With Berkshire having so much going for it as a place to live across a spectrum of wish lists and budgets, it is unsurprising that housebuilders are very active across the county to meet demand for all sorts of brand new homes.
We’ve gathered the latest news on developments that could interest everyone from young first-time buyers to growing families to downsizing retirees.
Nightingale Fields at Arborfield Green
For those on a modest budget, Home Reach is a partnership between housing provider heylo and a number of housebuilders across England that allows first-time buyers who meet the eligibility criteria to ‘part rent-part buy’ their home, which requires a much smaller budget than buying outright.
One example of Home Reach availability in Berkshire right now is at Nightingale Fields at Arborfield Green in Wokingham. With a deposit as low as £7,799, a buyer could purchase a 50% share of a two-bedroom apartment at this major development for £155,975, based on a full market value of £311,950. This has an open-plan fitted kitchen/dining/living room, two double bedrooms (one with built-in wardrobes and balcony), family bathroom and generous off-hallway storage.
Find out more about Nightingale Fields at Arborfield Green from Home Reach.
Crownbrook Place
The government-backed Shared Ownership scheme is similar to Home Reach and is available through Sovereign Living at its Crownbrook Place development in Thatcham. There’s only one property left for sale, a first-floor maisonette which comes with a modern fitted kitchen, open-plan living area with Juliet balcony, two double bedrooms, family bathroom and allocated parking. It is scheduled for completion this autumn.
This new home is within walking distance of Thatcham station, between Reading and Newbury, and around 20 minutes on foot to the town centre. It’s a 15-minute drive to the M4. The North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is close by.
The price of the Shared Ownership maisonette starts at £101,000 for a 40% share (full market value £252,500). Find out more at www.sovereignliving.org.uk.
Cherry Blossom Meadow
Help to Buy is another buyer scheme that aims to help people get onto the property ladder for the first time and it is available on the apartments at Cherry Blossom Meadow, a development in Newbury from David Wilson Homes. There are a few available right now, priced from £249,000 to £269,000.
One example, priced at £261,000, is Plot 78, which is on the ground floor and ready to move into. It comes with a flooring package included and has an upgraded kitchen with integrated appliances, and allocated parking
Cherry Blossom Meadow is located in between Newbury town centre and Shaw, in the north of the town. With Newbury station (four minutes’ drive or a 20-minute walk away) and road links such as the A34 and M4, you can commute to London within one hour. The development is open seven days a week to view by appointment. Find out more from David Wilson Homes.
The Chase @ Newbury Racecourse
The same housebuilder is offering a variety of property types at its prestige The Chase @ Newbury Racecourse development. As its name suggests, this has been taking shape on the grounds of the famous racecourse, offering a mix of two-, three- and four-bedroom bedroom homes. There’s currently an impressive range for sale, priced from £273,000 to £559,000, with selected plots available through Help to Buy.
Top-of-the-range right now is Plot 365, a three-storey terraced house offering views across the racecourse. Called the ‘Henwick’ and priced at £559,000, while it doesn’t qualify for Help to Buy, is available with a £15,000 saving in Stamp Duty. It has a large hallway, a spacious study, a double bedroom with access to a shower room and a useful utility area all on the ground floor, a first floor dedicated to an open-plan kitchen/dining/sitting room with large private balcony, and two double bedrooms on the top floor, one with en suite shower room, the other with en suite bathroom and large wardrobe. This house comes with two allocated parking spaces. Find out more from David Wilson Homes.
Woodland Edge
St Edward recently launched Woodland Edge, a collection of just 22 four-bedroom houses at Green Park Village, its sought-after community-centric development in Reading. They are the largest houses currently available at the site, boasting 1,533 sq ft of flexible living space and a private garden as well as benefitting from easy access to the surrounding green space and a beautiful lake at the heart of the development. It has already been a great success, now 72% sold, with just six remaining for sale.
These houses feature Green Park Village’s signature New England architectural style with its external colour palette of slate blue, olive and light grey. Set out over three floors, the homes have an open-plan kitchen, dining and living area with bi-fold doors opening out to a spacious private garden. Also on the ground floor is a family ‘snug’ room, which could work perfectly as a children’s play room or just another place in which to relax. Located on the first floor is a formal living room which opens onto a spacious balcony, as well as the main bedroom which benefits from its own dressing room and en suite shower room. The second floor comprises three further bedrooms, one of which could be easily used as a study for those working from home, as well as a family bathroom. Every property also benefits a private garage and off-street parking.
Prices at Woodland Edge start from £715,000. Find out more at Green Park Village from St Edward.
The Chapters
Berkshire is a popular choice for the older generation of buyer and Anchor Hanover is launching a brand new ‘later living’ development in the heart of Shinfield, on the outskirts of Reading. The Chapters is a collection of 80 one- and two-bedroom apartments. This specialist retirement developer is launching its Wellbeing 360 programme here, a service complemented by the onsite wellness room and where each programme is tailored to suit the individual’s needs and abilities.
Phillip Hulme, sales director at Anchor Hanover, commented: “At Anchor Hanover we understand that there are many factors that make a house a home and one of those is the surrounding community. With The Chapters located within the existing strong community of Shinfield, and the new community of homes awaiting, those looking to form new friendships will feel right at home.”
The homes at The Chapters start from £349,000 for a one-bedroom apartment and £415,000 for a two-bedroom apartment. Find out more at TheChapters.org.uk.
Castle View Windsor
There’s also an event approaching for another age-exclusive development. At Castle View in Windsor, a collection of apartments for over-55s, there’s a day to visit to celebrate its new courtyard and balcony gardens on Saturday 28 August, and take a look for themselves. It’s also a chance to learn more about the one-, two- and two-/three-bedroom properties for sale there, which are currently priced between £375,000 and £975,000.
“We are really thrilled with what our property owners and residents have achieved in the short time they have been here, and only too keen to share these with others,” said Lisa Fisher, village manager. “And afterwards, guests will be invited in for a cuppa and some cake. To ensure a place, please call us on 01753 378127 so we know you’re coming.”
The development has a 24-hour reception, restaurant, lounge, bar, and café, private dining room, library and sky lounge, from which there are wonderful views across the twon to the historic castle. Find out more at www.castleviewwindsor.co.uk.
Upcoming Burrington Estates development
For house-hunters who are not considering an immediate move, there’s been an announcement from Burrington Estates that it will be launching its first development in the South East of England in early 2022. Located off Tilehurst Lane in Binfield, it will comprise 53 family homes located within a 10-minute drive of two primary schools rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted – St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School and Waltham St Lawrence Primary School. The three-, four- and five-bedroom homes will combine the housebuilder’s signature design with the rural architectural vernacular with a combination of brick, flint and weatherboarding.
David Jervis, regional director at Burrington Estates, commented: “With this being the very first site for Burrington’s Central Region, it was paramount that we selected the perfect location. We know that ensuring children have access to the best education choices is a big influencing factor for parents when searching for a new home. The development is just a 15-minute walk from Bracknell Forest’s first academy, King’s Academy, which offers a private education for children, and there are several other exceptional schools in the local area.”
Prices are to be announced but registration of interest in welcomed. Find out more at www.burringtonestates.com.
Find retirement homes in Berkshire
Find Help to Buy homes in Berkshire
Find new homes in Berkshire