Development Name: One Thames Valley

Local Information

No.1 Thames Valley is based in Bracknell, a large town in the county of Berkshire. The local area is home to The Lexicon, an iconic and stylish indoor and outdoor shopping centre which boasts a range of popular retail shops, restaurants and entertainment and leisure facilities.

Food and Drink

The Lexicon is located a 16-minute walk away which boasts a range of stylish cafes, restaurants and fast food outlets such as Brown Bag, Starbucks, Zizzi and Feugo. There is also a range of local pubs and bars a 10-minute drive away.

Entertainment

As well as being a short walk away from the Lexicon, where you can enjoy a movie with friends at Cineworld or a work out at the end of the day at Pure Gym, No.1 Thames Valley is located within a short driving distance to a number of popular attractions such as Go Ape, Hollywood Bowl and Coral Reef Waterworld. The popular leisure attraction, Legoland, is located an 18-minute driveway and the beautiful historic town of Windsor is only a 24-minute drive, home of Windsor Castle which is residence of the British Royal Family.

Shopping and Retail

The Lexicon has over 70 high street retailers which include the likes of Joules, Hotel Chocolat, L’Occitane en Provence and many more as well as a choice of restaurants & cafes making it the ideal central meeting place for friends, families and even colleagues.

Located a 13-minute drive away or a 14-minute work is the Peel Centre, Bracknell, a convenient shopping centre where you will find Morrisons superstore, The Range and Pizza Hut and more.

For more information please visit:

https://www.thelexiconbracknell.com/

https://peelcentrebracknell.co.uk/shops

Recreation

Lilly Hill Park is a Green flag awarded 23-hectacre public open space and is a 7-10 minute drive from No.1 Thames Valley. With its attractive grand views you can explore the historic parkland and formal gardens and see  England’s longest picnic bench.  There are many events that take place throughout the year at Lilly Hill park such as heritage park tours, orienteering events and wildlife walks.

For further information please visit:

https://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/parks-and-countryside/parks-visit/lily-hill-park

 

 

 

Post boxes for all of the properties are located within the main entrance reception area in the post room.

If you require any  replacement post box key, please arrange directly with the Managing Agent, Centrick.

If you are renting your apartment, please contact your landlord or letting agent before cutting any new keys.

Medical

Forest Health Group – 0.8 miles (3 minute drive)

Binfield Surgery – 1.8 miles (6 minute drive)

Heatherwood Hospital – 3.7 miles (10 minute drive)

Wokingham Hospital – 4.2 miles (15 minute drive)

To find out more information about local NHS services including local GP’s, hospital services and dentists then please contact the NHS directly or visit their website which is www.nhs.uk.

Motorway

The nearest motorways to No.1 Thames Valley are the M4 and A329.

Train

Bracknell train station is a 16-minute walk away from No.1 Thames Valley or a 3-minute drive. The train line will take you to Wokingham in 6 minutes, Reading in 20 minutes and Heathrow Airport in 56 minutes.

For more information please visit:

https://www.southwesternrailway.com/travelling-with-us/at-the-station/bracknell

Bus Routes

The nearest bus stop is on Stoney Road which is a 4-minute walk from No.1 Thames Valley, the bus route will take you to Bracknell High Street, Wokingham and Reading.

For more information please visit:

http://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk.buses

 

Airport

London Heathrow is a 32-minute drive from No.1 Thames Valley and Gatwick Airport is a 56-minute drive away.

For more information please visit their website:

www.heathrow.com

www.gatwickairport.com

 

Mechanical ventilation systems are fitted in each apartment. Each unit is commissioned individually so that the amount of air moved is tailored to suit the performance required. The system is designed to run continuously and should not be switched off, except for maintenance or filter replacement which must be carried out by a suitably qualified person. The spur switch for this is located in the storage cupboard and should always remain in the on position.

The ceiling vents continuously circulate the air around your property and takes stale air from inside your home and replaces it with clean fresh air, this is called the tricked function and ensures your apartment is ventilated. A manual boost switch is located within the kitchen area for use during cooking. The system will also automatically boost to a higher extract rate when the cooker, shower or bath is in use.

Additional moisture in the air results from the drying out process, coupled with moisture produced by everyday activities, may cause condensation to appear on cold surfaces such as windows and walls. This can be reduced by:

> Covering pans during cooking and ensuring kettles are switched off after they boil
> Drying clothes in well ventilated rooms where possible
> Closing kitchen and bathroom doors to prevent moisture transferring into colder rooms
> Avoiding the use of bottled gas or paraffin heaters
> Wiping down surfaces where moisture settles
> Maintaining a low background heat

If the property is not being ventilated properly this will result in a build-up of condensation. Excessive humidity or standing water on the floor can lead to damage through swelling (deformation and discolouration), this would not be covered under warranty. By utilising the ventilation system effectively, you will help prevent the build-up of moisture in your apartment by removing steam, condensation and odours during bathing and cooking which can help to prevent black spots forming on the walls and behind cupboards.

Please see below the user manual for the ventilation control:

Download – LAB1306R SPR418 Bluebrain Controller – User Manual

Download – MVHR Controller – User Manual

Download – Ventilation – User Help

Video Link – Filter Cleaning 

Council Tax

The local council for One Thames Valley is Bracknell Forest Council. For further information, please visit their website at:

www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/counciltax

Electric 

The electricity provider for One Thames Valley is Ampower.  Their contact details are as follows:

Call: 03301 331 050
Web: www.ampoweruk.com

Following legal completion and the handover of your property, SevenCapital will advise Ampower of the change in ownership. The meter reading and owner’s contact details will be forwarded to Ampower to assist in setting up your account.

You will need to contact Ampower directly to re-iterate the change in ownership and to provide any forwarding addresses for billing purposes. Ampower will advise on tariffs and other billing queries you may have.

The electric smart meter and In-Home Display (IHD) for each individual property is located within the storage cupboard in the apartment. Ampower will receive smart meter readings automatically however on occasion they may request meter readings directly from the occupier/account holder. The purpose of the IHD is to share the usage and readings in an easy to read format.

Please note that it is the occupier’s responsibility to provide the on-going meter readings when necessary and to keep up to date with payments. If the apartment is vacant, the legal owner of the property will be responsible for all utility bills.

Water 

The water supplier for One Thames Valley is South East Water. Their contact details are as follows:

Call: 0333 000 0001
Web: www.southeastwater.co.uk

Following legal completion and the handover of your property, SevenCapital will advise South East Water of the change in ownership and the meter reading.

You will need to contact South East Water directly to re-iterate the change in ownership and to provide any forwarding addresses for billing purposes. South East Water will advise on rates and any other queries you may have.

The water meter for each individual property is located within the storage cupboard of each individual property. 

Please be aware that it is the occuper’s responsibility to provide the on-going meter readings when necessary and to keep up to date with payments. If the apartment is vacant, the legal owner of the property will be responsible for all utility bills.

Please note that the legal owner or the occupier will be liable for all utility payments and council tax from the date of legal completion. 

Each apartment is finished in a light grey matt emulsion paint to the walls and ceilings and a white gloss finish to the woodwork.

The bathroom is fitted with full height wall tiles to the to the bath and shower area.

Signs of cracking and shrinkage are normal as your apartment has a ‘drying out’ period of between 9-12 months. During the manufacturing of materials and the construction process, moisture has been absorbed and it is important that the drying out period is gradual in order to keep cracking/shrinkage to a minimum, this can  be achieved by:

> Ensuring the property is well ventilated but making sure the Heat Recovery System is always on in the background
> Leave built in wardrobe doors slightly ajar to help ventilate the area
> Using the heat sparingly during the first few months
> Reducing the condensation as much as possible within the property by; covering pans whilst cooking, drying clothes in well ventilated rooms, closing kitchen/bathroom doors to prevent stream from travelling through the property, using extractor, wiping down moisture off surfaces and maintaining a low background heat.

Ordinarily cracks can be dealt with during decoration once the property has dried out however large cracks of a larger thickness may be covered under warranty.

If you are concerned about a crack, then please email a photo by logging an issue on the Report An Issue page and a response will be provided by our Aftercare team. Ordinarily cracks can be dealt with during normal decoration once the property has dried out, however large cracks of a certain thickness will be covered under warranty.

White deposits may appear on wall surfaces which is called efflorescence. Efflorescence can be caused by the natural seepage of salts used in the construction materials. This should not be of concern, as the marks can be wiped down with a dry stiff brush. It is important not to wash the marks, as it will may worsen the issue.

 

Hanging Pictures

Care must be taken when hanging pictures, light fittings or similar items to walls and ceiling as electric cablers and pipework providing power, water and other services can be found immediately behind wall and ceiling finishes.

The internal walls in your home are made of plasterboard with stud partitions which are strong enough to take the weight of most pictures and other light objects using appropriate picture hooks and plasterboard wall plugs where necessary. Please be aware that cables usually run vertically above or below electrical sockets or switches.

If you are renting your apartment and wish to hang pictures or add any additional wall fittings, please obtain written consent from your landlord or letting agent.

Please Note: Changes to the fixtures, fittings and finishes within your apartment may void your warranty.

Our Information Hub has been created to provide a wealth of information on One Thames Valley, your property and the surrounding area of Bracknell.

To explore the Information Hub, simply use the tabs above to help you locate your local service providers and identify documentation and videos on appliances. You will also find details on how to report issues with your apartment.

We’ve designed the Information Hub to be quick and easy to use. However, if you have any questions or queries, please contact us – your feedback is always welcome.

Please note: Access to the Hub is permitted to tenants, owners and letting agents.

External Doors

The main double doors on the front of the building are kept permanently closed and locked by means of overhead door closers and magnetic locks. The doors can be released by:

– Placing your pedestrian access fob against the control panel outside the main entrance door.

– Pressing the door release to the side of the door from inside the reception area.

– Pressing the door release button on the intercom phone within your property to allow access for visitors; when the video entry system inside the property has been activated by a visitor from the control panel outside the building.

Please note that the fire escapes in the development must be kept locked and must only be used in the event of a fire.

Windows

The windows in your property are existing windows. 

The internal cleaning of the windows is the responsibility of the occupier and must be carried out in a safe manner.

The external cleaning of the windows is the responsibility of the Managing Agent, Centrick.

Security

The main entrance door to your property is to a full British Standard specification and is fire compliant. It is fitted with 3-star Euro Profile Sash Lock with a thumb turn and a spy hole for your security. Apartment front doors to the property cannot be replaced without seeking advice in the first instance from the Managing Agent, Centrick, as this could affect the fire integrity of your property. 

Intercom System

There is an individual video intercom system within your property that is linked to the main entrance doors. This allows each resident control of visitors into the building. To prevent security issues, do not allow or provide access to anyone who you are not familiar with.

Intercom User Manual

Fire Safety

Should you discover a fire, then please dial 999 immediately to report the situation to the emergency services.

It is important that you do not panic or stop to collect belongings. Please do not attempt to tackle the fire yourself by using the extinguishers, unless you are trained to do so. In the event of a fire please do not use the lift and descend using the stairs.

The information board located within the reception area will provide you with information on where the emergency exits are as well as the fire emergency procedure for the development, please ensure that you familiarise yourself with this information. For further information please contact the Managing Agent, Centrick.

A hard-wired smoke detector and heat detector that has a battery back-up is located within each apartment.  It is strongly recommended that the occupier regularly test the detectors by pressing the button on the device. Smoke detectors are also located in the communal areas. 

There is a full sprinkler system installed within each apartment which is designed to activate with the presence of high levels of heat from a fire. The heat from the fire would melt the sensor,  which in turn would activate the sprinkler, discharging water at a rate to contain the fire.

For your own safety, smoke detectors should not be removed from their fixtures or covered.