Research recently conducted by Zoopla has found that around 22% of people are currently keen to move house, which is significantly higher than the 5% that is typical of the normal market. It therefore comes as no surprise that Shanly Homes’ stunning collection of homes in Hinchley Woods have proven
Storey Homes unveils three stunning show homes at its new development, Bidwell Mews, in Houghton Regis, near the market town of Dunstable. Now open for viewings they showcase the uniquely affordable family homes available to buy within this new vibrant settlement. The Mackintosh (5-bedrooms), The Mountford (4-bedrooms) and The Adams
Chestnut Homes has released the first homes for sale at its new housing development in Market Rasen. A selection of three and four-bedroom properties are now available to purchase at Chantrey Park, which is located off Caistor Road, at the northern edge of the town. Construction work is continuing on
Award-winning housebuilder, The Hill Group has partnered with Gathering Voices to provide the local arts charity with exclusive use of the buildings at the former Park Furnishers site in Bristol in a bid to help support local artists working in the city. Forming part of the wider Whitehouse Street regeneration,
London homebuyers have no doubt reaped the rewards of new home working habits, helping to reduce commutes and secure a move outside the capital that offers a better life balance and value for money for commuters. One county that is becoming a popular choice for London’s commuters is Hertfordshire –
Ecotek Homes and specialist investment group Gresham House are delighted to announce a new partnership focused on delivering high-quality and environmentally friendly homes in urban-fringe locations across the UK. The partnership will seek to deliver new single family homes across a mix of tenures, with a particular emphasis on the
CHAS, the supply-chain risk management expert, has become a registered signatory of Building a Safer Future scheme and is encouraging other members of the built environment sector to do the same. The Building a Safer Future Charter was launched in response to Dame Judith Hackitt’s review of building regulations and fire safety
Work is nearing completion on two housing developments in Shortstown, where all but a few homes have now been sold. Bellway is building 23 homes at Eastcotts Place – all of which have been reserved by buyers – and 163 homes at Eastcotts Green, of which just seven properties remain
An employee from one of the Midland’s largest social landlords has been honoured with a prestigious apprenticeship award. Ellie Steel from Platform Housing Group won Worcestershire’s Apprentice of the Year at The Worcestershire Apprenticeships Awards earlier this month. The annual event organised by The Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership held the
According to the Government’s UK House Price Index data, buying homes in Hampshire rather than neighbouring and more costly Surrey, could save buyers as much as £135,500, as property prices drop by up to 30% as you move across the county line. Savvy buyers looking to make the most of
Research recently conducted by Zoopla has found that around 22% of people are currently keen to move house, which is significantly higher than the 5% that is typical of the normal market. It therefore comes as no surprise that Shanly Homes’ stunning collection of homes in Hinchley Woods have proven incredibly popular. Now with only the final two family homes available at Woodleaf Gardens, interested parties are urged to act quickly to avoid missing out. Designed with the whole family in mind, the remaining four-bedroom homes at Woodleaf Gardens enjoy spacious interiors split across three floors. Complete with a high-quality contemporary specification and beautiful garden, Woodleaf Gardens is the ideal place to enjoy Hinchley Wood’s picturesque leafy surroundings. “Our properties at Woodleaf Gardens have proven to be incredibly popular with buyers looking for a new home in the commuter haven of Hinchley Wood. These carefully designed properties enjoy a high quality of finish and an unrivalled location. We would urge interested parties to arrange a visit as soon as possible to avoid missing out on these fantastic family homes,” said Greg Kaye, Head of Sales at Shanly Homes. Both of the remaining homes feature open-plan kitchen/dining/family areas that provide plenty of space to unwind as a family or to entertain guests. Bi-fold doors seamlessly open up onto a large turfed garden, perfectly merging the inside and out. At the front of each property, a separate living room provides even more space to relax in the evening. Upstairs, all bedrooms are spacious in design. The first and second bedrooms located on the first floor both profit from an en-suite shower room and wide fitted wardrobes. A designated laundry room completes the floor. At the top of the house, the third bedroom enjoys a peaceful position away from the rest of the home. The fourth and final bedroom can double up as a study, ideal for taking conference calls when working from home. A contemporary family bathroom is also located on the top floor. Hinchley Wood village includes a butchers, bakery, hairdressers and a post office, as well as a plethora of coffee shops, ensuring residents have easy access to a range of daily amenities. Nearby Esher is just two miles away, offering a further selectin of places to eat and drink as well as an Everyman Cinema. Surbiton Farmers Market is just a seven-minute drive away and offers delicious fresh produce. For those looking to explore their new green surroundings, Bushy Park is just a 15-minute cycle away. Lynwood Recreation Ground is closer to Woodleaf Gardens and features a play area for children to enjoy. Kew Gardens is just a 35-minute drive away and offers an impressive collection of plant species throughout its carefully designed spaces. Avid golfers can also enjoy close proximity to Thames Ditton & Esher Golf Club, which is located just a 4-minute drive away. Ideal for commuters, Hinchley Wood station is a 10-minute walk from Woodleaf Gardens, from which residents can easily reach Wimbledon (14 mins), Clapham Junction (21 mins), Vauxhall (26 mins) and London Waterloo (32 mins). The M3 is just a 15-minute drive away, and offers fast connections to Basingstoke, Winchester and Southampton. For international travel needs, Heathrow Airport can be reached in around 30 minutes.
Storey Homes unveils three stunning show homes at its new development, Bidwell Mews, in Houghton Regis, near the market town of Dunstable. Now open for viewings they showcase the uniquely affordable family homes available to buy within this new vibrant settlement. The Mackintosh (5-bedrooms), The Mountford (4-bedrooms) and The Adams (3-bedooms) have all been styled to enhance family time. With homes available with Help to Buy, Storey Homes is also offering Stamp Duty paid incentives, on selected plots, presenting buyers with an opportunity to own a high-quality, spacious home in Bedfordshire’s verdant countryside. In keeping with the scenic backdrop, homes at Bidwell Mews are surrounded with generous green spaces that run through the development. Impressive room sizes, sleek German kitchens and generous outside space with plenty of breathing room between each property create an outstanding environment for new home buyers. The Mackintosh (from £599,950) A substantial, 5-bedroom, executive home featuring an impressive floorplan, this detached property, styled by Interiors by Haus, enjoys a vast entrance hall, which has been dressed with a console table for an elegant look. The large kitchen/dining room is perfect for entertaining, with French doors that open out to the rear garden and oversized windows letting in streams of light. A large solid dark wood dining table and soft grey upholstered chairs create an opulent space for entertaining in the separate dining room. Brass accents running through this room and a sideboard and pendant give the space an added touch of grandeur. The spacious lounge holds two bespoke light sofas dressed with colourful, textured cushions and contrasting black furniture. Upstairs, four double bedrooms, two with en-suites, a fifth bedroom and a family bathroom make this the ultimate family home. A super-king bed with a tall winged headboard in the main bedroom has been combined with gold accents running through the furniture and accessories to create a luxury feel. The remaining bedrooms have been designed with personal touches for children and opulent finishes for ultimate guest room comfort. Highlighting the multifunctional rooms, bedroom-five features striking black geometric wallpaper, a black metal and charcoal coloured desk with a teal upholstered chair for a stylish study space. The Mountford (from £534,950) A fabulous four-bedroom detached house with spacious entrance hall featuring a central staircase, the Mountford is an impressive family home. The double fronted property features beautiful bay windows and comprises a large kitchen/breakfast room, utility room and three reception rooms. With several possible options for a home office on the ground floor; upstairs, four double bedrooms, an en-suite to bedroom one and a family bathroom complete this elegant home. Designed by JSP Interiors to express comfort, a neutral colour pallet is enhanced with warm tones and textures in each room, promoting a sense of calm for all the family. The Adams (starting from £364,950) Abode Interiors, commissioned to style this three-bedroom home, focused on creating a warm environment for a couple looking to start a family, but still commuting to central London for work. Another ideal family home, The Adams features a kitchen/dining room, separate living room with French doors opening onto the rear garden, two double bedrooms including an en-suite and fitted wardrobe to bedroom one and a versatile third-bedroom.
Chestnut Homes has released the first homes for sale at its new housing development in Market Rasen. A selection of three and four-bedroom properties are now available to purchase at Chantrey Park, which is located off Caistor Road, at the northern edge of the town. Construction work is continuing on the initial phase of 101 homes, which comprises 81 houses for private sale and 20 affordable properties. A total of 300 homes are set to be built at the Market Rasen development. “As well as releasing the first homes onto the market, we’ve also opened our marketing suite to give buyers a chance to visit Chantrey Park in person and speak to our sales team about the homes which are available,” said Helene Key, Sales Manager for Chestnut Homes. “Ever since we announced our plans for Chantrey Park, there has been a high level of interest from potential purchasers, and demand only increased when infrastructure works began on the first phase of homes back in April. We welcomed our first visitors to the site on Monday 15th November when we officially opened our marketing suite, and we are looking forward to meeting more interested house-hunters in the weeks and months ahead.” As part of the planning agreement for the first phase of Chantrey Park, Chestnut Homes will be contributing £199,859 towards improvements to Market Rasen Primary School and £42,975 towards improvements to Market Rasen Surgery. A further £45,000 is also being contributed by the developer towards providing a skate park in the town, along with £3,500 towards signage to make a foot and cycle path between the development and Church Bridge. “We are continuing to make good progress on the construction of these much-needed homes, and we look forward to welcoming the first residents to Chantrey Park at the beginning of next year,” added Helene.
Award-winning housebuilder, The Hill Group has partnered with Gathering Voices to provide the local arts charity with exclusive use of the buildings at the former Park Furnishers site in Bristol in a bid to help support local artists working in the city. Forming part of the wider Whitehouse Street regeneration, Hill acquired the site in 2020. Since then, Hill have been working in partnership with Bristol City Council and Galliard Apsley to bring forwards a framework for wider regeneration with plans to create a new mixed-use development consisting of new homes, commercial space and new public realm improvements. “We are delighted to be working with Gathering Voices to help them support local artists by providing a location for such a wide range of creative outputs. With complementary social values, this partnership will help us deliver a lasting, positive legacy in Bristol, delivering much-needed new homes whilst supporting the local community,” said Andy Fancy, Regional Managing Director at Hill. As the project undergoes the early stages of consultation and development, Gathering Voices has been granted exclusive use of the warehouse on a fixed contract to occupy the old Park Furnishers building. Here, they will be creating Stillhouse Studios, a creative space for established and experienced artists, designers, and makers alike to create textile work and various film, photography and performing arts projects along with creative educational sessions for all ages. Ideas for the external parking spaces include food-based markets and innovative environmental projects to bring wildlife to the site. “The arts sector has been one of the biggest casualties of the pandemic where creativity and collaborations have had to be put on hold, which has affected our local community initiatives heavily. We are delighted to be working with an empathetic developer like Hill to bring to life our most recent creative space where we’ll be able to offer more opportunities for communities of Bristol,” added Hannah Klewin, Director at Gathering Voices. With a creative outreach programme designed to bring life back to underused and vacant spaces in and off East Street, Gathering Voices (est. 1985) is an innovative arts charity working primarily with children and young people. The charity also supports adults in music, mentoring, youth leadership and creative projects designed to empower and build community.
London homebuyers have no doubt reaped the rewards of new home working habits, helping to reduce commutes and secure a move outside the capital that offers a better life balance and value for money for commuters. One county that is becoming a popular choice for London’s commuters is Hertfordshire – offering the perfect combination of rural living with the bonus of still being close to London, making this the perfect location for buyers. For those eager to get on the ladder here, Scholars by Chase New Homes has just launched a stunning new collection of two-bedroom apartments located in the charming Hertfordshire town of Broxbourne. Surrounded by picturesque green spaces, high quality amenities and a 29-minute commute into London Liverpool Street – buyers can enjoy the best of both worlds on their doorstep. Enjoying a prime spot within this secluded and leafy Hertfordshire location, Scholars is set within the former grounds of the highly regarded Broxbourne School. The new collection of two-bedroom apartments at Scholars form part of a wider collection of beautiful three, four and five bedroom family homes. Thoughtfully designed, these spacious, well-planned properties benefit from a high-quality specification throughout. Stylish open plan living, kitchen and dining areas all feature French doors that open onto a private garden terrace or decked balcony – staging a versatile space for entertaining, relaxing and working from home. Both bedrooms are generously sized with the master enjoying its own stylish ensuite and fitted wardrobe. Every apartment features a convenient utility cupboard in the hallway, and a further storage cupboard ensures the home is kept clutter-free. Residents will also have access to two parking spaces per apartment. “Hertfordshire has certainly become a sought-after location for buyers who no longer feel the need to be tied to London, but still want the option to travel there in under an hour. The new collection of apartments at Scholars provides a great opportunity for professionals to secure a stunning new home that offers the life balance that many are now making a priority. The Hertfordshire town of Broxbourne has plenty to offer and is a relatively undervalued commuter town – just 17 miles north of London. Scholars is within one mile of Broxbourne Station where there are direct train links into London Liverpool Street in just half an hour making it very appealing for commuters,” said Paul Bennet, Sales and Marketing Director at Chase New Homes. Offering an attractive medley of tranquillity and convenience, Broxbourne is situated near the River Lea and provides plenty to enjoy close to Scholars. Broxbourne High Road is a short walk away and offers a choice of local amenities, convenience stores, independent boutiques and cosy country pubs. When the working week is finished, enjoying time outdoors couldn’t be easier. Nearby River Lea offers a beautiful canal-side cycling route that takes residents into north London and beyond. National Nature Reserve Broxbourne Woods has more than 230 hectares to explore, Hertfordshire Golf and Country Club is a short drive from the development, or for a day trip out with a difference, the award-winning Paradise Wildlife Park is just two miles away. For those who need to commute, Scholars is well placed for easy travel by car or public transport. Regular services run into Stratford and London Liverpool Street, alongside Hertford East and Cambridge in the north, as well as links to Stanstead, Heathrow and Luton Airports. For those who prefer to commute by car, there is easy access to the A10, A414, M25 and M11.
Ecotek Homes and specialist investment group Gresham House are delighted to announce a new partnership focused on delivering high-quality and environmentally friendly homes in urban-fringe locations across the UK. The partnership will seek to deliver new single family homes across a mix of tenures, with a particular emphasis on the build-to-rent and shared ownership sectors. By maintaining a focus on fairly priced and high-quality homes, Gresham House and Ecotek are seeking to offer more affordable alternatives to the thousands of families that are priced out of the UK housing market. “Our ethos is based on years of research, experience and a desire to fix the UK’s broken housing market. Our partnership with Gresham House seeks to deliver over 1,000 new mixed-tenure, greener homes per year into the housing market, and together we aim to encourage a culture of innovation, accountability and positive change in the housing sector. With our first project commenced on site, we are already working to deliver on our ambitions,” said Stephen Haigh, CEO of Ecotek Homes. Initially focused on the North of England and the Midlands, this unique multi-tenure approach will prioritise sustainable homes and communities that will stand the test of time. The partnership’s vision is to develop healthier living environments that promote wellbeing through good design and management. The new homes will be constructed using modern construction techniques and methods that create less environmental waste. On average, the homes will use up to 50% less energy than a traditionally built home, decarbonising the construction cycle and reducing embodied and operational emissions. The partners have already acquired their first site in the North West, where work has commenced on-site in Gamesley, Glossop, to deliver the first 156 quality homes of mixed tenure, including build-to-rent, open market sale and affordable houses. The team is concurrently securing a healthy pipeline of additional suburban sites across the UK. “We are delighted to be working with Ecotek Homes to accelerate the delivery of high-quality, sustainable and affordable housing across the UK, which is bringing much needed consumer choice back to local communities. The exclusive framework agreement bolsters our multi-year track record of delivering high-quality and fairly priced build-to-rent developments in the UK. We are pleased to be partnering with Ecotek Homes, as the business is clearly aligned with our wider corporate vision to deliver positive financial, social and environmental returns for our investors,” added Joe Thomas, Investment Director at Gresham House. Avison Young brokered the partnership between Ecotek Homes and Gresham House.
CHAS, the supply-chain risk management expert, has become a registered signatory of Building a Safer Future scheme and is encouraging other members of the built environment sector to do the same. The Building a Safer Future Charter was launched in response to Dame Judith Hackitt’s review of building regulations and fire safety to instigate the cultural and behavioural changes required to achieve a safer building system. Signatories must make five commitments to prioritise safety first in the built environment. These include: Collaborate to spearhead culture change and be the voice of building safety across the sector. Be transparent in the interests of safety, sharing key information with residents, clients, contractors and statutory bodies in a useful and accessible manner in the design, construction and occupation phases of the process. Make safety a key factor of choice in who they work with, ensuring that building safety is placed at the centre of selection decisions without compromising quality or value for money. Ensure that the voices and safety of residents, visitors and employees are central to their decision-making process. Set out and communicate clear responsibilities within their organisation and with their partners, ensuring everyone with a stake in the building during design, construction and occupation understands their role and has the time and resources they need to achieve and maintain building safety. Any organisations or individuals who work in or have a professional connection or interest in the UK built environment can sign up to the Building a Safer Future Charter. It applies to any organisation involved in pre, during and post-construction activity (including maintenance and residential/community organisations). “As an authority and trusted advisor on health and safety compliance, responsible for setting industry benchmarks, CHAS is committed to the continuous improvement of health & safety standards in the UK. We therefore fully support the commitments set out in the Building a Safer Future Charter and actively encourage our contractors and other members of the construction community to do the same. The more widely the scheme is embraced, the more successful it will be in driving the culture change required to improve building safety,” commented CHAS Managing Director, Ian McKinnon.
Work is nearing completion on two housing developments in Shortstown, where all but a few homes have now been sold. Bellway is building 23 homes at Eastcotts Place – all of which have been reserved by buyers – and 163 homes at Eastcotts Green, of which just seven properties remain for sale. The last few properties at the Eastcotts Place developments in Shortstown will be handed over to their new owners in the coming weeks, while construction at Eastcotts Green is also nearly complete and will be finished early next year. The final homes available to buy at Eastcotts Green include a choice of four and five-bedroom detached houses, including two showhomes which are not yet on the market. They are still open for potential homebuyers to look around and will be the last plots to be released for sale. “Homes are certainly selling fast in Shortstown. It’s proving to be a popular place to live and there’s clearly a growing demand for new houses in this part of Bedfordshire. We’re looking forward to welcoming the final few homebuyers into their new properties at Eastcotts Place in the coming weeks, while things are moving quickly at Eastcotts Green too,” said Sales Director of Bellway Northern Home Counties, Luke Southgate. “Our showhomes are still open for viewing, so homebuyers who want to find out more and look around our house styles are most welcome to get in touch and make an appointment. There is a lot to look forward to as next year we will not only complete work on this development, but we will also start a whole new phase of construction within the wider neighbourhood at our New Cardington Fields development, to help meet the local housing need.” Bellway and Ashberry Homes, which is part of the Bellway Group, are to launch two new developments on the consortium site next year. New Cardington Fields will be built by Bellway and New Cardington Gate will be built by Ashberry. The final homes available to reserve at Eastcotts Green are a choice of four and five-bedroom detached houses, with prices starting from £475,000. The two showhomes yet to be released are the four-bedroom Nene and Misbourne house types.
An employee from one of the Midland’s largest social landlords has been honoured with a prestigious apprenticeship award. Ellie Steel from Platform Housing Group won Worcestershire’s Apprentice of the Year at The Worcestershire Apprenticeships Awards earlier this month. The annual event organised by The Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership held the virtual awards ceremony to recognise the hard work of both apprentices and their trainers and honour them with the prestigious apprenticeship award. “I am absolutely over the moon to have won this award! I work at Platform as an Apprentice and Qualifications Administrator and thoroughly enjoy my job. I am motivated and mentored and am proud to work for Platform. I would like to thank everyone who continues to help me along my journey,” said Ellie. Platform’s apprenticeship strategy focuses on embedding apprentices into its core business, recognising their value and supporting and coaching them beyond the completion of the apprenticeship. It’s strategic recruitment process brings a huge range of apprentices into the business, from aged 16 up to 45, in both office and trades positions. The company works with 20 training providers with an overall aim of 10 per cent of its workforce working towards an apprenticeship. “We are all so proud of Ellie; winning this award is testimony to everything about her! Her commitment and contribution is second to none. Ellie always seeks to develop her skills and learning; her energy and engaging style is infectious! She always handles challenges with a smile and champions apprentices both inside and outside work. Importantly, Ellie has played a critical role in developing our apprenticeship strategy, something she should be immensely proud of. Well done Ellie,” commented Linda Gittings, Apprenticeships and Qualifications Manger at Platform Housing Group. The Worcestershire Apprenticeships Partnerships was set up in 2015 by Worcestershire County Council and Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership – or LEP – to recognise the important part apprenticeships play in planning for the future of business and employment within the county. The awards are now in their 6th year.
According to the Government’s UK House Price Index data, buying homes in Hampshire rather than neighbouring and more costly Surrey, could save buyers as much as £135,500, as property prices drop by up to 30% as you move across the county line. Savvy buyers looking to make the most of the more affordable county should look no further than Bellway’s fabulous development, Sky Plaza, centrally based in Farnborough. Hampshire is also one of the Counties that will soon be enjoying faster internet as the Government rolls out a five billion broadband upgrade plan. This investment known as Project Gigabit is good news for those looking to move and will dramatically improve internet speeds, making working from home even more streamlined. “With the community set to benefit from improved internet capability, Bellway is delighted to offer properties in an area that will profit from the government’s investment. Our three-bedroom family homes could provide the perfect work/home balance by being ideally located on the Hampshire and Surrey border. Great connection links to London and the option to explore wonderful local towns and villages present families with endless opportunities to make memories in a beautiful part of the country. We now have the Lancaster, a beautiful three bedroom showhome available to view at Sky Plaza and would urge people to get in touch and book an appointment,” comments Emma Jones, Sales and Marketing Director at Bellway Thames Valley. The Lancaster showcases impressive interiors and would make the perfect family home, plus the property is available with the Government led help to buy scheme where only 5% deposit is needed for first-time buyers. This home boasts an impressive open plan kitchen and dining area that will be the beating heart of a family home, with elegant French doors to the garden. Upstairs includes a modern family bathroom, plus two double bedrooms and a single, with a contemporary en suite to bedroom one.
