First-time buyers and landlords in north London will soon have nine new apartments to consider, after a Barnet development secured £3.75 million in funding from LendInvest Mortgages. The scheme will see an existing building demolished to make way for a modern three-storey residential complex—exactly the sort of infill development that could offer a stepping stone into London's challenging property market.
The new apartments will be distributed across three floors, adding to the housing stock in a borough where demand consistently outstrips supply. For buyers weighing up their options, new-build properties like these can offer advantages over older stock—modern standards, lower maintenance costs, and often better energy efficiency that could translate to lower bills.
But affordability remains the elephant in the room. With London's average asking price hitting £687,711 in April 2024 according to Rightmove—a slight uptick from the previous month—even smaller apartments require substantial deposits. First-time buyers have fewer government schemes to lean on since Help to Buy closed for new applications in October 2022, though shared ownership remains an option for those meeting the criteria.
For existing Barnet homeowners, developments like this can enhance the local area's appeal and potentially support property values. The borough's popularity means any addition to housing stock helps address the persistent imbalance between supply and demand that keeps prices elevated across north London.
Landlords eyeing investment opportunities might find new-build apartments particularly attractive. Lower initial maintenance costs and modern specifications can mean fewer headaches, though rental yields across London vary significantly depending on the precise location and target tenant market.
The demolition and construction process will transform the existing site completely, maximising the use of available land—a necessity in areas where every square foot counts. This type of small-scale development won't solve London's housing crisis overnight, but it represents the incremental progress that collectively makes a difference to the capital's housing supply.