New Homes Round-Up: What House and Where?

Up and down the country new home developers are working hard to increase the supply of new build houses and flats, including more affordable homes, in an attempt to meet the unabated demand for housing in Britain. What House? takes a look at who is building what and where? Here is a round-up of what has happened in the new homes sector in the past few days:

New homes in West Midlands
In response to greater demand for starter homes in West Midlands, fresh plans for a new phase of properties have been released at Barratt West Midlands' Merryfields development on Moor Street in Brierley Hill.

This new phase of new homes at Merryfields will now offer a selection of one-bedroom coachouses and three-bedroom houses, appealing to first-time buyers, professionals and young families, according to the housebuilder. Prices start from £79,950.

Graydon Worthing, Sales Director for Barratt West Midlands commented: "Three-bedroom houses are one of our most popular house types and it was a logical decision to offer more of these types of homes in areas where there is high demand."

New homes in East Lothian
Planning consent for the construction of 130 new homes at Dunbar's Hallhill Farm, East Lothian, has been approved. Construction work is expected to get underway in August.

The new build home development will include 78 detached new homes, 12 semi-detached and 40 terraced houses, as well as internal access roads, parking courts, landscaped open space, play areas and a pond.

New homes in Maidstone
Housebuilder Morgan Restoration has launched a unique collection of new homes in Maidstone, The Boatyard, which overlooks the River Medway, with completion scheduled for the next few weeks.

Located just off Wharf Road and within easy reach of the town centre, The Boatyard features nine three-bedroom new build houses and one exclusive one-bedroom house, with prices starting from £210,000.

New homes in Essex
Peninsula, a new build home development in Dovercourt, Essex, is attracting prospective buyers from all around the country seeking more relaxed living in a coastal location, according to the new build home developer behind the project, Taylor Wimpey.

The residential scheme has attracted buyers from as far afield as Enfield, Middlesex, 80 miles away. Prices strat from £162,995.

Stacy Dornan, associate sales and marketing director for Taylor Wimpey East Anglia, says: "The fact that our newest purchasers have travelled so far to make their home at Peninsula speaks volumes about the wide-ranging appeal of this popular and well-located development of property for sale in Dovercourt.

"Peninsula is ideal for those looking to leave behind the stresses of city living and enjoy a more peaceful lifestyle on the picturesque north-east Essex coast."

New home in Bristol
A new-look show apartment in north Bristol, which apparently captures the contemporary architecture and high specification interiors featured in the latest phase of properties at Tallsticks, near Filton, will open for viewing this Saturday. Prices start from £141,995 for a two-bedroom ‘Pensford' apartment.

Part of the Cheswick urban village, Redrow's new phase features 136 new properties, including one and two-bedroom apartments and two, three and four-bedroom homes.

The new homes are being built to Level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, which means they include special features designed to keep water and energy usage to a minimum; this will hopefully translate into lower bills for home owners.

New homes in South Wales
Redrow is also actively pushing new homes for sale in South Wales by offering to first-time buyers a 5% gifted deposit to help them secure a new build home at Cwm Calon, in Ystrad Mynach.

The offer is worth at least £5,600 to customers, and applies to two and three-bedroom properties like the two-bedroom ‘Tredomen' home, currently available from £112,000.

Luly Brice, area sales manager for Redrow Homes (South Wales), said: "At Redrow we understand that buying a home, particularly your first, is a big step. We also recognise that in the current climate it is particularly tough, so Redrow is helping to make buying a home more affordable with its 5% gifted deposit scheme."

New London home developer
Finally, London Square, a major new home developer, has been launched to take advantage of the recovery of the UK's housebuilding industry.

Around £100m of capital will be provided for the new company, which is backed by leading mid-market private equity group, Graphite Capital.

London Square will be led by Adam Lawrence, former regional chairman of Barratt London & Thames Gateway. The company's plan is to reach a target of building over 600 new homes annually within the next five years, with the aim of becoming one of London's top housebuilders.

The developer will focus on prime sites in key locations within the M25 and Greater London, where housing demand significantly outstrips supply. New home developments will range in size and will include both private and affordable housing and prices will range from £200,000 to £1.5m.

Lawrence said: "The London and south east housing markets are showing signs of recovery, and there remains a strong pipeline of new opportunities, including distressed land sales from financial and government institutions."