Going car-free

Parking is an eternal problem in London, as any driver will agree. More and more Londoners are asking themselves whether they really need to own a car at all, and alternatives to private car ownership include car clubs, convenient car rental apps, electric bicycles and, of course, public transport. Increasingly, new developments are designated ‘car free’ as a condition of their planning permission, which means that they provide no parking spaces, and residents are not eligible to apply for council parking permits. Here are four that offer luxury living in a car-free environment.

1. Bayswater

This stylish new development at 154 Bayswater Road has a fantastic central London location overlooking Hyde Park. It contains 15 luxury apartments behind a rebuilt 1893 facade, all with impressively high ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, air conditioning and underfloor heating as well as state-of-the-art Miele and Siemens appliances. There’s no dedicated parking, but each apartment has its own secure bicycle storage and excellent public transport links can take you to St Pancras in 25 minutes, the City in 20 minutes and Heathrow in 30 minutes. Plus, there are six parks within 15 minutes’ walk of the block. Why would you need a car here? The apartments range from £2.4m for a two bedroom ground/lower ground floor flat to £7.6m for the three bedroom penthouse, which has a terrace with panoramic views over Hyde Park. It’s on the market with Winkworth New Homes 020 7355 0202.

2. White City

White City Living is a utopian development of more than 2,500 homes in four architecturally distinct buildings connected by Japanese bridges across pools and waterfalls, making up a new innovation district. There are eight acres of parks and gardens and residents have access to a lifestyle club with features and amenites including a rooftop beach club and pool, a fully equipped gym and indoor pool, cinema rooms, conference rooms, private dining spaces, indoor and outdoor bars and dining and a 24 hour concierge. Transport links from two Zone 2 tube stations bring you to Bond Street in 12 minutes, Kings Cross in 20 minutes and the City in 25 minutes, while Westfield – Europe’s largest shopping destination – is on your doorstep. Apartments range from £795,000 to £1.23m with Winkworth New Homes 020 7355 0202.

3. Watford

New development Union Court at the Eight Gardens in Watford is located four minutes’ walk from well-connected Watford Junction station (trains to Euston take 14 minutes) and within a 70km network of cycle routes – plus, the development has its own residents’ car club. There’s a fully equipped gym and residents’ roof gardens as well as flexible workspaces and meeting rooms in this new build that’s part of a £1.6bn local regeneration project. Apartments range from studios at £299,000 to three bedrooms a t £622,000 with Winkworth New Homes 020 7355 0202.

4. Battersea

The new apartments at Battersea Power Station come with their own new Zone 1 tube station as well as a stop on the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers river bus. You can be at four of the UK’s largest railway stations within 10 minutes from here, and Gatwick is just 36 minutes away. In this unrivalled location everything you need is on your doorstep: independent shops and restaurants, cinema and wellness centres, plus 19 acres of green space and expansive roof gardens with stunning river views. The apartments have their own gym, pool and spa, and there’s a 24 hour concierge too. Prices start at £1.285m for a two bedroom in Battersea Roof Gardens and rise to £8.25m for a three bedroom apartment in Boiler House Square, through Winkworth New Homes 020 7355 0202.