24 February, 2012 by Keith Osborne
With house prices in the South East resisting the national trend and heading ever upwards, Norwich has become a bit of a hotspot for purchasers looking to stay within reach of London (the capital is two hours away on the train) but find a property at more affordable prices. Norfolk itself offers a great range of rural, coastal and market town locations too.
The new Queen’s Hills community in Costessey, north-west of Norwich, is host to numerous housebuilders who are providing hundreds of new homes in many different styles. Barratt Homes’ Ringland Park development is a scheme of three-, four- and five-bedroom houses in an 86-acre of country park. Despite the abundance of countryside, the scheme is just five miles from the city centre and under a mile from the A47 Norwich bypass, with links into Cambridge and London. Prices here start at £194,995.
Prices start from £209,995 at Wensum Vale, from Bloor Homes, just 5 miles from the centre of Norwich
In a similar area, Bloor Homes’ Wensum Vale development has a selection of properties priced from £209,995 which provides residents with easy access to a wide range of local shops and schools, as well as a regular bus service to Norwich, reducing the need to take the car into the city centre. Again, the attractive Norfolk countryside is on buyers’ doorsteps, and for days out or weekends away, the Norfolk Broads and coast are less than an hour’s drive away.
To the south-west of Norwich, the pretty village of Cringleford is the location of Kier Homes’ Round House Park. Soon to be released, the development features luxury two-, three- and four-bedroom homes which have been designed to blend in with the village’s existing architectural vernacular and rural surroundings. The scheme will feature a village green, a new school, cycle- and walkways throughout and a range of community facilities. Prices will be announced soon and prospective buyers are urged to register their interest.
Under two miles from Norwich’s city centre is Charles Church Developments’ Wentworth Gardens scheme. These homes have also been designed with traditional local styles in mind, though these three-, four- and five-bedroom houses have been built and fitted out to a thoroughly modern standard, with a high-quality specification. Prices are available on request.
North of Norwich is Aylsham, where Hopkins Homes is selling properties at Bure Place. The development is a restoration conversion of a Victorian listed building that was originally designed by John Donthorne, one of the founders of the Royal Institute of British Architects. Hopkins Homes has retained many original features, including transom windows, castellated parapets and ogee plain-tiled domes, while fitting out the interiors of the properties to a high level with modern buyers’ expectations in mind. Prices start at £239,995.
Posted in aylsham, barratt homes, bloor homes, charles church developments, costessey, cringleford, hopkins homes, kier homes, new homes, norfolk, norwich, property developments | Tagged aylsham, barratt homes, bloor homes, charles church developments, costessey, cringleford, hopkins homes, kier homes, new homes, norfolk, norwich, property developments | Leave a Comment »
24 February, 2012 by Keith Osborne
Birmingham has set itself an ambitious target, to become one of the top 20 most liveable cities in the world within the next 20 years. The city already has a great deal to offer in terms of its commercial and transportation importance, alongside its popularity for conferences and exhibitions, even an expanding tourism sector. Buyers hoping to make the most of the city, yet live outside of its central districts, will certainly find a great choice of new apartments and houses for sale in the suburbs right now.
Prices start at £150,408 at The Edge in Kings Heath, where FirstBuy is available on selected plots
One such development in Kings Heath is Lovell Homes’ collection of two-bedroom apartments and two- to four-bedroom homes, called The Edge. Kings Heath high street is close by, granting easy access to day-to-day shopping, and families will appreciate plenty of primary and secondary schools in the area. With prices currently ranging from £150,408 to £187,950, Lovell is also providing buyers with incentives on selected plots, including FirstBuy, the popular Government-backed scheme which enables first-time buyers to purchase a home with a deposit of just five per cent. The Edge is just five miles from Birmingham and an easy drive from the M42.
In Edgbaston, one of the city’s most sought-after suburbs, Taylor Wimpey‘s Highfield Gardens is a collection of apartments, mews houses and coach houses, priced from £159,995 to £350,000. FirstBuy is also available on some properties at this development. Some well-respected schools are located nearby and Five Ways Station is under 20 minutes away on foot, while it’s only a short drive to the city centre.
Priced from £249,995, there's a good choice of family homes at Redrow's Great Park scheme in Bromsgrove, south of Birmingham
Close to the M5 is Redrow Homes’ Great Park in Bromsgrove. The company’s New Heritage Collection of property types, which combine traditional architectural qualities with stylish, up-to-the-minute interiors, has led to great critical and commercial success and the substantial family homes here are bound to impress discerning commuters. There are characterful houses with four, five or six bedrooms, priced from £249,995 to £359,995, with delightful features such as bay windows and roofed porches.
With prices from £95,000 to £425,000, David Wilson Homes’ award-winning Churchfields Place development offers an array of contemporary two- to five-bedroom homes. Eight miles north-west of Birmingham in West Bromwich, the area is at the crossroads of the nation’s motorway network, with easy access to the M5, M6, M40 and M42 providing superb options for drivers. These new homes are set against the pleasant backdrop of Sandwell Valley Country Park and Golf Club and nearly a quarter of the borough is made up of woodland and parkland. Local amenities are excellent, including the pedestrianised town centre of West Bromwich and no fewer than ten sports and leisure centres in the area.
by Rebecca Burns
Posted in birmingham, david wilson homes, firstbuy, lovell, new homes, property developments, redrow, taylor wimpey | Tagged birmingham, david wilson homes, firstbuy, lovell, new homes, property developments, redrow, taylor wimpey | Leave a Comment »
24 February, 2012 by Keith Osborne
With the Bank of England base rate remaining at its all-time low of 0.5% for three years now, recent comments by the Bank’s Governor have hinted that interest rates are set to stay at this level until at least 2014. Sir Mervyn has said that an increase in interest rates would drag the country back into recession. He asserted that while the economy is “moving in the right direction”, it would “zigzag” in and out of growth in 2012.
Interest rates could stay at their current level for another 5 years, according to some experts
Other senior figures in the industry have backed the Governor’s view. For example, Howard Archer of IHS Global Insight, says: “We are sticking to our view that interest rates will not rise until at least late 2013, and could very well stay at 0.5% until 2014.”
The Centre for Economics and Business Research believe the base rate will stay at 0.5% until 2016, and some industry experts have gone further, predicting that rates will stay low for even longer, perhaps even until 2017.
Recent research from Halifax noted that some mortgages for first-time buyers were the most affordable for 14 years. If you’re thinking of taking your first step onto the property ladder, these low interest rates make buying your first home more affordable, especially if you have a sizeable deposit to put down. And if you’re considering re-mortgaging your current property, they also help you and your family save money.
“The combination of an extended period of the record low base rate and falling inflation will boost the economy and no doubt tempt more buyers and movers into the property market,” says Eddie O’Gorman, of investment managers The Way Group.
Committing to a new mortgage now could mean that your payments will remain at this record low level until at least 2016 or 2017. With Halifax recently publishing figures that show that in some areas, it’s now £1,400 a year cheaper to own a home than it is to rent, this could be the perfect time to make your move onto the property ladder.
by Nick Parkhouse
Posted in bank of england, centre for economics and business research, mortgages | Tagged bank of england, centre for economics and business research, mortgages | Leave a Comment »
21 February, 2012 by Keith Osborne
Taylor Wimpey currently has a fantastic choice of new developments across the country, nowhere more so than in Devon, where it has new apartments and houses for sale in rural, semi-rural and town centre locations, catering for a wide array of tastes and requirements.
Prices currently start at £299,995 for the high-quality portfolio of homes on offer at Penlee in Plymouth
Penlee offers all the benefits of city living while also being close to lovely countryside. It is located only two miles from Plymouth’s city centre, yet scenic Dartmoor National Park is just a short drive away, and Dartmoor Zoo is only about nine miles away. The development has a number of property styles currently available, priced from £299,995 to £384,995. There’s a common high specification level, including electric garage doors and burglar alarms, and solar panels are fitted as standard. There are excellent schools nearby and transport links are excellent: Plymouth station is on the main London to Penzance line and the A38 provides access to Cornwall to the west and the M5 to the east.
Warleigh Village is another of the company’s options in Plymouth, though just a few three- and four-bedroom properties are still available there, priced from £169,995 to £269,995. Though the local area is home to a range of schools, there are proposals for additional new schools that will interest those thinking of starting a family there. These contemporary new homes are close to a parade of local shops and banks, and near newly-created public open spaces, with a park-and-ride service close by for convenient access to the city centre.
Traditional architecture is combined with stylish modern interiors at Helmers Meadow
For a more rural setting, how about the quaint village of Chillington? It’s in the heart of the South Hams area, south-east of Plymouth, close to local amenities, just a few minutes’s drive from Slapton beach and and Slapton Ley Nature Reserve and within easy reach of both Kingsbridge and Dartmouth. The Helmers Meadow development has a small selection of three- and four-bedroom houses, built using local materials including natural stone and slate, priced from £229,995 to £429,995.
The characterful rural town of Bovey Tracey is benefitting from a number of new developments and Taylor Wimpey’s Monterey Park, which includes two-bedroom apartments and two- to five-bedroom houses, provides an opportunity to enjoy its location next to beautiful Dartmoor from just £114,396, thanks to the FirstBuy assistance scheme. The town has a good selection of shops and places to eat and drink, together with a leisure centre, swimming pool and cinema.
by Rebecca Burns
Posted in bovey tracey, chillington, devon, firstbuy, new homes, plymouth, property developments, taylor wimpey | Tagged bovey tracey, chillington, devon, firstbuy, new homes, plymouth, property developments, taylor wimpey | Leave a Comment »
21 February, 2012 by Keith Osborne
With an easy commute to London, Essex is a destination with many more affordable housing options than the capital and one that many first-time buyers on the hunt for new homes are now considering.
Some of the new Aspect apartments at Bovis Homes' Quadriga in Colchester are available with FirstBuy
Colchester is said to be the oldest town in Britain and was, in Roman times, itself the capital. It has good links to the capital by road and rail and has become a popular commuter town, receiving a great deal of investment and regeneration as a result. It’s under an hour to the capital on one of the regular fast services that serve the town’s main station.
Bovis Homes is currently promoting the Aspect apartments at its Quadriga development in the town, some of which are available with funding from the Government’s FirstBuy programme, which allows first-time buyers to purchase with a five per cent deposit and 75% mortgage, and prices start at £133,950. The same housebuilder is also selling two-bedroom houses at another Colchester development, south of the town centre, called Victory Square, where prices start at £139,950.
There are savings of up to £2,500 to be had for first-time buyers who act quickly to beat the deadline for the current Stamp Duty holiday, which ends on 24th March 2012. Country & Metropolitan’s St Mary’s Walk in Wickford has prices starting just under the threshold, at £249,950, and a choice of three- and four-bedroom homes. Wickford is a popular commuter base with a 40-minute direct rail service into Liverpool Street.
Prices start at just under the current Stamp Duty holiday threshold for first-time buyers - but not for long!
Another of Essex’s major commercial centres, now the beneficiary of a £1 billion regeneration scheme, is Basildon. One of the original post-war ‘new towns’, it is just 35 minutes from the City and offers excellent value for money. One of the landmark town centre schemes currently for sale is Weston Homes’ Morello Quarter on Cherrydown East. One- and two-bedroom apartments with integrated appliances, fitted wardrobes, communal landscaped gardens and allocated car parking are available, priced from £125,000 and £167,000.
Barratt Homes is also very active in the town, having just launched Acacia Park and still selling a range of one- and two-bedroom town centre apartments at Axis development on Broadmayne, where prices start at £125,000. Further down Broadmayne is Beechwood Village, a Swan New Homes development which offers two-, three- and four-bedroom house types, priced from £168,000.
by Natalia Gameson
Posted in barratt homes, basildon, bovis homes, colchester, country & metropolitan, essex, firstbuy, new homes, property developments, weston homes, wickford | Tagged barratt homes, basildon, bovis homes, colchester, country & metropolitan, essex, firstbuy, new homes, property developments, weston homes, wickford | Leave a Comment »
20 February, 2012 by Keith Osborne
Staff at McCarthy & Stone’s regional head office in Glasgow have started 2012 in great form, raising over £2,000 for their Charity of the Year, Barnardo’s. They recently held a “green”-themed fun day, donning head-to-toe green outfits and spent a day living, eating and breathing green. Their target this year is to raise at least £50,000 for Barnardo’s.
The £2,000 raised my the McCarthy & Stone team in Glasgow is part of a £50,000 target for 2012 for the benefit of Barnardo's
“Although we work at different ends of the age spectrum, the aim of providing independence and improved quality of life is something both McCarthy & Stone and Barnardo’s share,” says Steve Wiseman, regional managing director for McCarthy & Stone. “Everyone had a wonderful time and we hope that the money we raised will go some way to making a real difference to the lives of disadvantaged children and young people in our region.”
McCarthy & Stone is Britain’s leading developer of new-build retirement properties, providing developments where residents can lead an independent lifestyle, yet have help on hand if it is needed.
Its numerous schemes across Scotland provide two different levels of care to residents: Retirement Living allows an active, independent lifestyle in a low-maintenance home with the companionship of neighbours and with the peace of mind of security and an emergency call service; Assisted Living offers a greater level of help and support that is tailored to individual needs, with additional facilities such as a waitress service restaurant, personal care and domestic assistance.
by What New Homes team
Posted in mccarthy & stone, retirement homes, scotland | Tagged mccarthy & stone, retirement homes, scotland | Leave a Comment »
20 February, 2012 by Keith Osborne
Are you hoping to find a property in north London that stands out from the crowd? Barratt Homes is providing just six luxury new homes in Barnet at Pymmes Brook Villas, all four-bedroom, three-bathroom townhouses, priced from £749,999. The company is preparing to officially launch the development imminently.
Each house has more than 2,300 sq ft of accommodation set out over four storeys and boasts a very high-quality interior specification. Each plot has a private, 90-foot garden and an unusual but very chic sunken terrace that makes a perfect private outdoor entertaining area.
There are just six 4-bed homes at Pymmes Brook Villas in Barnet, about to be launched by Barratt Homes
The terrace leads through to a large kitchen/dining room on the lower ground floor, which has a separate utility room. On the next floor, at ground level, are a sitting room together with a lounge that has full-length windows which overlook the rear garden. On the first floor are three bedrooms and two bathrooms while the top floor has been given over entirely to the master bedroom suite.
Christine Scarborough, Sales Director for Barratt North London, says: “The properties at Pymmes Brook Villas offer a one-off opportunity for purchasers to buy a quality new family home in the sought-after and convenient location of Barnet. These very high-quality and energy-efficient homes are quite unique in their design and, as a result, we are already receiving a lot of interest in the properties there.”
With excellent schools and a great range of essential shops and amenities in the area, the development is bound to be popular with a range of buyers including families and those who entertain a lot. Commuters, too, are well catered for, with a host of transport links: there are National Rail services to central London from New Barnet station and underground services from Cockfosters, on the Piccadilly Line, while by road, the M1, A1(M) and M25 provide an easy connection to many destinations in the South East and beyond. Four of London’s major airports are under 40 minutes away.
by Keith Osborne
Posted in barnet, barratt homes, launch, london, new homes, property developments | Tagged barnet, barratt homes, launch, london, new homes, property developments | Leave a Comment »
20 February, 2012 by Keith Osborne
CALA Homes has responded to the success of the first phase of apartments at Metro Central, part of its Ickenham Park development in the London Borough of Hillingdon, by releasing a second and final phase of eight two-bedroom apartments there. Contrasting with the more traditional appearance of other sections of the development, Metro Central has a contemporary architecture that will appeal to many younger purchasers, including first-time buyers.
These new homes in London are priced from £244,950, with a choice of two-bedroom/two-bathroom and two-bedroom/single-bathroom layouts available. Each apartment has an open-plan living/dining room with separate kitchen, and each has a private balcony.
Prices start at £244,950 for the final eight 2-bed apartments at Metro Central, just released by CALA Homes
Metro Central has an appealing combination of good local shops and amenities,and easy access to central London and other areas. Two tube stations are nearby: Ickenham is on the Piccadilly and Metropolitan Lines, while West Ruislip not only has Central Line services, but National Rail services on the Chiltern Line out of Marylebone. Those who drive a lot for business or pleasure will find the A40, M40 and M25 within easy reach, while Heathrow is just a few miles away.
“Purchasers have told us they like the strong, clean lines, outdoor space, proximity to the tube and village location,” says sales and marketing director for CALA Homes (South), Alison Deakin. “Metro Central is a very stylish development which emphasises CALA Homes’ architectural design, attention to detail and high build quality which makes our new homes so appealing.”
With its modern-retro styling, the show home’s professional design ably demonstrates to prospective buyers what they can achieve with a new apartmentsat Metro Central. The development is open for viewings seven days a week, 10.30am to 5.00pm. House hunters looking for houses for sale in the area with a lot more space can also find a property that might suit them at Metro Central — there are four four-bedroom semi-detached homes available at the scheme, priced from £480,000, which offer equally stylish and high-quality finishes in a perfect family home format.
by Keith Osborne
Posted in cala homes, ickenham, london, new homes, property developments | Tagged cala homes, ickenham, london, new homes, property developments | Leave a Comment »
17 February, 2012 by Keith Osborne
At 11.00am on Saturday 25th February, Taylor Wimpey will be unveiling a new viewhome at its Thomas Beddoes Court development in Shifnal, Shropshire. The four-bedroom ‘Lakeside’ house type has been selected to allow prospective buyers to look around and imagine their own furniture and decoration in the property, which exemplifies the style of houses for sale at the development.
Carl Cooke, Regional Sales and Marketing Director for Taylor Wimpey, says: “Thomas Beddoes Court has been incredibly popular with a wide range of buyers, and so we’re delighted to be opening up even more fantastic opportunities for people to own a brand new Shifnal property within this exciting development. I’d urge anyone interested in staking their claim in this latest phase of new-build homes in Shifnal at Thomas Beddoes Court to pay us a visit soon to ensure they’re among the first to take their pick of the great new homes on sale.”
Priced from £269,995, the 4-bed 'Lakeside' has been chosen as the new viewhome at Thomas Beddoes Court in Shifnal
The ‘Lakeside’, priced from £269,995 for a limited time only, offers accommodation over two floors. From the hallway lie a living room, with lovely feature bay window, a convenient cloakroom and fully fitted kitchen. The kitchen has a door to the integral garage and another into the dining room, which also opens into the living room and has French doors to the rear garden. On the first floor are four bedrooms and the family bathroom; the master bedroom has an en suite shower room and fitted wardrobes.
Thomas Beddoes Court has an array of three-bedroom homes, starting at £159,995, and four-bedroom homes, starting at £249,995. Close to Shropshire countryside, the scheme is within walking distance of the town centre, which has a shopping centre, a range of pubs and restaurants and a sports centre. The development is also only two miles from the M54 and has convenient routes to important commercial centres such as Telford, Wolverhampton and Birmingham.
First-time buyers and homeowner hoping to find a property at Thomas Beddoes Court are being offered a range of incentive schemes to help them make a move, with the company tailoring packages to suit individual needs on selected plots. This development of new homes in Shropshire is open 11.00am to 5.00pm, Thursday to Monday.
by Keith Osborne
Posted in new homes, property developments, shifnal, shropshire, taylor wimpey | Tagged new homes, property developments, shifnal, shropshire, taylor wimpey | Leave a Comment »
17 February, 2012 by Keith Osborne
Two new show houses have been opened by Countryside Properties at its Cliveden Village development in Taplow. Interior-designed by JSP Interiors are the two-bedroom ‘Cambium’ and three-bedroom ‘Wayleave’ houses. This gated development of new homes in Buckinghamshire, which is exclusive to purchasers over the age of 55, comprises 131 apartments and houses.
Though restricted to over-55s, it is not a retirement development, as it does not have the special features and facilities available at dedicated retirement villages. It offers a high-specification collection of apartments and houses for sale in the grounds of the historic Cliveden Estate. The estate came to prominence in 1963 for its role in the Profumo scandal that rocked the British government. Cliveden House is nearly 350 years old and is now a luxury hotel and its 376-acre grounds run by the National Trust.
Two new professionally designed show homes at Cliveden Village are now open
Cliveden Village covers some 16 acres of landscaped parkland and woodland and gives purchasers a choice of luxury two- and three-bedroom apartments, priced from £350,000, and houses, priced from £575,000. The striking modern architecture utilises natural materials such as sandstone, slate and zinc in order to fit in with the landscape. Full-length glazing allows light to flood in and gives residents the best-possible views.
Countryside Properties has incorporated numerous eco-friendly elements into the scheme, from using locally sourced materials where possible, to fitting A-rated, energy-efficient kitchen appliances, using heat-recovery ventilation and low-energy external lighting and dual-flush toilets. There are many recyling facilities around the development and homes and gardens have a water butt and built-in irrigation system.
Even though it is set within such a beautiful landscape, Cliveden Village is far from remote: the development is just two miles from Taplow station, where there are regular services into London, taking just 35 minutes. Maidenhead and Slough offer a great array of shops and leisure venues within an easy drive, and the M4, M40 and M25, along with Heathrow Airport, are all within a few miles for journeys further afield.
The new show homes can be viewed by appointment with the Countryside Properties sales team.
by Keith Osborne
Posted in buckinghamshire, countryside properties, new homes, property developments, taplow | Tagged buckinghamshire, countryside properties, new homes, property developments, taplow | Leave a Comment »
Older Posts »
