Car clubs are growing in popularity, particularly in urban areas, with the environmental transport NGO, Carplus, reporting that there are now more than 186,000 car club members in London alone. As car insurance looks likely to increase by £60 a year according to the Association of British Insurers, having access to a pool of cars could well be a cheaper option.

For homeowners in Slough looking to save on the cost of transport, Bellway Homes is offering buyers a completely free three-year membership to Enterprise Car Club with free mileage. Those buying an apartment at Crossways, in Windsor Road, will have access to 950 vehicles throughout the UK and a voucher of £50 drive time credit. The developer is offering the incentive to buyers through Enterprise Car Club, an hourly rental service from car hire specialist Enterprise.  The incentive allows residents who join the scheme to pick up any vehicle stationed in and around the town, while saving money on expensive insurances and car maintenance.

Zoe Dobbs, Sales Manager at Bellway Homes North London comments: “We appreciate that the cost and hassle of road transport is mounting, and these car club schemes are a perfect solution.

“Car clubs provide members with the convenience of a car available when they need it. The schemes became popular in London where street parking is difficult and sometimes expensive and has now spread out to places like Slough and other towns across the UK.

“We are looking forward to working with Enterprise, which is offering a fuel-efficient fleet for our new residents, as well as discounts on luxury vehicles that are perfect for those special occasions.

“Developments in town centres offer the ideal opportunity for homebuyers to stay mobile and genuinely save money. This incentive will appeal to our house buyers who want a cost effective and flexible transport option.”

Carplus says drivers who only drive up to 6,000 miles per year can save up to £3,500 a year through a car club rather than owning a vehicle. This opportunity, added to the great transport links in Slough, and the redevelopment that even faster connections will bring when Crossrail is introduced, makes owning a new home and getting around even easier.

Dan Gursel, Head of Enterprise Car Club, said: “Aimed at first time buyers and families, the Crossways development is an ideal location for a car club as it offers residents easy access to mobility whenever they need it as well as anyone who needs occasional access to a vehicle. In addition to several daily rental locations in and around Slough, our car club provides another convenient transport option that delivers 24/7 access for city dwellers.”

Crossways comprises 153 one, two and three bedroom apartments and includes some under croft gated parking. Members of the scheme will receive exclusive discounts on daily car hire and have 24/7 access to a dedicated Clubhouse team in order to reserve vehicles. All apartments at Crossways will be finished to a high specification and include modern design features such as en-suite bathrooms and fitted wardrobes to master bedrooms, open-plan living spaces with wood laminate flooring and Zanussi integrated kitchen appliances. Most apartments will have balconies or terraces to take in the best the views.  Help to Buy is also available.

Zoe Dobbs adds: “The homes at Crossways are suitable for first-time buyers and families. We urge anyone interested in the development and the car scheme to come and take a look at the development for themselves before they are snapped up.”

Slough is home to vast shopping and leisure experiences so those living at Crossways will be close to stores and have plenty of outdoor space.  Perfect for commuters, Slough Railway Station is only a 15-minute walk from the development, with journeys into London Paddington taking just 19 minutes. Commuters will have an even faster journey into London in 2019 when Crossrail’s Elizabeth Line will serve Slough, operating four trains an hour in each direction to Reading in the west and through central London to Essex in the east.

For car club users, good local road links include easy access to the M4 in five minutes connecting drivers to London and Bristol, with the M25 and M40 only 20 and 25 minutes away by car respectively. For international travel, Heathrow Airport is a 15-minute drive away.