Embassy exodus returns acres of central London to its residents
As the embassies exit Mayfair and Marylebone, their former bases will free up stunning family homes. While the move of many embassies to Nine Elms at Vauxhall is creating a new residential quarter including thousands of new apartments.
Fast new commuter routes are changing London's property map
Regeneration throughout London continues to change the property map, with the orbital train network and recent Tube line extensions creating faster commuter routes with good-value homes, including Deptford, Bromley and Woolwich.
Brighton spotlight
The East Sussex city of Brighton and Hove offers its residents the best of both worlds: a relaxed life at one end of the line within an hour's commute of London, and a good mix of Regency terrace houses, seafront apartments and family homes.
Canterbury spotlight
The compact city of Canterbury sits 60 miles south-east of London in Kent. In recent years its property market has been boosted by a high-speed rail service into St Pancras, which cuts the journey time to the capital to less than an hour.
Chelsea Flower Show preview 2013
This year the RHS Chelsea Flower Show promises to be suitably fabulous as it celebrates its centenary year with stunning gardens, including the Forget-me-Not Garden by B&Q and Prince Harry's charity.
Find a rated tradesman
Want to add value to your property, make your house a home, or sell your place fast? With 1,000s of tradesmen nationwide, rated and recommended by previous customers, this is the smart way to find a reputable tradesman.
Buy of the week: Stoke Newington, N16
This modern home of almost 1,000sq ft is close to Stoke Newington's high street. A 27ft reception room and two large bedrooms give the flat a spacious feel.
Out of town: Tetbury, Gloucestershire
The beauty spot of Leighterton, with its poppy fields, ivy-covered churches and popular local gastro pub, is home to this four-bedroom house with stone-walled gardens.
Life-changer: Dolwyddelan, Conwy
Have a station all to yourself by buying the Old Station Master's house at Roman Bridge, where trains will stop at your door on request. You also get three bedrooms and 10 acres of grounds.
Oxford spotlight
The small city of Oxford is famous for its university and honeyed stone architecture, but its huge range of property - from affordable new homes to luxurious Victorian houses - and one hour commute to London, are big attractions to home buyers.-
Buy of the week: Stoke Newington, N16
This modern home of almost 1,000sq ft is close to Stoke Newington's high street. A 27ft reception room and two large bedrooms give the flat a spacious feel. -
Out of town: Tetbury, Gloucestershire
The beauty spot of Leighterton, with its poppy fields, ivy-covered churches and popular local gastro pub, is home to this four-bedroom house with stone-walled gardens. -
Life-changer: Dolwyddelan, Conwy
Have a station all to yourself by buying the Old Station Master's house at Roman Bridge, where trains will stop at your door on request. You also get three bedrooms and 10 acres of grounds.
Property search
New Homes Awards 2012: the winners
From classy commuter mansions to city-centre apartments at NEO Bankside and first-time buys to penthouses, this year’s best new homes were awarded for innovative design, eco living and impressive architecture
LONDON EVENING STANDARD GRAND PRIX 2012 WINNER
The overall winner of the London Evening Standard New Homes Awards is:
NEO Bankside, 50-70 Holland Street, London SE1 - by Native Land and Grosvenor
Grand Prix 2012 winner: NEO Bankside, London SE1
BEST NEW LUXURY HOME
Winner: 37 Loom Lane, Radlett, Hertfordshire - by Octagon
Highly commended: Walpole Mayfair, 4-5 Arlington Street, London SW1 - by Oliver Burns
BEST WATERSIDE HOME
Winner: Lower Mill Estate, Somerford Keynes, Cirencester, Gloucestershire – by Lower Mill Estate
Highly commended: Kew Bridge, Brentford, Middlesex - by St George
BEST FIRST-TIME BUY
Winner (small developers – under 100 units): 79 Fermoy Road, London W9 - by Pocket and Darling Associates
Highly commended: Olympus Apartments, 69 Fairfield Road, Bow E3 – by Swan Housing Group, Stock Woostencroft and Galliford Try
Winner (large developers – over 100 units): Kidbrooke Village, London SE9 - by Berkeley Urban Renaissance
Highly commended: The Mews, Gilbert Street, Enfield - by Origin Housing
BEST APARTMENT
Winner (under £1 million): Ludus, South Road, Saffron Walden, Essex - by Higgins Homes
Highly commended: Grange Garden, 1 Haven Way, Bermondsey, London SE1 - by Union Developments
Winner (over £1 million): West Wing 1, Balls Park, Hertford - by City & Country Group
Highly commended: Apartment 49, Central St Giles, London WC2 - by United House Developments
Best apartment (over £1 million): West Wing 1, Balls Park, Hertford
BEST PENTHOUSE
Winner: Walpole Mayfair, 4-5 Arlington Street, London SW1
Highly commended: Grange Garden, 1 Haven Way, Bermondsey, London SE1 - by Union Developments
Best penthouse: Walpole Mayfair, London SW1
BEST FAMILY HOME (up to three bedrooms)
Winner: Parsons Gate Mews, Fulham, London SW6 - by Taylor Wimpey
Highly commended: The Bartley, Wye Dene, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire - by St James
BEST FAMILY HOME (over three bedrooms)
Winner (under £1 million): The Villa, Sherfield Park, Basingstoke, Hampshire - by Croudace Homes
Highly commended: Edgbaston, Brooklands, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire - by Places for People
Winner (over £1 million): Beech House, Boars Hill, Oxfordshire - by Millgate Homes
Highly commended: 2 Langham House, Esher, Surrey - by Hyatt Group Ltd
Best family home over 3 bedrooms (over £1 million): Beech House, Boars Hill, Oxfordshire
BEST CONVERSION
Winner (small developers): Hays Mews, Mayfair, London W1 - by The Malins Group
Highly commended: Balls Park, Hertford - by City & Country Group
Winner (large developers): Ludus, South Road, Saffron Walden, Essex - by Higgins Homes
Highly commended: Allen Gardens, 40-46 Manor Road, Stoke Newington, London N16 - by One Housing Group
BEST REGENERATION PROJECT
Winner: Packington Square, Prebend Street, London N1 - by Hyde Group
Highly commended: Kidbrooke Village, London SE9 - by Berkeley Urban Renaissance
BEST DEVELOPMENT (affordable homes sector)
Winner (small developers): 79 Fermoy Road, London W9 - by Pocket and Darling Associates
Highly commended: Peel House, Regency Street, London SW1 - by Darling Associates & Project Grande
Winner (large developers): Highbury Gardens, 52 Holloway Road, London N7 - by First Base
Highly commended: Putney Hill, Putney, London SW15 - by A2 Dominion
Best large development: NEO Bankside, London SE1
BEST SMALL DEVELOPMENT
Winner (small developers): Dunedin Mews, London SW2 - by Leathwaite Development Ltd
Highly commended: Aylwins, Mayfield, East Sussex - by Newcourt Residential Ltd
Winner (large developers): Churchway, Euston Road, London NW1 - by Origin Housing
Highly commended: The Woodcrofts, Buntingford, Hertfordshire - by Weston Homes
BEST LARGE DEVELOPMENT
Winner (small developers): Grange Garden, 1 Haven Way, Bermondsey, London SE1 - by Union Developments
Highly commended: Lower Mill Estate, Somerford Keynes, Cirencester, Gloucestershire - by Lower Mill Estate
Winner (large developers): NEO Bankside, 50-70 Holland Street, London SE1 - by Native Land and Grosvenor
Highly commended: Bezier, 91 City Road, London EC2 - by Tudorvale
ECO LIVING AWARD
Winner: Lower Mill Estate, Somerford Keynes, Cirencester, Gloucestershire – by Lower Mill Estate
Highly commended: Fabrik, 116 Coldharbour Lane, London SE5 - by Notting Hill Housing Group
Eco living award: Lower Mill Estate, Somerford Keynes, Cirencester, Goucestershire
* For a full report from David Spittles, see next Wednesday's Homes & Property, with your free London Evening Standard
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