Get off to a flying start in Merthyr Tydfil

Fri, May 11th 2007, 11:00

With the average house now unaffordable for first time buyers in more than nine out of ten towns, would-be home owners will welcome the chance of a ‘flying start’ onto the property ladder in Merthyr Tydfil.

Developer Redrow is hosting a special event for ‘Debut’ purchasers at its Gelli Dawel venture in the town on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th May.

The event – from 12 noon to 4pm on both days - will offer valuable advice to people making their first step onto the property ladder, as well as an array of tempting offers to help people get the best start. These include a complimentary IKEA home starter pack on legal completion for everyone who reserves one of Redrow’s sought-after  ‘Debut’ properties during the weekend, plus a free prize draw to win an LCD TV.

Debby Pavitt, area sales manager at Redrow Homes (South Wales) says: “Our ‘Flying Start’ event is firmly targeted at first time buyers who are perhaps a little nervous about making their first foray into the housing market.  We’ll have lots of advice for them from independent financial advisers about how to buy a home, all presented in a friendly and welcoming environment. 

“It is so hard nowadays to make that first step up the property ladder: a report from the Halifax bank earlier this year revealed that the number of first time buyers had fallen to its lowest annual total since 1980; while the Office of National Statistics recently announced that young people are staying at home longer because they can’t afford to fly the nest.

“It was against this backdrop that we launched our award winning Debut range of affordable homes targeted primarily at first time buyers. As well as low prices we also offer the chance to defer 10% of the initial purchase price for up to 10 years, interest free; and there’s also a single monthly service charge that covers gas, electric and water bills as well as external maintenance and building insurance. All of this is designed to make home ownership more affordable and easier to manage.”

At Gelli Dawel, off Pantyffyn Road, in Merthyr, Debut properties currently available include one and two-bedroom homes priced from £58,444 to £102,333. 

Debut by Redrow offers a range of single storey one-bedroom homes and two-storey one and two-bedroom properties, including some with extra workspace.

The contemporary style of the properties lends itself to younger first-time buyers and to those in need of a fresh start, and at such affordable prices the properties stand apart from many other homes currently on the market.

Much of the cost-saving comes from the way in which the properties 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 shared high quality landscaped outdoor space, maintained by Redrow’s own management company, engenders a sense of community.

Gelli Dawel is situated within reach of everything a first time buyer could need – the town of Merthyr offers all the necessary amenities, including shops, pubs and restaurants and there are good connections by road and rail to Cardiff.

For more information about Debut @ Gelli Dawel join Redrow for its ‘Flying Start’ weekend  on May 12th and 13th or call 0845 676 0296. Extensive information about Debut, including video walk-through of some of the properties, is available online at www.debutbyredrow.co.uk