Peabody: First time buyer found his dream home in South London hotspot

Owain stepped on the property ladder in Southwark with Help to Buy

Located at the axis of central and South London, Camberwell has long been a cultural hub for artists, musicians and creatives. The artistic and energetic vibe of Camberwell was an instant draw for creative hipster and jazz fan Owain who would never have believed he could live here considering his budget.

Owain bought a stylish apartment through London Help to Buy at Peabody’s The Gallery. Running his own architecture practice meant that Owain recognised the quality and value of the development as soon as he saw it.

He comments: “I see a lot of properties day-to-day in my job and one of the first jobs I had was to design blocks of apartments – so I have a sense of what is good. I thought this was great. I was amazed I was able to push my budget enough to afford this place. The quality is astounding and didn’t really reflect my budget at all.”

Throughout his search for his home, Owain highlighted how he was aware of Peabody’s consistent reputation for providing “housing with quality.” And knowing the architects who actually worked on this project, meant he knew – as he reveals – that “they designed the development with the owners in mind.”

He adds: “It’s quality, beautifully designed and perfectly located. The view is spectacular, I can see St Paul’s and Canary Wharf and I’m looking down on the green. I can see London Eye and Battersea power station – It is truly amazing.”

Watch Owain’s case study video below:

Properties at The Gallery are just moments away from the inviting landscaped area of Camberwell Green and are well connected to central London. Owain explains: “The biggest advantage of living here is being so close to central London – I can ride my bike everywhere and be in town in 20 minutes.”

With quirky and individual shops, cafés, restaurants and bars to enjoy, residents can enjoy a cosmopolitan life. Art lovers can indulge their passion at the GX or South London galleries, with regularly changing free installations. Camberwell College also throws open its doors to the public throughout the year with a varied schedule of events and exhibitions.

Living in such a unique area has provided the opportunity for Owain to explore some of his more niche interests: “There aren’t any chains and therefore it has its own personality and such a vibrant community feel. I enjoy spending my leisure time in the area due to the wide plethora of constantly ongoing activity.”

In fact, at nearby Camberwell Green there is also an annual arts fair as well as a weekly farmers’ market for whipping up dinner with fresh seasonal ingredients. Down the road, the 140-acre Burgess Park has sports facilities and places to barbecue as well as a beautiful lake for scenic picnics.

“This place is really fun,” says Owain, “and I’m so pleased to be here and have the possibility to enjoy jazz nights in The Crypt. I also love to go to Burgess Park for a run, then stop off for some food in the area – there are so many great brunch places. I am able to stroll to the South London gallery and it is only 45 minutes to walk to Borough Market, which is the best reward for an early start.”

Glad to have found a location that suits his personality and lifestyle, Owain says that his experience with Peabody was “awesome”, explaining he found the journey to buy his own home very straightforward. “Peabody had a really good portal where I could see their portfolio of properties. I always wanted to stay in Camberwell and had a really positive experience with the first viewing I had here – the quality of the property was really awesome. And the sales team from Peabody was phenomenal and really helpful.”

All homes are now reserved at The Gallery. Thankfully, Peabody has two more stunning schemes nearby; The Pomeroy and The Muse.

The Pomeroy is an exclusive development comprising Private Sale one bedroom apartments and three bedroom duplexes – available through Help to Buy. Each and every property has been designed to offer buyers the best of contemporary urban living; with thoughtfully planned layouts maximising the available space and stylish interiors. Both Queens Road Peckham and New Cross Gate over-ground stations are a short walk away, and both provide quick links to Canary Wharf, London Bridge and Kings Cross St Pancras. In partnership with Sherrygreen Homes, The Muse offers a dynamic collection of apartments, maisonettes and houses – available with London Help to Buy – making them a great choice for buyers with a range of lifestyles.

Peabody is committed to providing high-quality homes that cater for a range of buyers. Available in a variety of tenures, each and every Peabody home showcases the company’s discerning attention to detail.

For more information on the Shared Ownership, Private Sale, Help to Buy and Resale options Peabody has to offer, please visit peabodysales.co.uk and search your preferred way to buy.

Share to Buy is a one stop shop for affordable homes. On our website, you can search for properties, compare mortgages and find out all you need to know about alternative home buying schemes such as Shared Ownership and Help to Buy via our FAQs and guides.