Kooky, the new boutique BTR brand, has announced the purchase of 69 units located in Mill Hill and Whetstone, investing over £33 million in the London Borough of Barnet. Delivered by national housebuilder, Taylor Wimpey, Kooky has acquired 30 units within Millbrook Park, in the wider redevelopment of the former Army Barracks in Mill Hill, and a block of 39 apartments within Oakleigh Grove, Whetstone.
Kooky’s investment holds the lease on all apartments for 999 years and each of the units will be developed to meet its brand-led designs; adapting the look and feel of each apartment to comply with customers’ wants and needs. The 39 units in Oakleigh Grove, Whetstone have two bedrooms and two bathrooms; and the Millbrook Park former Army barracks contains 12 one-bedroom apartments, 18 two-bedroom and two-bathroom apartments, as well as 71 parking spaces for residents.
Commenting on the latest acquisition, Howard Crocker, Managing Director of Kooky, said: “Our strategy at Kooky is to be the most customer focused property provider. We are on a never-ending quest to make the experience better for our consumers, constantly talking to them about what they want, and exploring options to help personalise Kooky experiences within our buildings.”
With commuter access via the Northern Line to Euston and Kings Cross from both locations in under 30 minutes, and its excellent links to the M1, the London Borough of Barnet remains a sought-after area for professionals seeking to be within accessible distance of the capital. According to the Greater London Authority (GLA), the population of the borough overall has risen from 329,100 to 400,000 in the space of two years; and Barnet was recently ranked at number three out of the top 10 annual increases in rental searches in London by Rightmove (August 2020).
Crocker continued: “We are confident that Mill Hill and Whetstone will achieve high rental demand; both offer a wide array of local amenities, and our ability to work quickly and efficiently with Taylor Wimpey meant we were able to seize the opportunity.”
Andy Holloway, Land and Planning Director, for Taylor Wimpey North Thames, added: “Kooky and its parent company Delph Property Group are a recognised name in the BTR market. All re-designs of apartments will be led by Kooky and we are excited and confident in their unique approach to completing these blocks in Mill Hill and Whetstone. Working with the brand team from start to finish allowed us to exchange seamlessly and this is the exact approach we look for in our partners.”
Joining its existing apartment blocks in High Wycombe and Staines, Kooky’s latest two blocks in Barnet strengthen the growth of the boutique BTR brand’s portfolio, having now grown its total investment into properties around London to over £76 million in the space of only six months. By offering stylish living and great service, the Kooky model prides itself on working closely with housebuilders such as Taylor Wimpey and believes that all renters are unique and should be treated that way.
