As our office is full of parents, we thought it would be a good idea to look at some of the services and facilities that are located in the local area.
This ranges from groups to stay and play, coffee mornings for mums, local parks, classes and shops - please find below a couple that located closest to our office.
Arts 4 Fun:
The fun pottery painting store located on West End Lane. The staff are friendly and the process is simple - children and adults pick a piece of pottery and then can either choose to paint them instore or take them home.
Bumps and Babies:
This group is run every Monday from 12.30 to 2.30pm and is held at the Abbey Community Centre in Belsize Road. It gives parents a couple of hours to chat with other people, enjoy a coffee and a chat. There are mats and bouncy chairs provided for the babies.
Sidings Community Centre:
This centre is located near Brassey Road and offers a range of services to parents from morning per-school playgroups to a day care creche. A soft room has been designed for children starting to crawl and walk and runs on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. For older children, ranging from 1 to 4 years old, they have introduced music and dance classes on Thursday afternoon. For more information on all their services, please visit their website at www.sidings.org.uk
For an entire listing of all services and facilities in the local area, we found the best websites to visit are the Camden website or Net Mums which details where and when all groups meet, contact details and informative comments from other parents.
North London News
Sunday, 27 February 2011
Saturday, 26 February 2011
Graffiti Artist bring Foxes to West End Lane
Foxes used to be seen only in the countryside but in recent years, they have been spotted regularly in West Hampstead and surrounding areas. One artist has decided to expand on this idea of spotting the local foxes and created them in the form of a stencil drawing.
These stencils appear in different colours, such as pink, black and white and have been spotted on walls, phone boxes and shops. They have even managed to appear at our local Tesco’s.
Normally graffiti is frowned upon but local residents seem to have supported these images and find them rather amusing.
The artist has not yet identified themselves but we are intrigued as to whether this will be the only urban animal that appears in our local area or whether there is more to come.
North London News
These stencils appear in different colours, such as pink, black and white and have been spotted on walls, phone boxes and shops. They have even managed to appear at our local Tesco’s.
Normally graffiti is frowned upon but local residents seem to have supported these images and find them rather amusing.
The artist has not yet identified themselves but we are intrigued as to whether this will be the only urban animal that appears in our local area or whether there is more to come.
North London News
Friday, 25 February 2011
Affordable Housing In London
The availability of affordable housing in London and other parts of the UK should be improved.This is one of the suggestions made by PricedOut, the national campaign aimed at getting more people into the property market.
Matt Griffith, spokesman for the organisation, explained that the government's first time property buyer summit hosted by Grant Shapps focused on the wrong solutions.
These included "pushing banks to lend more or extending the availability of more risky mortgage or housing products", as "is it hard to see how a problem caused by loose lending will be solved by more loose lending".
Instead: "Rather than trying to prop up prices it would be better to let them fall and improve affordability in the simplest way. Lower house prices are the best way to help first time buyers," Mr Griffith argued.
His remarks come after the Council of Mortgage Lenders predicted that gross lending this year will, at £135 billion, be significantly less that the £360 billion worth of lending seen at the height of the pre-crunch housing market.
London House Price News
Matt Griffith, spokesman for the organisation, explained that the government's first time property buyer summit hosted by Grant Shapps focused on the wrong solutions.
These included "pushing banks to lend more or extending the availability of more risky mortgage or housing products", as "is it hard to see how a problem caused by loose lending will be solved by more loose lending".
Instead: "Rather than trying to prop up prices it would be better to let them fall and improve affordability in the simplest way. Lower house prices are the best way to help first time buyers," Mr Griffith argued.
His remarks come after the Council of Mortgage Lenders predicted that gross lending this year will, at £135 billion, be significantly less that the £360 billion worth of lending seen at the height of the pre-crunch housing market.
London House Price News
Thursday, 24 February 2011
Refurbished Investment Opportunity in West Hampstead
West Hampstead Refurbished Conversion for Sale
An Excellent rental investment giving nearly a 6% return.A recently refurbished first floor studio conversion within this period property in the heart of West Hampstead and close to the amenities served by Mill Lane.
This bright flat benefits from a studio room with wood floors, recently fitted kitchen with all appliances including dishwasher and a fully tiled shower room.
This is an excellent investment in a very good road in central West Hampstead giving a rental yield of nearly 6%.
Holmdale Road, West Hampstead, London, NW6
Wednesday, 23 February 2011
Outer London Cycling Receives £4Million
The Mayor and Transport for London (TfL) have announced £4m funding for Biking Boroughs to create cycle hubs and cycling communities in Outer London.
The funding will help boroughs engage the local community in cycling, create better cycle infrastructure and parking as well as making cycling safer.
The key themes and areas of development that emerged from the 13 individual Biking Borough strategies were:
The funding will help boroughs engage the local community in cycling, create better cycle infrastructure and parking as well as making cycling safer.
The key themes and areas of development that emerged from the 13 individual Biking Borough strategies were:
- Cycle hubs - Town centre locations with a high density of potential cyclists and trips where boroughs should invest in cycle infrastructure
- Cycling communities - Residential areas of high cycling potential where investment should be focused on breaking down the barriers to cycling
- Promotional activities - Events to raise the profile of cycling across the borough
Tuesday, 22 February 2011
Home Office Crime Website Will have Little Impact on North London Property Market
The new Home Office Crime Maps website was launched last week with the suggestion that the information would make the police more accountable to local communities. The launch obviously caused a stir as the website had crashed by late morning.
One of the arguments against the virtue of making such information freely available was the use that may be made of it by Estate Agents or Insurance Companies. House prices might be artificially hiked on the basis of the property being located in a 'no crime area', and premiums might go up in high crime streets.
The fear is, the information will be used to the disadvantage of the potential home buyer/renter and home insurer.Would this in turn mean that lower crime areas insurance premiums would go down, or that higher crime rate areas rental value will suddenly decrease?
Paramount Properties Director Mark Grieg said “While School catchment areas have had a significant impact on the price of property in areas of North West London it seems unlikely that the crime maps will have much impact. Home buyers and Renters have usually done their research on which area of the city they want to live in. The information provided by this website will not be a surprise to most. A neighbourhood watch scheme has never really been a selling point.”
At the top of most home buyers want lists will be number of bedrooms, good schools, green spaces, future planning and development of the area and council tax bands. Crime statistics will simply be added to the list of information and the house will be bought or rented on consideration of all factors. The more information a home buyer can gain before buying a house, the better.
"An area with no crime will be extremely difficult to find; burglars don’t mind which postcode they steal a flat screen TV from." said Mr Grieg."We have all looked at our homes on Google Street View, and we will probably all take a look at crime rates on ours and our friend’s neighbourhoods. It will be interesting to see whether the site continues to be so popular.”
London Property News
One of the arguments against the virtue of making such information freely available was the use that may be made of it by Estate Agents or Insurance Companies. House prices might be artificially hiked on the basis of the property being located in a 'no crime area', and premiums might go up in high crime streets.
The fear is, the information will be used to the disadvantage of the potential home buyer/renter and home insurer.Would this in turn mean that lower crime areas insurance premiums would go down, or that higher crime rate areas rental value will suddenly decrease?
Paramount Properties Director Mark Grieg said “While School catchment areas have had a significant impact on the price of property in areas of North West London it seems unlikely that the crime maps will have much impact. Home buyers and Renters have usually done their research on which area of the city they want to live in. The information provided by this website will not be a surprise to most. A neighbourhood watch scheme has never really been a selling point.”
At the top of most home buyers want lists will be number of bedrooms, good schools, green spaces, future planning and development of the area and council tax bands. Crime statistics will simply be added to the list of information and the house will be bought or rented on consideration of all factors. The more information a home buyer can gain before buying a house, the better.
"An area with no crime will be extremely difficult to find; burglars don’t mind which postcode they steal a flat screen TV from." said Mr Grieg."We have all looked at our homes on Google Street View, and we will probably all take a look at crime rates on ours and our friend’s neighbourhoods. It will be interesting to see whether the site continues to be so popular.”
London Property News
Monday, 21 February 2011
Buy to Let Landlord Choose Fixed Rate Mortgages
Many people, including buy to let landlords, are looking at fixed rate mortgages in anticipation of an interest rate rise, a property expert has stated.
According to Malcolm Harrison, this type of UK mortgage offer is becoming popular with lots of individuals.
"It used to be that a lot of buy to let landlords in particular used to be on fixed rates. They then switched to tracker rates as interest rates fell," he explained.
"But obviously [these] may well go up by two or three per cent on top of the base rate."
This will not have a "significant impact" on buy to let landlords, but other kinds, such as reluctant or accidental landlords in London and other parts of the UK, may be more affected by a rise dependent on the type of mortgage they have.
"Overall, there shouldn't be a great effect because we're starting from such a low base rate. We haven't got these vast jumps that we used to have," added Mr Harrison.
Residential Landlords News
According to Malcolm Harrison, this type of UK mortgage offer is becoming popular with lots of individuals.
"It used to be that a lot of buy to let landlords in particular used to be on fixed rates. They then switched to tracker rates as interest rates fell," he explained.
"But obviously [these] may well go up by two or three per cent on top of the base rate."
This will not have a "significant impact" on buy to let landlords, but other kinds, such as reluctant or accidental landlords in London and other parts of the UK, may be more affected by a rise dependent on the type of mortgage they have.
"Overall, there shouldn't be a great effect because we're starting from such a low base rate. We haven't got these vast jumps that we used to have," added Mr Harrison.
Residential Landlords News
Sunday, 20 February 2011
Refurbished Studio Apartment for Rent, West Hampstead
West Hampstead 1 Bedroom Property For Rent
1 Bedroom
1 Bathroom
A recently refurbished first floor studio apartment located in this well maintained Victorian conversion just a short hop from Finchley Road and West End Lane close to public amenities. The property benefits from a separate fully fitted kitchenette, fully tiled shower room and wc, fitted wardrobes, large communal gardens, communal washer/dryer, available from 18th April.
Fairhazel Gardens, South Hampstead, London, NW6
Friday, 18 February 2011
Garden Flat for Sale, Birchington Road, West Hampstead Borders
Birchington Road, West Hampstead Borders, London, NW6 £474,950
A one double bedroom garden level flat converted within a period terraced house along a most popular side street off West End Lane just moments to all amenities in West Hampstead including the multiple train links, bus routes and a large selection of cafes, restaurants and bars.
The accommodation comprises a comfortable rear aspect reception room with fireplace, a generous master bedroom with a large built in wardrobe and an additional walk in storage cupboard and a modern kitchen and bathroom.
In addition the flat benefits from a superb and enclosed patio garden, wood flooring, an entrance hallway study area and a share of the freehold. This flat warrants the earliest possible inspection to appreciate this fine home. Call today to view!
West Hampstead Property for Sale NW6
Friday, 11 February 2011
Sherriff Road, West Hampstead Flat for Rent
West Hampstead Property for Rent £160pw
A completely refurbished first floor studio apartment situated on this tree lined road close to transport and amenities, including studio room with space saver kitchenette and fully tiled shower room, available from 2nd April, part furnished.
Sherriff Road, West Hampstead, London, NW6
Cricklewood Community Improvement Programme
Back in October 2010, the community of Cricklewood organised a walkabout around the area with councillors from the three boroughs, Barnet, Brent and Camden, in an attempt to set the wheels in motion towards improving the current area.
This event was organised by the Cricklewood Improvement Programme which is made up of local residents groups, businesses and charities. Their aim is to ensure that the three councils listen to the community and provide a safe and prospering area that the residents can be proud of.
This programme will continue to take over the next five years and consist of reviewing the current plans for Cricklewood's development by the three councils, conducting surveys with the residents and businesses in order to establish community's needs and to recruit new supporters for this programme.
A website, was created in late December by the members in order to raise the profile of this programme but is currently still in the design stages.
We look forward to following their progress throughout the following years.
London Property News
This event was organised by the Cricklewood Improvement Programme which is made up of local residents groups, businesses and charities. Their aim is to ensure that the three councils listen to the community and provide a safe and prospering area that the residents can be proud of.
This programme will continue to take over the next five years and consist of reviewing the current plans for Cricklewood's development by the three councils, conducting surveys with the residents and businesses in order to establish community's needs and to recruit new supporters for this programme.
A website, was created in late December by the members in order to raise the profile of this programme but is currently still in the design stages.
We look forward to following their progress throughout the following years.
London Property News
Wednesday, 9 February 2011
West End Lane Studio Apartment for Rent
West Hampstead Studio Apartment for Rent
A recently redecorated and spacious second floor studio apartment within this purpose built block set close to transport and amenities. Benefits include a brand new separate fitted kitchen with appliances, new tiled bathroom with shower attachment and wc, available 26th March, part furnished.
West End Lane, West Hampstead, London, NW6
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