Humber investment boosts Hull's potential for new homes buyers

With the government's announcement this week of a £104m investment package for the Humber region, an increasing number of business leaders and investors are likely to start recognising Hull and the wider Humber region as an important national asset.

The funding will support a number of key infrastructure issues, including transport improvements such as the electrification of rail lines to Hull, and access to Humberside Airport - ensuring the region benefits from better connections to national and international markets.

A number of housebuilders are already bringing new homes to the city of Hull and surrounding suburbs. Keepmoat, for example, has created a relatively large development called Scholars Gate, situated just two miles west of the city centre on the former Riley College site. Offering nearly 350 new homes priced from £90,396, including two-, three- and four-bedroom properties, Scholars Gate offers options to suit both first time buyers and families. The development is made up of eleven styles of homes, creating diverse street scenes, and there are plenty of local amenities close by, as well as easy access to the A63 and M62 for commuters.

Named after 1930s pioneering Hull aviator Amy Johnson, Keepmoat's The Hawthornes @ Amy Johnson is also made up of two-, three- and four-bedroom family homes, interspersed with plenty of open spaces. Many homes incorporate energy-saving features to make them very economical to run, and all the properties aim to offer spacious, airy living accommodation with large bedrooms. Prices start at £83,196, and with the government's Help to Buy scheme buyers who are struggling to save up a substantial deposit could reduce the amount required to as little as 5% of the property's overall price. A 20% equity loan, which is interest-free for five years, means buyers using the Help to Buy scheme also only need to secure a 75% mortgage.

Less than five miles from the centre at the heart of the popular Kingswood Parks area, Beal Homes has released The Village II, a collection of contemporary one-, two- and three-bedroom homes on a development that has a vibrant atmosphere and incorporates a whole host of brand new amenities -- such as a primary school, a pharmacy, a medical centre and a village green. Ideal for families, with plenty of shops and entertainment nearby, buyers have the option to alter layouts to create their own bespoke interior, and Beal promises that many luxuries that buyers might expect to be offered as 'extras' are included as standard. Commuters can quickly access the A1079 to get to Beverley and York, while there are also excellent road links into the city centre.

Now in the early stages of development, Barratt Homes' Liberty Green is a collection of 112 new three- and four-bedroom houses in a popular location on Chamberlain Road, less than three miles from the centre of Hull. Priced from £144,995 to £211,995, the new homes are set in landscaped grounds with green views over well-kept rugby pitches.

Four miles north east of the centre near Sutton Park Golf Club, Bellway's Princess Royal Park incorporates 103 three- and four-bedroom homes built in eight different styles. Priced from £149,995 to £232,995, phase two has now been released and homes are selling quickly. Various purchase assistance schemes are available, including Stress Free Move (a part exchange scheme) and the government-backed Help to Buy scheme.