space for residents only. In my opinion this is akin to me not being able to come and hang out in your back garden. A gate does not a gated community make, otherwise some council estates would also qualify.
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But wouldn't it be nicer if the communal space was of a similar nature to the one provided for the council estate opposite (i.e. a nice open stretch of public space open to all to use, 24/7) rather than having a private 'square' listed on the A-Z that lies behind a big steel gate?
 
editor said:
But wouldn't it be nicer if the communal space was of a similar nature to the one provided for the council estate opposite (i.e. a nice open stretch of public space open to all to use, 24/7) rather than having a private 'square' listed on the A-Z that lies behind a big steel gate?
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Nooooooooo
 
editor said:
But wouldn't it be nicer if the communal space was of a similar nature to the one provided for the council estate opposite (i.e. a nice open stretch of public space open to all to use, 24/7) rather than having a private 'square' listed on the A-Z that lies behind a big steel gate?
Click to expand...
It's a square, A POSTAGE STAMP SIZE SQUARE, not an acre of open space.
 
editor said:
But wouldn't it be nicer if the communal space was of a similar nature to the one provided for the council estate opposite (i.e. a nice open stretch of public space open to all to use, 24/7) rather than having a private 'square' listed on the A-Z that lies behind a big steel gate?
Click to expand...
I may be making myself a target here, but I'm going to be completely honest with you, no. If I want a communal space I can got to brockwell park or windrush square. By your logic, no one should have a back garden, they should all be for anyone to use?
 
loulou82 said:
I can't wait to live in a building that has a really big and really strong gate. I have been burgled 4 times in my current flat, the last time being 3 weeks ago. This time it was pretty violent. Our door was totally smashed down and our belongings thrown everywhere and precious items taken. I really hope there is a nice community within the gate but i'd like to think the gate keeps us secure from crime not because of any other reason. Behind the gate it's a little square with a bin store and some cycle storage and 2 disabled parking spaces. It now has some trees to make it look nicer. Nothing too secret.

With regards to the party I'd find it a bit weird if people were invited who didn't live in the flats, and weirder if they turned up. I want to be able to form relationships with people who live there, I don't know my neighbors at the moment (I have tried chatting but nobody really bothers) and I find that quite sad, the people I have met so far who are moving in and Stranger and Mr Bim seem keen to get to know other residents and I find that so refreshing.
Click to expand...
Jesus. What an awful experience.
 
editor said:
But wouldn't it be nicer if the communal space was of a similar nature to the one provided for the council estate opposite (i.e. a nice open stretch of public space open to all to use, 24/7) rather than having a private 'square' listed on the A-Z that lies behind a big steel gate?
Click to expand...
That would be nice, i would also li
editor said:
You must use awfully big envelopes.
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Honestly it's a small pathway with a bin store and a cycle rack, i'd rather walk down to Brockwell park then spend time sitting next to a bin i've just slung my rubbish into.

The way the building has been built is to optimize light and space by creating a central void like most large developments of a certain size. They have just chosen to call it a square rather than walkway area or bin store area which is what it is.
 
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