The WhatHouse? team has visited Augustus Park in Fordingbridge, Hampshire to find out from our host, Lucy Seakins, sales and marketing director for Pennyfarthing Homes, the ten best reasons to buy a new home there.
Reason 1: A delightful location.
The village of Fordingbridge is in the heart of the Hampshire countryside, on the edge of the New Forest, halfway between Salisbury and Ringwood. The River Avon runs to the east, to the west is the Cranborne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the south coast is only half-an-hour away too. Add it all together and it’s easy to see why those who’ve grown up there are reluctant to leave and those looking to relocate have found it to be the perfect location.
Reason 2: A wide choice of homes.
There’s a variety of two-, three- and four-bedroom homes which will appeal to all sorts of buyers. Externally, the homes are in keeping with the existing local architecture with a range of brick and weatherboarded finishes, and attractive tiling and porches. Inside, homeowners can benefit from contemporary living spaces as some properties have an open-plan kitchen/living space, others have a kitchen/dining room separate from a lounge.
Reason 3: The homes are within easy reach of many useful and fun amenities.
Augustus Park is just a mile from the town centre, three minutes’ drive or 20 minutes on foot to a great range of shops, cafes and pubs. There’s an excellent range of amenities, including schools, community centre, library and hospital, as well as a park where the local football and rugby clubs play. Fordingbirdge is home to a strong community spirit and hosts a multitude of local events run by volunteers for the enjoyment of all including the popular Fordingbridge Festival every July, which is now sponsored by Pennyfarthing Homes themselves. Plus, there’s also a museum illustrating the village’s fascinating history.
Reason 4: There’s assistance in buying a home here.
The government-backed Help to Buy scheme is open to first-time buyers and existing homeowners and a popular choice on homes up to £600,000. A significant number of homes on the development have been set aside for the company’s Starter Home Initiative, where local first-time buyers can purchase one of the houses for 20% under market value and after five years they can sell it at full value plus any added value the home has gained over the five-year period, benefitting from that 20% discount. Starting from £225,000 and £249,999 respectively, these are the two-bedroom ‘Setwood’/’Setleigh’ and three-bedroom ‘Stockwood’/’Stockleigh’.
Reason 5: There are ways to personalise your home.
While the standard specifications here are great (there’s Gold and Silver level, depending on house type), there’s also a chance to put a personal touch to your new home with things like carpets and floor, and kitchen appliances.
Reason 6: Over 40 years' award-winning experience in the building industry.
Founded in 1977, Pennyfarthing Homes is a family business building award-winning homes. Recent awards include Best Residential Development in Hampshire in the 2018/19 UK Property Awards and Premier Excellence Award 2018 for Alexandra Meadows, Lymington. Augustus Park, Fordingbridge was announced South Coast Property Awards 2019 winner of the Best Residential Development and Best Residential Development in Hampshire in the 2019/2020 UK Property Awards.
Reason 7: The housebuilder continues to go from strength to strength.
Recent developments have paved the way for the company’s expansion plans as Matt Dukes, managing director, explains: “Alexandra Meadows was our first and successful venture into creating a larger development. Augustus Park continued our ambitious plans. Our new 230 home site, Potters Wood, Verwood will be our largest to date.” Last year the company recruited 17 employees to a team which now totals over 70.
Reason 8: A focus on contributing to the local community.
In 2018, the company contributed over £1 million in community infrastructure levy across its live developments and continue their commitment with further contributions to the existing communities in which they are developing both within their home county and nearby where they plan to expand. The housebuilder is also proud to be the first developer in the New Forest to provide a Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG land) for the enjoyment of both residents and the local community, which also takes recreational pressure away from the New Forest National Park. They continue to provide these areas of natural greenspace within each of their developments in the New Forest and Dorset. The housebuilder is also committed to school engagement activities with children of all ages. This includes inviting younger children to play an active part in conservation and biodiversity measures on site and older children to gain firsthand experience and knowledge in their chosen construction career.
Reason 9: A strong understanding of its customers.
Pennyfarthing prides itself on working to the core family values it was founded upon, including developing a strong understanding of its customers. Matt Dukes adds: “We pride ourselves on our family business values, service and having an in depth understanding of our customers, what they care about and what is most important to them when purchasing a new home. 97% of our customers say they would purchase a Pennyfarthing home again. We want to be the regional developer of choice, providing high-quality, defect-free homes for the enjoyment of our customers.”
Reason 10: Taking its ecological obligations seriously.
Pennyfarthing Homes was the first to create Suitable Alternative Natural Green Space (SANG land) in the New Forest, a large part of the company’s ecological obligations for Alexandra Meadows. As Matt explains: “We strongly support the provision of areas of mixed-use outdoor space for communities to enjoy. Creating SANG spaces supports the New Forest’s aim to reduce recreational pressure on the National Park. We hope to better this provision at future developments and to get our SANG lands Green Flag awarded.”
Prices at Augustus Park currently start at £225,000 for a two-bedroom Starter Home, and £315,000 for a three-bedroom open market house, with four-bedroom houses between £380,000 and £525,000. The marketing suite is open daily from 10.00am to 5.00pm. Find out more on [email protected] or by calling 01425 820138
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