Young people are snapping up new affordable housing in our town. 

When software engineer David Mills, 29, was ready to step onto the property ladder, he had three things on his checklist; a balcony, a beautiful view and, most importantly, a great commuter location in the South East to make travel to his office in London easy, without breaking the budget.

He was pleasantly surprised when he discovered Bankside Gardens in Reading, St Edward’s elegant waterside development, just a 25-minute drive away from his current property, which offered everything he was looking for and more.

Comprising one- and two-bedroom apartments, hotel-style amenities and green spaces, Bankside Gardens provides exceptional value for first-time purchasers looking for the London lifestyle without the price tag.

Mr Mills purchased his two-bedroom apartment off-plan for £480,000; 59% less than the average cost of a two-bedroom home in London of £808,164*.

Reading Green Park railway station – located on-site at Bankside Gardens – opened earlier this year, providing direct access to Reading town centre in just six minutes.

Reading provides quick and convenient connections to London via overground services and the newly opened Elizabeth Line.

Mr Mills comments: “I considered moving to London for the convenience of being nearer work, however for the price I have paid for my apartment at Bankside Gardens, I would have got something much smaller in London.

"Reading Green Park station will be a two-minute walk from my front door and gets me to Paddington in less than an hour, so it’s just as convenient here than if I were in an outer London neighbourhood.”

Mr Mill’s apartment, which will be ready to move into in Spring 2024, is located on the fourth floor with views across a picturesque lake and tranquil gardens below.

Residents will also benefit from an array of exclusive luxury amenities rarely found outside of London at this price point, including a concierge service, a gym, co-working studio and a cinema room.

Mr Mills adds: “The facilities at Bankside Gardens are a huge bonus. The private cinema room is very cool, and having a resident-only gym which you know will never be overcrowded is fantastic.

"I also enjoy open water swimming and have discovered an open water swimming lake nearby which I look forward to trying.”

Having grown up in Reading, Mr Mills already knows the town reasonably well.

He explains: “I’m looking forward to moving back. Having easy access to the large town centre with hundreds of shops, cafés and restaurants is great, and the connectivity couldn’t be better.”

The homes at Bankside Gardens form part of Green Park Village, which is centred around a nine-acre lake with walks, trim trails, play areas, green open space, a new Market Square and Green Park Village Academy primary school.

Green Park Business Park is just a short walk away from the development and home to offices, a public gym and a range of eateries.