What House?April 2012 issue

New homesFrom affordable starter homes to luxury properties

Mortgages Guidance on your new home loan

Legal Introduction to conveyancing

Interiors Inspiration for styling your home

Exclusive interview: Grace Brownlow of Bett Homes

At Banner Homes, we believe there is more to building the home of your dreams than simply blending beautiful design with an elegant finish.Renewable energy sources such as solar thermal panels or air source heat pumps are used in many of our homes to provide cheaper hot water, reducing your carbon footprint and lowering the cost of your bills.

The result is a stunning home that you’ll love living in as much as we loved making it for you.

Be our guest, come and take a closer look.

TAKE A CLOSER LOOK

Discover the details yourself at bannerhomes.co.uk/takeacloserlookor call us on 0845 899 1315 to find out more

At Banner Homes, we believe there is more to building the home of your dreams than simply blending beautiful design with an elegant finish.Renewable energy sources such as solar thermal panels or air source heat pumps are used in many of our homes to provide cheaper hot water, reducing your carbon footprint and lowering the cost of your bills.

The result is a stunning home that you’ll love living in as much as we loved making it for you.

Be our guest, come and take a closer look.

TAKE A CLOSER LOOK

Discover the details yourself at bannerhomes.co.uk/takeacloserlookor call us on 0845 899 1315 to find out more www.whathouse.co.uk

CONTENTS

FeaturesNew homes

06 Affordable homes – Shared equity and shared ownership new-builds

10 Retirement – New-build homes aimed at retirees and older buyers

13 Mortgages – News and advice about home loans

14 Legal – Find out about conveyancing

20 One to one – Interview with Grace Brownlow of Bett Homes

28 What House? Awards – The best new homes in Britain

31 Case study – A young couple buy their first home

37 Interiors – Radiant radiators and feature staircase

16 Scotland

22 The North West

25 The North East

33 The Midlands

40 London

45 The South East

49 East Anglia

52 The South West

54 Wales

Cover photo: Vantage Point in Cowes, Isle of Wight from Banner Homes, from £800,000

l Village location with good facilities and easy access to Reading, Basingstoke and Newbury

l Good size secluded gardens with no overlooking.

l Just five individual houses

Price guide: £335,000 to £475,000

Show Home & Marketing Suite Open Thursday to Monday

10.00am to 5.00pm

Call 0118 933 2987

email: sales@bewley.co.uk

or visit www.bewley.co.uk

A small development of 3 & 4 bedroom houses in a village setting

Juniper GardensWest End Road, Mortimer, Berkshire, RG7 3TH

Prices correct at time of going to press. *Subject to terms & conditions

Part Exchange or

Stamp Duty Paid*

What House? April 2012

Welcome

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Dear house-hunter,

The past two months have seen a surge in homebuyer activity in the run up to the end of the Stamp Duty holiday for first-time buyers, and with some unseasonably lovely weather, many housebuilders have reported dramatically improved visitor numbers to their developments compared to 2011.

There’s no doubt that the sunshine not only brings out the best in a new development but also, if you’re selling, your existing home too, so spring is an ideal time to get out there and try to make your dream of a new home a reality. The incentives available, not to mention some special deals and discounts, mean you could snap up a new-build much more affordably than you may think.

This issue of What House? magazine features new homes developments from all over Britain to inspire you, along with some useful features and the latest news about new-build developments and incentives on the market.

Do contact me with your questions and feedback.

Happy house-hunting!Keith Osborne

Editor, www.whathouse.co.uk Email: featuresed@whathouse.co.uk

Win £25 of Marks & Spencer VouchersWe have 10 sets to give away Click here for your chance to win

Winners will be notified by 30th April 2012

Reader Offer

AFFORDABLE HOMES

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What is shared ownership?

First-time buyers who cannot afford a large deposit and who are unable to afford to purchase a new home outright may be eligible for a shared ownership scheme. The scheme is provided by housing associations and some local councils and enables buyers to own a share in their new home and pay subsidised rent on the remaining share that they don’t own. Service charge, ground rent and repairs are the responsibility of the householder.

Are you eligible?• You must be earning no more than £60,000 a year

• You must not currently own a home

• You must have the funds for a deposit on the share you’re buying and associated administration costs

• You must have no outstanding credit problems

How does the scheme work?You will need to put down a 10% deposit on the share amount you buy. You can own between 25% and 75% of your home and the remaining share in the property is owned by the housing association.

You will pay a subsidised rent to the housing association on the remaining share of the

property that you do not own. You will be able to buy a greater share in your property until you own the property outright, a process known as ‘staircasing’.

When you want to sell the property you will need to notify the housing association in writing. If you own a share in the property then they will need to find a buyer for the property; if you own the property outright you can go ahead and sell it but the housing association has the right of first refusal.

How to applyYou will need to apply for an equity loan through your local HomeBuy agent, which are housing associations that can assist people in buying homes. Contact the HomeBuy agent who is in the area where you want to buy a property who will deal with your application. Click here for a list of HomeBuy agents.

Shared ownership

Hull, East Yorkshire

Bristol’s high-specification Lakeshore development from Aster

Homes - a unique collection of eco-apartments sitting over their own lake, less than four miles from the city centre – has recently celebrated its opening weekend. On 31st March and 1st April, homebuyers hoping to find a property in the area were able to take a look around Lakeshore and its stylish one- and two-bedroom apartments as well as an take the opportunity to find out about Aster’s shared ownership scheme, where a 25% share in a property

can be secured for as little as £27,500, and the company’s other special offers and incentives. The weekend proved successful, with one property already reserved.

Built on the site of the former Imperial Tobacco headquarters in the residential suburb of Bishopsworth, these striking new homes in Bristol are housed in a Grade II-listed steel-framed building. It is nestled in a quiet spot on a 10-acre site incorporating landscaped gardens and a lake - yet is within easy striking distance of all the businesses, entertainment venues and shops of busy Bristol city centre.

Bishopsworth, BristolHousing association Sanctuary Housing has secured planning permission from planners at Torbay Council to construct 82 new affordable homes in Paignton as part of a wider £9m scheme.

The new family homes will be developed on Southview Road, Smallcombe Road and Langridge Road as soon as the existing derelict Cornish houses are bulldozed, with building work due to get underway within days.

The new homes scheme was initially rejected late last year after some local residents opposed the development of much-needed affordable homes, on the grounds that existing infrastructure was not well equipped to deal with a rise in population.

But the project has now been given the green light after the housing association reduced the number of planned houses from 14 to 12.

The local press report that planning committee members ultimately approved the proposed new homes because they represent a marked improvement on the poorly constructed Cornish unit on site.

Paignton, Devon

Housebuilder Yuill Homes has started work on an eco-friendly affordable homes scheme at Swanland Village, near Hull.

The development will see Yuill Homes deliver 26 new homes in partnership with Railway Housing Association for local residents to rent on an intermediate rentals basis - including 16 new two-bedroom apartments, as well as 10 two-bedroom bungalows.

Part-funded by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), the scheme will include an innovative sedum roof which will be planted on top of the new apartment complex - transforming a typically unused space into a microclimate for birds and insects. Set to be

planted with an array of herbs and flowers, the roof will help to improve the insulation of the building as well as reducing the surface run off of rainfall.

Situated at the Newton Thorpe Cottages site on Mill Rise, all new homes on the development will be built to Level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes.

The bungalows will be installed with solar thermal panels to provide up to 60% free hot water for the occupants to help further reduce the cost of heating bills.

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MOREMORE

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Bourne, LincolnshireHousebuilder Larkfleet Homes has officially started work on its new residential property development, Abbeyfields, located in the heart of Bourne, Lincolnshire.

The new development, which is situated on the old Co-op site on Manning Road, will comprise two- and three-bedroom properties with prices starting at £125,000.

Abbeyfields will include 108 new homes, including 33 affordable homes of which

13 properties will be offered through shared ownership and 20 through affordable rent.

The Properties at Abbeyfields are being aimed at first-time buyers as well as purchasers who are looking to downsize and young families looking for a quality new home.

Abbeyfields is situated in an existing residential area and is close to the town centre, Bourne’s secondary and primary schools and various sports facilities.

Some properties on the Abbeyfields development will be available through the government-backed FirstBuy scheme with which homebuyers have the chance to take up a five-year interest-free loan.

Homebuyers often want to secure a good value for money deal when looking to find a property to buy, but where in the UK can purchasers find the most affordable homes?

A new study has looked at regional property prices in relation to earnings to unearth the most and least affordable cities in the UK.

The research by Lloyds TSB, which took a look at average home prices in 59 cities across the UK and compared them with the average earnings in those areas, reveals that, overall the cost of buying a residential property is now more affordable than it has been since 2003.The most affordable homes in

the UK are generally located in the north-west, Northern Ireland and Yorkshire and the Humber.

Salford was named in the report as the most the most affordable place to buy property in the UK. The average price of a home is £102,391 - just 3.81 times the average Salford salary.

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National research

AFFORDABLE HOMES

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The SquareNew 1,2 & 3 Bedroom Apartments in Ealing, Greater LondonA2Dominion New HomesNOW AVAILABLE from £148,000

CQ LondonNew Build Homes in Limehouse, LondonA2Dominion New HomesNOW AVAILABLE from £244,950

Lanacre AvenueAffordable Homes in Colindale, LondonNotting Hill HousingNOW AVAILABLE from £78,000

SedonaAffordable New Homes in Lewisham, Greater LondonCircle AngliaNOW AVAILABLE from £45,000

Raphael HouseNew Homes in Ilford, Greater LondonCircle AngliaNOW AVAILABLE from £41,250

Pater CourtNew Affordable Homes in Knowle, HampshireA2Dominion New HomesNOW AVAILABLE from £64,000

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Those buying a new-build retirement home can benefit from more than simply independent, secure, maintenance-free living, as owners at Churchill Retirement Living’s Windsor Lodge in Princes Risborough are finding out.

Community has always been an important part of Churchill Retirement Living developments, with the Owner’s Lounge a central part of any site, and at Windsor Lodge residents have a new reason for gathering in their Lounge each week: Chair Fit exercise sessions being run by Liz Chisnall, a qualified teacher of yoga and gentle exercise. For the last six months,

around a dozen owners have gathered once a week for about 45 minutes of gentle but effective exercises. The exercises are done mainly, but not exclusively, either on a chair or using a chair as support, and each session has three areas of focus: mobility, strength and confidence.

The “Chair Fit Olympians”, as Liz calls them, are showing plenty of progress. After the first three months, it was found that strength, mobility and confidence had increased all round.

She says: “They are all very engaged with their exercises and I must say they are a surprisingly robust group. In September we had about 20 minutes of movement with rests. Now we’ve increased to 30 minutes.”

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RETIREMENT

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Keeping fit with Churchill Retirement Living

McCarthy & Stone, the specialist new-build retirement property developer, is selling virtual “Bricks for Barnardos” at its new development at Hilltree Court, on Fenwick Road in Giffnock. Local business are being invited to “buy a brick” for £50 to raise funds for children’s charity Barnardo’s, McCarthy & Stone’s charity of the year. The target for the Buy a Brick campaign is £2,000 and the company’s fundraising target for 2012 is a highly commendable £50,000.

Suzanne McElhiney, marketing manager for McCarthy & Stone in Scotland, says: “We hope our Buy a Brick campaign in aid of Barnardo’s is going to be real success. The charity achieves some remarkable things for children across the UK and they really need as much support as possible to continue this good work.”

Retirement homes helping children in need

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Visit our website churchillretirement.co.uk

Request a brochure on

0800 458 1839

MAINTENANCE FREE† RETIREMENT LIVING

We wish we’d done it years ago!

Now it’s your time to enjoy a new lifestyle. If you don’t think you’re ready to move to a Retirement Development, then think again. Many of our Owners say that it was the right decision to move and their only regret is that they didn’t do it sooner! So experience for yourself the Independence, Security and Peace of Mind that come with choosing a maintenance free† lifestyle.

• Solicitor’s fees PAID

• Estate Agent’s fees PAID

• Removals PAID - We will organise andbook a removal team to get you moving.

• And £5,000 for you - Helping you start your new retirement lifestyle as you mean to go on.

Move for Free and £5,000* for you!

†There is a Service Charge that takes care of all the running and maintenance costs of the building and Owners are responsible for the daily up-keep of their own apartment. *Available at selected developments. The Move for Free and £5,000 discount is available on all new reservations taken on the Selling Made Easy Service that legally complete by Friday 18th May 2012. Estate Agents fees capped at £5,000. Solicitor’s fees capped at £1,500 and is subject to using a Churchill Retirement Living panel solicitor. This promotion cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.

s your time to enjoy a new lifestyle.

Developments across the South of England and

throughout the Midlands.

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Matthews LodgeRetirement Living in Addlestone, SurreyChurchill Retirement LivingNOW AVAILABLE from £189,950

Denham Garden VillageNew Retirement Homes in Denham, BuckinghamshireAnchorNOW AVAILABLE from £360,000

The LaureatesRetirement Living in Leeds, West YorkshireAnchorNOW AVAILABLE from £224,950

Mitchell LodgeRetirement Living in Bitterne, SouthamptonChurchill Retirement LivingNOW AVAILABLE from £154,950

Hampton LodgeRetirement Living in Sutton, SurreyChurchill Retirement LivingNOW AVAILABLE from £224,950

Mulberry LodgeRetirement Living in Emsworth, HampshireChurchill Retirement LivingNOW AVAILABLE from £221,950

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Over recent weeks, we have reported that millions of mortgage borrowers are facing rises in their mortgage payments. Many banks have made the decision to raise their ‘standard variable’ mortgage rates (SVRs), resulting in higher payments for many borrowers. But why

have these rates gone up when the Bank of England Base Rate remains the same? It can be confusing to understand why you should have to pay more on your mortgage when interest rates have been at a record low for three years.

More and more banks raising their SVRSeveral banks have raised their SVR recently. RBS and NatWest led the way by raising the rates on their Offset and One Account mortgages in March before

Halifax, Clydesdale and Yorkshire followed suit. Bank of Ireland will increase its SVR from 2.99% to 4.49% while Co-Operative Bank recently became the latest lender to announce a hike in its lending rate.

All this means that if you’re on your lenders’ SVR then you can expect your payments to rise. Even if you’re on a fixed or tracker rate, you may still be affected if your mortgage reverts to your lender’s SVR once your deal expires.

Why are mortgage rates rising when the Base Rate isn’t?

Four reasons to put down a bigger depositHow much deposit should you put down when buying a property? It’s a question that thousands of borrowers ask their mortgage brokers or lenders every year. But what’s the right answer? Well, the simple answer is that it depends on your own circumstances. In this day and age it can be hard to save up a large deposit, particularly if you’re a first-time buyer. However, if you do have cash available then it may be better to put down a larger deposit than you anticipated. Here are four compelling reasons why putting down a large deposit can be beneficial to you.

1. Wider choice of mortgage lendersMany mortgage lenders restrict their lending to certain types of borrower. Lots of banks and building societies don’t like lending to people with a small deposit as it represents a riskier form of lending. So, if you can put down a larger deposit - 15% instead of 5%, perhaps - you’re likely to have a much wider range of mortgage lenders to choose from. This is also likely to lead to benefit number 2.

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MORTGAGES

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For many people, the first time they ever hear of the conveyancing process is when they speak to an estate agent or a friend about moving home. Well, if you’re new to the whole buying and selling process, don’t panic: 1st Property Lawyers are here to guide you through conveyancing.

Put simply, conveyancing is the term used to describe the transfer of legal title of a property from one person to another. It sounds easy when put like that but the conveyancing process is anything but straightforward and involves a lot more than merely getting paperwork in the right order (although that’s pretty important, too). Property laws in England and Wales can be very complex, often dating back several centuries and involving terms and expressions that only dedicated conveyancing specialists could hope to understand.

DIY conveyancingThat said, it is possible to do your own conveyancing, although we wouldn’t recommend this. Having a conveyancing expert at the reins can save you a lot of time and stress...not to mention money if anything goes wrong. Before you consider DIY conveyancing, it might be a good idea to read the 1st Property Lawyers guide to DIY conveyancing for yourself.

Choose a conveyancing specialistMost people decide to let a specialist conveyancing firm handle their legal work. There are many firms who claim to be experts, and the temptation can be to try and save some money during the conveyancing process. Unfortunately, cheap conveyancers sometimes turn out to be anything but cheap and, with hidden costs and extra charges, can often be more expensive than you first thought.

So where do 1st Property Lawyers come in?1st Property Lawyers are the most recommended conveyancing firm in England and Wales, providing a unique conveyancing service to all of our clients. Our enhanced conveyancing service simplifies the conveyancing process, allowing clients to see everything that goes on in their transaction. And, as the only conveyancer brave enough to publish entirely independent conveyancing reviews, we let our clients do the talking when it comes to selling the benefits of our service.

So, if you’re interested in what 1st Property Lawyers has to offer, get in touch with us today. You can get an online conveyancing quote from us or, alternatively, give us a call on 0333 321 2345, quoting reference FPLA-9911, and one of our conveyancing experts will be happy to chat through the conveyancing process with you in more detail.

LEGAL

Quick guide to conveyancing

SCOTLAND

The sought-after area of Cramond on Edinburgh’s

western edge is the delightful location for the latest phase of Caer Amon, AMA Homes’ luxurious development of striking Arts and Crafts-style properties. The final phase of 11 spacious, contemporary detached homes, built in a courtyard setting, has been completed to the highest specifications.

The development includes five- or six-bedroom villas and five-bedroom crescent townhouses,

and spacious two- and three-bedroom flats. Once complete, Caer Amon will feature 76 new homes in total.

State-of-the-art fittings and fixtures include an intelligent lighting system, for mood lighting in different areas of the properties; chic German kitchens; a remote-controlled coal-effect fire; underfloor heating throughout; and a sound system in all the principal rooms. Prices range from £725,000 to £1.5m.

Residents in Caer Amon will find themselves conveniently located for access to central Edinburgh, Edinburgh

International Airport and all major road networks, while still able to enjoy the peace and coastal beauty of one of Edinburgh’s most exclusive areas. This development will prove attractive to those looking for family homes as well as to executives and professionals looking for something out of the city centre but well-placed for the capital’s amenities. These delightful new homes in Edinburgh can be sampled in person by visiting the development’s five-bedroom show home, which is open Thursday to Monday, from 11.00am till 5.00pm.

Edinburgh

Inspirational interiors are the order of the day for visitors to the

newly launched show homes at Taylor Wimpey’s Violet Wynd development of new homes in Paisley. Designed to have a wide appeal to first-time buyers, young families and those downsizing from larger properties, the new show homes showcase the best of what Violet Wynd has to offer.

The practical two-bedroom ‘Andrew’, and the three-bedroom ‘Balfour’ are typical of the homes available at this development of 41 apartments and houses for sale. The interior palettes chosen by the designers range from crisp black and white to softer creams and taupes - truly something to inspire every potential new homemaker.

Situated on the corner of Lacy Street and Cyril Street,

the development boasts an impressive choice of two- and three-bedroom terraced and semi-detached homes starting from £122,000, as well as a selection of two-bedroom apartments from just £110,000. Shared equity (on an 85%/15% basis) or part exchange is available on selected properties. Violet Wynd’s attractive new show houses are open Thursday to Monday, from 11.00am until 5.30pm.

Paisley, Renfrewshire

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Robertson Homes is enjoying massive success at the latest phase of its Westercraigs development. Only two weeks after its release, the award-winning Scottish housebuilder has already sold a quarter of the available

homes off-plan at Phase Four of the Inverness development, which offers a collection of family homes including three-bedroom semi-detached properties as well as three-, four- and five-bedroom detached houses for sale.

“We have experienced a high level of footfall to the development since Phase Four of Westercraigs was launched in the middle of March,” says Melissa Burns, sales and marketing manager at Robertson Homes. “These

detached family homes offer the best of rural tranquility while remaining conveniently close to the city centre.”

Situated to the west of the city and spanning 120 acres, the development offers a rural lifestyle within easy reach of Inverness city centre. Striking views and beautiful scenery create a peaceful environment to live in and from which to enjoy the surrounding area.

Inverness

Mactaggart & Mickel Group is set to have a busy 2012, with plans for four projects underway that between them will offer around 250 new homes in Scotland, including nearly 50 affordable properties, and 240 student units.

On the west coast, Mactaggart & Mickel Homes will build 23 high-quality homes in the prestigious south Glasgow suburb of Eastwood. Construction will start this month on the new homes in Williamwood, and the company has already received strong interest in the new properties, which will include five spaciously designed four-bedroom townhouses characterised by bright hallways and flexible living spaces, and 18 high-quality two- and three-bedroom apartments with

open-plan kitchen, dining and lounge areas.

To the east, the company will also return to the popular town of Dollar, with residential acquisition and building plans for 20 homes on a prime location. Plans will be handed to Clackmannanshire Council in the early summer and construction is likely to start on the homes in 2013. Proposals include a number of other localised improvements including an expanded sports pitch for Strathdevon Primary School.

New homes across Scotland

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SCOTLAND

LongacreNew Homes in Longacre, EdinburghCala HomesNOW AVAILABLE from £310,000

Queen Margaret GroveNew Homes in Clerwood Terrace, EdinburghCala HomesNOW AVAILABLE from £495,000

Laird’s GateNew Homes in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, UK, StewartonStewart Milne HomesNOW AVAILABLE from £152,000

Patterton CourtNew Homes in Newton MearnsStewart Milne HomesNOW AVAILABLE from £188,000

Wellshaw GroveNew Homes in Millar Grove, HamiltonCala HomesNOW AVAILABLE from £362,000

Route 1 WestNew Houses in Anniesland, GlasgowSpringfieldNOW AVAILABLE from £249,995

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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.

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What can you offer first-time buyers in the way of starter homes?

At Bett Homes, we have affordable plots for first-time buyers across a number of our developments in Scotland, such as Orchard Park in Motherwell and Richmond Gate in Oatlands, Glasgow. Orchard Park has one- and two-bedroom apartments from £65,000 and at Richmond Gate two-bedroom apartments are priced from £94,500.

Other ideal first-time buyer developments from Bett Homes include Kirktonholme Park in East Kilbride, a collection of two- and three-bedroom apartments priced from £118,000, and Auchterwynd in Wishaw, a development of two-, three- and four-bedroom homes with prices starting from £99,000.

Bett Homes’ shared equity scheme allows first-time buyers to purchase a property for 85% of the full purchase price with the remaining 15% paid back to Bett Homes in ten years’ time, or before. For example, The Fraser, a two-bedroom terraced home at Auchterwynd can currently be purchased for just £84,150.

I haven’t got much of a deposit – how can you help me?

At Bett Homes we offer a fantastic deposit match scheme of up to 5% of the total property price, whereby we will match any deposit amount saved by the purchaser to buy one of our homes.

Grace Brownlow, sales and marketing director of Bett Homes, talks exclusively to What House?

ONE TO ONE

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Can you help existing homeowners who are struggling to sell their current property?

With the Bett Homes part exchange package, a buyer’s existing property is independently valued and a price is agreed against the cost of their new Bett home.

There are many buyer benefits of part exchange: the cost of marketing a buyer’s current property is removed and the stress of having to sell a home before moving is eliminated. An added advantage is that buyers can move within a matter of weeks from picking their new home. It is generally a quick process.

What are the current property hotspots in Scotland?

Our current property hotspots are Bearsden in Glasgow, Elrick and Newmachar in Aberdeen, and Dundee. Our developments in those locations have been very popular with all kinds of buyers, from first-time buyers and couples to families and downsizers.

Academy Grove in Bearsden boasts four-, five- and six-bedroom detached homes

priced from £388,500. The development offers both a prestigious suburb location and the amenities of a cosmopolitan city.

Close to Aberdeen, Leddach Grange in Elrick is a stunning development of three-, four- and five-bedroom detached and semi-detached homes. Leddach Grange has great commuting links and rural surroundings, and prices start from £215,000.

Queen’s Gate, a development of three-bedroom semi-detached and detached homes, is set within a conservation area on the edge of Newmachar, Aberdeen. The apartments form the tasteful restoration of an original granite building and prices start from £210,000.

Sidlaw Fields in Dundee is a collection of three-bedroom semi-detached and three- and four-bedroom detached homes, with prices starting from £247,000.

What plans does Bett Homes have for 2012 that would interest homebuyers?

Our new specification, developed following extensive market research,

is now available at selected developments.

The new specification includes stunning fitted kitchens by Royal Warrant-awarded manufacturer Manhattan and integrated appliances including a microwave, fridge freezer and AEG stainless steel oven. Bathrooms feature stylish sanitaryware, larger baths with hidden taps, contemporary showers with low-level retractable shower hoses and high-quality Spanish tiling by Porcelanosa. Plus, homebuyers can choose from a range of internal door designs with Italian steel handles while master bedrooms benefit from fitted wardrobes by Kelvin with sliding doors to maximise space.

We appreciate that homebuyers today need to choose their investment in a property very carefully. That is why we have worked very hard to create specification that we believe is the best in its class. This is a very important project for Bett Homes and it demonstrates our confidence in the Scottish housing market. We are enthusiastic about the coming year and have plans to invest in a number of new developments in Scotland.

NORTH WEST

Crosby, LiverpoolPlanning consent has been awarded to

developer Elan Homes for the construction of 13 new homes in Thornton, located off Water Street in Crosby, Liverpool.

The development, known as Thornton Cross, will offer a choice of four-bedroom detached houses for sale on the site of the former St Frideswyde’s Church and Church Hall in Thornton.

Demolition of the church and church hall, which closed last June, is now complete. Work is underway to clear the 1.1 acre site and install the infrastructure required for the new homes.

The first homes at Thornton Cross will be released for sale in late spring/early summer when a show home will open. Marie Morris, sales director for Elan Homes in the north, commented: “Thornton Cross is a welcome boost for the

local economy, as along with jobs for construction workers we will also providing new homes.

“I would encourage anyone who’s considering moving to a new home in the Thornton area to get in touch so that we can keep them informed of our progress as we work towards releasing the first properties onto the market.”

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The birthplace of household names such as presenter Anne Robinson, astrologer Mystic Meg, cricketer Andrew Flintoff and designer Wayne Hemmingway, Lancashire, the county that became famous

worldwide for its role in the industrial revolution, has a wide range of new homes for sale to suit all budgets and tastes.

Just outside Chorley, a market town famous for its cakes, six miles north of Wigan and 10 miles north-west of Bolton, Stewart Milne Homes is selling a variety of properties at Farrington Park at Buckshaw Village. Featuring leisure facilities, a family pub/restaurant and a wide range of shops, Buckshaw Village also forms part of National Cycle Route 55 of the National

Cycle Network - ideal for keen cyclists, or family outings at the weekend. Camelot Theme Park is also just 15 minutes away from Farrington Park.

Well connected, the village lies within commutable distance of all major towns and cities in the north-west as well as Manchester Airport, so buyers can enjoy the advantages of good transport links, while residing in the beauty of the Lancashire countryside. Prices start at £177,950 for a three-bedroom home.

Lancashire

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The DeckNew Homes in Mersey Road, RuncornTaylor Wimpey HomesNOW AVAILABLE from £70,950

Ramsden CloughNew Homes in Ramsden Wood Road, WalsdenBovis HomesNOW AVAILABLE from £199,995

Byron BankNew Homes in Celia Street, BlackleyTaylor Wimpey HomesNOW AVAILABLE from £99,995

Westminster PlaceNew Homes in Longshaw Street, WarringtonBovis HomesNOW AVAILABLE from £79,995

The WayNew homes for sale Beswick, Greater ManchesterLovell HomesNOW AVAILABLE from £149,995

Farrington ParkNew Homes in Farrington Park , ChorleyStewart Milne HomesNOW AVAILABLE from £177,950

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The humble bungalow has started to make a bit of a comeback at some new homes developments around the UK. This house type is particularly popular with some older buyers,

and for homeowners downsizing from a larger family home, the bungalow provides the comfort of single-storey living with a more spacious layout than most apartments as well as the extra

benefit of a private garden. There are four such homes now released by Linden Homes at its Hampton Court development in the Lincolnshire resort of Cleethorpes.

Priced from £129,950, these two-bedroom properties will be ready to move into this summer and are available with Linden’s Assisted Move incentive, where the housebuilder will take the strain of selling an existing property by dealing with local agents, negotiating the best price and paying Stamp Duty and estate agents fees. On selected plots, the company will even pay removal and legal costs.

NORTH EAST

Tyneside and Durham

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North Yorkshire is one of the UK’s prettiest counties, featuring miles of gorgeous countryside, attractive market towns and national parks, including the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors. Well

connected in terms of transport links, the county is an ideal settling point for first-time buyers, family homeowners and retirees alike, with a wide range of locations and styles in new homes to suit all tastes.

The county town of York is one of the UK’s most historic cities. Founded by the Romans in AD 71, under the name of Eboracum, York became a major wool trading centre in the Middle Ages, and more recently, home to many manufacturers of chocolate and sweets, notably Rowntree’s and Terry’s.

Property remains affordable in the city, with new developments such as Taylor Wimpey’s Revival on offer, where homes are priced between £107,996 and £414,995. Located just outside York, this development of two bedroom-apartments, four-bedroom townhouses and four- and five-bedroom homes is within walking distance of the city centre, near attractions such as York Minster, and local supermarkets. A 100% Part Exchange scheme is available for buyers.

North Yorkshire

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NORTH EAST

Brunton VillageNew Homes in Great North Park, NewcastleTaylor Wimpey HomesNOW AVAILABLE from £179,995

NorthshoreNew Homes For Sale in Stockton-on-Tees, YorkshireLovell HomesNOW AVAILABLE from £126,500

Howden GreenNew Homes in Railway Street, Howden Le Wear, Crook, County Durham Linden HomesNOW AVAILABLE from £139,995

Clarence CourtNew Homes in Land Off Murton Lane, Houghton Le SpringTaylor Wimpey HomesNOW AVAILABLE from £79,995

MoorcroftNew Homes in Grayson Road, SpennymoorTaylor Wimpey HomesNOW AVAILABLE from £129,995

Holmes MeadowNew Homes in Coupland Road, SelbyBovis HomesNOW AVAILABLE from £114,995

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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.

The What House? Awards, now in their 31st year, are the most sought-after accolade in the new homes industry, and a guide to excellence when it comes to buying a new-build home, says whathouse.co.uk news editor, Marc da Silva.

From best starter and affordable homes to luxury houses, there are What House? Award-winning properties to suit every taste and budget.

If you’re hoping to buy a new-build home, here’s what the Awards mean to you.

What House? Awards – a homebuyer’s guide

www.whathouse.co.uk

The What House? Awards 2011 at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London

www.whathouse.co.uk

Clockwise from top left: Comedian Hugh Dennis, presenter of the 2011 What House? Awards Rupert Bates, Editorial Direct of What House?, at the 2011 Awards luncheonThe winners and judges of the 2011 What House? Awards

CategoriesThe 21 categories cover companies, developments, individual properties and features such as design or landscaping and are open to housebuilders throughout the country.

Unique judging processWhat House? Award entries are judged solely on merit. Every shortlisted development is visited and assessed by a member of the expert judges panel – a process unique to the What House? Awards.

Essential guideWhether buying a first home or retirement property, upsizing or downsizing, or investing in a buy-to-let, a What House? Award is a highly respected symbol of prestige, guiding homebuyers in making the right decisions when it comes to a new home.

How will buyers know when they see one?Look out for developments with a What House? Award winner’s flag, or companies with the winner’s logos in their marketing brochures and on their websites, because these properties that

have been officially recognised as the very ‘best new homes in Britain’.

You can also check out previous winners here. The 2012 winners will be announced at the annual awards ceremony in central London later this year.

The What House? Awards 2011 at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London

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

Russell Beddall, 26, an insurance broker from Bedford and his girlfriend Corinne McCarty, 29, a contracts manager for the NHS took the plunge last year and bought their first home together – a new-build property in Bedford from Barratt Homes.“We had never owned a property before and had both been in rented properties, most recently a one-bedroom flat in Bedford town centre,” says Russell. “We wanted a property that gave us more space and was more modern, as the flat was a little bit dated. Also we wanted to get onto the property ladder and as the opportunity arose we thought it was only right to take it and become homeowners.”

After finding the property online, Russell and Corinne arranged a viewing for the following Sunday.

“We viewed the property where work was still in progress, but could instantly see the character and unique layout and this attracted us straight away and we provisionally reserved the property on that Sunday. The sizes of the rooms were suitable and the property itself had a unique look from the outside and came with a garden, which is something that doesn’t usually happen, and was an added bonus.”

The property, a two-bedroom coach house at Barratt Homes’ De Balliol Chase development in Kempston, Bedford, also offered the couple a home close to both their families as well as easy access to Bedford town centre and their places of work. With the home ticking all the boxes, Russell and Corinne decided to buy the property off-plan, via the Orbit HomeBuy Direct scheme on an 85%/15% basis.

“We bought the property from plan and did not choose to modify the property as such; however, we were able to choose kitchen worktops and cupboards, bathroom floor and tiles, along with carpets for our new home during the final stages of the property completion,” adds

Russell. “We were lucky enough to be able to view the property several times before our purchase was complete and as a result of this, we got to see our property change week-on-week which is something we were both very happy about.”

On the whole, the buying process ran smoothly, says Russell. “We were happy with the Barratt customer service, we were able to visit our home on a regular basis and were kept up to date on what stages had been completed. We were advised when we could move into our property were made aware of deadlines, which were all met. We used the solicitors that Barratt suggested and were also pleased with them on the whole.

“The only hiccup was a miscommunication between Barratt and our solicitors with regards to the transfer of funds, which meant we were not able to get our keys until around 3.00pm on our move-in date. This was frustrating as we could have been in our home by noon or 1.00pm and had a few more hours to move our belongings into the property. That said, I would happily recommend Barratt to future buyers.”

Bedfordshire couple buy their first home with Barratt

www.whathouse.co.uk

CASE STUDY

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Cheltenham G

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. Prices from

£174,950 to

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Tel: 01242 224 920

Moreton Park,

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MIDLANDS

A new homes development in Herefordshire has seen potential purchasers queuing round the block to view the show home. The new properties in Colwall, near Great Malvern, have come

after approximately 10 years of limited new residential building, and the development, Covent Gardens, of two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom homes has brought much-needed housing to the village. The successful launch saw six of the new homes sold at the Banner Homes development.

The development will consist of just eight semi-detached and eight detached new-build homes, priced from £205,000. The two-bedroom, semi-detached property comes with a separate kitchen, sitting room, downstairs

cloakroom, master bedroom with en suite facilities, additional bedroom, family bathroom, landscaped garden to the front and patio area/garden to the rear.

The five-bedroom detached properties start from £525,000, featuring a kitchen/breakfast room, sitting room, dining room, study and cloakroom on the ground floor, with five bedrooms, two en suites and a family bathroom on the first. The five-bedroom homes also have garages.

Colwall, Herefordshire

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House-hunters in the market for a luxury new-build home in a village setting in Leicestershire have just one opportunity remaining to

buy at Orchard Chase, the CALA Homes development in sought-after Kirby Muxloe. This five-bedroom detached property with double garage is far from a consolation prize at this exclusive scheme, being an individually designed property with an exceptional specification.

Robert Monkman, CALA Homes (Midlands) sales and marketing director says: “We have truly left the best until last at Orchard Chase. Dabinett House has

been designed to reach the very highest standards of contemporary living. It offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire a brand-new home, off a private road at the best address in Leicestershire’s best village, where houses rarely come onto the market. Changes in planning regulations mean that it is highly unlikely that a development such as Orchard Chase will be repeated.”

Kirby Muxloe, Leicestershire

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MIDLANDS

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Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire The average age of the first-time buyer is now 38 - and the typical deposit on a property is more than half the average income. With headlines like these you would have thought that young couples would be put off buying a new home, but for Lloyd Pollock and Lydia Girardi, purchasing a new home in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, was easy thanks to the assistance of Bloor Homes.

When Lloyd and Lydia came to the decision that they wanted to set up their first home together, they were unsure whether to buy old or new. When they saw the homes being built at The Lanterns, and with all the finishing

touches already in place, it was no contest.

For Lloyd, 25, who at the time was renting off a friend, and Lydia, 23, who was living at home, the prospect of buying their first home together was very exciting. Not only did they know the area well but for Lydia The Lanterns brings back happy memories; her father had worked for over 15 years on the site formally owned by a company who manufactured caravans.

The Labour party has vowed to develop 70,000 new homes in Birmingham by 2026, if the party gains control of the city council in May.

The pledge, which has been made in Birmingham Labour Party’s local election manifesto, will see around 5,000 new homes developed each year, marking a significant increase on the previous new homes target of 50,000 by 2026, which was scrapped by the coalition government.

Labour wants to allow housebuilders to develop new homes on some of the council’s vast land bank. Aside from building new much needed new housing, including affordable homes, the ambitious programme will also create a number of jobs, helping to boost the local economy.

Various housebuilders are currently in the process of constructing new homes in Birmingham, including Redrow Homes which is developing a selection of four-, five- and six-bedroom homes at Great Park in B44, close to the M5. Prices range from £267,995 to £359,995.

Elsewhere in Birmingham, Taylor Wimpey is building a brand new development of just 22 new homes at Oakville Place in Hole Lane. Prices range from £225,995 to £434,995.

Lovell Homes is building a development of three-bedroom homes at The Edge in Kings Heath. Located just off the Alcester Road South, The Edge is on the south side of Birmingham and ringed by the M42 with great links to the M5 and M40. Prices range from £176,950 to £187,950.

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Birmingham

Fernley ParkNew Homes in Baxendale Road, Off Eastbourne Road, UckfieldLinden HomesNOW AVAILABLE from £259,995

Orchard ChaseNew Homes in Gullet Lane, LeicesterCala HomesNOW AVAILABLE from £575,000

Priory ParkNew homes for a sale in Dudley, West MidlandsLovell HomesNOW AVAILABLE from £81,600

Heritage GardensNew Homes in Upper Church LaneRedrow HomesNOW AVAILABLE from £184,995

Mill HillNew Homes in Mallow WayRedrow HomesNOW AVAILABLE from £109,995

Mill GreenNew Homes in Mill Green, MarpleStewart Milne HomesNOW AVAILABLE from £211,950

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*Terms & conditions apply

www.quooker.co.uk

info@quooker.co.uk

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INTERIORS

What’s hot

by Elizabeth Bishop elizabethbishopinteriordesign-kent.co.uk

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With the boilers and central heating systems that come as standard in most new-build homes these days, your choices for heating your rooms efficiently and with style are unlimited.

Radiator Showroom (radiatorshowroom.co.uk) is the first point of call if you are looking for choice of colour and shape. Materials offered include stainless steel and aluminium, both of which are non-corrosive and easy to clean. If you’re after a traditional look, cast-iron radiators are also offered by Radiator Showroom. What’s more, to save you painting your radiators to match your room theme, all styles are available in the complete spectrum of the Dulux trade colours.

When choosing your radiator, consider the size of your room. For smaller rooms, such as the bathroom, there are some beautiful slimline styles available. Designer Warmth Radiators (designer-warmth-radiators.co.uk) offers a contemporary range of slimline radiators that not only save on space but can also be used as a feature. The Water Lily radiator is available in black or white. Its clean lines and ability to mould into the room make it both a feature and a complement to surrounding furniture.

www.whathouse.co.uk

Stairs offer a great opportunity for you to showcase your new home to all who visit by providing a lasting first impression as soon as your front door is opened. Stairs should serve as a main feature and there are plenty of ways to do this.

If your new home is sporting the contemporary look and you want a more airy open-plan approach, glass balustrades are a beautiful, clean and striking feature to have. Take a look at the

Balcony Systems website (balconette.co.uk). Team this look with oak stairs complete with in-trend chrome fixings on your glasswork to create a staircase that will complement all colour choices for paint or wallpaper.

If you are looking for something a little bolder but still contemporary, choose a striped stair runner in browns and burnt oranges with touches of blue, in keeping with the Moroccan

colour trend, and frame your runner with stair rods in chrome or brushed chrome. Stair rods were fashionable at the beginning of the 20th century, but you can bring them up to date with shiny metals. Russdales (russdalesflooring.co.uk) has a great selection. On a practical note, carpeted stairs are generally safer, especially for young children.

INTERIORS

Stairways to heaven

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LONDON

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Shanly Homes’ St Anne’s Mews residential property development on The Downs in Wimbledon, where five out of eight new homes sold before the official launch, continued

to prove popular with homebuyers at the preview launch, with the four-bedroom show home reserved on the spot in the first half an hour of opening.

The four-bedroom show home at St Anne’s Mews, a gated development featuring three-, four- and five-bedroom homes, was officially launched to the public on Saturday 17 March, with a ‘preview’ launch the week before. The development would appeal to a wide range of homebuyers seeking to find

a property in south London.

The two remaining five-bedroom properties encompass four floors of approximately 3,000sqft of living space, with prices ranging from £1.9m to £2m.

The site also includes an existing Victorian property which will be converted into a six-bedroom Victorian villa, set to launch later this year. Prices for the villa are not yet released.

Wimbledon

United House has been selected as a joint venture partner by the owners of the Business Design Centre in Islington to deliver a major £130m mixed-use development, which will include over 350 new homes.

The scheme, which will completely transform the heart of Finsbury Park, will see 308 one- to four -bedroom apartments in a landmark development designed by award-winning architects Benson & Forsyth that will include two striking 21-storey towers.

The development, which will also include 47 affordable homes, will be developed on a large site in City North Islington, an existing trading estate next to Finsbury Park mainline and underground stations. The land is owned by

City North Islington Holdings, whose owners also own and operate the Business Design Centre trade, exhibition and conference venue in Islington.

Additional plans include 116,000sqft of retail, restaurant leisure and office space. The project will cost approximately £130m to deliver and will be the largest regeneration scheme undertaken in Islington since the Arsenal Stadium project.

Islington

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An exceptional new arrivalAn exclusive collection of nine exquisite 4/5 bedroom London homes considerately designed to reflect the Victorian style architecture prevalent to the Telegraph Hill Conservation Area. This, combined with elegant modern interiors, ensures St Catherine’s Place is the perfect address to call home.

Prices from £975,000.

Weekend LAunCH Saturday 31st March and Sunday 1st April 11am – 4pm

Show Home & Sales Suite Emmerson House, St Catherine’s Place, Jerningham Road, Telegraph Hill, London SE14 5NJ (SAT NAV REF) Call 020 3326 1550 to book your appointment or to request further information.

www.stcatherinesplace.co.uk

Proud to be a member of the Berkeley Group of companies

Computer generated image of St Catherine’s Place is indicative only.

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Berkeley Homes is launching the latest phase of new homes at its West London development Napier at West 3. The new phase will see a collection of just 24 three- and four-bedroom townhouses available to purchase at the scheme in Acton.

Each townhouse is arranged across four levels, including a basement garage for up to two cars. The ground floor includes an entrance hall and cloakroom

and large open-plan kitchen, dining room and family room opening out on to a private garden. Upstairs, the first and second floors offer a living room, master bedroom with en suite facilities, guest bedrooms and a family bathroom. The townhouses also each have a private roof terrace, perfect for entertaining and dining al fresco.

The interiors are finished to a high specification. Kitchens

feature bespoke storage units and worktops and integrated appliances including a Siemens stainless steel multifunction oven and touch-control ceramic hob, dishwasher and fridge freezer, while bathrooms have elegant white bathroom suites and stylish Hansgrohe and Villeroy & Boch fittings. These new homes in London start at £975,000.

Acton

A growing number of the world’s richest people are opting to buy property in London because of the city’s status as a ‘safe haven’ away from economic and political

turmoil in some other parts of the world.

The 2012 edition of The Wealth Report, launched by Knight Frank and Citi Private Bank, reveals that wealthy purchasers are having a growing influence on prime property and investment in the capital, snapping up homes across the city, particularly in key central areas.

Despite the global economic uncertainty in the eurozone

over the past year, the London property market has been going from strength to strength, led by prime central London, where property prices are among the most expensive in the world.

London is generally considered to be one of the most important cities on the world as far as high-net-worth individuals are concerned, along with Hong Kong, Paris and New York.

Prime market

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LONDON

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Caspian Wharf - Tasman Court, Bow, London E31 Yeo StreetBerkeley HomesNOW AVAILABLE from £365,000

St Catherines SquareNew Apartments in Raynes Park, London SW20Bewley HomesNOW AVAILABLE from £199,950

75 Leman Street, London E1Near 75 Leman StreetBerkeley HomesNOW AVAILABLE from £520,000

Canal View @ Grand Union VillageNew Homes in Sales Office, Grand Union Marketing Suite, LondonTaylor Wimpey HomesNOW AVAILABLE from £157,500

Royal Arsenal Riverside - The Warehouse, No.1 Street, Woolwich, London SE18Warehouse Court, No.1 StreetBerkeley HomesNOW AVAILABLE from £252,500

MildmayNew flats for sale in Islington, LondonLovell HomesNOW AVAILABLE from £245,000

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Kings Hill Kent GREENWAY & CATHCART GATE

01732 847500 or 01732 522611

Betsham KentCOLYER’S PLACE 01474 833256

Medstead HampshireWATERCRESS WAY 01420 560245

Pease Pottage SussexSTAR PLACE 01293 510001

Ditchling SussexEMETT GARDENS 01273 844861

Ashtead SurreyWISHING TREE PLACE 01372 279869

Wigmore KentSORREL PLACE 01634 262787

Coming soon at Eccles, Lower Halstow,Hailsham & Godalming

Take a look at our superbdevelopments in the South East

Visit our website for details of openinghours, availability, offers & prices.

Images are from previous

Hillreed developments.

www.hillreed.co.uk

Hillreed New Homes

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SOUTH EAST

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Homebuyers were given an exclusive viewing of the newly completed waterside apartments at Banner Homes’ prestigious Vantage Point development in Cowes over Easter weekend, where just seven properties now remain for sale. Situated right at the heart

of the UK’s leading yachting hub, the smart, contemporary apartments at Vantage Point enjoy one of the finest waterside locations on the Isle of Wight, with far-reaching views across the Solent.

Paying great attention to detail in the design, these new homes on the Isle of Wight maximise the natural light and take advantage of the impressive views by incorporating floor-to-ceiling feature windows looking out over the famous sailing arena.

Vantage Point is made up of just 12 two-bedroom

apartments, one four-bedroom penthouse and one five-bedroom detached house. The house, penthouse, and five of the apartments have already been snapped up, leaving just seven smart, two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments priced from £800,000. Promising a sumptuous lifestyle, each apartment is finished to a very high standard, has an outdoor balcony or terrace, and offers generous internal living space for relaxing and entertaining.

Cowes, Isle of Wight

South-east housebuilder Hillreed Homes is offering house-hunters struggling to sell their existing home a welcome lifeline in the form of its part exchange scheme, which

is available at several of its developments across the region.

This useful assistance scheme is available in Kent, at Colyers Place in Bean and Greenway in King’s Hill; at Watercress Way in Medstead, Hampshire; at Emett Gardens in Ditchling, East Sussex; Wishing Tree Place in Ashtead, Surrey; and Star Place in Pease Pottage, West Sussex.

In a tricky housing market, the company has found that there is a significant number of people who want to move into one of its distinctive properties,

but are being held back by the time it is taking to find a buyer for their existing home. Others simply want to do without the hassle and expense of dealing with estate agents and viewings. The advantages are numerous: no buying chain, a stress-free process with a guaranteed buyer, no fees to pay an estate agent and the buyer can move smoothly from their old home into the new-build property.

Part exchange from Hillreed

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SOUTH EAST

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Three of the country’s best-known housebuilders are offering homebuyers an abundance of choice at a development in the market town of Romsey, north of Southampton. Abbotswood will provide around 800 new homes in Hampshire, with

Bellway, Bovis Homes and Taylor Wimpey working to provide a huge variety of property types in this affluent village location.

Work started on the site last summer and now no fewer than six show homes are available for house-hunters to view, two from each company. A visit to the site provides an excellent opportunity to discover just how much choice there is in size, layout and specification on the first phase, and to check out the deals available, including

part exchange and the new government-backed NewBuy assistance scheme.

The variety of two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom houses for sale will appeal to everyone from first-time buyers to executive family purchasers, and the first new owners have already started moving in. This new community will also feature a number of new facilities such as doctors, dentist, pharmacy, playground and open spaces.

Romsey, Hampshire

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Country & Metropolitan Homes has an impressive portfolio of attractive new developments scattered across London and the south-east - including Essex, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, East

Sussex, West Sussex and Surrey. Appealing to a wide variety of buyers, properties range from one- and two-bedroom boutique apartments to large detached houses for sale and apartments aimed at the over-55s.

In Polegate in East Sussex, Bluebells is a development of one-bedroom apartments and two-, three- and four-bedroom houses designed and built to exacting specifications, priced from £114,950 to £289,950. Situated just seven miles from the popular beach resort of Eastbourne, with its pier and promenade, theatre,

cinemas and shopping centre, Polegate itself also has plenty of amenities - including local shops and a post office, library, restaurants and pubs. Polegate County Primary School provides education for younger family members, while there’s both a primary and secondary school in the neighbouring town of Willingdon. For leisure time, the long-distance Cuckoo Trail passes through the parish, as does cycleway route #2, and there are a number of local sports teams and facilities.

South-east homes from Country & Metropolitan

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Milford GrangeNew Homes in Wokingham, BerkshireBewley HomesNOW AVAILABLE from £250,000

Folders MeadowNew Homes in Folders Lane, Burgess Hill, West SussexLinden HomesNOW AVAILABLE from £175,000

Kingsbrook Park, Canterbury, Kent5 Westwood DriveBerkeley HomesNOW AVAILABLE from £169,950

Juniper GardensNew Homes in Mortimer, BerkshireBewley HomesNOW AVAILABLE from £335,000

Emm SquareNew Homes in Wokingham, RG41 2RYCala HomesNOW AVAILABLE from £194,950

Albany Gate, Esher, SurreyAlbany GateBerkeley HomesNOW AVAILABLE from £1,395,000

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please call 01778 391550

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Buying a home ‘just got ’

Bourne - LincolnshireAbbeyfields2 and 3 bedroom homes

...from £124,995

Eye - CambridgeshireParson’s Prospect2 and 4 bedroom homes

...from £142,500

Bourne - LincolnshireThe Old Laundry2 and 3 bedroom homes

...from £124,995

Oakham - RutlandThe Stable Yard3 bedroom homes

...from £166,995

Bourne - LincolnshireThe Croft1, 2 & 3 bedroom homes

...from £145,000

Look at our website for more reasons you should buy a Larkfleet Home

a range of schemes developed to help you buy the home you want in a way to suit you.

Choose the

way

Information correct at 07.03.2012

EAST ANGLIA

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Colchester, Essex

Housebuilder Weston Homes has launched a collection of new homes in Colchester as part of the latest phase of its luxury mixed-use development Hawkins Wharf.

The new homes at Hawkins Wharf are expected to appeal to a range of purchasers, including property investors seeking above average rental returns.

The Mayor of Colchester, councillor Helen Chuah was present to cut the ribbon at the recent official VIP launch, as well as mark the opening of the new sales and marketing suite and show homes.

The second phase of Hawkins Wharf features an exclusive collection of 75 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, with many benefiting from views over the River Colne in a desirable part of Colchester.

When complete, Hawkins Wharf will feature 221 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and seven, three- and four-bedroom townhouses, as well as commercial and retail space.

Housebuilder Larkfleet Homes understands that in the

current housing market, many people looking to purchase a new home may face a struggle selling their existing property.

In an effort to help housebuyers who are ready to move but are unable to agree a sale of their current home, Larkfleet Homes has developed its Ezy-move scheme as part of its Ezy initiative.

If you see a Larkfleet property you wish to purchase but have yet to sell your own home, Larkfleet will assist you in selling

your house - while reserving the new home you wish to purchase.

As part of the Ezy-move scheme, your new Larkfleet Home is removed from all advertising and held exclusively for an agreed period. Larkfleet will then assist you in selling your current property and pay your estate agent fees on completion of the sale of your home.

Larkfleet Homes currently has housing developments available in sought-after locations in the East Midlands and East of England including Bourne and Deeping St James in Lincolnshire, Eye in Cambridgeshire and Oakham in Rutland.

The first phase of the regeneration of Basildon town centre is attracting

plenty of buyers, according to developer Barratt Homes. The new homes development in Essex has seen more than a dozen properties sold off-plan in one month alone, amid strong demand from purchasers looking for high-quality and affordable housing in the town centre.

Acacia Park is part of a 20-year regeneration of Basildon

by Barratt Homes and Wilson Bowden Developments (BWB) that will see the creation of up to 2,000 new homes in total, with Acacia Park delivering 144. There are also plans for a new cinema, college, improved shops alongside new public spaces and a new bus and train station.

The development has been master planned to create a lively community with a strong sense of place. The new homes will overlook a newly formed lake and parkland, which will include a new play area and improved pathways and public space.

Basildon, Essex

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EAST ANGLIA

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Kernow Park Homes has submitted a planning application to Cornwall Council

to develop a collection of retirement homes in St Columb.

If plans are approved, the company, which runs Sun Valley Park, will develop 11 new homes, each with a garden, on the existing Barn

Lane business centre in place of five industrial units.

The family-run firm says there’s currently healthy demand for new age-exclusive homes in Cornwall, having recently sold three properties at its retirement Park Home Estate in north Cornwall.

David Powell of Kernow Park Homes said: “The current business centre has been in decline for a number of years and is now void of all tenants.

“The new homes will continue

to cater for a very strong market of residents over the age of 55. There is a very high demand for these types of properties at the moment - we have sold three since Christmas,” he added.

The proposed development has already received positive feedback from local residents after the plans were made public.

If Cornwall Council approves the plans, building will start almost immediately, with a view to completion early next year.

St Columb, Cornwall

Two of the country’s best-known housebuilders

are collaborating on a new homes development in Somerset, where infrastructure works have just got underway. Redrow and Persimmon are working on the 187-acre site, which has outline permission to construct 900 new homes.

The site is located just outside the village of Monkton Heathfield, a few miles from

Taunton. The town can be reached via the A38, while the M5 is a few minutes from the village, making it a contender for the attention of commuters.

Construction on the first phase of 120 properties is set to begin in summer 2012 at the development, which will also incorporate a community space, shops, a primary school, sports pitches, green spaces and play areas.

Redrow intends to build 360 new two-, three- and four-bedroom homes at

The Heathfields, a combination of private properties and new affordable homes.

Lee Hawker, land director for Redrow (South West), says: “We are delighted to have secured this key strategic site in Taunton, it is a beautiful part of the country and our priority is to deliver a high-quality development. This development will build on our successful Bagley Green development in neighbouring Wellington, which has proved very popular with local residents.”

Monkton Heathfield, Somerset

SOUTH WEST

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Several new developments have sprung up recently across south and mid Wales that cater for larger families

needing to find a property with three or more bedrooms – many of which are within easy commuting distance of key towns and cities such as Cardiff, Swansea, Newport or Brecon.

Starting in mid Wales, Lovell Homes has a collection of three-bedroom new homes for sale in Brecon at Maes Halley, priced from £157,500 to £230,000. Situated in a tranquil spot at the heart of the Brecon Beacons National

Park, these new homes boast spectacular views of beautiful rolling countryside, yet are just minutes’ walk from the centre of the vibrant market town of Brecon. Residents will have easy access to Brecon’s many independent shops, cafés, pubs and venues, and there is a good choice of local primary schools, plus a secondary school and further education college (Coleg Powys) on the edge of town.

Campaigners opposed to plans for 6,800 extra

new homes in Conwy must wait until after local elections on 3rd May to learn which sites have been chosen. A number of sites throughout the county have been earmarked for development in the draft Local Development Plan (LDP), which was passed in February 2012, but the final list will not be announced pending an additional review to be carried out after the poll.

Ruby Williams of Llandudno’s Bodafon Fields Preservation Association said: “It’s one of the major elections issues in Conwy County. I would imagine that a number of sitting councillors are breathing a sigh of relief.”

Those opposing the plans to increase the supply of housing in the region have cautiously welcomed a unanimous decision by councillors to ask the Welsh Government to reconsider its new homes requirements for Conwy, but concerns remain this may be a case of “too little, too late”. At a meeting of Conwy’s

full council at the end of March, Cllr Phil Edwards of Rhos-on-Sea tabled a motion that challenges the Welsh Government over the 6,800 target, calling on it to halt urban sprawl and protect greenfield sites. He also invited other local authorities to support the motion.

“At last we have stirred up some reaction from the councillors but they should have done it two or three years ago,” says Keith Simpson of Queens Road , Llandudno, a proposed site for development of these new homes in Wales.

Conwy

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WALES

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