All eyes are on Acton and its planned £26 billion transformation. Following the announcement of the 1,600-acre Park Royal regeneration site as part of a 30-year vision for a new cosmopolitan corner of London, Barratt London’s Western Circus is one of the first available developments to buy in Acton; presenting an exciting opportunity to acquire off-plan apartments from £499,000.

“Although in its infancy, the comprehensive regeneration of Acton aims to create a vibrant community with fast transport links and diverse affordable housing options,” says Barratt West London Sales Director, Ed McCoy. “The opportunity for capital growth here is phenomenal. Acton is significantly more affordable than neighbouring Chiswick and Ealing, but over the next decade is set to emerge as a hotspot to rival White City, particularly with the promised arrival of Crossrail.”

Western Circus will consist of 365 new homes, including 142 affordable and 223 private apartments, together with a supermarket and community café. Due for completion from December 2021, the development also offers a Rental Guarantee Scheme with a 5% gross return for 12 months.

Hoping to give Acton a new identity, the wider 1,600-acre regeneration masterplan is the largest of its kind in the UK. By 2050, 40,000 new homes will be created, alongside a new high street, two major campuses for Imperial College and London’s only high-speed transport interchange where HS2 meets Crossrail. Western Circus is one of the earliest housing releases in the area, giving savvy purchasers exclusive access to this growth hotspot.

“Acton is arguably the most accessible place in West London, but despite the extraordinary connectivity of this area, housing options have historically been limited. Western Circus aims to help realign this imbalance, giving first-time buyers a chance to get on the ladder,” adds Ed.

When Crossrail completes in 2021, journey times from Acton will be just nine minutes to Bond Street, 16 to Liverpool Street and 23 to Canary Wharf. The Zone 2 location is already the only part of London with all four compass points represented in its station names, with Western Circus positioned just a five-minute walk away from East Acton. Acton is just one stop on the Central Line from Westfield W12 (two minutes) whilst also benefiting from fast access to Heathrow Airport, only a 30-minute journey by car.

Tess Cavendish, Associate director at Strutt & Parker London Residential Development & Investment, said: “When Western Circus first launched to the market in 2019, the development became Strutt & Parker’s most successful new-build scheme of the year. A record-breaking volume of sales, both to owner-occupiers and investors, demonstrated the enduring appeal of Acton as a property hotspot. Buyers were encouraged by the proximity of forthcoming Crossrail, the nearest Elizabeth Line station at Acton Main Line being approximately 1km away. Crossrail, as well as attractive local regeneration and targeted investment, are factors that continue to enhance the appeal of the neighbourhood surrounding Western Circus. Over the third quarter of this year for example, 40% of properties in the W3 postcode sold within 3 months, compared with 25.5% for the whole of Central London. Long-term prospects for Acton are particularly encouraging. Research commissioned by Crossrail shows that residential property values along the forthcoming Elizabeth Line are predicted to rise by 25% in Greater London; by 2026, residential property within 1km of an Elizabeth Line station will have experienced £20bn+ of total value uplift.” *

Spread over six brand new blocks with attractive brick facades, the new one, two and three-bedroom apartments at Western Circus have been specifically designed with community in mind, with cycle storage for 500 bikes, landscaped gardens for families to enjoy and car club provisions. Sustainability initiatives include solar panels on the tallest buildings to generate cleaner energy for the communal facilities, while a centralised Combined Heat and Power facility will provide residents with an efficient supply of electricity.

Etienne Prongué, CEO of BNP Paribas Real Estate UK, said: “The strategic location of Western Circus, adjacent to key large-scale regeneration zones and new transport hubs, really highlights the development as an important new addition to the London residential market and should greatly enhance its investment appeal. Barratt London’s reputation for build quality and urban design has already attracted and will continue to pull investors towards this outstanding opportunity.”

Each apartment will have a have a balcony, terrace or winter garden, and provide light-filled open-plan living spaces finished to a contemporary design, with state-of-the-art appliances and floor-to-ceiling windows, perfect for working from home. Apartments on the upper floors will enjoy panoramic views of West London, looking across the pleasantly landscaped setting.

Ed finishes by saying, “By providing not just homes, but landscaped communal gardens, a large Lidl supermarket right underneath the development, with a buzzing café at its heart, we are focused on creating an atmosphere where people want to live and stay – families and professionals alike.”