Category Archives: Property Buyer News

News, Property, Property Buyer News

Bellway reaches milestone at Melksham development

Bellway has sold more than half the homes at a development in Melksham where land has been allocated for a new village hall.

Bellway South West will hand over a parcel of land at Bowood View to Melksham Without Parish Council so a new village hall can be built and will pay £500,000 towards the costs.

There will be 150 homes in total at Bowood View. More than 40 homes have been handed over to their owners so far and many more have been reserved off-plan.
Sales Manager for Bellway South West, Rachel Way, said: “Bowood View has proven popular with people from Melksham and surrounding villages who are looking to secure a new home in this thriving area of Wiltshire.

“Even through a difficult time for the property market, we continued to receive enquiries from people who were looking to move. It is a positive sign for the local economy that people are keen to remain in the area.

“As soon as we were able to reopen the development, appointments were quickly taken up. Changes to stamp duty have also generated an increase in people committing to a move.
“Bowood View demonstrates the wider benefits new developments can bring to communities. As well and the investment in a new village hall, Bellway is providing affordable homes for local people, contributing more than £700,000 to secondary education and a further £45,000 for public art.

“New homes must be accompanied by infrastructure to support the new residents and this will certainly be the case here.”

Strict safety measures have been adopted and people can visit the showhome by appointment. The four-bedroom Wroughton showhome is a detached house with an open-plan kitchen and dining area, a separate living room and dining room which can also be used as a playroom, study or home office. A three-bedroom detached Shipton house is also available to view.

Bellway has made video tours of various house types available on its website page for Bowood View so people can familiarise themselves with the homes before their appointment.

Bellway has received the highest five-star rating from the Home Builders Federation (HBF). This means more than nine in 10 customers who responded to an industry survey would recommend Bellway to a friend.

At Bowood View, a selection of two, three and four-bedroom homes are available to purchase, with prices currently ranging from £219,995 to £378,995. For more information, visit bellway.co.uk or call 01225 569196.

News, Property, Property Buyer News

New homes developer invests more than £11 million in Leicestershire

Bellway has shown its commitment to Leicestershire by investing more than £11 million into local facilities and infrastructure over the past 10 years.

Since 2010, five-star builder Bellway, which has its East Midlands head office at Meridian Business Park in Leicester, has delivered 21 new homes developments across Leicestershire in this time.
As part of the planning agreements for these developments, Bellway has made significant contributions into the local area, including education, transport links and health care.

Bellway is currently building in three Leicestershire locations – Heather, Frisby on the Wreake and Waltham on the Wolds – which will all benefit from a boost to their economy.

In Heather, Bellway will be contributing more than £66,000 towards education, as well as over £17,000 towards GP services. Frisby on the Wreake will benefit from a £390,000 contribution towards local education, while Waltham on the Wolds will receive investment into education, library facilities, health care and a new bus stop.

Carolyne Watkinson, Sales Director for Bellway East Midlands, said: “It is extremely important to us that we invest in the local communities we are building new homes in.
“Over the past 10 years, we have worked closely with the authorities across Leicestershire to ensure we are delivering much-needed new homes and investment for new and existing residents.

“We are really proud of our longstanding commitment to the area and we will continue to invest in the county as we deliver our current and future developments.”

Many of the contributions will have been made under the terms of Section 106 planning agreements. These are signed by developers and the local authority to ensure infrastructure is available to support new developments. In addition, Bellway regularly offers support to charities, schools and community groups close to its development and raises money for Cancer Research UK as its corporate charity.

Bellway has a five-star rating with the Home Builders Federation (HBF), which means more than nine out of ten customers said they would recommend the housebuilder to a friend in the HBF’s National New Homes Customer Satisfaction Survey.

More information on the homes currently being built by Bellway in Leicestershire can be found at bellway.co.uk.

News, Property, Property Buyer News

Green light for 147 new homes in Hampton Magna

Work is set to start on a new housing development in Hampton Magna near Warwick after detailed plans were approved by the local authority.

Bellway has been given the green light by Warwick District Council to build 147 new homes on the 17-acre site off Daly Avenue, on the south-eastern edge of the village.

The development, which will be known as Hampton Trove, will include a range of one, two, three and four-bedroom houses and bungalows, alongside public open space, a children’s play area and allotments. A total of 59 of the houses, along with two of the bungalows, will be provided as affordable housing for local people available through shared ownership or rent.

Elaine Brown, Head of Sales for Bellway South Midlands, said: “Our new development in Hampton Magna will help meet the growing demand for new housing in the Warwick area.
“We’re providing a wide variety of house types from our new artisan range to cater for the needs of local buyers, whether they’re first-time buyers, growing families or downsizers.

“We’re also going to be investing heavily in the local area through the planning agreement for the development, with more than £1 million in financial contributions towards education, health, sports and other facilities nearby.

“This is a sustainable location for new housing, within walking distance of a primary school, medical centre, post office and convenience store. It’s also less than a mile from Warwick Parkway railway station, which has direct trains to Birmingham and London Marylebone.

“We’re already seeing a great deal of interest in this development and I would encourage anyone hoping to find their new home here to visit our website and register to receive the latest updates as they become available.”

Bellway’s financial contributions towards the local area will include £454,370 for Aylesford School in Warwick, £224,000 towards extending the number 16 bus service between Hatton and Kenilworth, £169,174 and £122,674 for indoor sports facilities at local leisure centres, as well as further contributions towards supporting children with special educational needs, bus stops, new highway infrastructure, libraries and outdoor sports.

Bellway South Midlands is building new homes at development across Warwickshire. For more information, visit bellway.co.uk.

News, Property, Property Buyer News, South West

Housebuilder invests over £9 million in Gloucestershire community

A housebuilder building new homes in Gloucestershire is making financial contributions of over £9 million towards improving facilities and infrastructure across the county.

Five-star builder Bellway Wales currently has eight housing developments under construction in Gloucestershire. Four of these are in the Gloucester area – in Brockworth, Churchdown, Hunts Grove and Highnam – while the other three are in Tutshill, Newent, and Lydney in the Forest of Dean, and in Charfield in South Gloucestershire.

The new homes at two further developments in the Gloucester area, in Brockworth and Hardwicke, have all been completed and sold.

As part of the planning agreements for these ten developments, Bellway has made significant investment in the local area.
In Churchdown, where 465 new homes are being provided at Pirton Fields, more than £6.1 million is being contributed towards local facilities, with nearly £5 million towards education – comprising £2.7 million towards primary education, £1.7 million for additional secondary school facilities at Chosen Hill School and more than £500,000 towards pre-school places.

In Brockworth, Bellway has provided £1.2 million as part of its Cotswold Chase development and a further £42,000 as part of Millbrook Grove, while in Hardwicke, £540,000 has been invested as part of Hardwicke Grange. In Highnam, where all the homes at Lassington Reach have now been sold, £435,000 is going towards community facilities.

Elsewhere across the county, more than £640,000 is being invested in Charfield as part of St James Mews. Bellway’s Manor Chase development has brought investment of £166,000 in Tutshill near Chepstow and Picklenash Grove in Newent has provided contributions totalling £117,000.

Sales Director for Bellway Wales, Billie Oaten, said: “The financial contributions we are making as part of our Gloucestershire developments represent a major investment towards local education, healthcare and road improvements.

“These contributions will benefit families moving to our homes in Gloucestershire, and existing residents who already live in the county.

“We have a longstanding commitment to Gloucestershire and are proud to be delivering much-needed new homes and investment around Gloucester and the county, and we look forward to continuing to help enhance the areas which surround our new homes.”

Bellway has a five-star rating with the Home Builders Federation (HBF), which means more than nine out of ten customers said that they would recommend the housebuilder to a friend in the HBF’s National New Homes Customer Satisfaction Survey.

For more information on the new homes Bellway is building in Gloucestershire, visit bellway.co.uk.

Property, Property Buyer News

Lyons Place in Maida Vale attracts attention with bold, contemporary interior design from Alexander James Interiors

The ultra-contemporary new collection of apartments and townhouses at Almacantar’s boutique development, Lyons Place, in Maida Vale is attracting interest from homebuyers and investors alike. The five townhouses, 22 apartments and two duplex penthouses have been designed with modern living in mind and with style bursting from every angle.

Lyons Place is the work of renowned architect and long-term local resident Sir Terry Farrell. His striking exterior, complete with petrol pump art installation and quirky blue tiling, flows through to the interior of the homes thanks to the multi award-winning interiors team at Alexander James Interiors. The team’s brief was simple: carefully consider every element of the design in order to deliver homes packed with personality.

“A development as exciting as Lyons Place provides a superb opportunity to showcase how well bold colours, artisan pieces and layers of texture can work together to create a vision for contemporary living. From the inverted layout of the townhouses, with the kitchen and living spaces at the top, to the flowing space in the apartments, we knew instantly that Lyons Place was going to deliver something special.”

Ben Axton, Show Home Sales Director, Alexander James Interiors

For the show apartment, the Alexander James team used colour and texture to add some real roar to Lyon’s Place. The main reception room exudes warmth, with soft whites and blush pinks evoking a sense of relaxation and calm, while playful splashes of mauve and crimson add depth and interest.

This bold expression of colour continues throughout the apartment. In the main bedroom, for example, the serenity of the wall coverings is complemented by the warmth of rich bronze tones.

Texture is also a major theme, with different rooms showcasing beautiful combinations of materials to ignite the senses. Artisan weaves and sculpted wood provide plenty of textural interest throughout, with natural materials complementing the flow of light into the homes and the elegant landscaped courtyard around which they are set. The kitchen and dining area, meanwhile, feature the cool smoothness of a marble table, offset by plush velvet chairs.

“The ability to play with texture so artfully in the Lyons Place show apartment was exciting. We’ve used layering of differing fabrics and materials to add interest in every room, making each space unique while also telling a story as you move through the apartment.”

Laura Leadbetter, Senior Interior Designer, Alexander James Interiors

The Alexander James team also dressed one of the five three-storey townhouses at Lyons Place, highlighting the incredible potential that the spacious homes hold. The timber and natural stone elements of the townhouses’ exterior have been drawn into the interior, while the gentle olive that flows through the hallways and dining room is reminiscent of the leafy pathways of Maida Vale.

As with the apartments, the townhouses are bursting with character. The living spaces, in particular, feature exciting touches such as handmade tubular lamps, statement coffee tables and multicoloured wall coverings by Pop Art movement innovator Roy Lichtenstein. Vintage items pair with contemporary lighting to create a bold statement of stylish living.

The lower floor bedrooms play with light and dark, earthy tones and metallic warmth to deliver a cosy, indulgent effect that feels both welcoming and restful. Aged glass plays beautifully with the natural light with which the homes are flooded, while ornate sateen fabrics and rich velvet deliver a richly luxurious experience.

Window treatments throughout the townhouse pair light, watery linens and voile curtains with warm metals, binding together these elements and enhancing the overall flow of colour and texture throughout the space.

In texture terms, boucle woods contrast with shortcut velvets, while the rich timber is complemented by the in-depth, layered marble offering warm tones. Fabrics, meanwhile, range from soft mohair, silk jacquards and softly woven carpets to wool fringing and faux leather with crisp piping.

The homes at Lyons Place ooze personality, elegance and sophistication. They have been designed and dressed to bring light, space and tranquillity into every room, delighting the senses at every turn.

For more information on the interior design visit Alexander James Interiors at www.aji.co.uk or call 020 7887 7604. 

For more information on Lyons Place, please contact Dawid Dziegielewski, Sales Manager/Sales Analyst on 07384810437 and dawid.dziegielewski@almacantar.com

News, Property, Property Buyer News

House prices increase by 300% in 20 years

The team at Coulters Property have looked into the housing landscape for first-time buyers to discover how much you would need to be able to afford a 10% deposit around the country, how much this is as a percentage of average annual income, and how this has changed over the last 20 years: https://www.coultersproperty.co.uk/first-time-buyer-changes

First Time Buyer Landscape in UK (1999-2000)

 

1999 2020 Difference £ Difference %
House Price £77,961 £230,735 £152,774 195.96%
Deposit £7,796 £23,074 £15,278 195.97%
Earnings £17,803 £30,353* 12,550 70.49%
Deposit % Earnings 43.80% 76.00% 32.20%

*2019 earnings data used

 

You can see the full research here.

 

Mike Fitzgerald, Executive Chairman, at Coulters Property commented saying:

“More than ever, there is a disparity between personal income and property prices, which these stats reiterate.

“Buying a home in the UK is a defining tradition and a goal for many young people. Although being a first-time buyer is exciting, over recent years, the affordability gap has stretched and continued to do so every year, making it difficult to make the first step onto the property ladder. In these uncertain times, these inequalities have been made much more apparent, The recent raising of the trigger rates on stamp duty (and LBTT in Scotland) to help combat the economic consequences of the C-19 pandemic and lock down, will undoubtedly particularly help first time buyers and add valuable extra cash to be applied towards their deposit or other transaction costs such as legal fees. This is especially so in high value urban areas where many first-time buyer properties would have otherwise been subject to stamp duty.

“There’s no questioning that wages have increased with the rate of inflation, but have they increased enough? Despite recent schemes such as Help to Buy or part-ownership, house prices are expected to increase, with the possibility of a 15% increase over the next five years or so.

“The aspiration and importance of homeownership resonates with many in the UK. While many other countries don’t share this attachment, we seem to value it highly as a vital part of getting onto the property ladder to tap into capital growth (something which the UK has demonstrated over many decades unlike some other countries), settling down or kickstarting a potential investment portfolio. It’s important to seek all the information you can when considering getting a foot on the property ladder and not let the numbers put you off. There is so much support and often a price bracket to meet first-time buyers’ needs.

“Capital returns on property are traditionally strong, but like all investments the returns need to be measured over a sufficiently long period of time to flatten out short term spikes and dips in values. If done sensibly the outcome and rewards are certainly worth it, not only in financial terms but also in the pleasure that home ownership can bring.”

News, Property, Property Buyer News, Regional News, Wales News

Redrow reopens sales centres in Wales following Government guidance

Leading Welsh housebuilder Redrow will reopen its sales centres and show homes in Wales to buyers and existing customers from 22nd June, following new guidance issued by the Government to reopen the housing market across the country.

Redrow’s sales centres and show homes in England reopened for appointments on the 18th May, following the reopening of the housing market there. New guidance now also allows the opening of sales offices and show homes in Wales and permits viewings of vacant properties to take place and for previously stalled transactions to complete. From today (19th June), customers can book appointments to visit a local sales centre in Wales from Monday onwards via Redrow’s website. Customers may also visit without an appointment, as non-essential retail also reopens across the nation at the start of next week.

Redrow has developed robust plans for its workforce and customers which include stringent social distancing protocols, rigorous cleaning regimes and a range of physical measures to reduce the spread of Covid-19. This includes several already fitted adaptations to sales centres and site facilities. Redrow has produced videos for both customers and construction employees which offer clear guidance so both fully understand the new processes in place.

John Tutte, Executive Chairman at Redrow, comments: “We are pleased that the Welsh Government’s updated guidance now permits the reopening of our sales centres and show homes across the country. This will allow existing customers already midway through the process to recommence their property transaction and for new customers to make appointments to view and reserve a new home. We are now able to better support our customers throughout their Redrow journey.

“Our aim has been to create a new Redrow way of doing things for colleagues, customers and partners, which reflects best practice when it comes to social distancing and reducing the spread of Covid-19. Sales centres and show homes in England reopened for appointments in mid-May and, as restrictions have gradually eased, customers may now also visit us on an impromptu basis. This process has gone smoothly due to our preparedness and carefully considered processes, and we aim to replicate this approach in Wales.”

Alongside the robust procedures in place to support customers wishing to physically view developments in Wales, Redrow has also invested heavily in technology to enable a smoother virtual transaction. Through their My Redrow customer portal, buyers can view different developments and plots online, select chosen plots and even select and review optional upgrades to their home. Last year, Redrow launched an online reservation service which also now allows buyers to legally complete the reservation of their new home online, further minimising the need to spend hours in sales centres. This service allows customers to read and review all documents from the consumer code and warranty information, through to a series of pre-reservation legal documents, at their own pace and in their own home.

Summary of process for customers entering a sales centre:

  • All customers are advised to book an advance appointment for viewings and meetings at Redrow developments in Wales, but may also arrive without one if they so wish.
  • Appointments for the 22nd June onwards can be booked via the development page on redrow.co.uk now
  • Sales consultants will always remain two metres away from the customer and will be situated behind a protective screen in the sales centre.
  • Sales consultants will guide customers through any collateral or documentation via iPads connected to TV screens, allowing customers to view imagery and plot availability with ease and without handling documents and tablets.
  • Customers will visit show homes unaccompanied following a briefing.
  • Hand sanitiser will be available throughout the sales centre and all customers will receive an overview of Redrow’s comprehensive safety measures at the start of all appointments.
  • A thorough cleanse will be performed after each appointment.

All measures meet Government guidance.