When 30-year-old NHS physiotherapist Lydia Roderiques was searching for a new home last year, she was scouring websites and articles for London’s most affordable neighbourhoods.
Previously living in East Ham, she had a long commute to Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals in central London and wasn’t sure where she would move next.
“I love my job but often work long days on seven-day shift patterns, so if you have a lengthy commute, you don’t feel like you have much time to yourself,” she explains.
“I was living in east London with my housemate, but we didn’t love the neighbourhood, plus it was a long walk to the nearest station. With rents increasing, we started looking online for somewhere new without knowing where we would end up.”
When Lydia came across 30 Harbord Square, the first affordable apartment building on the Canary Wharf estate, she could not believe her luck.
“We had never considered that we might be able to live in Canary Wharf – it’s a central area with a high-quality lifestyle, and to be honest, my first impression was that it might be too good to be true.”
Designed by Allies & Morrison, 30 Harbord Square offers 176 apartments at discount market rent available to those who meet eligibility criteria, including a maximum household income of £60,000.
Lydia and her housemate moved into a two-bedroom apartment on the 12th floor, and her home offers far reaching views across the Canary Wharf estate.
“When we moved in, we were jumping up and down on the balcony as we couldn’t believe we lived here – you don’t really expect these kinds of apartments on an NHS salary. When my dad first came to visit, he couldn’t believe we were in Canary Wharf!”
30 Harbord Square is located in Wood Wharf, Canary Wharf’s new neighbourhood. Once complete, it will comprise up to 3,600 new homes as well as 350,000 sq. ft. of retail with spacious high streets and boutique arcades, an NHS medical centre and a primary school.
Residents benefit from all of the exciting aspects that make Canary Wharf a great place to live, including high quality retail, public art, a wide range of restaurants and bars, and an extensive transport network.
“It’s so peaceful here, particularly as we live on the 12th floor. There’s the hustle and bustle on the streets with people working and visiting, but in the evening it’s so relaxing. You feel really safe living on the Estate and the security was something I thought about when exploring areas to live. The neighbourhood is always clean and tidy, which makes everything so much less stressful.
“Originally, I wondered if it might be a quiet neighbourhood during the weekend, but there are so many amenities here – from Amazon Fresh to all of the shops in the underground mall. And there are endless places to eat or go for a drink, as well as hidden gems like the riverside and rooftop areas.”
Now Lydia can get to work via the Jubilee Line in less than 30 minutes, which has helped to transform her work life balance. She explains:
“I have the perfect commute now into London Bridge or Waterloo. The extra time I have back has meant that I can go back to the gym and other classes. Canary Wharf is so well connected as you also have the DLR and soon we’ll have Crossrail.”
For more information, visit www.30harbordsquare.com
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Press Office
Canary Wharf Group plc
T: 020 7418 2166
E: pressoffice@canarywharf.com
Notes to Editors
About Vertus
Vertus is part of the Canary Wharf Group. Over the last 30 years the Group has serviced the world’s blue-chip corporate and retail tenants whilst undertaking the design, construction and management of the ever-growing Estate.
Canary Wharf Group has built this reputation by providing exceptional service through estate management, building management, public space management and security.
Canary Wharf’s new district, Wood Wharf, will provide up to 3,600 new homes, 2m sq ft of office space, 350,000 sq ft of retail and leisure space and over nine acres of public spaces, squares and parks. There will also be a GP surgery and a two-form primary school for 420 children.
www.thisisvertus.com
Instagram: @thisisvertus
Twitter: @thisisvertus
About Canary Wharf Group:
Canary Wharf Group (CWG) is the developer of the largest urban regeneration project in Europe. CWG develops, manages and currently owns interests in approximately 9 million square feet of mixed-use space and over 1,100 Build to Rent apartments.
CWG is the largest sustainable developer in the UK and also excels operationally as it purchases 100% electricity from renewable sources since 2012 and zero waste to landfill since 2009.
CWG has created a 24/7 city where people can live, work and thrive on the Canary Wharf estate and enjoy all the benefits: great transport links, access to green spaces and waterside living; and a wide range of amenities including an award-winning arts and events programme. Canary Wharf’s retail offering comprises over 300 shops, including grocery stores, pharmacies, health clubs, bars and restaurants, all within 15 minutes’ walk.
The Company’s current £1.3bn construction activity is composed of 500k square feet of commercial properties and over 1,600 new homes for sale and rent.
www.canarywharf.com
LinkedIn: @CanaryWharfGroup
Instagram: @canarywharflondon / @woodwharf
Twitter: @YourCanaryWharf / @CanaryWharfGrp / @Level39CW / @Wood_Wharf