4 bed semi-detached house for sale

Morden Road, London SE3

This cheerful four-bedroom house occupies an end-of-terrace position on Morden Road, part of the renowned Cator Estate. The estate was developed by Span co-founders Eric Lyons and Geoffrey Townsend, and is held as one of London’s finest residential modernist estates. Over 1,400 sq ft of space extends across three storeys and includes a sleek kitchen with banks of glazing facing the verdant garden beyond. Blackheath station is a 14-minute walk away and runs services to London Bridge in approximately 12 minutes.

The Architect

Founded by visionary developer Geoff Townsend and consultant architect Eric Lyons in the late 1950s, Span has been heralded as one of Britain's most important 20th-century developers. Many of their buildings have been listed in recognition of their importance to modernist architecture. Responsible for building 30 housing estates over the course of five decades, their tenets for design – light, landscaping and open-plan living – remain utterly relevant and demonstrate their forward-thinking approach. More recently the work of renowned contemporary practice, Fraher Architects, has seen the mid-century bones of the house reimagined for 21st-century living. For more information, see the History section below.

The Tour

This house sits at the end of a neat terrace, its white-painted weatherboarded façade inset with ribbons of smart glazing. A burnt orange front door opens onto a wide entrance hall with fitted storage for coats and shoes. Polished concrete flooring with underfloor heating begins here and continues throughout the ground floor, and an original glazed screen steals a glimpse of the expansive kitchen and dining area beyond.

Thoughtfully extended and reimagined by its current owners and Fraher Architects, the space is filled with light from full-height glazing that stretches across almost its entire width. Built-in plywood bench seating is fitted in the dining area, while birch ply units are topped with marble effect compressed stone counters. Open shelving with reeded sliding glass panels extends across one wall, while opposite, there is floor-to-ceiling storage. Two recessed skylights provide additional light, and a broad timber framed Velfac door opens onto the garden. On this floor, there is also a handy utility room and a guest WC.

An original teak open-tread staircase winds up to the first floor, where the sitting room is found. Here, windows stretch across the width of the room, and there is access to a tranquil balcony with canopied treetop views. Just beyond the balcony, a sedum roof provides additional greenery. There are two bright double bedrooms on this floor, each with leafy views toward the front of the house. A shared bathroom with a bathtub has playful lime green units.

Brilliant floor-to-ceiling bookshelves characterise the second-floor landing, a soaring double-height space. The principal bedroom is a serene space with a gently pitched roof; an additional double bedroom on this floor is currently used as a dressing room and study. There is a double-height shared bathroom with pink tiled walls and flooring, and a freestanding oval bathtub.

Outdoor Space

A lush west-facing garden extends at the rear of the house, its borders filled with species including wild grasses, succulents and laurel. There are paved areas for sitting out, as well as lawned areas, feature lighting, and a built-in irrigation system. A gated side area provides useful storage space.

There is also a peaceful balcony on the first floor; the perfect spot for enjoying a morning coffee.

The estate is surrounded by beautifully maintained communal gardens for its residents to enjoy. There is off-street parking at the front of the house, as well as a private garage with a built-in bike store.

The Area

The Cator Estate is made up of 282 acres of private roads and features architectural jewels from all ages, from tall villas built at its inception in the late Georgian period to the mid-century modernism of Lyons’s Span Housing.

Blackheath Village is around a 13-minute walk away and is renowned for its community spirit. There is a wonderful array of thriving independent shops and eateries, including Montpeliers for pastries, Arts Kitchen or 15grams for coffee, and after-hours artisanal wine. Le Bar A Vin is also a cosy spot and has over 100 French wines to pick from. The much-loved weekly farmers' market every Sunday is the perfect place to pick up a fresh loaf of sourdough and flowers.

Nearby Greenwich Park is a 15-minute walk from the house and offers fantastic elevated vistas of the city skyline. Slighly further afield, the historic charm of Greenwich town centre features landmarks such as the Royal Naval Hospital, the Royal Observatory, the National Maritime Museum, and the iconic Cutty Sark.

The house is close to Brooklands Primary, John Ball Primary and Thomas Tallis, along with several independent schools, including Blackheath Preparatory School, The Pointer School, Heath House Preparatory School and Blackheath High Junior.

Blackheath Station is approximately a 14-minute walk away, or a four-minute cycle, and is one stop from the DLR for easy access to both the Docklands and the City. Trains from Blackheath to London Bridge take approximately 12 minutes; there are also direct services to Victoria, Charing Cross and Cannon Street.

Council Tax Band: E