Shared Ownership Scheme Makes Home Ownership In Winchester A Reality

We speak to Sovereign’s Hope Bailey about Knights Quarter, a new development in Winchester, in partnership with Berkeley Homes…

Hope, can you tell us a little bit about your role at Sovereign - what might a typical day look like for you, as sales manager?

Working as a sales manager for Sovereign is a very exciting and varied role, each day looks different but generally the morning revolves around reviewing proposals for new developments and working with colleagues from other business areas to shape new sites into a wonderful place for our customers to live. I then spend time catching up with my team and reviewing progress on their current sales and planning upcoming releases. In the afternoon I may take a trip to a current or upcoming site to really consider the location and what types of properties / features our customers may want to see there, this information can then be used to influence the design.

Sovereign is currently marketing Knights Quarter, a development of one- and two-bedroom new homes in Winchester, how's it been going?

We have been busy selling our upcoming apartments at the Knights Quarter development. Following a very successful launch of our show apartment, we have continued to welcome customers by appointment to view the homes and also spend time with an independent financial advisor to highlight how shared ownership can work for them. The plots are reserving quickly, so I would encourage anyone interested to come and see us as soon as they can!

We hear you had a waiting list of interested viewers at the launch, were people able to walk around a fully dressed show home to picture themselves living there?

There has been a huge amount of interest, the launch was fully booked and our sales team were able to show our customer what living in such a fabulous location could be like.

Do you think there will be a particular type of buyer who's looking to live at Knights Quarter?

We have met with a range of customers, from young professionals to those looking to downsize. The housing market in Winchester is very strong and as such a lot of people are priced out of buying in the area. Our Shared Ownership apartments offer customers the opportunity to purchase a share that is right for them and make their dream of owning a home in Winchester a reality. So I expect when everyone moves in there will be a wonderful, varied community.

What makes Winchester such a fantastic place to buy, in your opinion?

Winchester has all the benefits of city life, with easy access to the beautiful countryside. The centre itself has lots to offer from delicious eateries to bars and shops, or perhaps a visit to the famous Cathedral. It’s also an ideal location for commuters, with culture, history and heritage.

Sovereign is collaborating with Berkeley Homes at Knights Quarter. What are the advantages to buyers looking to purchase from two reputable companies instead of one?

Sovereign has partnered with Berkeley Homes, who are well known and recognised for their exceptional design and quality of homes. By partnering we are able to offer luxury apartments in Winchester at an affordable price for the average prospective buyer. Our new build homes come with a 10 year warranty and have been built using the latest materials and technology to ensure efficient running for our customers.

Do you have any other flagship developments in the pipeline this year?

Yes, we have many exciting new developments coming up this year including Sovereign at the Horlicks Quarter in Slough, Nobel Park in Didcot, Donnington Heights & Shaw Valley in Newbury, as well as Sovereign’s own land-led site in Thornbury near Bristol. We’ll be delivering a high number of stunning homes for our customers and we cannot wait to start showing everyone around!

Will affordability remain a key driver for Sovereign, in terms of who you are building and marketing new homes to?

Yes, affordability is a huge factor in what we do - we work with our customers to make sure they are comfortable with the share value before they proceed. We also want to make sure that the home is sustainable for them long term.

As we grow, we are looking to offer homes with tenures that are right for everyone. We want to give our customers the option to rent, buy Shared Ownership or buy outright on one of our developments. This means that regardless of your situation, we will help you find the home that is right for you.

And finally, what might be one thing that buyers don't realise about Shared Ownership?

Our properties have the flexibility to offer at a share between 25% and 75% of the full market value which means we can partner with you to ensure you buy the share amount that’s right for you!

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