A popular Harrow development has been hailed as a “home from home” by one of its residents, thanks to its “European coffee” culture and strong sense of community.

Maria Demetriou (53), who relocated to the UK from Cyprus, first moved to Hyde New Homes’ Eastman Village after (www.hydenewhomes.co.uk/shared-ownership-at-eastman-village) moving to London from Manchester to be closer to her family.

Socialising and enjoying outside space forms a significant part of Maria’s Cypriot culture, and, after discovering the exciting, shared ownership development, she knew it was the perfect choice.

Steeped in history, this hugely popular development built on the site of the former iconic Kodak factory, boasts stylish two, three, and four-bedroom apartments that each come with spacious balconies.

The established thriving community is now enjoying huge interest in its second phase, The Focus Collection, which is now available to reserve off-plan.

Maria, a former Sales Executive at Cyprus television station Lumiere TV (LTV), opted for a 1-bedroom apartment with spacious, bright, and modern rooms and her most prized feature – the large veranda that overlooks the rest of the development.

She said: “My veranda is my joy. I can have my Cappuccino Freddo while sitting outside, surrounded by trees and green space. It reminds me of being back home and is so important for maintaining a healthy mindset.”

Enjoying the outside space is not the only factor that reminds Maria of her home in Cyprus. She explains: “The community at Eastman Village is incredible. I work part-time at a local fish and chip shop – the award-winning Barracuda – which is run by a fellow Cypriot and is located just a five-minute walk from my home. We both speak Greek, so it has been wonderful making friends with each other. I have also met other members of the community who are Greek.”

She continued: “Residents at Eastman Village come from many different countries and cultures across the world. Everybody is so friendly, and it is lovely to chat with different people. It’s a bit like being back in Cyprus.

“Living at the development and working at Barracuda has really helped me integrate into the local area easily. Barracuda is doing some great things for the local community so it’s nice to feel like I’m giving back in a way.”

As part of a wider £1.75 billion regeneration programme by Harrow Council, Eastman Village is on the way to becoming a complete new urban neighbourhood with over 2,000 homes, along with workspace, retail, and leisure venues. The attractive landscaped development is also surrounded by excellent transport connections and good schools, making it an ideal choice for professionals, couples, and families alike.

Each home at Eastman Village has been built to a high specification as standard, featuring contemporary kitchens and integrated appliances, turfed gardens, parking, cycle storage, and quality flooring included at no extra cost. Plus an experienced sales consultant is available to support the customer’s entire buying journey.

It is Hyde’s commitment to quality that has led to Hyde New Homes being awarded 90% customer satisfaction for the past 10 years.

Typically, a shared ownership, one-bedroom apartment in Eastman Village’s Focus Collection starts at £335,000, for the full market value. A 40% share of this equates to £134,000 and would require a minimum 10% deposit. This means that buyers can get on the property ladder for a deposit of £13,400.

The monthly payments would comprise a subsidised rent payable to Hyde on the remaining share, along with service charges and mortgage.

All buyers who opt for the shared ownership scheme are entitled to increase the equity share in their home by purchasing additional shares until the home is purchased outright (100%). This process is called staircasing.

In addition to its stylish homes and vibrant community. Eastman Village has a huge focus on sustainability. It has an on-site carbon efficient energy centre, providing heating across the development reducing carbon emissions by over 35% – meaning a typical home there could be up to 65% cheaper to run. And, as it is categorised as EPC level B, buyers will be pleased to know that they could save up to £2,356 on bills.

Once complete the development will boast 2,019 solar panels, and internally, buyers will benefit from modern fixtures and fittings that have been chosen to be more energy efficient, such as taps and toilet flushes which are made with the intention of conserving resources and reducing water bills.

Eastman Village is also conscious of providing greener transport options. For drivers, there will be 2,019 electric vehicle charging points and a Car Club – Linked by the new network of footpaths and cycleways, the development is just a 10-minute stroll to Harrow & Wealdstone station. The station offers Bakerloo Line Underground services to London Paddington in less than half an hour, as well as the London Overground service.

Residents can reach London Euston with West Midlands Trains in under 15 minutes. Harrow-on-the-Hill station, which is just a short bus ride away, connects to the Metropolitan Line and national rail services.

Cyclists will also benefit from 3,521 cycle spaces to choose from and easy access by bike to Pinner High Street in 11 minutes, Stanmore Country Park in 19 minutes and Ruislip Common in 26 minutes.

Minnie Dando, Head of Marketing and Communications at Hyde New Homes, said: “It warms my heart to read Maria’s story, both in terms of her feeling at home in this new community, as well as the delicious offerings from Barracuda (who also cater for gluten free customers) and their support for the senior residents on the development.

“Eastman Village serves as a testament to Hyde’s belief in establishing a warm and welcoming environment among its diverse residents, who have chosen to make this vibrant community their home.”