Cricket lover is bowled over by sporting opportunities near New River View

Tim Royall, 33, was born and bred in Winchmore Hill, in the heart of the desirable London suburb of Enfield, so it was the first place he looked when he and his girlfriend Sofia decided the time was right for them to buy a home and start a new life together.

Not only did he already know and love the area, but Tim is delighted with the added bonus that he and Sofia’s two-bedroom apartment at Dandara’s New River View development is just a short walk from one of his favourite local spots - Winchmore Hill Sport Club and Cricket Club. “I’ve played sport, especially cricket, all my life,” says Tim, who works in data market research, “so one of the reasons I wanted to stay in this area was that the sports club provides us with plenty of opportunities for socialising – a lot of my friends are still connected to the area and the club and I didn’t want to leave all that behind just yet.”

He is not alone in valuing sporting activities close to home – according to Sport England, having a chance to take part in sport near where you live has a mountain of benefits: “We believe it can be a huge force for good. It can develop confidence and self-worth, and help create more resilient, inclusive and connected neighbourhoods. It can grow the local economy, provide jobs and purpose, integrate different groups, help tackle antisocial behaviour, respond to the threat of climate change and save public expenditure. It can be a big part of loving where you live.”

In fact, it was the value of exercise that led to Tim and Sofia finding their new home in the first place. Tim’s parents had lived in Winchmore Hill since 1986, and when he moved in with them for several months during the difficult lockdown period, he found himself in easy walking distance from New River View. “During the initial COVID lockdown I did lots of walking down by the New River and the sports club – I did a big loop of the area every day to keep up my fitness, so I saw the New River View development as it was being built and took lots of photos.”

As the new development was so close to the people and places he loved, Tim decided to take the plunge, and using the Government-backed Help to Buy: Equity Loan scheme, secured a £500,000 two-bedroom apartment at New River View with just a five per deposit. “It’s close to the station, which is a big benefit for me as I’m now hybrid-working and travelling a couple of times a week into central London for work. I love the way the community around here is growing – it has a real buzz with lots of new places popping up and everything you need on the doorstep, including cafes and places to eat. It’s an up-and-coming area that has become much more wholesome.”

Simon Pendlebury, Sales and Marketing Director at Dandara commented: “As well as being a fantastic location for cricket fans, Winchmore Hill provides local opportunities to play football, hockey, tennis and table tennis, and there are excellent running and cycle tracks nearby, as well as plenty of cycle storage at the development for keeping bikes safe and secure. For those looking for something less formal, the New River is right on the border of the development and offers peaceful walks, and there are numerous parks and green spaces nearby.”

Residents at New River View have plenty of facilities close at hand, including Waitrose and Sainsbury’s supermarkets, a variety of places to eat and drink, a good range of local shops and a selection of schools and nurseries. Winchmore Hill station in Zone 4 is 0.3 miles away, offering services to Moorgate in half an hour, plus there are several Overground and Underground stations within easy reach. Road links are also good, with easy access to the A10, North Circular and M25.

All the 91, one-, two- and three-bedroom homes at New River View have a terrace or balcony, which Tim and Sofia have been delighted with. “It’s great to have our own space and be out of the renting cycle, and we love the south-facing balcony where we can sit out in the morning and enjoy the sun during the summer months. The whole thing has been exciting.”