Forum Topic

Ferry Lane - Brentford Redevelopment

I'm thinking of buying a flat in the Town Meadow development on Ferry Lane but I'm a bit concerned to see that 2 of the 3 restaurants in the immediate area (San Marco and Glistening Waters) have been closed down for some time and not replaced.  The flat I'm looking at seems to be struggling to sell.  I was just wondering if there's something about the area that people are avoiding eg if there are plans to build/develop there that I don't know about, or if there might be other reasons why businesses aren't being replaced.  I've read a bit about the waterside redevelopment masterplan but can't work out if it would affect this area.  Any thoughts greatly appreciated.

Tony Whyte ● 4594d14 Comments

I don't call anyone a liar, just relaying my experience. To be fair, my bicycle was stolen but I put that down to London life.It strikes me that if you bought 'properties' in 2002 you're probably disappointed by the lack of capital gains.I expect those who buy overpriced new flats now will have the same experience unless they sell before the bubble bursts (about 2016 is my guess). Not an issue for me as I just want somewhere to live.

Guy Lambert ● 4540d

By the way Guy, you think everyone is a liar that writes in ferry quays google group about the parking space problems, cars broken in, cycles stolen, lifts broken down, kids making noises after entering into blocks, high service charges and shooting way above the inflation etc etc.................!!!!! Or unless you are living on a different FQ estate than the one I know!

Satvir Sidhu ● 4540d

We bought properties in FQ in 2002. So have a great deal experience compare to you about the estate's affairs.I know many other people who own or rent and live on the estate.You are only just buying but i will wish you good luck that you do not have the same experience as I did.

Satvir Sidhu ● 4540d

As a FQ resident I'd agree with Guy, the service charges are broadly comparable with anywhere else.  Obviously they do vary depending on what you want for your money.  I looked at some flats in Holland Gardens and the service charge was higher because of features like a gym and hot tub.  The management company is efficient and the estate office give a fantastic service and are always really nice and helpful.  There is some noise from adjacent flats but then I think that's inevitable in any block of flats.  I've never lived in one where there wasn't some awareness of other people moving around.  I can sometimes hear some noise from next door when they have a dinner party but it's not problematic and the blocks are fairly quiet as a rule.  There's also a good amount of space in the flats compared to some of the other blocks. I'd also tend to agree that one of the problems for the restaurants in the area is the lack of passing trade.    In contrast some of the ones on or near the High Street are busier and seem to be more thriving.  I hope that the new developments will help with this.

E Shovelton ● 4540d

I think Satvir has special reasons for dissing FQ.I have lived there for 3 years in a rental and have now just bought a flat there (well, subject to contract!)Can't comment on the service charges but my impression is they are similar to comparable blocks. I've never been scared in the car park (or anywhere else), never seen anyone dubious in the block and sometimes don't bother to lock my door as it all feels very secure. The insulation seems excellent to me - rarely hear a sound from neighbouring flats and rarely have to have heating on. The lifts are dodgy but in 3 years I have never once been forced to use the stairs.I think the problem with restaurants is lack of passing (or any other) trade. This might improve as the waterfront (I hope) opens up with the various new developments. In fact my one real criticism of FQ is that it feels dead with little or no pedestrian traffic - quite the opposite of being overrun with 'unwanted walking through the open estate'.I looked at about 30 flats around Brentford before deciding to buy in FQ. All the other existing developments were a disappointment and the new ones (Kew Bridge and Brentford Lock West at least) just seem ludicrously overpriced.

Guy Lambert ● 4541d

Hmm, don't think you can describe Brentford Lock as "very lively" and as for new restaurants opening, there's just that one on the corner of Booth House, which has been vacant ever since the development took place about 8/9 years ago.  Hardly a hub of activity and suspect the existing restaurants there struggle to survive.As for any attempt to compare Ferry Quays with the Kew Bridge development, that shouldn't be done as the two sites are geographically not comparable, the Kew Bridge development is on a highly prominent corner next to the South Circular Road and opposite a train station, whereas Ferry Quays is tucked away in a secluded location off Brentford High Street.

Adam Beamish ● 4548d

Ferry Quays only looks good on the paper. Service charges are excessive and poorly presented. Too many ferry quays companies are involved to manage the estate plus a management company. Poor management and very high maintenance costs of the estate. The car park is scary especially if you are walking alone. Number of break ins in the car park and in the blocks every year despite the security cameras installed at a huge expense. You may not even to get your car parked nyour allocated parking space. Very poor quality of insulation and lifts break down regularly. It makes you very volnerable around the estate. It is definately not for families as there is no safety or security with all kinds of unwanted walking through the open estate from all directions especially from the riverside path.The restaurants closed down due to very very high service charges without any services being provided to them and the owners have to pay again to buy all the services and the recent recession did not help. Not just the 3 rstaurants closed. The beauty salon, Hair salon, again beauty salon, estate agency, grocery store closed here too. Only Maydek is making money. Brentford Lock is welcoming and very lively hence restaurants have survived and new restaurants are opening.Most other developments are more security tight with gated and 24 hour concierge service. You can understand if there service charges are slightly higher! You can not load or unlod after 1pm at ferry quays by your choice.Moreover the prices in Ferry Quays are lower or the same what we paid for them in 2003 during the development of the site.I do not think anyone can do justice to compare Kew Bridge development with the poor sister at Ferry Quays.

Satvir Sidhu ● 4548d

I love Raymond's idea of a bridge between Brentford and Kew Gardens. Some of the millions of people who visit Kew Gardens can probably be tempted to walk over the side of the bridge and walk by the Brentford river side

Raj Patel ● 4551d

I think that on paper it does look quite exciting.But so far it is all rather underwhelming.The footfall problem will never be redressed unless the riverside is totally accessible by pedestrian and cycleways and a bridge over to Kew gardens which could totally transform Brentfords fortunes .The biggest problem is the totally unaddressed factor of big pupolation increase V no infrastructure to cope.The Main road through Brentford has for the last few weeks been near gridlock for much of the day, quite inexplicably but this is a taste of things to come.It could backfire on the area and destroy any sustainable local economy and ramp the pollution levels up to a point that it will be a danger living here.The pollution issue as Adam suggested (I think) is not something that gets considered in planning policies and decisions.Vortices ( strong multi directional winds ) are caused by tall buildings and like tornadoes can force down a large amount of particulates and dust over a wide radius of the building.The new weird looking building in Leadenhall has created such strange effects that it has almost pulled summer dresses off of females in the street and is a voyeurs paradise.But seriously it is the health issues that will become paramount if this goes unchecked and planning policies and procedures need to be updated to included more detail on the ground effect and environmental effects of such buildings amidst low level residential dwellings.

Raymond Havelock ● 4591d

Thanks Nigel - that's very helpful.  I tried to send you a private message but I got a "fail" message - I wonder whether you'd be happy to send me an email to twhytehot@hotmail.com and I can then reply with a couple of specific questions? It would be much appreciated.

Tony Whyte ● 4591d

Hi Tony,We bought a flat on Ferry Lane in the Ferry Quays development last year, so I guess I'll probably be a little bias on the positive side.  It was very easy for us to make the decision to buy the flat as my wife had previously lived in a flat-share in Town Meadow a few years ago and we also have friends or colleagues who live in 4 separate properties in the Ferry Quays development so we knew pretty much exactly what to expect.The Town Meadow flats in the development were finished about 10 years ago as compared to the Goat Lane flats on the eastern side of the development finished 12 years ago.  Town Meadow block doesn't have lifts so it has a cheaper service charge than some of the other blocks within Ferry Quays.  The service charge for our flat (with lift) is a little expensive but about average with service charges of any similar property anywhere in London.  We had been quoted a slightly larger service charge when looking at buying flats in the newly built GWQ in Brentford.  The Town Meadow side of the development is the quietest area for foot/vehicle traffic and also seems to have slightly better sound-proofing between flats than the blocks built 2 years earlier.  I'm surprised to hear the flat you're looking at is struggling to sell, as even with all the development in Brentford the flats in Ferry Quays are still being snapped up quickly - except when sellers want an over-the-odds price or the flat is at ground level and doesn't have a garden wall - even then there aren't that many people walking past the flats.All of our friends/colleagues agree that the reason San Marco, Glistening Waters and now it seems Marmaris have closed down is because there is very little foot-traffic around/through the development.  I know a lot of people who've worked in Brentford for over 10 years and weren't even aware there were restaurants in the development.  We've still got Poppadums, Watermans Arms (serving British & Japanese food), Atashi Persian, Fatboys Thai and if desparate the Premier Inn restaurant all within or on the edge of the Ferrry Quays development.  Once the Boardwalk & Kew Reach housing developments next to Ferry Quays are finished later this year then obviously the restaurants in the area will pick up in popularity and may even have some new ones.Regarding the 'waterside redelopment masterplan' there are actually 2 separate developments which are relatively close to Ferry Quays.  The first is the redevelopment of Brentford Town Centre down to the canal locks - that seems to bogged down in appeals etc but even if it finally goes ahead will result in new housing/shops etc on the western side of the Hiedelberg building so in Ferry Quays we won't be disturbed by the construction noise etc and have the benefit of a wider ranges of shopping in the area.  The second is the potential redevelopment of Watermans Arts Centre & Offices which are opposite McDonalds, that would be disappointing as the Arts Centre is great community facility and has cheap cinema tickets - hopefully that'll be a few years away yet.Hopefully I've answered a few of your questions but if you need anything specific about Ferry Quays then you should feel free to pop into the Estate Office on Ferry Lane to speak to one of the staff who is there Monday to Saturday.

Nigel B ● 4591d

You've just discribed all of London Raymond. Id say that if money is finaly being spent on Brentford now would be an ideal time to buy. Once regenerated and the more Chiswick becomes unaffordable the more you'll get for your property in Brentford when you decide to sell. Its the most central place in West London as far as im concerned. In easy reach of just about everywhere.

Sarah Thomas ● 4592d

More to do with excessive service charges and average qulity build being palmed off as" luxury' homes. Also very unsafe for families with smaller children and the waterfront is not a safe place for children to play and there is nowhere else to play.Very few facilities, oversubscribed schools and health services, increasingly difficult parking  hindered by high charges in many developments,High pollution levels increasing as high buildings cause vortices which force particles in the air down (rather like fallout) into a wide radius of the district.THat's just enough to make me wonder how anything here sells.

Raymond Havelock ● 4592d

Well, I suppose it could be to do with a number of factors.  Brentford is on the cusp of a major regeneration/development of the area (you only have to look at the developments already underway at Goat Wharf, Kew Bridge, The Steam Museum, Commerce Road,The Great West Quarter and further along on Brentford High Street. In addition, there is the proposed development over at Windmill Road and removal of Brentford football ground from its current site.  Also, as we are still in recession, it's a brave person who opens a new business, particularly with the uncertainty of when the High Street regeneration will actually start.It could be that there is so much choice out there, and a number of the new builds are likely to have 'offers' for people to buy offplan.  A flat at Kew Bridge has supposedly just sold for over £2m so all can't be bad.Maybe look at what Brentford has to offer - a 10-15 min walk from Ferry Lane to Kew Garden or Strand on the Green, 30 min walk (10? min bus ride) to Chiswick, 10-15 min bus ride to Ealing, short journey to Richmond, 7 min train journey to Barnes, short journey along to Isleworth and Syon House, oh, and you would be living alongside the river. Not a bad position to live in.  With a 10 min walk to the Picadilly line, short journey over the river to access the district and London Overground lines, with a 27 min train journey to Waterloo, Brentford is quite well serviced by public transport.  I suppose it all depends whether you want to live here whilst the area undergoes regeneration and changes......

Andrea Hall ● 4592d