As things stand right now (19 February 2021), the deadline for the Stamp Duty holiday is only five weeks or so away, so there’s a lot happening around the country to get serious house-hunters to reserve and complete by then.
Housebuilders around Somerset are also gearing up for the new version of the government-backed Help to Buy scheme. There are two major differences between this and its previous version: it is now only open to first-time buyers, and the price cap has been reduced to regional levels based on average property prices. In the case of the South West of England, this is £349,000.
We’ve brought together some of the latest news and information on new homes in Somerset.
Bilbie Grange in Banwell is very nearly sold out. Bellway’s development comprises 44 houses and bungalows but there are just two left for sale, both of them the four-bedroom ‘Wroughton’ house type and priced from £469,995. Both will be ready to move into before 31 March 2021. This means buyers could save £13,500 on Stamp Duty if they are able to complete their purchase by that deadline.
Plot 36 is the current Offer of the Month there – if the home is reserved by the end of February, the buyer will get their flooring included for free.
The ‘Wroughton’ at Bilbie Grange
Rachel Way, sales manager for Bellway South West, said: “These properties present the final chance for house-hunters to secure a sizeable new-build home in this desirable semi-rural location, close to the picturesque Mendip Hills and around six miles from the Weston-super-Mare coast. As we are fast approaching the end of the Government’s stamp duty holiday, we expect that these final houses won’t be around for long, so I’d encourage interested buyers to act quickly if they wish to secure a home.”
For a lower budget, at nearby Blagdon Gardens in Langford, three- and four-bedroom homes start from £319,995. Find out more about current Bellway developments in the South West of England.
Lovell Homes has premiered a new video for its latest new-homes development in Weston-super-Mare, which has been played over 10,000 times. Foxglove Meadows is a collection of two-, three- and four-bedroom homes located off Woodside Avenue near to Hutton, perfectly suited for first-time buyers, growing families and downsizers alike.
Over 50% of the first release of homes at Foxglove Meadows have already sold, with the properties being sold off-plan from Lovell Homes’ nearby Keepers Gate development. By purchasing off-plan, buyers will have the first selection of available plots, allowing them to pick a home that’s perfectly suited to their household and to personalise them from a big range of options.
Julie Bowen, regional sales director at Lovell, said: “We’re extremely excited to be able to share this fabulous development with potential buyers across the region and I’m delighted at how popular the homes have been already.”
The marketing suite and show homes at Foxglove Meadows are scheduled to open their doors in the spring and the first completions at the development expected shortly afterwards. Current availability at Foxglove Meadows includes three-bedroom homes priced from £260,995 and four-bedroom homes priced from £375,995. Selected homes qualify for Help to Buy. Find out more from Lovell Homes.
David Wilson Homes is offering a collection of two-, three- and four-bedroom semi-detached and detached houses at Moorland Gate, set in the charming village of Bishops Lydeard, a few miles north-west of Taunton and on the doorstep of the Quantock Hills AONB.
Moorland Gate
The sales suite and two show homes are open seven days a week by appointment to take a first-hand look at the site. The development is within walking distance of two local pubs, an excellent primary school and local shops and is under 20 minutes from the M5 for an easy journey to Exeter, Weston-super-Mare or Bristol.
Starting prices currently range from £237,500 to £425,000, with Help to Buy and Part Exchange available on selected plots. Find out more about Moorland Gate from David Wilson Homes.
Savills is currently marketing a number of new homes developments in Bath. On Lower Borough Walls come the Hope Chapel Apartments. Available right now are studio and one-bedroom apartments. Guide prices are from £240,000 to £325,000. They come with underfloor heating and prices include flooring and a kitchen with fully integrated appliances and quartz worktops. There’s lift access to all floors.
Banglo
Available to reserve off plan are five ‘micro apartments’ at Banglo on Lower Bristol Road, to the south-west of the city. These are studios with around 284 sq ft of open-plan living space, complete with a contemporary high-gloss fitted kitchen. The owner has secure bike storage. These are available to purchase on the Discounted Market Scheme, open to first-time buyers subject to terms and conditions, at 70% of the full price. Expected to complete this summer, the starting price is £148,400. Find out more at www.savills.com.
Hope House
The agent is also marketing Acorn Property Group’s Hope House development which currently offers homes for buyers with budgets from £295,000 to £1.05million. Combining a converted period building and brand new homes in complementary classical architectural style, the development includes a range of luxurious apartments and townhouses.
Reinforcing its support of local wildlife, Crest Nicholson has partnered with Tyler Grange ecologists and constructed a specially designed ‘hedgehog highway’ at its Hygge Park development in Keynsham. It will help the animals roam freely at night between gardens, and keeps them safe by enabling them to avoid roads. It is complemented by a number of other initiatives at the development, including nesting boxes for a variety of bat and bird species, and a bug mansion.
Tracey Gallacher, head of sales and marketing at Crest Nicholson South West, commented: “We take pride in building communities at Crest Nicholson, and that includes looking after the wildlife in and around our developments. A simple measure like the hedgehog highway is one example of the work that we’re undertaking, and it will allow the hedgehogs to find food and shelter safely. The highways are a key part of our sustainability promise so we’re also introducing them to our other sites and hope that our residents enjoy the sight of one of Britain’s indigenous animals.”
Hygge Park
The development is well connected, both Bristol and Bath are reachable in less than 20 minutes by car. Residents can also make the most of the easy public transport links, thanks to the bus stop on the edge of the development. In addition, Keynsham train station is just a five-minute drive away, offering services to Bristol, Bath, Southampton, Brighton, Weymouth and Cheltenham.
Three-bedroom homes at Hygge Park start from £395,000, and four-bedroom homes from £500,000. A selection of the homes will be available to purchase using Smooth Move and Part Exchange. Find out more from Crest Nicholson.
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