The cathedral city of Peterborough is one of East Anglia’s most prominent commercial and residential centres, with a multi-million poundregeneration programme reinforcing its position and attracting growing numbers of people to its employment and housing opportunities.
The city’s geographical location and excellent transport links are major factors in its appeal to businesses, with significant road and rail links into the Midlands, the North and London as well as East Anglian cities such as Norwich and Cambridge, and Stansted Airport (about 70-80 minutes away by car or a regular direct rail route).
The fastest East Coast Main Line trains run direct from Peterborough’s station to London King’s Cross in little more than 50 minutes, making it a realistic commuter option for some, despite being some 80 miles north of the capital and with a basic season ticket costing over £6,300. Value-for-money might justify the cost of the commute for many, when comparing property prices in London suburbs to the size of property a smaller budget will secure in Peterborough, and its proximity to miles of attractive countryside.
Peterborough’s Draft Housing Strategy predicts a population growth of around 44,000 in and around Peterborough between 2011 and 2036, with a subsequent need in a revised Local Plan for over 27,000 new homes, more than 1,000 every year. The strategy is to mix the building between Peterborough itself and a number of large and small villages surrounding it, with the area just to the south of the city seeing the most new homes planned.
Among the new homes for sale in and around Peterborough now are:
Larkfleet Homes is a major regional housebuilder in the East Midlands and East Anglia, and it currently has three developments under way in and around Peterborough. Hempsted Park currently has two- and three-bedroom homes available, priced from £159,995 and with Help to Buy an option. The site is just south of central Peterborough, combining proximity to the city’s amenities with convenient access to major road links and countryside.
A range of two-, three- and four-bedroom houses is now for sale at Whittlesey Green, on the outskirts of the village east of Peterborough itself. Whittlesey has its own station on the Ely-Peterborough line, bringing numerous major towns and cities within easy reach. Help to Buy and Part Exchange are available on these detached and semi-detached homes, which are priced from £155,995.
Larkfleet’s third development in the area is Thorney Meadows, in the village of Thorney around eight miles north-east of the city centre. Prices start at £195,995 for the range of three-, four- and five-bedroom homes now available, with Part Exchange and Help to Buy options for buyers to consider. The village has its own primary school, with other schools for all ages in surrounding villages.
In Farcet, two miles south of the city centre, is Windmill View from Persimmon Homes. There is currently a range of three-bedroom terrace, semi-detached and detached homes for sale, starting at £162,995, with four- and five-bedroom homes coming up for sale in the future. There’s a full range of assistance schemes available here, and a show home and marketing suite open from Thursday to Monday.
Close by is Cardea, another major scheme from Persimmon, with a range of two- and three-bedroom properties available now from £129,995, with a mix of apartments next to terrace, semi-detached and detached houses. A petrol station, supermarket, pub and range of shops are already on site, with a community centre to come.
The same housebuilder is offering more three-bedroom homes in Woodston, closer to the city centre, at The Print Works. Prices currently start at £206,995, with Help to Buy available reducing the up-front cost. These homes are set among two- and four-bedroom neighbours on the site located off Oundle Road.
Phase 2 begins soon at Roman Fields, a development five miles from Peterborough’s centre from Keepmoat. The new phase will offer two-, three- and four-bedroom home options, with Help to Buy to assist purchasers. Prices will be announced soon. Countryside, schools and transport links are all close at hand.
In Whittlesey, about seven miles east from the heart of Peterborough, Buttercross Park is taking shape, a development of three-, four- and five-bedroom properties from David Wilson Homes, priced from £196,995. Help to Buy and Part Exchange are available here, while a special offer sees a contribution to stamp duty paid by the housebuilder on the ‘Home of the Week’, the four-bedroom detached ‘Holden’ at £324,995.
Weston Homes is providing a mix of conversion and brand new homes at The Gables, just half a mile from Peterborough station. Currently available, from £362,995, are a mix of four- and five-bedroom family homes. A show home is open at this site from 10.00am to 5.00pm seven days a week.
Launched last July, The Mallards has a range of two- to five-bedroom homes from WhatHouse? Award-winning CALA Homes. There are two well respected primary schools within a mile of the site, and it is within the catchment area of the ‘outstanding’ Hampton Secondary School and College. Prices currently start at £209,950, with Help to Buy and Part Exchange available.
Work has started on the first phase of homes at Oakthorpe, a collection of 43 one- to four-bedroom properties from Kier Living Eastern, on the former site of Peterborough District Hospital. Potential buyers can register their interest ahead of launch, with show homes coming in March and the first completions scheduled for May/June. There is permission for up to 350 new homes on the hospital site altogether.