From a cramped six-person house-share to a spacious two-bedroom apartment with room to host family and guest with ease, Eugenio Mastropasqua has made the most of buying a home through shared ownership. Originally from Padova, Italy, Eugenio began to look for his own place after he became frustrated with having to put his family up in hotels whenever they came to visit him in London.
The 30-year-old was house-hunting for Shared Ownership properties when he came across Prospect Quarter; a development from leading London housing provider, Peabody. The Catford scheme was everything the HR professional was looking for.
“I was after a home with plenty of green space nearby, but also a short commute to work. I can reach my work in the City in less than half an hour thanks to both Catford and Catford Bridge stations which is located close to Prospect Quarter.” Many of London’s major transport hubs are easily accessible from the development, with London Bridge only 18 minutes away and Canary Wharf reachable in just over half an hour. Escapes outside of the UK are also within reach, with St Pancras International and City Airport a mere 40 minutes away by DLR from Lewisham.
Eugenio benefits extremely from the transport connections when it comes to his visiting parents. He said: “We can easily reach Gatwick airport via London Bridge; the frequent train connections allow us to go from Catford to London Bridge and then board a Thameslink via Gatwick”
For buyers like Eugenio, living in such a well-connected area at an affordable price is a rare opportunity. “Thanks to the affordability of the apartment through the Shared Ownership scheme, I’ve been lucky enough to purchase a two-bedroom place that I can call my own. I have turned the second bedroom into a guestroom for my parents to stay in when they come to visit me. It also doubles as a study to allow me to work from home. It is great to have my own environment to be productive in without having to worry about being disturbed in the living room!”
The development opens onto the award-winning Ladywell Fields which can be enjoyed on foot or, with a selection of properties featuring a balcony or terrace, from the comfort of your own home. “Having acres of greenery on your doorstep is one of the real perks of living in this area. I love being able to escape the hustle and bustle of City life and show my parents a different side of London.”