Return of the £60k home

Mon, Oct 16th 2006, 11:00

Struggling first time buyers who missed out on Redrow’s affordable Debut houses at Buckshaw Village, near Chorley, are about to get a second bite of the cherry.

The award winning developer has been given planning permission for a second phase of the innovative one and two-bedroom properties that are priced from just £60,000.

The introduction of Debut is a direct and innovative move by Redrow to bridge the market gap for those who had been priced out by the UK's property boom.

In its annual first time buyer survey earlier this year, Bradford & Bingley building society said that 42% of first-time buyers are receiving help from their parents, thousands of first time buyers taking a second job to get a property and 43% of first time buyers have thought about giving up buying altogether.

It’s against this backdrop that first time buyers will be cheered by the news that Redrow’s second Debut development at Buckshaw Village is preparing to launch – hot on the heels of other hugely successful Debut ventures in the Midlands, South East and North Wales, which attracted long queues and in some instances same-day sell outs.

Redrow launched a 71-home Debut development within Buckshaw Village a year ago and more than half of the homes sold out during the first weekend. All the homes have since been snapped up by eager home buyers keen to make it on to the ladder and the majority are now occupied.

The new Debut scheme is expected to launch in November 2006.

Christine Aitken, sales director for Redrow Homes (Lancashire) says: "To have further planning approved for our Debut range is fantastic. Debut has been extremely popular throughout the country – when the homes are released they often sell out in one day. The popularity of it really does reflect the thousands of first-time buyers who are struggling to get on the property ladder.

"Quite a lot of young people from Chorley, Leyland and the surrounding areas missed out on the home of their choice last time round so we’re delighted to be able to go back to those who missed out, some of who will still be living at home trying to save up, and give them a chance to buy in the new phase when we launch."

The new Debut homes will have brand new elevations, using neutral colours such as browns and creams, which will set them apart form the previous phase.

Christine continues: "The re-vamp of the exterior reflects the next chapter in Debut’s success story. Our in-house designers have opted for a more traditional look externally but with the same features that appealed to buyers during the first phase."

A massive advantage of Redrow’s Debut homes is that they include measures to reduce the cost of living. Construction based on Surebuild lightweight steel frame, ensures quality, sustainability and energy efficiency, complemented by high performance communal heating and hot water systems.

Carefully designed, shared outdoor space, maintained by Redrow’s own management company, will include a central garden square, providing community focus with total pedestrian permeability. Cycle stores are incorporated into the layout and waste segregation facilities will enable recycling of household waste. This attention to detail combines to target an EcoHomes ‘Excellent’ rating, which has already been achieved by the first Debut phase.

"The option of deferring up to 10% of the purchase price as an interest free fixed sum makes Debut even more affordable and purchasers also benefit from a single monthly payment to cover all utility bills and external maintenance, which helps them to budget," adds Christine.

"Buy-to-let investors are specifically excluded from buying which means these homes are available to the people who need them most."

Debut @ Buckshaw will feature 106 private sale one and two-bedroom homes, with prices expected to start from around £60,000 and Redrow is urging would-be buyers to register their interest now so they don’t miss out.

Buckshaw Village is a visionary mixed-use scheme set in the heart of Lancashire, between the M6 and M61, near Chorley. Along with the new homes, there is an 80-acre business park, Matrix Park, with further commercial areas planned. There are also proposals for a district shopping centre, provision for a new railway station with park and ride facilities, a primary school, health centre and outdoor sports amenities.

For more information or to register your interest visit www.debutbyredrow.co.uk or call Redrow’s dedicated Debut sales team on 0845 676 0288.