Exhibition to show case new rung on property ladder

Mon, May 22nd 2006, 23:00

Plans to bring an award-winning range of highly affordable new homes to Selby, with starting prices from just £59,995*, will be showcased at an exhibition on Wednesday 24th May.

House builder Redrow’s plans to build one and two-bedroom apartments and houses from its ground breaking Debut range will go on display between 2pm and 8pm at Selby Town Hall.

The proposals, submitted to Selby District Council for planning approval, would see 123 new homes built on the site of the former Providence Mill, off Holme Lane in Selby, with areas of public open space and the development of a riverside walk along the River Ouse also planned.

The exhibition will give potential homeowners the chance to see why Redrow’s innovative Debut homes have taken the property market by storm. The one and two-bedroom homes have thrown a lifeline to first time buyers who, in 2005, only accounted for 30% of new mortgages across the UK, the lowest annual total for 25 years.

Mark Leigh, managing director for Redrow Homes (Yorkshire) says: “Our plans, if approved, would see the very first Debut development built in Yorkshire. Previous Debut schemes have been launched around the UK with outstanding success, many selling out within hours of going on sale – proof if it were needed that there is a huge demand for this kind of affordable housing.

“Our experience in other parts of the country is that these homes are being snapped up by people in their 20s and 30s, many of them working as firemen, nurses, teachers, office workers and in various professions, perhaps at the early stages of their career, who previously have had little or no chance of affording a home of their own.

“Those who attend our exhibition will be able to view plans for the proposed development and internal layouts for the homes, a fly through DVD and can also speak to our Redrow representatives to find out more.”

Home buyers who purchase a Debut home have the option to defer 10% of the purchase price as an interest free fixed sum for up to ten years, making them even more affordable. They can they pay this amount back via occasional lump sums, monthly repayments or in whole at any time.

To ensure that Debut really does help to get first time buyers into the housing market, a legal framework is in place to prevent buy-to-let investors from purchasing the homes.

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 shared high quality landscaped outdoor space, maintained by Redrow’s own management company, engenders a sense of community.

Special measures are in place to keep running costs as low as possible, while a monthly service charge covers utility bills, as well as building insurance and external maintenance. These features are all geared towards making home ownership accessible, affordable and easy to manage for those starting out or starting over.

To find out more about the Debut range of low-cost homes, attend the exhibition at Selby Town Hall, on the corner of Gowthorpe and Brook Street, between 2pm and 8pm on Wednesday 24th May.

For more information on the award-winning Debut range, log on to www.debutbyredrow.co.uk.