Chris Noble, second generation managing director of Yorkshire-based housebuilder Noble Homes, shares his thoughts exclusively with Whathouse.com on the property market and where he sees it heading in 2017.
Where in the country is your firm developing new homes and what areas are you looking to move in to?
Noble Homes has a longstanding reputation as a Yorkshire-based housebuilder and specialises in building quality new homes in this region – we’ve been doing so for over 50 years. We’re currently developing schemes in a number of towns and villages across South and West Yorkshire, including Goole, Earlsheaton in Dewsbury, Scissett, Pontefract and Barnsley. Although we continually seek prospective land for development across Yorkshire, we have recently acquired sites in neighbouring North Derbyshire, so there are definitely plans to expand our target area laterally in the future.
Where are the main sales hotspots for 2017?
Leeds has enjoyed a renaissance over the last couple of years, resulting in many people being priced out of the central Leeds housing market. This has meant that the suburbs and outskirts of the city have great potential to become a real hotspot in 2017. Buyers are starting to consider a move further afield to get more ‘bang for their buck’ and this inevitable movement means that homes within a 10-12 mile radius of Leeds will become more and more desirable for buyers.
What projects is Noble Homes working on and what’s in the development pipeline?
Apart from the aforementioned developments, Noble Homes has a number of sites in the pipeline in West Yorkshire, including an industrial site in Dewsbury, a site in Almondbury, Huddersfield, and another site in South Kirkby which is progressing through planning at the moment. We have also recently submitted a planning application on a site in North Wingfield, Derbyshire, which will consist of 23 new homes and we are currently working on a potential assisted living scheme in Stocksbridge, Sheffield.
How much does a new home by Noble Homes typically cost to buy?
Noble Homes build a wide range of property styles, ranging from one- and two-bedroom apartments to five-bedroom detached homes. As such, the cost ranges from around £90,000 for a smaller, one- to two-bed flat, right up to £350,000 for the larger family properties.
Why should more buyers consider buying a new build home as opposed to older property?
Purchasers should consider buying a new home for a number of reasons. Firstly, the government’s Help to Buy scheme is available on many new build properties, so any first-time buyers can benefit from an interest-free contribution to their deposit. This means any initial outlay is reduced and the first five years of repayments are based on a lower gross value, meaning more money is left in their back pocket.
New homes can also offer the benefit of better design and efficiency than older properties. We design our homes to be comfortable and economical to run, with good insulation, double glazing and central heating efficiency as standard.
Another attraction to a new build over an older property is the extensive warranty which is now offered on such properties. This means you will not face large repair bills in the early years of homeownership, whereas older properties can be more susceptible to hidden structural issues.
How have attitudes changes towards new builds in recent years among buyers?
As well as becoming more financially aware and having access to government incentives, such as the Help to Buy scheme, buyers are becoming more aware of the running costs and monthly bills associated with owning a new home in comparison to an older property. When everything is weighed up, new homes tend to come out on top due to the increasing efficiency ingrained into the construction of new builds.
What is Noble Homes’ USP?
Noble Homes has been building new homes across Yorkshire and Derbyshire for over 54 years and remains a family-run business. We take pride in our developments being high-quality modern homes that are built on traditional values. We strive to maintain our reputation for quality, reliability and attention to detail and strive to deliver a product with no defects for our buyers.
Which of the developments Noble Homes is currently developing do you think stands the best chance of winning a WhatHouse? award?
I believe two current developments in Pontefract could be contenders for a WhatHouse? award. Chestnuts offers a unique, semi-rural lifestyle in the historic town of Pontefract, with a mixture of high-specification detached houses and bungalows. Limetrees – also in Pontefract – offers a range of traditional build, luxury, family properties in a sought-after area of the town. The mix of property styles on this site gives it a mass-market appeal and, as such, it has attracted those wanting to climb the property ladder and first-time buyers alike.