Buckshaw Village prize among hat-trick of wins for Redrow

Tue, Jan 31st 2006, 11:00

Buckshaw Village, on the site of the former Royal Ordnance factory, near Chorley, has been voted the UK’s best new-build village.

The mixed use, joint venture by property developers Redrow and Barratt was singled out for success in a national awards scheme run by consumer property magazine, Your New Home.

"The living is definitely easy at Buckshaw Village - it has desirable homes, green open space and plenty of places where you can work, rest and play," commented specialist new home property writer Jo Smit, one of the judging panel.

The brownfield development spans almost 400 acres and will eventually comprise circa 2,000 new homes, as well as a business park, leisure amenities and masses of open space.

It has taken 10 years of determination and teamwork by Redrow, Barratt, landowners BAE Systems, and Chorley and South Ribble Borough Councils to deliver the regeneration of the former munitions site, which is expected to take between 10 and 15 years to complete.

While 35% of Buckshaw Village is reserved for homes, just under 31% is designated for commercial use and more than 32% will be green space. The balance will comprise provision for a school and other community facilities, including a health centre and outdoor sports amenities. There are also plans for a district shopping centre and a railway station with park and ride facilities.

Over 400 of the planned new homes are completed and occupied.

The prize for Buckshaw Village was one of a hat-trick of trophies for Redrow, which also won the title of ‘Housebuilder of the Year’ - thanks largely to its efforts to give first time buyers a leg-up onto the property ladder with its innovative Debut range of affordable homes.

Your New Home judges commented: “The developer nominated as the Housebuilder of the Year had to display an innovative approach to developing and achieve something significant in terms of the future of house building. After a great deal of deliberating, the judges could not fail to notice the efforts made by Redrow to ease the burden on first-time buyers.

“The impact of Redrow’s affordable range of housing and clever financial concept has dramatically altered the perception of starter homes and has provided real hope for the masses of eager buyers who once thought they were priced out of the market. Redrow is a worthy winner and one that should be congratulated for their efforts.”

News of Redrow’s victory comes in a week when the Halifax revealed that the number of first time buyers in 2005, at 320,000, was the lowest annual total since 1980 and 10% lower than in 2004. The bank’s annual first time buyers’ survey also showed that the average age of a first time buyer is now 33 and the average price paid by first time buyers in 2005 was up 5% to £137,122.

It is precisely this gloomy outlook that Redrow is committed to addressing with its exciting Debut range – currently on sale at Buckshaw Village - which features innovatively designed, energy efficient, one and two-bedroom homes.

Redrow’s first Debut scheme, in Rugby, was also voted ‘best development for first time buyers’, with judges saying: "Redrow has proactively addressed the pressing needs of buyers looking to purchase their first home. Redrow has made brave decisions regarding its Debut concept, primarily putting in place measures to prevent buy-to-let investors from cashing in on the properties.

“This is a developer who is genuinely willing to listen to buyers and has created an engaging scheme - proving that starter homes don't have to be unimaginative.”

Debut customers can take advantage of Redrow’s ‘Easi-buy’ option, deferring a portion of the purchase price (usually 10%) as an interest-free fixed sum for up to 10 years. The customer has total flexibility how they pay this back – via occasional lump sums, monthly repayments or in whole at any time.

Much of the cost-saving in Redrow’s Debut homes comes from the way in which they are constructed, using a lightweight structural steel frame and other modern methods of construction, which speeds up the build programme without compromising on quality. Communal heating and hot water systems also provide cost efficiencies, while replacing private gardens with high quality shared outdoor space, maintained by Redrow’s own management company, means Debut properties take up less land than conventional new homes.

With prices and running costs kept as low as possible, a choice of move-in packages to suit the customer and an affordable single monthly service charge to cover gas, electric and water bills, as well as buildings insurance and external maintenance, Debut is geared towards making home ownership accessible, affordable and easy to manage.

At Buckshaw Village, Debut prices started as low as £54,995* for a single-storey one-bedroom home, rising to £109,995* for a two-bedroom with study, two-storey property. There are still a small number of these larger properties for sale.

Redrow also has a wide range of other new homes for sale at Buckshaw Village, including two-bedroom apartments, two and three-bedroom terraced and semi-detached houses at Worden Court, from £119,995 to £178,995; and four-bedroom semi and detached houses at Worden Manor, from £219,995 to £294,995.