Ahmed Salah and his wife Layla were living with extended family in Primrose Hill but decided it was time to find a space they could call their own. Searching online for options in North London, they realised houses on the open market would be too expensive. However, one day last summer, they drove past Origin at Middle Yard, a new build development in Dollis Hill, which advertised affordable homes.
Set in a striking architecturally designed building that faces into a landscaped central public realm, Origin at Middle Yard is a collection of one-, two- and three-bedroom Shared Ownership apartments situated in the popular Northwest London borough of Brent, on the borders of leafy Dollis Hill and bustling Neasden. Ahmed and Layla arranged a viewing with the sales team who worked for the private developer at Middle Yard to learn more about the homes on offer.
“At first, the sales associates told us about Help to Buy properties, and with the scheme ending soon, there was a rush to secure the final homes. But even for us, the apartments weren’t affordable,” Ahmed explains, “it wasn’t until we came back for a second visit that we met Julian from Origin, who told us about the Shared Ownership apartments they had acquired from the developer as part of the Section 106 planning process. We knew immediately that the apartments Origin had on offer could be more suited to our growing family.”
The couple spoke to the sales team about the Shared Ownership process, which enables them to secure a property with a lower deposit. After considering their options, Ahmed and Layla purchased a 70% share of a three-bedroom Shared Ownership apartment from Origin at Middle Yard for £362,250, with the full market 100% market value of £517,500.
Thanks to Origin, the buying process took three months from the reservation in October 2022. The family had the keys to their new home when just in time for Christmas in December 2022
Ahmed recalls, “I have to say that the Origin team were amazing and incredibly helpful. They didn’t make us feel like we were talking to salespeople. It felt like we were speaking to our friends. Sandrine and Marcia, in particular, always took the time to speak to us and were never in a rush to answer our questions, which we massively appreciated.”
Having settled in at Origin at Middle Yard, Ahmed explains what the family likes most about their new home. “With three bedrooms, we have all the space we need, and the kids have their own rooms. High on our priorities list was having a nice open-plan living space, which we have – it means that we can cook while we keep an eye on the kids and be all together. Layla and the kids love baking together in the kitchen, and I can be on the sofa and still feel involved.”
The development is well-connected on the Jubilee Line from Neasden Station and Dollis Hill Station, making getting into Westminster for work easy for both Ahmed and his wife.
Looking ahead at their lives in Origin at Middle Yard, Ahmed says, “We’ll like to staircase. We were able to buy a 70% share initially, which is great to get that first step on the property ladder, but we’d like to own 100% of our home eventually. We’re looking forward to our lives here in Dollis Hill.” In summary, Ahmed and Layla had been searching for a home to call their own but found something affordable once they discovered Origin at Middle Yard, a new build development in Dollis Hill. They purchased a 70% share of a three-bedroom new build Shared Ownership apartment for £362,250 and are considering staircasing in the future. The friendly sales team and amenities, such as the open-plan living space and proximity to Jubilee Line stations, were major selling points for the couple.