The latest research from Warwick Estates, has created a guide to buying a leasehold home in 2022, explaining exactly what a leasehold is while analysing the pros and cons of leasehold ownership. What is a leasehold? A leasehold contract means the purchaser owns everything that sits within the four walls
A £1.5bn home building fund offering loans to SMEs to help them deliver 42,000 new houses across the country has received a lukewarm response from the construction industry. The National Federation of Builders, NFB, has said the loan scheme would only be of any use if smaller housebuilders could borrow
In a move that will enable the delivery of c.450 new homes, 40,000 sq ft of commercial space and enhanced passenger facilities, LCR and Network Rail have commenced on the sale of a 7.4-acre site adjacent to Hemel Hempstead railway station. The site’s proximity to the station gives it unrivalled
Chestnut Homes has released the first homes at its latest development in Wyberton onto the market. The houses at The Farmstead are part of a wider neighbourhood of up to 200 homes, called Heron Park, being built off Wyberton Low Road. Heron Park will include public open space covering almost
LEADING national house builder, Lovell, has set roots in the region with the opening of its dedicated East Midlands office. Located in Derby’s Pride Park, the property giant’s new office cements its commitment to a successful future working with the region to meet housing needs. Following the success in securing
Pension Insurance Corporation plc (“PIC”), a specialist insurer of defined benefit pension funds, has completed a £130 million investment in Wirral Waters One (“WWO”), the cornerstone residential scheme for the broader development of Peel L&P’s Wirral Waters, a 500-acre brownfield site and former dockland. Regeneration specialists Peel L&P has launched
In November 2021, Housebuilder and Developer magazine1 conducted a survey across the UK housebuilding sector on the Future Homes Standard (FHS). Its findings revealed only 13% of housebuilders fully-understood the new standard, whilst 51% stated their buyers were unaware it even existed. The survey also showed the vast majority of
Plans have been submitted to regenerate a brownfield site in the centre of Hemel Hempstead with 56 new homes and a purpose-built headquarters for homeless charity, DENS. On behalf of Dacorum Borough Council, multi-disciplinary design practice, rg+p has designed and submitted plans for a complete redevelopment of the Paradise Depot
Natural slate experts SSQ are marking 30 years of collaboration with world-renowned Spanish slate quarry Del Carmen. It was in 1992 that SSQ founder Ahmed El-Helw first met with Del Carmen’s owners in his search for the finest quality slate Spain had to offer. It wasn’t long before he realised
Scottish, family-run housebuilder Muir Homes, part of the Muir Group, launches the final phase of luxury homes at its exclusive development at Castlebank next week. Treetopsis the final phase to be released at this highly sought after private development in Inverclyde which will provide 17 luxury new homes. The development
The latest research from Warwick Estates, has created a guide to buying a leasehold home in 2022, explaining exactly what a leasehold is while analysing the pros and cons of leasehold ownership. What is a leasehold? A leasehold contract means the purchaser owns everything that sits within the four walls of the home, but does not own the land surrounding the home, the ground below it nor the sky above it. When buying a flat, for example, it’s almost guaranteed that the purchase will be a leasehold agreement because a building owner or landlord continues to own the other flats in the block. Furthermore, a leasehold, unlike a freehold, is not permanent, there is a limited timeline of ownership, otherwise known as the term of the lease. This lease is often hundreds of years long, but once it expires, ownership of the lease transfers back to the freeholder. For context, in 2021, leasehold purchases accounted for just 18.9% of all property transactions in England & Wales, with freeholds making up the remaining 81.1%. What are the advantages of a leasehold? With absolute ownership out of the question, why would anyone want a buy leasehold instead of a freehold? First, a leasehold property is often cheaper than a freehold because of the lack of outright ownership it provides. and the leaseholder is often not responsible for paying for the general upkeep of communal areas in the buildings such as corridors and stairways. But leaseholds are rarely purchased for their advantages over freehold, more because leaseholds are essential when buying a flat in a tall building of flats and have, as such, become increasingly popular as we see urban areas developing vertically rather than horizontally. What are the disadvantages of buying a leasehold property? The truth is that leaseholds are often a necessity rather than a choice and there are significant downsides of leasehold ownership. First, a lease is only held for a limited amount of time – ownership will, one day, expire. Second, a leaseholder is often expected to pay significant fees to the freeholder/landlord in order to contribute to the upkeep of communal space, for example, and for essential repairs to the building. A leasehold also tends to limit the amount of changes the owner can make to their home and permission is often required from the freeholder. If not, a leasehold can be stripped. This lack of freedom can also extend to things like pet ownership, or running a business from home, or sub-letting to third-party. Finally, when a leasehold starts running out, it can be very difficult to find a buyer for the property so the opportunity to benefit from capital gain is small. And, since the Grenfell Tower tragedy in 2007, the external cladding scandal has added a further level of complexity for flat owners to break free of their leasehold contracts. What happens at the end of a leasehold property? It is often the case that the end of a leasehold is not something any owner needs to worry about. Often, a leasehold will be for 999 years in order to make it a more attractive agreement for buyers. Many vendors will suggest that a 999-year leasehold is ‘as good as a freehold’, but such sentiment tends to ignore all of the potential downsides listed above. If, however, the lease does expire, the ownership of the property reverts back to the freeholder and it is theirs to do what they want with. But, one can ask for an extension to the leasehold. In fact, once a person has owned a leasehold home for two years, they will often have the right to extend the lease by 90 years.
A £1.5bn home building fund offering loans to SMEs to help them deliver 42,000 new houses across the country has received a lukewarm response from the construction industry. The National Federation of Builders, NFB, has said the loan scheme would only be of any use if smaller housebuilders could borrow prior to gaining planning permission. NFB housing and planning policy head Rico Wojtulewicz said: “The government has promised this level of funding previously but as it has not understood the planning and lending process, so the money has not gone in the right places such as the southeast where there are more barriers to gaining planning permission despite acute housing shortage need.” The new fund is part of the government’s initiative to rebalance the economy more equally outside London outlined in its Levelling Up white paper to be released next week. Levelling up secretary Michael Gove said: “We are on a mission to regenerate the nation, transforming derelict areas in our towns and cities into thriving places people are proud to live and work in.” Former industrial revolution hotspots to benefit Wolverhampton and Sheffield are among 20 places to benefit from the government’s £1.5bn brownfield fund to transform derelict sites in town and city centres. Homes England will spearhead the £4.8 bn levelling up fund partnering with local leaders, the private sector and community groups to deliver new housing and associated infrastructure. Homes England chair Peter Freeman said: “Our expanded mandate will allow us to further support ambitious local leaders in delivering placemaking and regeneration alongside a wide range of public and private sector partners.” Seven mayoral combined authorities in the North and Midlands are to receive £120m to deliver 7,800 homes on disused brownfield land. The councils receiving the funds are the West Midlands, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, Liverpool, South Yorkshire, North of Tyne and Tees Valley. A further £30m is to go to Greater Manchester, Tees Valley and West Midlands combined authorities to regenerate disused brownfield land. And £8m from the brownfield land release fund will go to 13 councils to release land for a further 898 homes. Property finance brokers Hank Zarihs Associates said investment to make derelict land easier to build on with sites earmarked for SME housebuilders would be welcomed by development finance lenders.
In a move that will enable the delivery of c.450 new homes, 40,000 sq ft of commercial space and enhanced passenger facilities, LCR and Network Rail have commenced on the sale of a 7.4-acre site adjacent to Hemel Hempstead railway station. The site’s proximity to the station gives it unrivalled connectivity and transport links, and it sits close to key local amenities, including supermarkets, restaurants and cafés, leisure facilities, schools and nurseries. It also backs onto Blackbirds Moor, a popular walking destination, part of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and home to the Box Moor Cricket Club. Andrew Ferguson, regional director at LCR, said: “After much hard work over the past 24 months, we’re excited to have reached this next key project milestone as we implement our masterplan and bring the site to market. Coupling easy access to London with open green spaces and high-quality community assets, this site represents an unmissable opportunity to unlock new homes, commercial space and public value”. JLL has been instructed to support the selection of a development partner. Sajaad Ahmad, director at JLL, said: “We are delighted to bring such an exciting opportunity to the market and are seeking for a partner who shares LCR and Network Rail’s vision and ambition for creating a new vibrant residential community in Hemel Hempstead.” LCR and Network Rail formed a partnership in 2018 to identify opportunities to free up underutilised land for residential development at and around stations across the rail network. The two organisations will work alongside landowners to pool or acquire the critical mass of land required for new development at every station, before securing planning and bringing opportunities to market alongside other key government agencies, including Homes England. The partnership recognises the importance of a collaborative process in creating new, market-ready opportunities. Bringing together the unique and complementary skillsets of the public, private, rail and real estate sectors is key to unlocking development across these often-complex brownfield sites.
Chestnut Homes has released the first homes at its latest development in Wyberton onto the market. The houses at The Farmstead are part of a wider neighbourhood of up to 200 homes, called Heron Park, being built off Wyberton Low Road. Heron Park will include public open space covering almost a third of the 19-acre site. Helene Key, Sales Manager for Chestnut Homes, said: “Four of the nine spacious, detached homes at The Farmstead have now been released for sale. “This development includes an exclusive range of large four-bedroom homes, all of which feature garages and spacious rear gardens offering plenty of outdoor space. “Chestnut Homes has a proud track record of delivering new housing in Lincolnshire for more than three decades, and these nine homes at The Farmstead are a continuation of that commitment. The homes will be built in a traditional style that complements the character of the local area and the rural setting. “Construction work is progressing well at the site, with the first homes due to be completed and ready for buyers to move in by August. “The Farmstead is ideally located in a peaceful village location, just three miles from Boston town centre and its wide range of shops and other amenities. Given the exclusive nature of the development, there has been a great deal of interest in these new homes, and I would encourage anyone interested to get in touch with us as soon as they can.” Four homes are currently available to purchase at The Farmstead, with prices from £289,950. For more information about the homes available, visit chestnuthomes.co.uk.
LEADING national house builder, Lovell, has set roots in the region with the opening of its dedicated East Midlands office. Located in Derby’s Pride Park, the property giant’s new office cements its commitment to a successful future working with the region to meet housing needs. Following the success in securing opportunities in the East Midlands, Lovell has positioned itself with a strong pipeline of projects and a brand-new office that will accommodate a dedicated regional team. Chris Timmins, East Midlands area director for Lovell, said: “Our new Derby office has been a long time in the making and we are thrilled to be able to open it. I’m excited to be building on the success that we have seen in creating high-quality housing provision across the East Midlands over the past 18 months. We recognise the need for long-term partnerships in the region, in collaboration with local authorities and organisations to ensure housing demands are met. “With the opening of this office, we are demonstrating our commitment to the area and in creating the all-important long-lasting relationships that will make a meaningful impact to the communities in which we work, as opposed to being a hands-off developer.” The new East Midlands team will be headed up by Chris Timmins, which is strengthened further under the leadership of regional managing director, Stuart Penn. Chris will also be supported by regional partnership director Simon Wingate, Beth Bundonis, commercial manager, Tim Mansell, Operation manager, Gareth Bevan, pre-contract manager and Lewis Charity, technical manager. Chris said: “We are proud to have built such a strong team to provide our services at the new regional office. We are the only developer in the country to offer full spectrum housing capabilities, from refurbishment projects through to multi-tenure, partnership schemes, which is why it was essential to create a team that can deliver this full scope to the East Midlands.” The office has been designed as a sustainable business unit, with employee and client wellbeing at the forefront. Lovell’s sister company, Overbury, led the interior fit out to create a bright and modern space to work. Lovell operates as a company under the leading UK construction brand, Morgan Sindall, whose national presence will support Lovell’s ambitious goals for the region. Chris concluded: “Looking to the future, we’re energised by the current and potential opportunities available. We are confident in our capabilities to make a real impact, working alongside the right regional and national companies to support the East Midlands in achieving its housing goals.” Lovell instructed property consultants, Harris Lamb, to identify a suitable property to site a head office in the region as part of its continuing expansion, and thanks to the relocation of its previous tenant, the team was able to secure one of the most prestigious office buildings in the city’s business district. David Walton, head of retail for Harris Lamb, said 5 Riverside Court is one of the most prestigious stand-alone office buildings of its kind on Pride Park and makes a fitting regional base for the business. The building is fitted out to a high specification, and has 18 on-site parking spaces for employees, as well as being located at the heart of the region to enable convenient access to the business’ development sites within the East Midlands and to its other UK offices.” For more information, please visit https://www.lovell.co.uk/
Pension Insurance Corporation plc (“PIC”), a specialist insurer of defined benefit pension funds, has completed a £130 million investment in Wirral Waters One (“WWO”), the cornerstone residential scheme for the broader development of Peel L&P’s Wirral Waters, a 500-acre brownfield site and former dockland. Regeneration specialists Peel L&P has launched a 30-year strategy which will see the site become the largest regeneration project in the UK, creating up to 20,000 permanent jobs. Wirral Waters is supported by central Government as a key part of its levelling up strategy. Working in close partnership with Peel L&P and Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council (“WMBC”), PIC is the sole investor for the development of a Build-to-Rent scheme, comprising 500 one- and two-bedroom apartments, with an affordable housing component of 100 homes. Rents on the affordable units will be a maximum of 80% of open market value, delivering significant social impact. The project will transform the brownfield site into a sustainable location for local and international businesses, creating more than 20,000 permanent jobs for the Liverpool City region, as well as offering a breadth of new housing opportunities. Wirral Waters was designated Enterprise Zone status in 2011 and has been supported by Homes England. The Build-to-Rent development will use a long-term, regeneration lease structure, providing funding for WMBC which would not have been available from traditional structures, whilst generating the secure long-term cashflows which allow PIC to match its pension payments decades into the future. WWO brings together an ideal partnership of a long-term investor, a highly experienced developer, and a forward-thinking local authority to generate considerable social value, including: One in five apartments to be designated as affordable housing units, with rents set at a maximum of 80% of open market value. All buildings across the Wirral Waters regeneration project are targeting BREEAM Excellent, including WWO, as well as significant bio-diversity improvements with the planting of more than 1,600 trees so far. WWO will use a range of energy efficiency and low carbon technologies to reduce carbon emissions, including solar power systems, air source heat pumps, and electric vehicle charging points. The Peel L&P delivery team will continue to engage with the Wirral Met College’s construction students for site visits, seminars, work experience and apprenticeships, enabling the students to benefit from experience on the project as we seek to create the construction workforce of the future. Sustainable Urban Drainage to manage surface water from the site into the Docks through the provision of rain gardens, climate tolerant planting and tree pits designed to accommodate a 1 in 100-year storm. James Whitaker, Executive Director of Development at Peel L&P, said: “This project is a great example of partnership working that will not only deliver this development but will act as a model for other schemes in the future. The combination of an experienced regeneration company, a long-term investor, and a progressive local authority will deliver real value for all our collective stakeholders.” Hayley Rees, Head of Investment Strategy at Pension Insurance Corporation, said: “Our investment in WWO is another step in the development of our purposeful investment strategy and ultimately is a model for how long-term investors can play a key role in the levelling up agenda. We need secure long-term cashflows to back the pensions of our 300,000 policyholders and so seek to invest in assets with a high degree of social value, because what makes sense for society helps us achieve our purpose over decades.” Councillor Tony Jones, Chair of Wirral Council’s Economy, Regeneration & Development Committee, said: “Already this year with this announcement we are seeing another major step forward for Wirral’s Left Bank with the delivery of this latest significant development. “The council has worked closely with both Peel L&P and PIC to bring forward this project which will be delivering jobs and affordable housing for people in Wirral. “With Peel L&P taking the occupational and delivery risks, this Build to Rent development will be able to provide a long term revenue income stream to the local authority which could support wider service delivery and future investment. It is also another key moment in the continuing wider regeneration in the borough, tying in with the work well underway in Birkenhead to drive forward the town’s renaissance and showing the increasing confidence of investors in the plans for Wirral’s future.”
In November 2021, Housebuilder and Developer magazine1 conducted a survey across the UK housebuilding sector on the Future Homes Standard (FHS). Its findings revealed only 13% of housebuilders fully-understood the new standard, whilst 51% stated their buyers were unaware it even existed. The survey also showed the vast majority of builders claim the government had not done enough to prepare the industry and members of the public for the standard’s potential impact. So, what can be done to bridge the knowledge gap about the coming measures? Designed to help the UK government fulfil its net-zero greenhouse gas emissions pledge by 2050, the Future Homes Standard sets the parameters for new housing to produce 75-80% less carbon emissions than 1990 levels. It means from 2025, gas boilers will not be permitted to heat new homes, which will be required to be future-proofed in order to use the electricity grid as a means of decarbonisation. This will encourage housebuilders to install electricity-only heat pumps or other adoptive technology. The new measures will also tighten standards for already-built homes in relation to extensions, replacements and repairs. This is intended to save energy, make homes warmer, and reduce fuel bills. Do new standards come at a cost? So, what do these new measures mean for builders? The FHS highlights a need for improving energy standards of a building’s fabric through correctly specified and installed insulation, but the construction industry as a whole must come to a general consensus as to how to achieve the future standard with the materials and renewables available to them. As outlined in the Housebuilder and Developer survey, one issue most respondents were agreed upon was the inevitability of the new measures incurring additional build costs, which it was assumed would be priced in as part of a house sale. Measures to improve living standards Tighter building regulations are set to be introduced via the FHS. Measures include contractors being required to take photographs as part of a more stringent on-site monitoring process. The pictures will be passed to homeowners, with the aim of giving them a better understanding of how the as-built energy calculation of their property was carried out. Such procedures could help improve living standards – an issue Recticel is seeking to address through its membership of the National Home Improvement Council (NHIC). The non-profit organisation was set up nearly 50 years ago to promote the benefits of safe and sustainable homes as a means of creating comfortable, affordable interiors. This is particularly aimed at occupants facing fuel poverty, a threat that’s been exacerbated for many households nationwide due to the current worldwide rise in energy prices. The NHIC endorses taking a fabric-first approach to improving a property’s thermal performance, as does another high-profile industry body which counts Recticel as a member: the Sustainable Energy Association (SEA). With a membership comprising retailers, manufacturers, regulators and housing providers, all of which are committed to energy-saving measures, the SEA aims to combine building-level technologies and the wider energy system to achieve a secure, low-carbon future for the UK. Sustainable benefits of innovative PIR solution With its manufacture of Eurowall+, Recticel has created a solution that fulfils the most important criteria – namely thermal performance, as well as speed and ease of installation – when specifying insulation for its all-round sustainability. The rigid full-fill PIR board is the first of its kind to feature a tongue-and-groove joint on all four edges, an innovative detail that makes it capable of achieving a U-value of 0.18 W/m2K in a traditional 100mm masonry cavity wall. Its beneficial size, coupled with its improved airtightness from the tongue and groove joint, means Eurowall+ extracts more performance compared to typical partial-fill solutions without widening the footprint of the external wall. The 10mm air gap, which is created by a 90mm Eurowall+ PIR board achieving a U-value of 0.18 W/m2K in a traditional 100mm masonry cavity wall, makes for a more convenient fit for bricklayers when it comes to applying the insulation. This speeds-up installation times, thus reduces labour costs and time spent on site. Domestic thermal efficiency pays-off in the long-term The Housebuilder and Developer Magazine survey revealed that 25% of its customers considered issues concerning reducing the carbon footprint of homes of little-to-no interest. Additionally, 43% said it was a small factor to buyers. Survey respondents said improved government engagement through TV, social media or via the post was key to persuading the public that energy-efficient homes pay dividends in the long-term. In the UK, the financial benefits of owning a property that has sufficient thermal protection will soon be felt, with fuel costs expected to soar due to the global increase in the wholesale price of gas and energy supplies. In terms of enforcement, the FHS will comprise a series of amendments to Part F (ventilation) and Part L (conservation of fuel and power) of the Building Regulations for non-domestic buildings and dwellings; and overheating in new residential buildings. The legislation will be there in black and white which if followed correctly, will contribute to a greener environment for future generations to enjoy.
Plans have been submitted to regenerate a brownfield site in the centre of Hemel Hempstead with 56 new homes and a purpose-built headquarters for homeless charity, DENS. On behalf of Dacorum Borough Council, multi-disciplinary design practice, rg+p has designed and submitted plans for a complete redevelopment of the Paradise Depot site, which is located off St Albans Road, east of the town centre. Currently occupied by the DENS office and foodbank as well as other commercial/industrial premises, the intention is for the site to become an asset for the town. “Paradise Depot occupies a central location within Hemel Hempstead; there are plenty of amenities nearby, it’s easily accessible by public transport and is bordered by a public park so is entirely suited for a modern, mixed-use development,” explains Grant Giblett, the project’s lead and rg+p’s director. “Our design has sought to create a real sense of place, not just somewhere to live and work, but an attractive, sustainable environment that will wholly benefit the community.” rg+p’s design proposes a two-storey building to better serve DENS’ needs, comprising ground floor foodbank and bike workshop together with first floor community café, office space, kitchen and multi-functional meeting rooms. A shared surface unites this building with a new apartment block of 56 one and two bedroom homes. Cycle and scooter storage, car parking, residents’ garden and additional landscaping is also incorporated into the overall design. Each apartment has a private balcony and a proportion will be built to accessible standards. Hemel Hempstead’s distinctive local vernacular has heavily influenced the proposed material palette. The concept for the apartment building references the Old Townscape’s Tudor heritage and will feature a blend of red and dark brickwork with hit and miss detailing and a rusticated plinth. Contrastingly, the new DENS centre will have a predominantly darker appearance with black frame windows and rainscreen cladding. However, the foodbank entrance is designed as a focal point and will feature decorative tiling inspired by Hertfordshire Puddingstone. Unique to the area, Puddingstone traditionally has a subtle and muted exterior but when cut, it has vibrant orange, brown and blue hues, meaning this façade will look both striking and individual. Grant added: “The local architecture has offered plenty of inspiration and we’re confident these new buildings will complement the townscape. More importantly, they will deliver essential homes and services for some of the most vulnerable people in the community. Having worked with Dacorum Borough Council for several years, we fully understand their ambitions, especially regarding repurposing brownfield sites and avoiding greenbelt development. “We extensively modelled Paradise Depot to maximise the number of new homes, which I’m pleased to say delivers beyond the original expectation without compromising on space standards for residents. We understand a formal consultation process is due to begin shortly and are hopeful a positive outcome from this application will follow,” concluded Grant. Cllr. Margaret Griffiths, portfolio holder for housing at Dacorum Borough Council added: “We are delighted to be working with rg+p again, this time on the design of 56 new homes that will be available for social rent through our housing register. Having worked with them on other local developments, we are confident that the design will integrate well with the existing neighbouring architecture and provide apartments that our residents will be proud to call home. Alongside this, they have also developed plans for a new centre for DENS, which will provide the charity with a modern space to continue to deliver essential community services, such as the food bank. “The new homes, being developed on a brownfield site, will help us reach our target to build 350 new council homes by 2026. Being located close to the town, residents will also benefit from being within walking distance of amenities, open spaces and excellent transport links.” Paradise Depot is rg+p’s third affordable housing scheme for Dacorum Borough Council in Hemel Hempstead, following the award-winning Kylna Court and Magenta Court. Two further sites, also in the town, are currently in development.
Natural slate experts SSQ are marking 30 years of collaboration with world-renowned Spanish slate quarry Del Carmen. It was in 1992 that SSQ founder Ahmed El-Helw first met with Del Carmen’s owners in his search for the finest quality slate Spain had to offer. It wasn’t long before he realised he’d found what he’d been looking for. When it came to its aesthetics, durability and all-round performance, the slate produced by Del Carmen was among the best he’d ever seen, as Ahmed explains. “As quarries go, Del Carmen had it all – uncompromising quality standards, decades of expertise, and the most stunning blue-black slate with the longevity to last up to a century. “However, it wasn’t as simple as placing an order. Like any quarry, Del Carmen only had a limited amount of material they could supply, and any slate they gave to me was slate they couldn’t supply elsewhere. “I had to convince them to put their faith in me – a young businessman operating in a country they’d never supplied to before. But I’m delighted to say they did. “We trusted and respected each other from the very beginning – so much so that, when our agreement was finally made, it was with a handshake. Thirty years on, we’ve still never signed a formal contract.” In the decades since that first meeting in Spain, SSQ has used outstanding Del Carmen slate to roof thousands of buildings all around the world, with the material often handpicked by architects for its distinctive, faintly-rippled texture, deep blue-black colour and longitudinal grain. “I’ll always be hugely grateful to Del Carmen’s owners for all their support and friendship,” Ahmed continues. “Without them, SSQ wouldn’t be the business it is today. “Later in 2022, we’re hoping to travel out to Spain to celebrate properly with our friends at Del Carmen, and look forward to the next thirty years of cooperation.”www.ssqgroup.com/
Scottish, family-run housebuilder Muir Homes, part of the Muir Group, launches the final phase of luxury homes at its exclusive development at Castlebank next week. Treetopsis the final phase to be released at this highly sought after private development in Inverclyde which will provide 17 luxury new homes. The development offers a mix of high specification two, three and four bedroom detached and semi-detached homes on a stunning hilltop location with unparalleled views across the Clyde Estuary, Loch Gare and Loch Long. Among the house styles available at the Treetops is the Wemyss, a beautifully designed four bedroom detached home with a spacious lounge overlooking the generous garden area. There is also the three bedroom semi detached Kinkell style with its open plan kitchen and dining room – providing the perfect centre-piece for family life – and French doors connecting to the garden at the back of the property. All properties have a master bedroom with an en-suite and electric vehicle charging points are available on site. Castlebank, the Tree Tops is superbly located and benefits from quick access to the M8 motorway. Glasgow International Airport, Braehead shopping centre and a range of supermarkets are only a 10-minute drive from the development. There are also various preschools and primary schools in the area making it the perfect choice for growing families as well as first time buyers and downsizers. The final phase of the development is due to officially launch this weekend. Ash Sheikh, Sales and Marketing Director for Muir Homes said: “We are delighted to be launching the final phase of luxury homes at our Castlebank development following the remarkable sales success at the development to date. These thoughtfully designed homes are spacious and with their second to none hilltop location and accessible commuter links to Glasgow, we anticipate huge demand from homebuyers at Treetops.” The new homes are designed by multi-award winning EMA Architects. To find out more about Tree Tops, visit www.muirhomes.co.uk or call the sales team on 01475 742149.
