Supporting the communities in which we build
Harry and George’s long-term friendship proves the perfect solution to becoming first-time buyers
When Harry Lywood and George Poyner met aged five years old, living in Ludlow in Shropshire at the time, they would never have guessed that years down the line they would have moved to London and be buying their first property together at Taylor Wimpey’s Eclipse in Walthamstow, at the tender age of just 20.
Both Harry and George work in property sales - George at an Estate Agent’s in Hackney, and Harry as a Sales Executive at another Taylor Wimpey development. This gave them an understanding of how easy the property buying process can be. They quickly realised that by using the Government-backed Help to Buy scheme they could afford to buy their first own home with just a 5% deposit.
Harry said: “It wasn’t until I was working in property sales that I discovered how simple the buying process is. George and I getting a mortgage together using the Help to Buy scheme meant we could say goodbye to renting - we just couldn’t believe it!
“Having seen first-hand the build quality of the Taylor Wimpey homes I had every confidence in suggesting this as our first step on the property ladder. We chose a three-bedroom top floor duplex apartment at the Eclipse development as we felt it offered very good value for money in a great, up-and-coming area which we can’t help but think will therefore be a good investment.
“It has been really interesting to experience the buying process from the other side for a change. The sales staff at Eclipse have been extremely helpful and we have just taken it all one step at a time with their guidance and it has been really easy. We’re now thrilled that we took this step as we get on so well as friends and it really made sense. We’re really looking forward to moving into the apartment by the end of the year.”
Walthamstow community centre gets garden revamp thanks to Taylor Wimpey
Staff, volunteers and visitors at a Walthamstow community arts centre are looking forward to a new year full of outdoor activity after our East London team stepped in to revamp their garden for free.
Directors at Gnome House community interest company (CIC) spent months planning for the overhaul of the space behind their building in Blackhorse Lane, right next to the Eclipse development. But issues with the contractor that they initially appointed left them unable to complete the garden.
Thankfully the team working on Eclipse stepped in and took on the project at no cost to the CIC. The garden is now complete, and the Walthamstow community was invited to join volunteers and local councillors for the grand opening on Saturday 15th December 2018.
Mark Burton, one of three volunteer directors at Gnome House, said: "We're delighted that Taylor Wimpey East London has been such a generous and thoughtful neighbour to Gnome House community arts centre.
“We were left with a huge problem after being let down by a contractor in spring this year, but thankfully the Taylor Wimpey team offered to build our new garden at no cost to the centre. They brought in tonnes of new topsoil, built walls, fixed drains and even gave Gnome House a new shed. They promised to help and then did more than we could have expected.
"Now we have a team of garden volunteers ready to start planting and planning for 2019 and beyond. This means that from the spring onward our user groups, including lots of local children, will have a wonderful new space where they can learn, create and play."
Stella Creasy, MP for Walthamstow, said: "Taylor Wimpey East London is building one of the biggest housing developments in my constituency so I’ve followed its progress closely. Areas of interest for me are always the provision of social housing, the environmental credentials of new buildings and how the development will benefit the existing community.
“I’m therefore really pleased to see that Taylor Wimpey has given such a helping-hand to Gnome House and created such a wonderful community garden. It shows what is possible when developers and the community collaborate. Taylor Wimpey has built the space – and now the Gnome House community volunteers are filling it with ideas, energy and enthusiasm for everyone’s benefit."
Proud to announce the winner of our community competition in Walthamstow
The Limes Community and Children’s Centre has been awarded £500 after being announced as the winner of our community donation competition. Residents from in and around Walthamstow were invited to vote for a local good cause to receive a helping hand, with the community centre receiving the most nominations. The runner up was Walthamstow and Chingford Almshouse Charity which received a £300 prize.
The Limes Community and Children’s Centre provides opportunities to play and participate for disabled children and young people. Through a range of services and activities, The Limes endeavour to help young people reach their full potential emotionally, socially and educationally.
Michael O’Leary, Sales and Marketing Director at Taylor Wimpey East London, said: “At Taylor Wimpey, we’re really proud of our commitment to giving something back to the local communities in which we build. We’re absolutely delighted to announce The Limes Community and Children’s Centre as the winner of our community competition. We’re so pleased that the community got behind the competition and placed their votes to support the local causes we nominated.”
Liz Fraser, CEO of The Limes Community and Children’s Centre, said: “When we were nominated for Taylor Wimpey’s community competition, we were thrilled and it was even more of an honour to be announced as the winner. The work that we do at The Limes is hugely helped by kind donations such as this one and we’re really looking forward to using the £500 towards a bumper summer of fun for our children and young people.”
Proud to donate to Walthamstow children’s charity
Our East London team has helped support Walthamstow families in urgent need with a £500 donation to The Lloyd Park Children’s Charity.
The money will be put towards the charity’s Baby Bank, hosted at Priory Court Community Centre within Walthamstow’s Central Neighbourhood. The Baby Bank collects new and used baby essentials from the community to give to those in need in a similar way to a foodbank. Since its launch in 2013, the Baby Bank has helped hundreds of local families and children with donations of food, clothing, toys and other essentials.
Sarah Marsh, Baby Bank Manager said: “We’re so grateful to Taylor Wimpey for this generous donation to the Baby Bank. As little as £5 can provide 44 nappies for a newborn baby, so the £500 that Taylor Wimpey has donated is incredibly impactful and really helps support the hard work we do here at The Lloyd Park Children’s Charity.”
Michael O’Leary, Sales and Marketing Director at Taylor Wimpey East London, said: “We’re always proud to support causes within the towns and cities that we build our homes, and The Lloyd Park Children’s Charity is no exception to this. We’re delighted that our donation is going to have such a positive impact on those who use the Baby Bank’s services.”
Proud to be part of the community at Eclipse
A young professional and his pet pooch are right at home after moving into our Eclipse development. Joseph Williams, 29 secured his two bed apartment and made the move to East London with his Pomeranian, Morsen, in January this year using the Government-backed Help to Buy scheme.
Formerly renting in Central London, Joseph was seeking an affordable, low-maintenance property with a short commute to his workplace in Liverpool Street. The 5% deposit that Help to Buy allows, coupled with Eclipse’s Zone 3 location, meant that the new build apartment was a great fit.
Joseph said: “I’ve been really impressed with Taylor Wimpey from the beginning. My first experience of registering my interest in an apartment at Eclipse was great, with attentive sales executives willing to help at every step of the buying journey. Because I commute to work, it’s so handy being right by both Tottenham Hale and Blackhorse Road station - within 30 minutes I’m into Liverpool Street.
“Eclipse really does feel like a community; I get on with my neighbours and we have a lot in common, plus Morsen is really at home here which is fantastic. Walthamstow is up-and-coming, so to be part of a growing community that’s quieter than Central London is a huge plus. As well as this, I wanted a place which I could customise to my liking with minimal work on the infrastructure of the place itself and my apartment really fits the bill in that respect.”
