what house magazine - spring edition
DESCRIPTION
What House? has produced their spring edition of their magazine. Featuring interiors, property news and reviews, and mortgage news.TRANSCRIPT
What House?February 2013
THE BEST NEW HOMES IN BRITAIN: listings, news, reviews,
interiors, mortgages, investment
ADD A TOUCH OF SPRING TO YOUR HOME WITH OUR
HOW TO GUIDE
WHAT’S YOUR DREAM HOME?
HOMES OF THE FUTURE EXPLORED INTERVIEW WITH
INGRID SKINNERMANAGING DIRECTOR OF TAYLOR
WIMPEY CENTRAL LONDON
DOWNSIZING SUPPLEMENT
GET YOUR MUM SOMETHING QUIRKY FOR THE HOUSE THIS MOTHER’S DAY
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
02222 Show House Magazine Ad_outlines.indd 1 31/08/2012 09:39
www.whathouse.co.uk
Features04 Poll – What’s your dream home?
06 Show home of the month –Jubilee Hall, Quatermile by Gladedale
11 Show home of the month poll12 Mother’s Day interior gifts13 Philanthropy – What House? editor to help
Persimmon East Midlands chose charity
16 Dream home of the month –Rushton House, Rotheremere Place, Hinksey Hill, Oxforshire by Millgate Homes
18 Homes of the future20 On the Road with Wolves – Nottingham
and Barnsley 23 Sustainability housing news24 Green home of the month – the ‘Panama’,
Hanham Hall, Bristol by Barratt Homes and Sovereign
26 How to...add a touch of spring to your home
38 Downsizing supplement54 Investment – Climate favourable for property
investment
56 What House? Awards 2012 focus – Sustainable Developer of the Year
58 One to One – Ingrid Skinner, managing director of Taylor Wimpey Central London
68 Housing Associations – Devon
70 Affordable home map and listings72 Retirement news76 Mortgages80 Interiors – flooring
28 East Anglia
34 London36 Luxury 50 South East
52 Wales
66 Scotland68 North East76 Midlands82 South West
Focus on...30 Norfolk 32 Essex 60 Derbyshire62 Developer of
the month – Edwards Homes
New homes news & listings
CONTENTS
What’s your dream home?
READER POLLClick on your favourite
A country cottage A seaside villa
Vote by clicking on your dream home and we’ll publish the results next month.
In a landslide victory, York won last month’s poll ‘Where would you most like to have a second home in the UK’ with 66% of the votes. Devon came second with 9% and Scottish highlands came in third place with 7%. Bath and Cornwall tied at 5%, while Brighton bagged 4% of the vote.
A city penthouse
January’s result
A zero carbon eco homeA converted mansionA waterfront apartment
What House? February 2013
Welcome
Dear house-hunter, Spring is at last within touching distance and the team at What House? can’t wait for the lighter nights and after-work trips to the nearby beer gardens. To get you ready for the warmer weather, we’ve compiled some tips in our How To guide to bring Spring into your home on page 26. We’ve also selected home gifts which will make your mum smile this Mother’s Day on page 12.
It has been a really busy month with What House? editor Keith and I travelling all over the country for site visits, shooting video footage at new developments and carry out interviews this month. I spent three days in the North West and also travelled through to Cambridge for the Weston Homes Veritas launch. Keith has visited two developments in London, has been out with Barratt Homes in Surrey and Sussex and with City and Country group on Hereford and Stanmore.
The biggest piece of news we’ve had at the WH towers this month is the announcement of the key sponsor for the What House? Awards 2013. Zoopla have shown enormous support
for our awards in the past and this year we are delighted to have such a key industry figure as the main sponsor. Applications for this year’s awards open in April and planning to make the event better than ever is well underway.
Some of the What House? team have also signed up for the Hope Challenge 2013 in July to raise money for Habitat for Humanity. Read more about the Hope Challenge on page 13.
With mixed news about the housebuilding industry this month, highest uptake of NewBuy/FirstBuy versus a fall in homes built last year, we should get a clear view in March how the industry has been doing in the first quarter. Until then, keep checking whathouse.co.uk for all your new homes news, latest offers and extensive listings from across the UK.
Happy house-hunting
Laurna Robertson
Assistant Editor, www.whathouse.co.uk Email: [email protected]
Follow us on
www.whathouse.co.uk
Laurna and Bob Weston of Weston Homes at the launch of the Veritas development in Cambridge.
Show home of the month
hile there is currently a lot of exciting development going on in Scotland’s capital city, there is one project which has captured worldwide attention. The Quartermile development by Gladedale is the transformation of the former site of the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh into a spectacular collection of apartments, a hotel and commercial space. The architect behind The Gherkin (30 St Mary Axe) and Wembley Stadium in London and the Reichstag restoration in Berlin, Sir Norman Foster, has taken his first residential project north of the border, his company designing the new-build towers in the development. The conversions of the former hospital buildings are being done by CDA.
The latest show apartment to be released at the development is in Jubilee Hall, a conversion building
housing 34 properties, where apartments are priced from £190,000 to £950,000.
The spacious three-bedroom duplex apartment features large bay windows, which give spectacular views of The Meadows. The ground floor includes a large entrance hall, leading to the open-plan living area and kitchen with dining space. This floor also features the master bathroom and a double bedroom. Upstairs, a gallery level looks out over the living area and leads to two further bedrooms, including a generously sized master bedroom with en suite shower room.
Jubilee Hall, named to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee, is uniquely positioned just a quarter mile from Edinburgh Castle and a quarter mile from the city’s busiest tourist street, the Royal Mile, Quartermile successfully mixes the contemporary with the traditional, with modern glass and steel additions sitting comfortably next to beautifully refurbished listed buildings.
The development is perfectly placed for working, relaxing and living and is just minutes away from Edinburgh University. It is this enviable location combined with breathtaking design that is making Quartermile one of the most talked about new developments in the city for decades.
Based in Edinburgh, Tangram is a contemporary furniture dealer and consultancy with an extensive product portfolio of the leading design brands in Europe. Experts at Tangram focus on identifying and supplying the best products for any project no matter the scope or scale, from corporate offices and atmospheric restaurants to homes with personality and style.
Sarah Ramsay is a qualified textile designer with an eye for great interiors, funky fabrics and sumptuous spaces. Having worked in the industry for many years, she is an expert in interior design and spaces, currently focussed on supporting architects and clients with product advice and selling bespoke furniture and lighting to projects all over the UK.
Sarah Ramsay, Tangram
W
Jubilee Hall,
Meet the designer:
“ Details such as the buttoning on the sofa and the intricate lace design of the rug and floor light were chosen to add character and add some historic flare.”
Click * to find out more about this item
LOUNGE Show home of the month
*
*
*
*
**
“ In the kitchen space, bright colours reflect those in the living area and give the dining space its own identity.”
***
KITCHEN/DINERShow home of the month
**
*
“ A cool and calm palette was used to achieve a soft, quiet and contemplative space.”
**
**
Show home of the monthBEDROOM TWO
“ In the master bedroom we utilised warm, strong colours with lots of different textures to create a luxurious, sanctuary space.”
**
Show home of the monthMASTER BEDROOM
*
Which is your favourite room?
READER POLLClick on your favourite
Vote by clicking on your favourite show room and we’ll publish the results next month.
Lounge Kitchen / Diner
Bedroom two Master bedroom
A Mother’s Day present for every budgetWith less than a month to go until Mothering Sunday (which this year falls on 10 March), the shops are full of potential presents to make the main woman in your life smile. To help you out, we’ve gathered a selection of quirky gifts for the home to suit any budget.
£5 and underLove you mum cushion, £5, Sainsbury’s
£10 and underGlowing glasses, £6.99,iwantoneofthose.com
£20 and underPartridge & Pear 2-tier porcelain cake stand, £19.99, partyark.co.uk
£25 and underPersonalised chalk board, £22, notonthehighstreet.com
£30 and underMathew Williamson peacock floral teapot, £27.50, Debenhams
£35 and under
Amelia rug, £35, Urban Outfitters
£40 and under
Rob Ryan tree seasons plates, black, set of 4, £39.99, John Lewis
£45 and under
Navajo throw with fringing, £43, www.dunnesstores.ie
£15 and underLive, laugh and love photo frame, £12, Matalan
Persimmon East Midland’s search for a charity has more than 60 nominations
www.whathouse.co.uk
PHILANTHROPY
Persimmon Homes East Midlands call to charities across Cambridgeshire, South Lincolnshire and East Northamptonshire to come forward and tell the developer why they need a fundraising boost received entries from 65 organisations by the closing date of 15th of February. The worthy organisations will now be whittled down on 26th of February by judges, including What House? editor Keith Osborne, who said
of his role: “I’m delighted to be asked to be involved and I’m looking forward to meeting the Persimmon East Midland’s team.”
The regional housebuilder will appoint the most deserving cause as the company’s chosen charity. This charity will receive the proceeds from a variety of fundraising events held throughout the region during 2013.
Adrian Evans, managing director for Persimmon Homes East
Midlands, said of the scheme.“As a business we work hard
and are proud to create homes for families and individuals,” said Evans. “This as our way of giving something back to one of these communities. It’s an excellent opportunity for one charity looking to raise their regional profile and receive additional funding.”
Whathouse.co.uk is teaming up with its sister publication Show House as media sponsors of the Hope Challenge 2013, a charity event taking place in July to raise money for Habitat for Humanity, which builds or renovates property for the poorest people in the UK and many countries overseas.
Since its inception in 1976, the charity has helped over 3million people by building, renovating and repairing homes. The event will raise enough funds to house dozens more families in need of basic habitable and safe homes, something that most of us can take for granted.
The Hope Challenge takes place in the Peak District in early July. Over the course of a weekend, each team of up to six people must construct a shelter for themselves out of materials they’ve brought along (purpose-made tents are forbidden!), to protect themselves from the
elements for two nights. A number of other challenges will be set over the course of 48 hours with prizes for the most successful teams.
The whathouse.co.uk/Show House team will be jointly led by editor of whathouse.co.uk Keith Osborne and news editor of Show House magazine, George Sell. Initially preparations have included recruiting a team from the sales and editorial teams of each publication, and worrying about the prospect of being unable to create a habitable home and dying of exposure on a Derbyshire hillside.
Whathouse.co.uk to co-sponsor the Hope Challenge 2013
Who said London homes are out of your price range? One of London’s largest housebuilders, L&Q offers properties across the city through shared ownership that may be closer to your budget than you think. The developer is now launching 37 shared ownership homes at its new Ravensbourne Place development in Chislehurst, south-east London.
The 37 one-bed and two-bed apartments are on the former site of the Ravensbourne College
Campus, just off Walden Road, and conveniently close to the town centre with its shops, pubs and restaurants. Prices for a two-bedroom apartment start at £79,500 for a 30% share of a property worth £265,000.
Renowned green spaces and other attractions are also nearby, including Chislehurst Common, the famous Chislehurst Caves and Scadbury Park, a local nature reserve.
The area’s great popularity among families and commuters stems
from the frequent fast mainline and overground services that run from nearby Elmstead Woods Station into central London: Charing Cross, London Bridge, Waterloo East and London Cannon Street.
Cathy Lloyd, Sales Director at L&Q, says: “Ravensbourne Place is an exciting development in Chislehurst, a part of London that has many interesting attractions, as well as being excellent for commuting into central London.”
L&Q launches Ravensbourne Place in Chislehurst
Coming soon - the final phase of Artemis - High Street Stratford. A range of one- and two-bedroom apartments will be for sale through L&Q’s Shared Ownership Scheme. You can register your interest today.
A striking development of one- and two-bedroom apartments with communal gardens, is located just a mile from Surrey Quays with it’s railway station (on the East London line), Shopping Centre and Leisure Park.
A new development of 18 one- and two-bedroom homes in Leyton E10 coming early 2013.There are a range of layouts available including ground floor apartments with private gardens, to upper level duplex apartments with views toward the Olympic Park in Stratford.
Three other L&Q London developments
Artemis, Stratford Bermondsey South, Lewisham Church Road, Leyton
The monthly What House? digital magazine is crammed full of the UK’s latest new homes news not to mention celebrity interviews, interior design idea’s, insightful features and information on the best deals available. If you enjoy everything the magazine has to offer why not sign up and have it delivered straight to your email inbox every month? All you have to do is fill out your name and address on the link below and we’ll email you a copy as soon as the latest edition is released.
Don’t miss an issue of What House? magazine.
Click here to register
What House?
October 2012
Focus onHertfordshire and
Buckinghamshire,
Bedfordshire,
Leicestershire and
Warwickshire
New homes
Check out the latest
developments around
the UK
Capture the Moroccan look
in your bedroom with this month’s
How To guide
New Features
Keep tabs on the latest
trends – this month we
look at what’s cooking in
the kitchen
Find out all about
the property discounts
for members of the
armed forces
Discover which charity
received a free £250,000
house courtesy of
Persimmon Homes
Martin Roberts
talks investment,
first-time buyers
and Homes Under
The Hammer
What House?November 2012
22-PAGE MIDLANDS SUPPLEMENT
THE BEST NEW HOMES IN BRITAIN: listings, news, reviews, interiors, mortgages, investment
HOT STUFF BRAND NEW LUXURY FROM LAURENCE LLEWELYN-BOWENKEVIN McCLOUD’S GREEN MISSIONWIN WOLVES HALF-SEASON TICKETS
JODY CRADDOCK THE ART OF FOOTBALL
brought to you by whathouse.co.uk
What House?December 2012
THE BEST NEW HOMES IN BRITAIN: listings, news, reviews,
interiors, mortgages, investment
CITY ON THE UP LONDON’S KEY REGENERATION
AREAS EXPLORED
CHRISTMAS DECOR TIPS FROM
THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS
PROPERTY MARKET RESEARCH FORECAST FOR 2013
I’M A CELEBRITY...YET I COULD LIVE IN A CAVE
COLIN AND JUSTIN SPEAK ABOUT THEIR STRANGEST DESIGN CHALLENGES
WHAT HOUSE? AWARDS 2012 SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
Dream home of the month
Rushton HouseRothermere Place, Hinksey Hill, Oxfordshire by Millgate Homes Price: £1.75 million
With the stunning Oxfordshire countryside and the ‘city of rising spires’ as a backdrop, Millgate Homes has picked an inspiring spot for its development Rothermere Place. The four five-bedroom properties in a secluded, leafy setting offer state-of-the-art interiors contrasted with traditionally grand country house exteriors.
The show home on this development is Rushton House. Accessed via a private lane, this detached property is spread over three-storeys and is build in the Arts and Crafts style. Set within a half-acre southerly plot, the property is designed with a family in mind.
On the ground floor, there is an open-plan kitchen, living room, dining room and orangery, with a separate utility room off the kitchen. There is also a drawing room and a study. On the first floor, there are four bedrooms including the master bedroom with its en suite and dressing room and an en suite to bedroom two. The second floor has bedroom five and a media room.
The kitchen and utility room come with Siemens appliances, a Caple wine cooler and Maytag fridge/freezer. The bathrooms come with marble-effect porcelain wall tiling, Villeroy and Boch sanitaryware and a rain-effect shower. The property also comes with a prominent feature staircase,
a three-car garage and a full security system including CCTV.
Rushton House, Latimer House, Kingsley House, and Hertford House are all available, with prices starting at £1.75m. Hinksey Hill is around three miles from picturesque Oxford and around 55 miles from London. The area has a strong selection of schools nearby and Oxford offers extensive leisure, shopping and eating out options.
Click here to view development
Price: £1.75 million
Image gallery
The majority of inventions for homes has been focused on efficiency since the widespread uptake of electrical domestic appliances in the 1950s. We live busy lives, and, looking forward, domestic appliances are set to be linked to tablet computers so that you can control them all from one station remotely. In the future, wifi will have almost as much presence in our homes as electricity. Siemens has branded its version of these linked appliances ‘House of the Future’.
As world leaders become more focused on reducing the amount
of resources humans consume, the standards for energy efficiency are set to increase dramatically. This means we may all be living in zero carbon homes in the not too distant future – if the UK government is able to implement it, it will be a certainty for anyone buying a new home post 2016. Appliances will also continue to become more energy efficient. Water as a resource is already becoming more precious and water monitors may become standard throughout homes.
When it comes to home entertainment, rapid development
has taken place over the past years. Television has transformed with the ability to rewind live TV, record hundreds of programmes and catch up on what you’ve missed whenever you want. With internet now linked to the TV, it should follow that the need for both a computer and a TV will be diminished; however, these devices will likely be controlled by a phone or a tablet. Alternatively users will be able to interact with the TVs through movement, similar to the Xbox Kinect, and voice control. Video calling is likely to be done from the TV in the future with
Homes of the future o matter how the world develops, the basic human need for shelter will never change. The question of what our homes will look like and contain is open to interpretation and the endless possibilities have long fascinated those in the creative and new tech industries. If you consider the rapid progress visible in our homes over the last century, it is as difficult for us to predict what’s in store as it would be for the Edwardians to predict the domination of the internet in our homes.
N
Samsung’s UE75ES9000 Full HD 75” LED 3D TV already including a high-definition camera.
Music and sound for your TV/Blu-Ray player can now be filtered through home sound systems to each room separately and controlled by one remote or a built-in tablet. In the future, the individual may be able to programme their own soundtrack so each individual will be listening to their own music of choice in a shared space.
So how will our homes look in the future? 3D-printed homes may become possible within 10
years according to Softkill Design, a London-based team of architects, which has just completed a fully 3D-printed model house. Alternatively, we may all end up living like Teletubbies just like former footballer Gary Neville, or in Urban Treehouses, like the one pictured by Jason David Designs, which will be useful as cities grow more overcrowded. One thing’s for sure, the design of our homes in the future is as open to interpretation as the world’s history is.
On the Road with Wolves FC
As an official sponsor of Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, over the next few months we will be travelling with new manager Dean Saunders and his players to check out the properties on offer in the cities of their opponents. This month we will be travelling to the home of The Tricky Trees, Nottingham, and Barnsley, home of the Tykes.
When it comes to average house prices in this East Midlands city, the BBC says currently they are around £116,000 with detached homes coming in at just under £200,000 and flats around £98,000 on average. The prices are down annually by around -4.9% and there are some real bargains to be had.
There are a good range of new build properties offering excellent value for money in the city and around Nottinghamshire from a wide selection of developers.
Nottingham Forest FC, Nottingham – 9/03/2013
Best new home for a fan that wants to be close to the stadium: Four-bedroom detached house ‘The Thetford’ at Charles Church Homes Manderley development is less than five miles from the stadium and is available from £329,995.
Best new home for a young player trying to break into the first team: Two-bedroom ‘Ashton-sp’ apartment in the Barratt Homes’ Merlin Park development. This property comes with its own garage and is available from £119,995.
Best new home for a star player who wants to flash the cash: One of only a few properties left at the Oak Tree Court development just outside of Nottingham, ‘Wood View’ is a five-bedroom luxury home from Chesby Estates and available for £624,995.
With a +5.4% annual increase in Barnsley house prices, the market seems to be recovering in the South Yorkshire town. However, properties in the town are still very affordable according to the BBC; the average house price is up to around £123,000, with detached houses averaging £201,843 and flats coming in at £81,710.
In terms of new housing, developers Ben Bailey Homes, Barratt Homes, Persimmon and Taylor Wimpey all have developments on offer in the town currently offering a range of different incentives.
Barnsley FC, Barnsley – 19/02/2013
Best new home for a fan that wants to be close to the stadium: Less than three miles from the stadium, ‘Plot The Rainton Plot 22’ is a three-bedroom house available from £124,950 at Ben Bailey’s Greencroft development.
Best new home for a young player trying to break into the first team: Three-bedroom semi-detached house at Persimmon’s Wentworth Grange development, ‘The Hanbury’ is available from £119,995.
Best new home for a star player who wants to flash the cash: ‘The Sovereign’ is a four-bedroom detached family home from Bellway Homes at its Grosvenor Park scheme, starting at £264,995.
Redrow Compton Park
The collection of four- and five-bedroom luxury detached homes in one of the city’s most sought-after suburbs was unveiled to an invited audience just a couple of days before its public launch.
“It’s one of the most prestigious developments
Wolverhampton has seen for decades,” said Redrow chairman Steve Morgan. “It’s generated a £50million economic boom with jobs building houses and the school along with new jobs at the football academy and the university facility.”
hat House? sales director Mark Collins and editor Keith Osborne were delighted to attend the launch of Redrow’s Compton Park recently in Wolverhampton.
W
Take a look at our video tour and interview with Redrow’s Matthew Pratt below.
SUSTAINABILITY
Disused offices to be converted into new homes
With energy costs rising, more homebuyers should consider buying an energy-efficient new build home, according to Helen McGill, area sales manager for Redrow Homes (South Midlands). Built to a minimum Level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, new homes provide a significant
reduction in CO2 emissions relating to energy in the home, greater restrictions on water usage, an understanding of air- tightness and a reduction in operational energy use, among other benefits, providing homeowners with enormous energy savings.
Save money and be more green by purchasing a new build home, says developer
Senior figures in the Labour Party have written to communities secretary Eric Pickles with their concerns about the uncertainty around the target for new homes to be zero carbon from 2016 and the harm it is doing to development. Shadow chancellor Ed Balls, shadow energy secretary Caroline Flint, and shadow housing minister Jack Dromey have accused the government in an open letter of delaying the publication of standards builders must meet this year. They are also unhappy about the uncertainty that is being created around the price of ‘allowable solutions’ from 2016.
Up to 100,000 much-needed new homes could be created across the country under plans to permit housebuilders to turn office blocks into flats. Under the proposed planning change, developers would be allowed to convert office blocks into residential use without asking councils for consent, in what would amount to a radical change to the English planning system.
www.whathouse.co.uk
Zero carbon uncertainty ‘holding back’ new homes
Click
here to read more
Click
here to read more
Set within 12 acres of stunning South Gloucestershire open space, Hanham Hall is an eco paradise and an obvious choice for those looking to be surrounded by nature. When building started, developers Barratt Homes and Sovereign worked carefully to ensure that the local environment was enhanced wherever possible to increase the plant and wildlife species. There is an orchard, residents are encouraged to grow their own vegetables in the allotment spaces and greenhouses, and there are dedicated play zones for children, making this an ideal home for families.
Green home of the monthThe ‘Panama’, Hanham Hall, Bristol by Barratt Homes and Sovereign£284,995
Green home of the month
he ‘Panama’ show home offering a contemporary kitchen/dining area, an impressive first-floor lounge with access to the balcony, a master bedroom with en suite facilities, and a three other bedrooms.
As with all of our Green Home of the Month choices, this property has exceptional sustainability credentials. Every single light will be fitted with low energy lighting, there are sheds in the gardens for cycle storage, and the home is set up to be a home office with an area equipped with data points, electrical plugs and high-speed cable. When it comes to waste recycling, each home has recycling bins in the kitchen and communal bins onsite. There is also available composting. The use of freshwater will be managed by eco fittings and the reuse of rainwater, with the water for at least one toilet and the washing machine supplied through rainwater harvesting. For the homes that have a garden, a water butt will capture additional rainfall from the shed roof. Finally, gas boilers are high efficiency and the walls and floor have a higher level of sound insulation than current building standards.
To the east of cosmopolitan Bristol, the area offers a peaceful setting and also easy access to the city centre. The development is close to both the extensive road network, Bristol Airport and Bristol Parkway, which is on the main Bristol to London rail line. On the local high street there are a range of shops as well as a community centre and a choice of places to eat, which includes one of the oldest pubs in England and there is plenty of local schooling.
T
Image gallery
How to... add a touch of spring to your home
2 Floral and faunaFloral and leaf prints are everywhere at the moment and there’s a wide variety that should suit every taste. Match the blossoming of the world outside by using these nature-inspired accessories throughout your house. They’ll give your house an air of tranquillity and brighten up your room in the same way a bouquet of flowers can. Add this forest canvas from Littlewoods to any room in your house to invite nature in for £35. This blackbird bookcase from House of Fraser will also make a lovely feature for £629.
4 Spring cleaningClear out the clutter and invest in some funky storage to get the full effect from your spring makeover. You can pick up personalised storage from www.notonthehighstreet.com. Personalised storage crate, by Plantabox for £38. This room from Marks & Spencer shows how good a room can look with next to no clutter.
1 Create the illusion of more space
Having your whole window exposed will add the illusion of space along with an abundance of natural light. You can see this in the bedroom scene pictured here by Betty Jackson at Debenhams. A well-placed statement mirror can also add the illusion of space, like this Barker and Stonehouse one pictured, £115.
3 Bright and colourfulThe key colours this spring are mint greens, pale yellows and turquoise. Mixed together, the tones complement each other, especially if white is also thrown into the mix to stop them being too overpowering. Alternatively, pick one of these shades and match it with natural colours. These cushions are available from Matalan.
How to... add a touch of spring to your home
2 Floral and fauna
4 Spring cleaning
Darwin House – Charles Darwin, was an English naturalist. He established that all species of life have descended over time
from common ancestors, and proposed the scientific theory that this branching pattern of evolution resulted from a process that he called natural selection, in which the struggle for existence has a similar effect to the artificial selection involved in selective breeding.
Marlowe House – Christopher Marlowe, an English dramatist, poet and translator of the Elizabethan era. Marlowe was the
foremost Elizabethan tragedian of his day. He greatly influenced William Shakespeare, who was born in the same year as Marlowe and who rose to become the pre-eminent Elizabethan playwright after Marlowe’s mysterious early death. Marlowe’s plays are known for the use of blank verse, and their overreaching protagonists.
Newton Court – Sir Isaac Newton, English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, natural philosopher, alchemist
and theologian who has been considered by many to be the greatest and most influential scientist who ever lived.
Keynes House – John Maynard Keynes, was a British economist whose ideas have profoundly affected the theory and practice of
modern macroeconomics, and informed the economic policies of governments.
Brooke House – Rupert Brooke, WWI poet and King’s College Cambridge student Rupert Brooke who was known for his sonnets
including The Dead and The Soldier. He was also known for his boyish good looks, which were said to have prompted the Irish poet W. B. Yeats to describe him as “the handsomest young man in England.”
Kingsley Walk –Sir Kingsley Amis, an English novelist, poet, critic, and teacher. He wrote more than 20 novels, six volumes of
poetry, a memoir, various short stories, radio and television scripts, along with works of social and literary criticism. According to his biographer, Zachary Leader, Amis was “the finest English comic novelist of the second half of the twentieth century.” He was the father of English novelist Martin Amis.
What’s in a name? hen it comes to naming new homes, there are a huge range of choices available to housebuilders from something natured related that will make the buyer feel tranquil to something tied into the heritage of the area. Berkeley has gone for a different approach at the Cambridge Riverside development. They’ve named each of the apartment blocks after graduates of Cambridge University.
Set in the beautiful surroundings of Midsummer Common and on the River Cam, Cambridge Riverside comprises a collection of studio, one-, two- and three- bedroom apartments and penthouses and 10 five- bedroom townhouses within walking distance to the city centre. Townhouses will have their own private gardens, while apartments benefit from a balcony or terrace. Onsite facilities include secure underground parking, a private residents’ gym and 24 hour concierge service. Prices start at £204,950 for currently available properties.
W
EAST ANGLIA
Weston Homes’ chief executive Bob Weston attended The Veritas development launch in Cambridge to welcome guests to his company’s latest offering in the popular university town. His team put on fireworks and live music to entertain guests.
Spectacular firework display opens WestonHomes’ development in Cambridge
Click
here to read more
www.whathouse.co.uk
Planning consent for 1,196 new homes to be built at the village of Hethersett, near Norwich, has been obtained by Ptarmigan Land in line with South Norfolk Council’s Local
Development Framework plans. Ptarmigan acted on behalf of a consortium of local landowners, who were represented by Bidwells and Brown & Co.
Plans for 1,196 new homes near Norwich approved
Up to 90 new homes could be built in Norwich city centre after housebuilder Charles Church unveiled plans to develop the former Aviva car park at Brazen Gate, near the Sainsbury’s supermarket in Queens Road. According to initial plans, the scheme, if
approved by planners, will feature a mixture of one- and two-bedroom apartments along with three- and four-bedroom townhouses.
Plans for new homes in Norwich city centre unveiled
Click
here to read more
Click
here to read more
Three- and four-bedroom homes in a popular, historic market town, situated in a district that frequently scores highly in national quality-of-life surveys.
Millers Tye Hopkins HomesA last chance to buy at this popular development on the outskirts of the charming market town, with a number of assistance schemes on offer.
Blakenham Fields Orbit HomesA mix of two-, three- and four-bedroom home types to appeal to young buyers and families, with some opportunities to purchase on a shared ownership basis.
Orchard Place David Wilson Homes
A collection of 51 homes on a 20-acre estate, with a range of three-, four- and five-bedroom property types available with a range of assistance schemes.
GREAT DUNMOW, ESSEX
FROM £229,950
Springfield Grange Croudace
SOHAM, CAMBRIDGESHIRE
FROM £209,995
GREAT BLAKENHAM, SUFFOLK
FROM £159,995
NORWICH, NORFOLK
FROM £234,995Click here to view more new
homes in East Anglia
New homes developments in EAST ANGLIA
NorfolkFocus on
In the eastern corner of England, Norfolk is tucked away against the backdrop of the North Sea.
Often overlooked for west and south coast counties, Norfolk is largely rural and perfect for house-hunters looking for a more relaxing pace of life without the massive price tag associated with coastal properties. With The Broads, a network of rivers and lakes with National Park status, along with some of the UK’s most stunning beaches, living in Norfolk means having beauty on your doorstep.
With nearly 40% of the county’s population living there, Norwich is the main settlement in the county.
The only city in Norfolk, Norwich is on the River Wensum and has a lot more to its economy than Colman’s Mustard. With Norwich Research Park, which is currently undergoing a period of investment, two university campuses, and a strong financial market including Aviva, there is a wide selection of jobs available in the area. With the investment being spent in the city, many new homes are currently available in a variety of styles including conversions and futuristic new builds.
Norwich railway station has half
hourly trains to London Liverpool Street, which take just over 2 hours, along with links to Cambridge, Liverpool, Peterborough, Manchester and the Midlands. There are also links to Norfolk’s second largest settlement, Great Yarmouth.
Many developers are investing in family homes and luxury properties in smaller communities around Norwich, further into the countryside and on the coast. The coastal properties in particular may be an investment option for property developers.
Norfolk beach
Norfolk
£121,950 Located in the heart of the thriving city of Norwich, Fellowes Plain, The Ivory Building, is a Charles Church development of two-, three- and four-bedroom properties in impressive and much-loved buildings that once formed part of the listed Norfolk and Norwich hospital. One-bedroom apartments are available from £121,950.
£239,950 Butterfly Gardens in Attleborough is a development of high-specification new properties from Norfolk Homes. With over 20 different home styles to choose from, The ‘Fielding (Plot 41)’is a four-bedroom detached house with a garage, and lots of open plan space ideal for family life.
£529,995 Mulberry Gardens in Mulbarton, Norfolk, from Hopkins Homes is a development of 366 new homes with a community feel. ‘Plot 306 - The Mettingham’ is a luxurious five-bedroom detached house with a double garage.
Starter home
Family home
Luxury home
Click here to view more properties
EssexFocus on
With a huge variety of different communities in this coastal county, Essex has a lot more to offer house-hunters than WAGS and vajazzles.
As a new city, and the only in the county, Chelmsford has a selection of new build properties available and is substantially cheaper for commuting into London than other Essex settlements. Just over 30 miles north-east of Charing Cross and a 30-minute train journey, the community is famous for its suburb Springfield which spawned the American towns with the same name and, in turn, The Simpson’s home town.
A lot of the satellite towns close
to the border with London currently have residential development going on, however there is also a protected area called the Metropolitan Green Belt stopping the land getting overdeveloped.
In Basildon, there are currently lots of new homes on offer. The town is only 25 miles east of central London, and was built for spill over from the Big Smoke after World War II and many people commute from here. There is major regeneration going on in the town too, at a cost of £2bn, and includes regenerating the town centre, building a new sporting village, creating a health and education research centre near
Basildon and Thurrock University Hospital, investment in the Basildon Enterprise Corridor, creating a new wetland reserve and investment into the housing estates of the area. Surprisingly, there are still affordable homes available in this area.
The exclusive areas that are associated with The Only Way Is Essex are also a hive of building activity. Leafy Loughton, Epping, Brentwood and Chigwell have a selection of luxury properties with bling price tags to match. These communities have thriving high streets full of the quirky boutiques, eateries and wine bars along with great schools and transport links.
With affordable homes available and quick travel links into London, Essex is a rarity in the Home Counties.
Essex
£122,000 Brookmead by Lovell is a development of one- and two-bedroom apartments in Basildon. The Essex town has hassle-free links to London and ‘Plot 92’ is a ground-floor apartment with a parking space, which will be ideal for commuters.
£235,000 Neave Place is a stylish development from Persimmon made up of two- and three-bedroom apartments and houses in Romford. The ‘Sycamore’ is a three-bedroom semi-detached house ideal for a young family with its spacious layout. This development offers NewBuy.
£475,000 St Cedd’s Place in Chelmsford is a luxury collection of four- and five-bedroom houses in a leafy enclave of Chelmsford and less than a mile from the city’s station. The development from Countryside Properties has only one remaining property – the semi-detached two-storey, four-bedroom Lastingham.
Affordable
Family home
Luxury home
Click here to view more properties
One of London’s largest independent estate agents, Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward, has expanded its Land and
New Homes division with a branch dedicated to serving south-east London to cater for high demand. The new branch is in addition to the already established Hammersmith office and operates out of the existing Surrey Quays sales and lettings branch.
Greater demand leads to new home division expansion for KFH
LONDON
Made famous as the setting of Stanley Kubrick’s film A Clockwork Orange, Thamesmead or Tavy Bridge Estate has been given the go-ahead for the third stage
of development. Gallions Housing will develop the new £55m urban quarter For Thamesmead, designed by PRP, which will deliver four contemporary new buildings comprising 296 new homes across a variety of dwelling types and tenures.
Plans approved for almost 300 new homes in Thamesmead
Click
here to read more
Taylor Wimpey introduces new FTB assistance scheme in West Drayton
www.whathouse.co.uk
Click
here to read more
Taylor Wimpey is working with Hillingdon Council to offer a brand new Low Cost Home Ownership scheme for first-time buyers at its Waterside Park scheme in West Drayton. The initiative means that qualifying first-timers could secure one of these brand new homes for 20% less than the full price. A one-bedroom ‘Crest’ apartment at the development, priced at £173,000, is available for £138,400 with the scheme.
Click
here to read more
Studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments in a major mixed-use development that incorporates a 21-storey tower, close to the heart of the City.
Lime Grove Mews St JamesWith architecture inspired by the Regency period, these apartments and villas come with a stylish, contemporary interior specification set in leafy parkland.
The Green United HouseJust 42 apartments of one, two or three bedrooms set in landscaped grounds, located within easy reach of Heathrow Airport, the A4 and M4.
Bezier Premier Currell Residential
These high-specification apartments are in a distinctive landmark building with a “boutique hotel” feel, located within easy reach of London’s financial heart and comprehensive transport links.
ALDGATE
FROM £395,000
One Commercial Street Redrow Homes
SHEPHERD’S BUSH
FROM £220,500
HOUNSLOW
FROM £180,000
OLD STREET
FROM £1.9 MILLIONClick here to view more new
homes in London
New homes developments in LONDON
Banner Homes has announced a new development of just three luxury homes that it is launching in early February. Comprising three detached,
five-bedroom homes, Fairlawns offers an enviable specification and spacious accommodation in a sought-after village on the outskirts of Wolverhampton.
New luxury homes in Lower Penn this February
LUXURY
For discerning homebuyers with a stringent list of requirements - a high-quality family property, an exclusive address, and convenient rail link to London - the answer to their house-hunting prayers might be a luxury new homes development from Millwood Designer Homes that is coming soon to Wadhurst in East Sussex. Just two detached homes will be built at Acorn Gardens, one with four bedrooms and another with five.
Two new detached homes come to exclusive Wadhurst development
The property envy that arises when visiting a luxury new home is often as much to do with the interior design as the property itself. Then there’s the kerb appeal, which pulls a potential buyer in before they’ve even stepped through the door. This all-round enticement is exactly what award-winning developer Millgate proudly presents in each of its show homes. Now, it can be yours with its time-limited offer.
Buy a Millgate home in Berkshire and get it dressed for free
Click
here to read more
www.whathouse.co.uk
Click
here to read more
Click
here to read more
An iconic mixed-use development set within a prominent 21-storey tower incorporating stylish studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments featuring spectacular views across the London skyline.
Four Winds MillgateA collection of four classic country homes occupying an elevated position providing stunning panoramic views across the Thames Valley and within easy reach of the national motorway network.
Gunwharf Quays BerkeleySoaring high above the city skyline of Portsmouth, the Solent and surrounding countryside, The Penthouse offers extensive accommodation with far-reaching views and light-filled accommodation with the versatility to cater for your needs whether that be a haven in which to relax and unwind or a stylish space for entertaining.
Carinthia Place Antler Homes An exclusive development of just 11 spacious two-, four - and five-bedroom homes featuring elegantelevations, impressive accommodation and a superb specification.
COMMERCIAL STREET, LONDON
FROM £395,000
One Commercial Street Redrow Homes
BOURNE END, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
FROM £2.8 MILLION
PORTSMOUTH HAMPSHIRE
FROM £2.5 MILLION
EPSOM, SURREY
FROM £650,000Click here to view more
luxury new homes
LUXURY new homes developments
extr
aWhat House? Downsizing
Introducing downsizing
Case studies
Five benefits of downsizing
Downsizing
CONTENTS
42 Introducing downsizing
44 Downsizing case studies
47 Trading places with Stewart Milne
48 Five benefits of downsizing
48
47
42
44
New homes, show homes, his home and your home.
How many of us value anything more highly than a comfortable home for our family?
At whathouse.co.uk, you’ll find the very best new-build homes in Essex from some of the country’s most respected housebuilders and full details of the most desirable new developments in the county.
A sound night’s sleep demonstrates how much your family appreciates the comfort and security of a brand new property. Imagine how they’ll feel when they wake up to a thoughtfully designed and beautifully appointed new-build home.
Discover your options at www.whathouse.co.uk today.
IntroducingDownsizing
Piermont House in Beckenham, Kent by Shanly Homes
What and where?Downsizing simply means trading your larger property for a more compact, easier to manage home, whether this is an apartment, a smaller house or a move into a retirement home or over-55 community. Any development with smaller homes than the downsizer currently lives in works, however there are specific developments for over-55s. We have a great range of apartments and smaller homes available on whathouse.co.uk.
How?A range of developers have different offers for downsizers; for instance, Bloor Homes has three different assist schemes, including solicitors fees paid on purchase (up to £1000) and 1% towards stamp duty (up to £3000), £5000 Options vouchers to spend on personalising your new home, and carpets and blinds throughout and turf to the property’s rear garden. Part exchange can also be offered
for downsizers from developers on certain developments.
When?Downsizing isn’t time specific and can be done at any time of life for many reasons. It is sometimes done to help children with their finances at a later stage in life or when mortgage repayments become too large on a bigger house.
Who?‘Empty Nesters’ is the term often used for people whose children have left home and they no longer have the need of the space that their family house offered. This could be working adults or those recently retired who want to enjoy their twilight years. According to Rightmove, downsizing is the main reason for UK buyers to move house in 9 out of 10 regions in England and Wales, with 40% of buyers looking to buy a smaller home.
Why?Many people plan to downsize to help fund their retirement or for their children’s inheritance. Research from the Castle Trust found that around 3.25 million households, 13% of working adults, plan to downsize their home to help fund all or part of their retirement. Its research also shows that these downsizers plan to buy a house on average 36%, £57,400, cheaper based on the average home worth being around £160,000; 11% of downsizers aim to buy a house at least 50% cheaper to help fund their retirement; and a further 4% plan to sell their home and not buy another property.
The what, how, where, when, who and why of downsizing answered.
Downsizing case studies
www.whathouse.co.uk
Carole and Michael Hammond found a new outlook on life after a health scare and decided to downsize to a smaller more manageable property. The pair bought a two-bedroom apartment at David Wilson Homes’ Brecon View development in Gornal, Dudley.
Carole says: “We lived across the road from Brecon View and saw signs go up about the new development coming soon. We kept a close eye on the progress of the development on the internet and the first day it was open we decided to visit the sales centre. We liked the development when we visited but weren’t sure if we
wanted to move for a third time. After a health scare we decided not to waste anymore time and just go for it.”
The couple moved from their previous three-bedroom property to a two-bedroom ‘Wincham’ style apartment and used David Wilson’s popular Movemaker scheme.
She says: “We had moved a number of times before and this is in fact our third new build home. The sales advisers at Brecon View were brilliant and were really helpful, especially as we chose the Movemaker scheme to help sell our previous property.”
Karen Yarnold has found the perfect apartment to downsize to at Barratt West Midlands’ Willis Place development in Worcester after her three sons had flown the nest.
Karen had been living in a three-bedroom house with her sons in Droitwich for over 28 years. Now her children had moved on, she was keen to downsize her living space and move back to Worcester where she was born.
She says: “I was looking for a smaller property, which I could maintain easily and that was within my price range. Willis Place
ticked all those boxes and it’s even round the corner from my parents’ house so I made an appointment with the sales team straight away.”
Karen sold her previous three-bedroom house and moved into a one-bedroom ‘Delta’ style apartment at Willis Place, which is the perfect size for her.
“My new apartment is lovely and it was ready to move into straight away. The layout is great, it’s all open-plan, so it’s really easy to maintain. My favourite feature is the Juliet balcony, which looks out on the green.”
New outlook after health scare
Empty nester
www.whathouse.co.uk
Vivo is proving to be the perfect place to call home for one retired couple, who have recently swapped their old four-bedroom home in north Tyneside for a brand new sustainable one in Stockton-on-Tees.
Robert and Ann Powell, who are both in their 70s, are keen members of the Caravan Club and discovered Vivo during one of their riverside walks in their favourite Stockton. They have downsized to a three-bedroom ‘Calder’ style home on the Northshore Road development, after buying the property off- plan from Lovell, in partnership with sister company Muse Developments.
Robert says: “This is the fourth newly built home we’ve bought and it’s the best we have ever had, the quality of the house and the craftsmanship is amazing and all of the fittings are very impressive. We chose a three-bedroom home because we knew it would fit our needs and accommodate our existing possessions.”
The couple, who have four children and seven grandchildren, were keen to downsize after realising their existing three-storey home was far too large for their needs and they are much happier in their compact new home.
When Louise Cox chose to leave her three-bedroom house in Ware, Hertfordshire, and downsize to a more manageable home, she decided to revisit her school days by purchasing a one-bedroom apartment at City & Country’s Balls Park development in Hertford. Louise attended the nearby school and played in the 63 acres of grounds as a child and purchasing a home at the development has allowed her to reconnect with her past and enjoy living in a piece of personal history.
Louise says: “I went to Simon Balle School when I was younger and it
overlooked Balls Park. I spent many PE lessons running cross-country through the grounds, so when I heard that it had been restored, I knew I had to come and see it for myself. I remember thinking as a girl how grand the building was; never in my dreams did I think I’d live here.
“When I discovered the converted apartments at Balls Park I just fell in love with them. I was so happy to have found a property that suited both my needs to downsize and still have tonnes of character. It felt like I’d come home.”
Riverside walk leads to smaller home
Personal connection to smaller home
When David and June Smith decided it was time to downsize from their family home, they had a hard time finding somewhere that they thought would be safe when spending time in their holiday home until they visited Taylor Wimpey’s Hartwell Meadows development in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.
David explained: “We had been rattling around in the old house for a while and had started to think about moving to something smaller. I’m semi-retired but still needed to be close to the business and also my brother fell ill so we wanted to be
nearer to him. We looked at lots of different new home developments around Aylesbury but struggled to find somewhere that offered the design and quality we were looking for.
“Then my wife came across the Hartwell Meadows development. The ‘Dovedale’ coach house apartment was perfect for our needs – ideal location, spacious and well designed. It’s also relatively secure which was important as we have a holiday home on the coast and hope to spend more time there over the coming years.”
Since moving into St George’s Park Retirement Village in Ditchling, East Sussex, last August, life has improved considerably for one couple thanks to the safe environment, stunning countryside setting and extensive social and leisure facilities available.
“After just four weeks of moving in, we saw a noticeable improvement to our lives” explains Peggy Guggenheim. “We previously lived in a four-storey, five-bedroom Victorian house that had become increasingly impractical due to my husband’s health. Also, the cost
to heat, clean and maintain the property was increasing each year.”
“As a retired trust and estate practitioner, I was aware of the excellent reputation of the care home at St George’s Park as I had often tried to secure a place for my clients and considered it to be the best around. I had also watched the St George’s Park Retirement Village develop over the past few years and knew it now offered an outstanding opportunity to live independently, but with care facilities that are available should the need arise in years to come.”
Part time home
Retirement village life
www.whathouse.co.uk
cont
Marlyn Boal, sales director of Stewart Milne Homes Central Scotland, says: “Unlike the more familiar part exchange offers on the market, the Trading Places plan is unique in that it isn’t limited to those buying a more expensive home. It is available to those moving up, down and across the property ladder meaning more homeowners can put their moving plans into action sooner rather than later.”
Guaranteeing a timely sale at market price, the fuss-free plan provides customers with two independent valuations – arranged on their behalf - and an offer for an existing property within just five working days. The housebuilder will also take care of the entire sale, saving
thousands of pounds worth of estate agency fees, listings, brochure and marketing costs.
Nicola and Raymond Carroll used the purchase plan earlier this year, moving to their new home at Ardgowan Rise in Inverkip within just two weeks. Nicola says: “We weren’t actually looking to move at the time; I just decided to visit the development out of curiosity. However, I fell in love with the homes straight away. As soon as I found out about the Trading Places offering, my mind was made up. It was absolutely ideal, removing the usual pressures and costs of trying to sell an existing property in order to buy a new one. I checked with my husband, who was working off shore at the
time, and put down a deposit. The process was incredibly easy; the sales team took care of everything and even put us in touch with the necessary legal and financial advisors. We barely had to lift a finger and moved in two weeks later.”
The Trading Places plan is available at all Stewart Milne Homes developments. Buyers can choose from a broad range of two-, three-, four-, five- and six-bedroom homes across the country, including: Greenwood Manor in Newton Mearns, Glasgow; The Grange at Broadshade in Westhill, Aberdeenshire; Ardgowan Rise in Inverkip; Grove Park in Portlethen, near Aberdeen; and Wallace Gardens in Stirling.
hen downsizing, selling an existing property is pivotal to the moving plans. A new purchase plan from Stewart Milne Homes makes the process quicker, easier and more affordable than ever by providing customers with a guaranteed buyer and sale price in just five days.
W
www.whathouse.co.uk
Trading Places with exceptional part exchange for downsizers
This is the main reason people downsize and there are many different ways you can save money when moving somewhere smaller including smaller mortgage payments, property taxes, insurance, utility bills from air conditioning and heating, and home maintenance and repairs. You may even be in the lucky position that you will no longer have to pay a mortgage. With these savings you’ll have more money to spend on life’s luxuries.
1. Money saved
Five benefits of downsizing to a new build house
As we become increasingly environmentally conscious as a society, living in a new, smaller property will cut your energy consumption and subsequently reduce your carbon footprint.
2. Energy saved
By owning a smaller property, you may be able to live in a part of town that was previously impossible for you to afford. Many downsizers locate to more central locations to have everything on their doorstep or closer to the sea to have the beach as their garden.
3. Location
With little to no maintenance work around a new house required and much less time spent on keeping your property in shape on a weekly basis, having a smaller house may mean having a fuller life in your twilight years.
4. More time to play with The stress associated with owning a house of any
size, particularly if it is too big for you to manage, drastically reduces with a smaller home. Less stress will be associated with more downtime so when downsizing it’s essential to find a home that meets your needs but doesn’t lead to an overwhelmed life of constant, stressful maintenance.
5. Less stress
www.whathouse.co.uk
Find your new home at whathouse.co.uk
SOUTH EAST
House hunters can take advantage of FirstBuy at David Wilson Homes’ Chestnut Fields in Chilton on a selection of two-bedroom homes at the Oxfordshire development. The government-backed
scheme offers the chance to buy with a deposit of just 5%.
Agent Mishon Mackay and Cedarmill Developments are offering homebuyers in Brighton the chance to own a brand new three-bedroom townhouse in the heart of the town at Clifton Central. Priced from £599,950, there
are just eight homes at this development that offer a tranquil location despite being within easy reach of the shops, station and seafront.
Townhouses for sale just minutes from Brighton station
Just unveiled by Bloor Homes, Arncott Fields in north Oxfordshire has a mix of three- and four- bedroom property types with, at present, a choice of six house types. The development, located just south of Bicester, will eventually comprise 48 homes. Prices currently start at £249,950, rising to £360,000.
Oxfordshire development aims to please family homebuyers
Click
here to read more
FirstBuy available on selected new homes in Chilton
Click
here to read more
Click
here to read more
www.whathouse.co.uk
Located in the east of Milton Keynes, this collection of homes is within easy reach of the town centre, railway station and the M1, making it a great option for commuters to London or the Midlands.
Oasis Croudace HomesA collection of homes with between two and five bedrooms that benefits from proximity to good transport links, local amenities and the South Downs National Park.
Royal Clarence Marina Berkeley HomesPart of a large regeneration scheme, these two-bedroom waterfront apartments offer contemporary styling in a character restored building with excellent views over Portsmouth Harbour.
Victoria Park Ward HomesApartments and houses set within the grounds of a Grade II-listed building, with superb road and rail connections to London and many other destinations.
RICKMANSWORTH, HERTFORDSHIRE
FROM £2.35 MILLION
Orchard Grove Bewley Homes
PULBOROUGH, WEST SUSSEX
FROM £289,950
GOSPORT, HAMPSHIRE
FROM £165,000
DARTFORD, KENT
FROM £154,995Click here to view more new
homes in the South East
New homes developments in the SOUTH EAST
WALES
If you’re a first-time buyer looking to buy a property in Wales then a local lender has introduced a great scheme exclusively for Welsh buyers. Principality Building Society has launched a 95% loan-to-value mortgage for first-time buyers if you live in Wales or selected postcodes on the Welsh border. The scheme offers a great opportunity to get onto the housing ladder if you’re buying in Wales and only have a 5% deposit.
Welsh first-time buyers boosted by new deal
Plans for the construction of up to 30 new homes on
the former Bible College Wales site in Sketty have been put forward by property consultants Jones Lang LaSalle
on behalf of landowner Global Horizons Trust. The development on the western side of Derwen Fawr Road, will offer a range of much-needed family homes in Sketty and breathe new life into the site.
New homes proposed for site in Swansea
With its strategic position, river views, quality specification and good potential rental returns, Taylor
Wimpey’s City Vizion scheme in Newport, south Wales has become a popular option for
property investors. Annual rental yields of up to 7% have attracted the interest of buy-to-let investors looking to add to their portfolio with a high-quality new-build home.
Healthy returns for investors in Newport, Wales
Click
here to read moreCl
ick here to read more
Click
here to read more
www.whathouse.co.uk
Located midway between Newport and the Brecon Beacons, this development offers access to beautiful countryside, the major towns and cities of south Wales and the M4.
Glasdir Taylor WimpeyGreat schools, shops and leisure amenities in the area draw family buyers to this development of three- and four-bedroom homes, with numerous assistance schemes available.
Parc Tyn Y Coed Barratt HomesA mix of three- and four-bedroom property types in a semi-rural location just a couple of minutes from the M4, with good schools for all ages nearby.
Maes Halley Lovell These homes are set in the heart of a National Park, with some fabulous views and a tranquil pace oflife, with a range of incentives to assist homebuyers.
BLACKWOOD, CAERPHILLY
FROM £209,995
Glynderwen Meadows Redrow Homes
RUTHIN, DENBIGHSHIRE
FROM £139,995
BRIDGEND, MID-GLAMORGAN
FROM £143,500
BRECON, POWYS
FROM £151,950Click here to view more new
homes in Wales
New homes developments in WALES
www.whathouse.co.uk
INVESTMENT
Climate favourable for property investment
Rental yieldsAround 10% of all residential properties in the UK that are rented out are now achieving gross rental yields of at least 10%, while the average yield is 6.2%, which is considerably higher than any bank saving rate currently on offer, according to the recently released Countrywide 2012 Lettings Index.
Investors looking at buying investment property may be interested to learn that rents across many parts of the UK rose last year on the back of the increase in demand. For the second consecutive year the number of new tenants registering for private rented accommodation increased by 25%, with more than 340,000 new tenants signing up to let a
property in 2012, up from more than 275,000 in 2011.
Nick Dunning, group commercial director at Countrywide, said: “This time last year, ‘Generation Rent’, was a growing phenomenon but it appears that it’s now here to stay, for the foreseeable future anyway. More people are renting because they cannot get on the housing ladder without the help of the bank of Mum and Dad. As a result, they have to rent for longer while saving for a deposit.”
He added: “The availability of more competitive buy-to-let mortgage products, along with fantastic yields, is creating a good opportunity for investor landlords to expand their portfolios to match the high demand for rental
accommodation, as renting for longer is becoming the new norm.”
Capital appreciationThe typical UK home is now worth £162,245, following an average rise of 0.5% in January, according to recent figures from Nationwide.
Although activity in the housing market remains low by historic standards, there have been tentative signs of a pick-up in activity in recent months, thanks in part to greater mortgage availability.
“The Funding for Lending Scheme has achieved some success in bringing down mortgage rates, with some signs of a pick-up in lending activity,” said Robert Gardner, Nationwide’s chief economist.
Britain’s economy might be flirting with a ‘triple dip’ recession, but a growing number of landlords in the UK believe that now is a great time to invest in property, and are looking to add to their property portfolios as a consequence, says Marc Da-Silva.
Cheap mortgages, high rental yields, a growing supply-demand imbalance, low bank saving rates – there is an endless list of reasons to currently consider investing in property.
www.whathouse.co.uk
MortgagesMortgage borrowing rates have plummeted in recent week, with some two-year fixed-rate deals starting at just 1.99%, on the back of the Bank of England’s Funding for Lending Scheme, which allows finance giants to borrow up to £60bn at a low interest rate on the condition that it is loaned to homebuyers and businesses.
For those with a deposit of 10%, for example, there are almost 70 more mortgage products than there were at the start of last year, according to data firm Moneyfacts.
The latest figures released by the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) reveal that the gross mortgage lending in December reached an estimated £11.7bn.
This brings the estimated total for the year to £143bn, up from £141bn in 2011. In 2013, the CML forecasts gross lending will reach £156bn.
Bob Pannell, chief economist at CML, commented: “We are more positive about the UK housing market and wider economy than a year ago, despite economic headwinds and downside risks.”
First-time buyersThere has been a welcome rise in the number of first-time buyers, amid signs that government efforts to boost mortgage lending are trickling down to people with smaller deposits.
First-time buyers were central to the strong overall growth seen in January – making up one third of the total valuations market for the first time since June, according to John Bagshaw, corporate services director of Connells Survey & Valuation.
Bagshaw reports that valuations on behalf of first time buyers grew by 24% from December. In a fifth month of annual growth, there were 40% more new buyers than in January 2012.
He said: “A succession of month like January could start to feel like a sustained recovery for anyone hoping to buy their first home. A combination of strong buyer demand and improving competition among lenders at the bottom of the market has been central to progress. It’s also encouraging that we’re seeing lenders innovate with new products to try and unlock the first-time buyer market.”
Housing shortageDespite the recent rise in demand for properties to buy, there remains a fundamental shortage of properties for sale, owing largely to the lack of new homes being developed.
Recent figures released by the
NHBC indicate that the overall level of housebuilding declined last year with 104,510 new homes registered during 2012; a 9% decrease on 2011 (114,930).
“With housebuilding volumes so far below the numbers desperately needed in the UK, this is clearly an issue that needs to remain at the heart of government policy,” said NHBC commercial director Richard Tamayo.
Government-backed schemes such as NewBuy and Funding for Lending should continue to help increase mortgage availability, boosting demand for new homes in the process.
But unless the supply of new homes rises significantly this year, the supply-demand imbalance in this country is likely to rise further, pushing property prices across many parts of the country higher in the process.
Property prices set to pass pre-crisis peak levelsWith the recovery in the UK property market gathering pace, residential property prices are on track to surpass their pre-financial crisis peak for the first time and signs of improvement in the mortgage market.
Average prices this year are expected to edge up to £219,000, marking a 0.8% rise compared with 2012, according to data from the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR).
What House? Awards 2012 Focus: Sustainable Developer of the Year
Barratt Developments collected no fewer than four What House? awards at last year’s glittering ceremony at Grosvenor House hotel in London.
Aside from being named Sustainable Developer of the Year, the firm also collected gold for Best Partnership Scheme, along with other AIMC4 members, as well as bronze in the Best Exterior Design and Best Mixed Use categories.
Steven Boyes, Barratt Developments chief operating officer, commented: “To be recognised for design, build, partnerships and sustainability - both as a business and in practice, is a fitting accolade to the hard work and dedication shown by our teams across the country.
“We have made significant progress around sustainability in particular, and winning awards in two schemes leaves no doubt that we are industry leaders in this field.”
What House? Awards judges were impressed with the fact that the developer’s proportion of homes that meet the Code for Sustainable Homes developments has risen to almost 40%.
Judges said: “It [Barratt] has introduced an energy reduction initiative led by ‘Green Teams’ in every division. The scheme has already proved a success, with its West Yorkshire division saving 237,600 hours of energy in 12 months and reducing landfill by 25,000 tonnes.”
A worthy gold winner.
he efforts of several sustainable residential property development firms were rewarded bythe What House? Awards last year, under the Sustainable Developer of the Year category, with gold won by Barratt Developments – beating off stiff competition from Linden Homesand Taylor Wimpey, which were awarded the silver and bronze accolades, respectively.
TGold
Barratt Developments
The winner of the silver award was Linden Homes, which currently builds over 300 new homes per year, including properties in a zero-carbon development, which is scheduled for completion in 2019.
Wind turbines, district energy systems, solar thermal panels, source heat pumps, are among a wide range of energy efficient mod-cons used by the developer to ensure that strict sustainable goals are met.
“Linden Homes has set itself stringent carbon reduction targets that exceed those required by government legislation,” said What House? Awards judges.
Adding to Linden’s eco-friendly credentials was another silver award in the Best Brownfield section too, for its popular Evolve development in Plymouth.
Yet more praise also went to Linden’s highly-rated Kingston
Mills riverside development in Bradford-on-Avon, which attracted bronze awards in the Best Mixed Use and Best Renovation categories.
Galliford Try chief executive Greg Fitzgerald said: “This is another very encouraging result in a year that saw our housebuilding efforts around the country repeatedly
recognised by the judges.
“It’s thanks to the skill and dedication of our teams in every department of the company that we have achieved this. It sets us up to continue to strive for similar excellent results in 2013: picking up more awards and delighting customers.”
Taylor Wimpey was awarded a bronze in this category, illustrating that the company, which claims to
manage environmental issues in a proactive and balanced way, does indeed recognise the importance of sustainable development.
Judges noted: “Taylor Wimpey sent 18% less construction waste to landfill than it had done in 2010 and 53% less than in 2007. In order to continue the reduction of construction waste sent to landfill, Taylor Wimpey is introducing its ReUSE programme to maximise the sharing of surplus soil and recycled aggregates between sites.”
Taylor Wimpey has also recently introduced an energy and carbon
strategy programme across its operational estate, with a comprehensive review being undertaken of supply chain energy and sustainability.
“We are delighted that our achievements have been recognised,” said Pete Redfern, group chief executive of Taylor Wimpey. “We are committed to excellence in the design and
construction of the homes we build, the quality of the locations we choose and the service and assistance we provide to our customers.”
Linden Homes
Taylor Wimpey
Silver
Bronze
Marc Da Silva talks to Ingrid Skinner, managing director of Taylor Wimpey Central London
ONE TO ONE
Where is your firm developing new homes?We build desirable new homes in central London boroughs that offer a combination of established desirability and potential for growth, particularly owing to a lack of new build alternatives in these areas.
We currently have niche developments in West Hampstead, Highbury & Islington, Tufnell Park, Camden and Kensington and will soon begin developing sites in the City, Westminster and another in Kensington.
What types of properties are Taylor Wimpey Central London building? We build high-specification homes tailored to the needs of our buyers; from apartments and penthouses to mews and townhouses. Each development is relatively small and has its individual style, particularly suited to busy London professionals and families. We believe our homes offer a great opportunity and choice for our customers.
Our new build homes are designed to be of high quality and are extremely energy efficient. They are designed by reputable architects who
consider our customers’ needs, while complementing the local landscapes and streetscapes.
How much does a new home by Taylor Wimpey Central London cost to buy?From £362,000 for a studio in Tufnell Park to £3.8m for a large townhouse in Kensington; the price of a Taylor Wimpey Central London home varies depending on a number of factors, mainly its location and its size.
What makes Taylor Wimpey Central London stand out from the crowd?We are relatively unique in that we enjoy the support and backing of a
well-known national housebuilder, Taylor Wimpey, while at the same time offering a bespoke product from a London-focused team, so we are able to provide developments that suit each location and varied target markets. I also feel it is the combination of factors that TWCL offers that makes us exceptional. Our homes are stylish and modern, yet sympathetic to local architecture; situated in excellently connected locations; of good size; and of high specification with top end appliances and finishes throughout.
We also ensure our developments have unique features. For instance, it is so unusual for a residential development in a well-established location like West Hampstead to have a large green space developed alongside it, yet The Mill Apartments
Marc Da Silva talks to Ingrid Skinner, managing director of Taylor Wimpey Central London
has been designed with a landscaped nature reserve that covers almost an acre (two-thirds of the site).
Our extremely dedicated team is also well established with a wealth of experience within the sector.
Have you noticed any particular buying trends recently?Each area of London has its own character and so the market trends are different in each place. In West Hampstead we found a lot of investors made purchases at The Mill Apartments and locals downsizing from their large family homes were also interested in property. On the other hand, more local families are looking either to upsize or upgrade at Mulberry Mews in Islington. Those interested in The Junction at Tufnell Park appear to be busy, single professionals who love the development’s excellent transport links.
Is your company currently offering any incentives or discounts to homebuyers?Not at present.
Which Taylor Wimpey Central London development potentially offers the best property investment prospects?All of our developments offer buyers great value for money and
are specifically located in areas prime for good investment returns and longer term capital growth. One investor completed on a transaction in West Hampstead just before Christmas and a week later, his first set of tenants had moved in, ensuring an immediate rental income. This is indicative of recent research by Savills, which highlights West Hampstead as an investment hotspot, outlining the opportunities to ‘unlock hidden value’ from the area’s excellent ‘transport links and quality of neighbourhood’.
What is Taylor Wimpey Central London’s USP?We pride ourselves in creating homes and lifestyles in key areas of central London, which are already well established residential areas, but yet have few new build options for people looking to buy in the area.
The locations of our sites are always carefully thought out, to offer buyers what they want - good transport links, education facilities and plenty of leisure options. The design of our homes is also very important to us. We use renowned architects, experienced contractors and high- end designers to ensure our builds meet the quality specifications that our clients demand, and we make sure that all members of the team are heavily involved in the design review process, helping us to maintain a focus on common sense solutions that suit our customers’ needs.
Has Taylor Wimpey Central London ever won a WhatHouse? Award?As a newly launched branch of Taylor Wimpey plc, we have not entered our developments into the What House? Awards as yet. We wanted to wait until we had a product to demonstrate and solid results to share. Now that we are just over a year old, have completed our first development (The Mill Apartments) and have various others well underway, we can start to look at entering our schemes and hopefully being recognised for our successes.
Taylor Wimpey plc has been extremely successful at the awards in the past and we therefore look forward to contributing to the group’s overall success.
Click here to view current Taylor Wimpey
developments
DerbyshireFocus on
Peak District
With the Peak District National Park, The National Forest and a large proportion of sparsely populated land within its boundaries, Derbyshire is a county that offers beauty, peace and outdoor adventure for residents.The county is well linked to the north-west, Yorkshire and the rest of the Midlands, and is around two and a half hours from London.
As the main settlement in the county, Derby has a large proportion of the new homes in the county.
Lying upon the banks of the River Derwent, Derby has a rich history and gained city status more than 35 years ago. With a heritage of car manufacturing, the two main employers are Rolls Royce and Toyota. There are also several other industries that thrive here, including the computer game industry. The city is computer game
character Lara Croft’s birthplace and there is a road named after her.
Derby is served by express trains to London, the north-east and south-west while the M1 passes about 10 miles from the city. Its facilities cater to young professionals, young families, teenagers and those at retirement age.
Lying 24 miles north of Derby, the market town of Chesterfield is another Derbyshire community with a good range of new homes. The settlement is best known for its crooked spire and Barratt Homes has named a current development after this. With great
sports and education facilities, this is an ideal place to raise a family.
Other areas in Derbyshire that currently have a selection of affordable new homes include small town Swadlincote and spa town, and home of the bottled water brand, Buxton. Both are leafy and serene settlements that offer a relaxed pace of life and a strong sense of community.
Fantastic deals on property are available in this county and if you are looking to jump up the property ladder rather than climb it, four-bedroom detached homes can be picked up for as little as £150,000 here.
£137,995 The Spires is a development in the large market town of Chesterfield by Barratt Homes. Named after its town’s crooked spire, the development currently has two-, three- and four-bedroom homes. ‘Barton’ is a three-bedroom terraced house with a parking space, modern kitchen and spacious lounge.
£219,995 Set in the heart of the new National Forest, Priory Fields is a development by Redrow in the village of Church Gresley close to Swadlincote. There are a range of New Heritage Collection properties on offer including the ‘Cambridge’. The four-bedroom detached house has an open-plan lounge, kitchen and dining room and a spacious garden.
£455,000 The Thatchams at Priors Green is a collection of elegant two-, four- and five-bedroom homes ideally located in an Essex village of Takeley setting, yet just 5 miles to the M11 and 2.5 miles to Stansted Airport. ‘Plot 131 - The Chamberlain’ is a four-bedroom, three-storey detached property with a large amount of living space.
Affordable
Family home
Luxury home
Click here to view more properties
Edwards HomesDEVELOPER OF THE MONTH
With each new home it builds, Edwards Homes is cementing its growing reputation as a stylish developer in north Wales and north-west England.
ommitted to a philosophy of excellence and high levels of customer satisfaction, the company has been recognised for its excellence of housebuilding.
Edwards Homes works closely with leading architects and suppliers to guarantee they are incorporating the latest technology, techniques, materials, state-of-the-art
fixtures and fittings to ensure a truly outstanding new home. The developer is committed to making each property visually appealing, practical, economic and comfortable to live in.Across the range of developments, Edwards Homes offer a wide range of house styles to suit all family types, from the first-time buyer to large family groups. These homes
reflect the needs of the potential buyers and also blend with the surrounding area.
Getting involved in the NewBuy scheme, the developer offers 95% mortgages, in partnership with the government and the Home Builders Federation. This will help buyers who do not have a large enough deposit to qualify for a mortgage with participating lenders.
C
Barford Grange kitchen
High View Grange, near Chester, offers an aspired range of stylish family homes. From the much-sought-after three-bedroom ‘The Lingfield’ through to stylish four-bedroom
detached ‘The Warwick’. There are only two properties remaining at this sought- after development. Prices start from £187,500.
The WarwickThe Kempton
An exclusive collection of just three luxury family homes, located in a picturesque village in the heart of the idyllic Cheshire countryside. Barford Grange is made up of five-bedroom detached homes, with prices starting at £635,000 for The Epsom. The picturesque village of Willaston is just 15 minutes from the historic city of
Chester and 20 minutes away from Merseyside’s capital Liverpool. The enticing surrounding area also hosts an outstanding selection of leisure attractions including golf and sailing clubs. For those with young children, Willaston offers an excellent primary school and a selection of playgroups in the area.
Newbury
Ascot
Epsom
Featured developments
Barford Grange, Heath Lane, Willaston, Wirral, CH64 1UQ
High View Grange, Chester Road, Helsby, Cheshire WA6 0PY
Lingfield
SCOTLAND
CALA unveil two new show homes
The Scottish Minister for Local Government and Planning, Derek Mackay MSP, visited the country’s busiest private sale housing development where he confirmed the government’s commitment to reforming the current planning system. The minister toured Springfield Properties’ Riverside Point in Braehead to learn more about the activities of NHBC, the UK’s largest new homes warranty provider.
Planning minister confirms commitment to reform at Springfield Properties’ site
With its scenic coastline, beaches, countryside and numerous historical towns and villages, it’s easy to see why East Lothian is popular with those who crave a relaxed pace of life but still want to be within easy reach of Edinburgh city centre. The area is home to a diverse population and this is reflected in the wide range of different property types open to those looking to find a new home in East Lothian.
What House? Housebuilder of the Year 2012 CALA Homes has started the New Year in style with two more new show homes now open at prestigious Scottish new homes developments. Jeffrey’s Interiors has designed the mews show home at Trinity Park in Edinburgh, while Blocc Interiors has worked its professional magic at The Glade in Dalkeith.
www.whathouse.co.uk
Click
here to read more
East Lothian, a great option for commuters to Scotland’s capital
Click
here to read more Click
here to read more
An award-winning collection of homes in a stunning new waterside village location within easy reach of Glasgow and Scotland’s west coast.
Vision Stewart Milne HomesA collection of apartments with views of the River Don, located on the outskirts of the city but within easy reach of its centre and airport and major transport links.
Choice Cruden HomesA mix of apartments and villas in Craigmillar, just 10 minutes from the centre of the Scottish capital with a great specification and eye-catching contemporary architecture.
Woodilee Village CALA Homes
Four- and five-bedroom luxury family homes from the What House? Housebuilder of the Year, withwoodland and the Campsie Fells nearby and Glasgow just six miles away.
INVERKIP, RENFREWSHIRE
FROM £180,000
Kip Village Manor Kingdom
ABERDEEN
FROM £169,995
EDINBURGH
FROM £74,400
LENZIE, EAST DUNBARTONSHIRE
FROM £339,995Click here to view more new
homes in Scotland
New homes developments in SCOTLAND
JC Musgrave and Helios Properties have submitted plans for a £155m property development in Hartlepool to the Borough Council. The property firms already have planning
consent to build 168 houses on the site, called Wynyard Park, but they want to develop a further 600 more new homes as part of the scheme.
NORTH EAST
Located north of Rotherham and east of Barnsley, the former mining village of Goldthorpe is the location of Summervale, where developer Ben Bailey Homes is now offering the FirstBuy scheme to assist first-time buyers onto the property ladder. It’s possible to buy a first home from under £66 per week.
Buying cheaper than renting at Summervale thanks to FirstBuy
Click
here to read more
www.whathouse.co.uk
A planning application to develop 34 houses in land off Bourne Road, in Morton, Lincolnshire, has been submitted to South Kesteven District Council by Larkfleet Homes.The residential property development firm insists that it is dedicated to providing quality, energy-efficient new homes for people in the east of England and East Midlands.
Application by Larkfleet Homes to build new homes in Morton
Click
here to read more
Click
here to read more
Proposal for 600 new homes in Hartlepool unveiled
Two-bedroom apartments and two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom houses situated close to the centre of popular Bourne, with great shopping, schools and transport links close by.
Holme Farm Charles Church DevelopmentsThree-, four- and five-bedroom,detached and semi-detached homes to the south of Pontefract, with buying options including NewBuy and part exchange.
Alexandra Park Persimmon HomesA great mix of homes with two, three or four bedrooms on the outskirts of Sunderland, with easy access to the city centre and incentives available.
The Gateway David Wilson Homes
A mix of family home types in an historic market town on the edge of the North York Moors NationalPark, with excellent transport links across the region.
BOURNE, LINCOLNSHIRE
FROM £119,996
Oak Springs Taylor Wimpey
PONTEFRACT, WEST YORKSHIRE
FROM £214,950
SUNDERLAND, TYNE & WEAR
FROM £111,996
PICKERING, NORTH YORKSHIRE
FROM £149,995Click here to view more new
homes in the North East
New homes developments in the NORTH EAST
Life’s a beach in Devon
HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS
www.whathouse.co.uk
Laurna Robertson looks at the housing associations offering affordable housing in Devon
Devon and Cornwall HousingWorking across the two counties, DCH caters to a wide range of tenants including those looking for shared ownership. It currently has a substantial development plan in which there will be many new affordable homes built in Devon available for shared ownership.
www.whathouse.co.uk
WestwardWorking across the south-west, Westward offers both old and new properties for sale and its goal is to make it more affordable for people on low incomes to afford to have a home of their own. It offers both shared ownership properties and retirement properties for sale.
Hastoe Housing AssociationHastoe Housing Association has been established for more than 50 years and works mainly in rural settings in partnership with 62 local authorities across the south, east and west of England. It offers a mix of rented and shared ownership on most of its new developments.
Sanctuary HousingWith homes across the UK, Sanctuary Housing manages more than 9,000 properties in the south-west alone. It offers a range of different home ownership strategies for its properties including shared ownership, Do-It-Yourself shared ownership (DIYSO), right-to-buy, right-to-acquire, privately owned schemes, private retirement schemes and leasehold schemes for the elderly.
Tor HomesAs part of the Devon and Cornwall Housing Group, Tor Homes is based in Totnes and it has a good range of properties for sale that it has developed. The majority of these are through shared ownership and it has a range of developments on offer that are currently being marketed.
www.whathouse.co.uk
The latest news on new affordable homes developments in Britain
Berwick – Plans for the next phase of the Raynham Road housing development in Belford have been approved by Northumberland County Council. Tyneside-based NB Clark has secured planning permission for 12 new homes - six of which will be affordable homes for rent.
Norwich – Housebuilder Charles Church has unveiled plans to develop a range of affordable homes in the city centre as part of a 90-home scheme. The housing development, if approved by planners, will feature a mixture of one- and two-bedroom apartments along with three- and four-bedroom townhouses.
Darlington – Up to the 80 new affordable houses will be built in Cockerton as part of a major regeneration project. Some 56 units will available for rent from Endeavour Housing Association and 24 will be for sale. Darlington Borough Council is working with Dunelm Acorn Homes and Esh Group after the Homes and Community Agency granted it £900,000 for the new homes.
Carnforth – A government-appointed planning inspector has controversially given developers the go-ahead to build 16 affordable homes in Carnforth, despite opposition from some local residents and Lancaster City Council after the Environment Agency identified the area as being at risk of
AFFORDABLE HOMES
London – Close to 200 affordable homes will be developed in Harrow as part of the £320m redevelopment of the Kodak site, off Headstone Drive. The scheme will feature 985 new homes in total.
Chesterfield – A new affordable housing project in Chesterfield has been unveiled to councillors, project partners, and the people who are going to live there. The £6m development on Honeysuckle Road and Snowberry Close was built by contractor and developer William Davis Ltd in partnership with Derby-based housing provider Derwent Living and North East Derbyshire District Council.flooding.
A minimum 25% share of these one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments in an enviable location close to Southwark and Borough tube stations.
Frinstead Gardens MoatPart of a regeneration project close to thriving Ashford, these apartments are available on a shared ownership basis, with a minimum share of 25%.
Regis Heights Bromford HomesFourteen of these two- and three-bedroom homes have been set aside for shared ownership, in a location that is convenient for many destinations in the region.
The Serpentine Thames Valley Housing Association
Apartments and houses on a distinctive development, available on a shared ownership basis withpurchasers able to buy from as little as 40% of the market price.
SOUTHWARK, LONDON
FROM £82,500
Beacon Notting Hill Housing
STANHOPE, KENT
FROM £15,000
SANDWELLS, WEST MIDLANDS
FROM £30,000
AYLESBURY, WARWICKSHIRE
FROM £49,000Click here to view more new
affordable homes
New AFFORDABLE HOMES developments
RETIREMENT
www.whathouse.co.uk
Banner Homes launch over 55s development in Berkshire after success at Cobham GrangeAfter selling out of properties in Surrey at their Cobham Grange development, Banner Homes has launched another prestigious site, Glebelands, for the over 55s in the heart of Wokingham, Berkshire.
Set in the grounds of Glebelands, a family home built in 1897 by a famous architect
of the era Ernest Newton R A and now a retirement home for The Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund (CTBF), Banner Homes will be building one- and two-bedroom apartments and cottages exclusively for the over 55s.
Click
here to read more
Giffnock is the place to be on the 22nd and 23rd February for over-70s and their families! This is when McCarthy & Stone will be holding a Grand Opening at Hilltree Court, Scotland’s first Assisted Living development. The Grand Opening will be a great opportunity for anyone interested in finding out more about Assisted Living and seeing how an apartment at Hilltree Court could help them achieve ‘a greater life in later life.’
McCarthy & Stone opens the first assisted living development in Scotland
Demand for properties at the launch of the area’s new retirement village Charters Village was unprecedented. A quarter of the properties available in phase one, eight apartments and chalet bungalows, were snapped up during the three day event so anyone interested in the remaining properties best act quickly.
East Grinstead retirement village has high levels of interest
Click
here to read moreClick
here to read more
A scheme of 62 one- and two-bedroom apartments for over-60s with a 24-hour on-site team and the option of extra housekeeping and personal care services.
Elgar Lodge Churchill Retirement LivingJust 33 one- and two-bedroom apartments with 24-hour support in a great location in the picturesque town in one of England’s most scenic areas.
St George’s Park Augustinian CareAn award-winning luxury development of apartments for over-60s with a wide range of amenities and leisure facilities on-site, close to the South Downs.
Glebelands Banner Homes
An age-exclusive development for over-55s with a club house and salon, with a stylish luxury specification to each spacious two-bedroom apartment.
GUISELEY, WEST YORKSHIRE
FROM £224,950
The Laureates Anchor
MALVERN, WORCESTERSHIRE
FROM £175,950
DITCHLING COMMON, EAST SUSSEX
FROM £345,000
WOKINGHAM, BERKSHIRE
FROM £315,000Click here to view more new
retirement homes
New RETIREMENT HOMES developments
MIDLANDS
Crest Nicholson is inviting property seekers looking for
new homes in Birmingham to register their interest ahead of the launch of the latest phase of the Park Central in the city centre. The latest phase, Central Plaza, goes on sale in February and will offer a selection of apartments.
More homes on sale in Birmingham city centre
A new affordable housing project in north-east Derbyshire has been unveiled to councillors, project partners, and the people who are going to live there. Located on the outskirts of Chesterfield, Honeysuckle Road and Snowberry Close is a £6m development built by contractor and developer William Davis Ltd in partnership with Derby-based housing provider Derwent Living and North East Derbyshire District Council (NEDDC).
Affordable homes near Chesterfield unveiled
Morris Homes has launched a new 105% part exchange scheme in Nottinghamshire to help homeowners sell their property and move up the ladder. The scheme is available at the Newstead Grange
development in Annesley, and involves Morris purchasing a homeowners’ property for its full market value, plus an additional 5%.
Click
here to read more
www.whathouse.co.uk
105% part exchange scheme introduced in Nottinghamshire
Click
here to read more
Click
here to read more
Individually designed luxury homes with five/six bedrooms and an exceptional interior specification set on large plots in a delightful rural setting within easy reach of the M40.
The Chase Ben Bailey HomesNewBuy and part exchange are both available on this collection of two-, three-, four- and five- bedroom homes constructed with Ben Bailey’s latest specification.
Castle View Redrow HomesA range of traditionally designed property types from Redrow’s acclaimed New Heritage Collection, located within easy reach of the town centre and M6.
Autumn Brook Taylor WimpeyTwo- and three-bedroom cottage style terraces and three- and four-bedroom detached homes onthe edge of town, with many incentives available to buyers.
NEWBOLD PACEY, WARWICKSHIRE
FROM £1.275 MILLION
Flint Hall Farm Banner Homes
MARKET HARBOROUGH, LEICESTERSHIRE
FROM £219,950
STAFFORD, STAFFORDSHIRE
FROM £182,995
SHREWSBURY, SHROPSHIRE
FROM £127,995Click here to view more new
homes in the Midlands
New homes developments in the MIDLANDS
Rate war continues with more competitive dealsHomebuyers and remortgagers are set to benefit from an even greater choice of competitive home loan rates thanks to a batch of rate cuts and new products from several lenders. Interest rates have been falling regularly over recent months as the government’s Funding For Lending Scheme gives lenders access to cheaper borrowing.
Halifax has cut rates on a host of two-year rates available through intermediaries, including those for new-build and affordable new homes and luxury properties. Among the best new rates are:
• A 90% loan-to-value (LTV) affordable housing mortgage down 0.50% to 5.99%, with a £999 fee
• An 80% LTV loan for new-build homes cut by 0.20% to 4.19% (with a fee of £999) or 4.59% fee-free
• An 80% LTV loan for amounts in excess of £1m down 0.20% to 4.49% with a £999 fee
The Post Office has introduced new mortgages including:
• A two-year fixed rate of 3.75% with a £1,495 fee, up to 90% LTV
• A three-year fixed rate of 2.68% with a £995 fee, up to £75% LTV
• A market-leading five-year fix at 2.74% with a £995 fee, up to 60% LTV
More competitive rates and increased cashback have been announced by BM Solutions on some of its buy-to-let mortgage products with a maximum LTV of 75%:
• A two-year fixed rate down 0.15% to 4.54% with a fee of £995 and £500 cashback
• A three-year fixed rate also reduced by 0.15% to 4.64% with a fee of £995 and £790 cashback
Finally, Tesco is continuing to make a name for itself as a lender with some excellent new deals for those with a larger deposit to offer, such as:
• A two-year fixed rate at 2.28% with a fee of £1,300, up to 60% LTV
• A five-year fixed rate at 2.89% with a fee of £1,300, up to 70% LTV
MORTGAGES
www.whathouse.co.uk
Click
here to read more
Lender launches unique interest-only ‘low-start’ deal
Many lenders have tightened their interest-only criteria while others including the Royal Bank of Scotland, Nationwide and the Co-operative Bank have abolished interest-only lending altogether. And new Financial Services Authority rules set to come into force next year will also further restrict interest-only lending.
However, a major lender has bucked this trend by launching a new product that offers a three- year interest-only deal. The Clydesdale Bank has launched a product that it says is ‘unique’ and could help wealthier first-time buyers afford a new home loan.
Click
here to read more
Speak to our expert mortgage advisers today and let us help get you on the the housing ladder, even with an exisiting mortgage a free no obligation chat may get you a better mortgage by finding the right deal for you.
www.whathouse.co.uk/mortgages
What House? Mortgages
NORTH WEST
Two Castles Housing Association and South Cumbria Construction have started construction work on a new £1.8m affordable housing scheme in Bowness-on-Windermerel, which will be aimed at those with the greatest housing need.
Located on a brownfield site on Biskey Howe Road, a total of 12 affordable homes to rent are being built for local people with a connection to the town and its surrounding area.
Work starts on new affordable homes inBowness-on-Windermere
From the location to the interior design, the exteriors to the landscaped gardens, everything about Jones Homes development, The Oaks in Standish, is high standard. Each of the 16 five-bedroom detached homes are unique and come with double garages. Crafted with the traditional homes of the area in mind, these properties fit perfectly in the affluent suburb while the interiors include all the modern necessities that buyers want from a new home.
Every Jones Homes property in Wigan comes with a conservatory as standard
Click
here to read more
Redrow gets creative with Chester show home interiorsChester Zoo, pirates and Redrow’s mascot Issy may seem to have little in common but you’ll find all three on the developer’s Crown Park site in Chester. With three show homes on the site, it was important for Redrow that each property had its own character. Each of the children’s single bedrooms has been crafted with care.
Click
here to read more
Click
here to read more
www.whathouse.co.uk
A collection of 49 three-, four- and five-bedroom homes on the outskirts of town, with buying options including NewBuy, FirstBuy, part exchange and affordable housing options.
High View Grange Edwards HomesA mix of traditionally designed three- and four-bedroom homes with excellent transport links to many of the most popular destinations in the north-west.
Hawley Gardens Barratt HomesTwo-, three- and four-bedroom homes located just to the north of Blackpool, close to local amenities including shops and schools and within easy reach of the coast.
Bowdon Place P J Livesey
Two- and three-bedroom apartments of a very high specification at this exclusive development ofconverted Victorian buildings set in private landscaped grounds.
CARLISLE, CUMBRIA
FROM £114,396
Barley Edge Persimmon Homes
HELSBY, CHESHIRE
FROM £187,000
THORNTON-CLEVELEYS, LANCASHIRE
FROM £147,995
ALTRINCHAM, GREATER MANCHESTER
FROM £464,950Click here to view more new
homes in the North West
New homes developments in the NORTH WEST
Flooring
FuturisticThis Weave tile (as designed by Raffaello Galiotto for Kreoo) is incredibly futuristic looking and for those with a big budget to spend. To get this statement flooring, the tiles cost £1,200/m² plus VAT.
Environmentally friendlyWith the focus shifting in all areas to being more environmentally friendly, natural eco flooring is becoming increasingly popular. As recommended by presenter Kevin McLeod, Eco Friendly Tiles has a wide range of products available including the 3.3 Ossa range – an Ecolabelled stone-effect range, incorporating upcycled tv monitor content and pre-consumer and recycled ceramic to create the perfect natural interior finish. This range is available from www.ecofriendlytiles.co.uk.
Pebble effectIf you love the feeling of sand and pebbles between your toes, you can recreate that with the flooring in your bathroom. This pebble flooring is from Karndean Design Flooring and is called Navarra Chalk MS2 Michelangelo. It costs £39.99/m².
Click in placeResembling real wood, 100% recyclable Senso Clic is an innovative new vinyl plank flooring from Gerflor, which simply clicks together using Gerflor’s unique, vertical, interlocking technology for quick and almost effortless installation over virtually any existing floor surface including existing tiles, vinyl, wood and concrete. It is available for £35/m².
Country lookThe country look remains a popular interior design trend and this offering will add warmth to your lounge. This is Country Oak 248, starting from £19.99, from Moduelo.
his is often the last consideration for people when decorating a room as they feel that it offers limited choices. However, many design houses are doing innovative things with flooring and it can now be a talking point in your room. Here are some different ideas from a range of top brands.
T
On the go but looking to move?
whathouse.co.ukThe best new homes in Britain
It’s now easier than ever to check out the latest new homes developments around Britain on the move, thanks to the new free app from whathouse.co.uk, the UK’s most trusted new homes portal.Available for iPhone, iPad and Android, you can check out the details of thousands of new-build homes and new affordable homes from a wide range of housebuilders in Britain. You can now tap in your criteria on your mobile device and instantly get information on prices, plots and special offers, look at pictures and plans of the homes you like and find their location on a map.Wherever you are, and wherever you want to be, your search for a new home just got easier with the free whathouse.co.uk app. Download it today.
SOUTH WEST
Redrow Homes will develop 63 new homes on the site of a former factory in Sutton Benger, near Chippenham, after the residential property developer acquired the site with the intention of constructing the new dwellings.The 10.2-acre site to the north of the high street was previously used as a food processing factory, which ceased operating in 2008, and is now seen as ripe for the erection of new residential properties, with construction expected to begin onsite in the spring.
63 new homes near Chippenham to be build by Redrow
Plans have been drawn up for a scheme featuring
87 new homes in Somerset by Taunton Deane Borough Council and Knightstone Housing Association. Knightstone Housing
Association wants to build 30 affordable homes on Creechbarrow Road in Halcon, while Taunton Deane Borough Council plans to develop 57 affordable properties on another part of the development.
87 new affordable homes in Halcon planned
Click
here to read moreCl
ick here to read more
On the international St Mellion resort in Cornwall, a new housing development attached to the resort is offering a buy-to-let opportunity with a guaranteed 8% return within three-years. With an average return rate in the area of 5%, Esprit St Mellion has 66 properties to buy.
Buy-to-let in Cornwall international resort with opportunity for 8% guaranteed return
Click
here to read more
www.whathouse.co.uk
A mix of two- and three-bedroom homes on the edge of Swindon, set on the former site of the Great Western Railway sports ground, with leafy landscaped views.
Petherton Dean Persimmon HomesA collection of three- and four-bedroom houses on the southern outskirts of the city, with a range of assistance and incentive schemes available to buyers.
Aspects Cavanna HomesA development of apartments and houses in the popular coastal resort, with good schools and amenities nearby and convenient links to Exeter by road and rail.
Locking Parklands St ModwenThese three-, four- and five-bedroom homes are close to woodland and parkland and just 10 minutes from the centre of the popular seaside resort.
SWINDON, WILTSHIRE
FROM £187,000
The Sidings David Wilson Homes
BRISTOL
FROM £215,000
DAWLISH, DEVON
FROM £210,000
WESTON-SUPER-MARE, SOMERSET
FROM £219,500Click here to view more new
homes in the South West
New homes developments in the SOUTH WEST
The monthly What House? digital magazine is crammed full of the UK’s latest new homes news not to mention celebrity interviews, interior design idea’s, insightful features and information on the best deals available. If you enjoy everything the magazine has to offer why not sign up and have it delivered straight to your email inbox every month? All you have to do is fill out your name and address on the link below and we’ll email you a copy as soon as the latest edition is released.
Don’t miss an issue of What House? magazine.
Click here to register
What House?
October 2012
Focus onHertfordshire and
Buckinghamshire,
Bedfordshire,
Leicestershire and
Warwickshire
New homes
Check out the latest
developments around
the UK
Capture the Moroccan look
in your bedroom with this month’s
How To guide
New Features
Keep tabs on the latest
trends – this month we
look at what’s cooking in
the kitchen
Find out all about
the property discounts
for members of the
armed forces
Discover which charity
received a free £250,000
house courtesy of
Persimmon Homes
Martin Roberts
talks investment,
first-time buyers
and Homes Under
The Hammer
What House?November 2012
22-PAGE MIDLANDS SUPPLEMENT
THE BEST NEW HOMES IN BRITAIN: listings, news, reviews, interiors, mortgages, investment
HOT STUFF BRAND NEW LUXURY FROM LAURENCE LLEWELYN-BOWENKEVIN McCLOUD’S GREEN MISSIONWIN WOLVES HALF-SEASON TICKETS
JODY CRADDOCK THE ART OF FOOTBALL
brought to you by whathouse.co.uk
What House?December 2012
THE BEST NEW HOMES IN BRITAIN: listings, news, reviews,
interiors, mortgages, investment
CITY ON THE UP LONDON’S KEY REGENERATION
AREAS EXPLORED
CHRISTMAS DECOR TIPS FROM
THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS
PROPERTY MARKET RESEARCH FORECAST FOR 2013
I’M A CELEBRITY...YET I COULD LIVE IN A CAVE
COLIN AND JUSTIN SPEAK ABOUT THEIR STRANGEST DESIGN CHALLENGES
WHAT HOUSE? AWARDS 2012 SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT