Property Edition July

Brought to you by Cambridge Edition

JUly 2013

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Spotlight on Ely

city centre A house with history

Scandinavian

Inspiration

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wELCOME

Welcome to

Property Edition

reetings, property hunters!

Hopefully the summer is turning out well for you, whether you’re in the midst of a move or just starting to consider your options – or, like a lot of us, just keen to see what’s going on in the ever-sprightly Cambridge property market.

It’s getting harder to choose which properties to feature, with so many beautiful and unique homes coming onto the market. It’s a bit like property window shopping, and rather enjoyable it is, too. I hope you enjoy browsing what we’ve put together as much as we do.

A particularly standout property for me this month can be found nestled away down Gazeley Lane in Cambridge. It’s stunning to look at, not to mention having a great position in the city, but it’s backstory is what really piqued my interest. Built in 1892, it was the home of one of the five students who founded Newnham College, Cambridge’s second college

to admit women, and one of the first in the country. Her name was Mary Wright, and she’d just got married when she came to live at Gazeley Lane.

We’re often inclined to be romantic about older properties, but all Victorian villas and Tudor cottages were new once. Today, Cambridge’s new home scene is booming, and one development you can’t fail to have noticed is The Marque, currently rising up opposite Cambridge Leisure. They’re just about to launch their first show home, so as of 4 July you’ll be able to see just what your apartment here could look like.

In this issue, we also talk eco credentials with Skanska, the Scandinavian company that’s building cutting-edge homes over at Trumpington, plus we take a tour of the atmospheric Goodwin Manor in the lovely village of Swaffham Prior.

Hope you enjoy!

Jennifer Shelton, Features Editor

jennifershelton@bright-publishing.com 01223 499463

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COVER IMAGE The property featured on the cover is The Marque, Cambridge.

Its first show home, a twobedroom apartment, opens on 4 July and the first apartments will be ready to move into next year, with guide prices starting at £250,000. For more details or to arrange a viewing, contact Savills on 01223 347092 or Bidwells on 01223 841842. Alternatively, visit www.themarque-cambridge.com

KEY ACCOUNTS MANAGER

George Pearson 01223 499464 georgepearson@bright-publishing.com

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words JENNIFER SHELTON

PROPERTY NEWS

Edition takes a look at the latest happenings in the buzzing local property market

Town & country Country charm: High Street, Foxton Just a few miles south of Cambridge in Foxton is this beautifully presented family home. The detached property has picturesque surroundings, overlooking open countryside, as well as its own large gardens. Inside, there are four bedrooms (en suite to the master), light and spacious reception rooms and a sizeable family kitchen. Ample driveway parking is also provided.

The guide price is £625,000. Contact TuckerGardner on 01223 350800. www.tuckergardner.com

City slicker: Panton Street, Cambridge A classic Cambridge townhouse is currently available for sale through Savills. The property – a deceptively spacious Victorian terraced house on Panton Street – has accommodation over four floors as well as a garden, and occupies a sought-after location just south of the city centre, close to the Botanic Gardens, Perse Girls School and railway station.

It offers three double bedrooms, a double reception room with original fireplaces and original floorboards, plus a large, sunny kitchen/breakfast room and upstairs bathroom.

The property has the benefit of no upward chain. It is on the market with a guide price of £795,000. Contact Savills on 01223 347147. www.savills.co.uk

A house with history Gazeley Lane, Cambridge A striking Victorian home in the city centre has been brought to the market, offering something rather special. Around 100 years ago, the property had just been built, ready to welcome newly-weds Mary and Richard Thomas Wright, whose society wedding had occupied many column inches that year. He was a solicitor and Secretary of the University Syndicate, and she was one of the five students who founded Newnham College in the late 1880s. This, their ‘country cottage’, was only used by them during the summer months; winters being spent in Paris or the south of France.

The property remains a fine example of Arts and Crafts architecture, and has been sympathetically brought up to date to provide nine bedrooms and beautiful reception rooms sporting original features. The house occupies a beautiful spot in Gazeley Lane, on the south side of the city, and stands within gardens of around 0.66 acres. There is also a workroom and four-car garage.

A guide price of £3 million is invited. Contact Cheffins on 01223 214214. www.tuckergardner.com

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Thatched cottages

Castle Camps This quintessential country cottage – the delightfully named Owls Hoot – is situated on the outskirts of Castle Camps, a picturesque village out towards Saffron Walden. Under a thatched roof, the accommodation includes an entrance hall with exposed-brick flooring, drawing room overlooking the garden, a sitting room with inglenook fireplace, dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, conservatory and four first-floor bedrooms, with an en suite to the master.

There is a double garage, annexe and gardens backing on to open countryside.

The guide price is £565,000. Contact Cheffins on 01799 523656. www.cheffins.co.uk

Withersfield A charming thatched cottage is available in Withersfield, featuring beautiful interiors and a fantastic garden. Grade II listed, it stands within a pretty conservation village and comes with three bedrooms, three reception rooms, two bathrooms (one en suite) and a gorgeous family kitchen/ breakfast room. There is also a double garage with annexe above.

It has a guide price of £675,000. Contact Carter Jonas on 01223 790130. www.carterjonas.co.uk

Madingley A large thatched property in a leafy setting is available through Bidwells. Situated in Madingley and dating from the 18th century, this charming and spacious home has three reception rooms, a master bedroom with en suite and dressing room, four further bedrooms and two more bath/ shower rooms. A games room/home office can be found above the double garage, while the landscaped gardens are another attractive feature. It has a guide price of £1.25 million. Contact 01223 841842. www.bidwells.co.uk

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Januarys’

Treasure Hunt: A battle for the crown took place in Cambridge in May as several local businesses took part in a treasure hunt challenge to raise money for the Arthur Rank Hospice Charity.

Property consultancy Januarys, Cambridge Building Society, Mills & Reeve, Bar Ellison and several more companies were set loose around the city in a hunt which finished off with a raffle at Revolution on Downing Street.

An impressive total of £1,675 was raised for the charity.

Commenting on the event, Januarys director and organiser Graham Smith, said: “We are very pleased with the success of the treasure hunt. It was great to give the teams a chance to explore some of Cambridge’s lesser-known beauty spots, but most importantly, raise a significant amount of money for the Arthur Rank Hospice Charity. The overwhelming response from the teams suggests that an annual event could be in order!” www.januarys.co.uk

Expansion at The Avenue, Saffron Walden New homes aren’t just springing up in Cambridge; the surrounding towns are expanding too, including the pretty market town of Saffron Walden. It is proving a popular spot for families, as well as commuters looking to take advantage of its good rail links to London (Liverpool Street) and road connections to Cambridge and Bishop’s Stortford.

Owing its name to the tranquil avenue of mature trees that sweeps through it, The Avenue is a bespoke collection of two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom homes built by Hill, adjacent to the prestigious Friends School in Saffron Walden. Each property has been finished to a high standard, with sleek contemporary fittings, energy-efficient Siemens appliances to the kitchens and turf gardens with patios that are ideal for entertaining in the summer.

Saffron Walden offers a wealth of boutiques, cafés, lovely pubs and fine restaurants. There is also a range of green spaces, woodland and some of the highest achieving schools in the region.

Prices start at £394,950 for a four-bed house and £739,950 for the five-bedroom property.

Contact Hill on 01799 513 688. www.hillresidential.co.uk

New solicitors set up in Cambridge A new firm of property solicitors opened their doors this spring, setting up offices in central Cambridge. Houlden Sweeney is headed up by Samantha Houlden and Roslyn Sweeney, both qualified solicitors with over 25 years’ experience of the local and regional property market. They work closely with estate agents, surveyors, banks and building societies, financial advisors and other professionals to ensure that you are provided with the best advice tailored to meet your particular needs.

Houlden Sweeney’s personal service ensures each client has a constant and familiar point of contact throughout the transaction. Their pragmatic approach, attention to detail and approachability coupled with transparency on cost and a willingness to ‘go the extra mile’ make for an all-round exceptional client experience. www.houldensweeney.co.uk

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Property

Rental market hots up for summer…

Dream home: Goodwin Manor, Swaffham Prior

A captivating Grade II manor house has come onto the market, complete with a heated swimming pool and 2.15 acres of beautiful, secluded grounds.

Situated in Swaffham Prior, Goodwin Manor is believed to date back to the 1500s, and retains many attractive features including leaded windows, exposed timbers and open fireplaces.

There are five superbly presented bedrooms, while outside you’ll find a sweeping driveway, twobay cart lodge, well-kept lawns, a pond, terrace and pool, plus a number of outbuildings.

The guide price is £1.2 million. Contact Jackson-Stops & Staff on 01638 662231. www.jackson-stops.co.uk

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Competition to secure the best properties for rent is as keen as ever in the city, confirms Carter Jonas, whose residential lettings team is reporting a surge in interest in some of the highend properties in the city’s hot-spot residential locations this summer.

A three-storey townhouse on Storey’s Way, towards Churchill College, which becomes vacant this month, had a tenant offer in April at the advertised rent of £1,900 per calendar month.

Properties like this would not, ordinarily, be attracting tenants until nearer the time of its vacancy, according to Bridgit Knowwles, Carter Jonas’s head of residential lettings in Cambridge.

She explains: “Whenever one of the large properties in premium residential locations south of the city, such as Sedley Taylor Road and similar roads in between Trumpington Road and Hills Road, comes forward for rent, it always attracts a lot of interest as properties for rent in these locations are quite rare.

“A terraced property in a similarly rare rental location, Downing Terrace on Lensfield Road, was let on first viewing in May for the advertised monthly rental of £1,950. The availability of a garage and permit parking added to the appeal.

“We’re anticipating a quick turnover for apartments on Thompson’s Lane and Eights Marina, in the traditionally desirable locations for lettings, close to the river.”

Bridgit advises that, in a fastmoving market, serious interest quickly converts into securing a tenancy – even well out of the city.

“A recent instruction on a brand new barn-style property in Great Abington was secured by the first tenant who viewed it,” says Bridgit, “so whether in the city or in a village, speed is of the essence this spring when it comes to good-quality properties.”

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words CHARLOTTE PHILLIPS Images Charlotte Griffiths

Spotlight on

Ely

This month we turn our attentions to Ely, to discover why this diminutive city has such enduring appeal for homebuyers

image: Perhaps Ely's most famous landmark: the spectacular Cathedral

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iny in size, large in spirit and until the 17th century, when the surrounding fenland was drained, only accessible by boat, Ely is a pocket-sized community with a supersize reputation.

It may have a population of just 14,500 (16,000 if you include the small, nearby villages of Prickwillow, Stuntney, Queen Adelaide, Chettisham and Shippea Hill), but don’t let its compact size fool you. It is emphatically a city, not a town, owing its grand status to its spectacular cathedral which dates back to the 11th century and is famed for its almost magical appearance, rising from the fens and seeming to ride the sky like a ship on the high seas.

But while, like nearby Cambridge, Ely is steeped in history, it wears its atmosphere with decorum. Tourists arrive but don’t overwhelm, leaving Ely to go about its business as usual, offering charm without the crowds.

There are big supermarkets for the weekly shop, but Ely has retained many smaller, specialist retailers too – such as Waterside Antiques, the largest antique and collectables retailer in East Anglia. There’s also a great farmers’ market every third Saturday of the month, which brings together the finest artisan producers in the region and stocks everything from locally sourced organic plants to fresh fruit and vegetables and baked goods.

When it comes to eating out, Ely is more at the traditional tea room end of the spectrum than avant-garde fusion cuisine, but boy, does it do that well. A particular local favourite is the picture-perfect Peacocks: a quintessentially English tea room right on the waterfront, that’s regarded as one of the finest in the country.

Those seeking transport are well served both by road (rush hour congestion on the A10 aside) and rail, with destinations including Birmingham and Sheffield as well as Cambridge and London.

The area isn’t free of controversy. The local council was recently forced to ditch plans to charge for city centre parking following fierce protests from locals. Cyclists, who currently feel slightly short-changed, are campaigning

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for a more joined-up network that gives better access between the city and its outlying villages, while plans to build a 33-foot high viaduct as part of road improvements have also been criticised.

Overall, however, mood is generally benign.

Newcomers are quick to praise the area’s neighbourliness. “Within six months of moving to Ely I’d got to know more people in the area than I did in six years in my previous home,” says Gregory Van Dicks, director of Pocock & Shaw. “It’s a lovely community, a good place and I hope it will stay that way.”

Carmel Luff, manager of Haart’s Ely branch, who recently moved from south-east London to Ely to be with her family, also stresses its sense of togetherness. “It’s genuinely brilliant.

You feel very safe,” she says.

Unsurprisingly, it is a popular place to live, known for low-stress, high-quality lifestyles, with earning power and lifespan outstripping many other areas, according to a recent study which billed East Cambridgeshire as one of the best places to live in the country.

Although too far from Cambridge to be a viable location for students, other workers find it very much to their liking. “We’ve seen a lot more people who used to have to go to London five days a week and now only go two days a week and then work at home,” says Mark Peck, director at Cheffins.

Chief amongst Ely’s many sterling qualities is its sheer convenience. Pick the right property and you will have all the best bits

It is emphatically a city, not a town, owing its grand status to its spectacular 11th century cathedral – river, city centre and transport – almost on your doorstep. “If you’ve got a house that is walking distance from the river, the railway station and the city amenities, that will get a big premium,” says Mark Peck.

Unsurprisingly, Ely’s appeal is widening, with property firms reporting a recent flurry of activity. “We had a slow start to the year but it has picked up,” says Jade Woodruffe at Tucker Gardner. Fast-moving properties including a three-bedroom home in the centre with a view of the cathedral. Offered for £199,000, it was snapped up very quickly. It’s a similar story at Cheffins. “We put a property on at 11am and

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by the end of the day had already had two viewings,” says Mark Peck. “Both buyers are going back for a second look, so that will sell, I’m sure. There are lots of buyers looking at the moment and the market is the busiest here it has been for, I’d say, a couple of years.”

With a considerable variation in prices, everyone from first-time buyers to those in search of substantial family homes should find something to their taste. Particularly popular is the Vineyards with its pleasing mix of eras and styles, while roads within easy walking distance of the King’s School also command a premium. A four-bedroom Edwardian house

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WHAT CAN I GET FOR MY MONEY?

on Back Hill was recently sold by Cheffins for over the asking price of £395,000. Even at the top end, however, most prices will come as a pleasant surprise compared with London and Cambridge, something that, with the exception of the mid-noughties when Ely prices soared, has consistently been the case.

“Prices took a bit of a nosedive at the end of 2007 and 2008,” says Gregory Van Dicks.

“Today, Ely is just about back to its former levels while Cambridge has soared ahead. It means Ely has benefited from a ripple effect where people in search of another bedroom move and get a lot more for their pound.

“In the centre of Cambridge, you can pay up to £400 per square foot, sometimes more.

In Ely it’s £200 to £300. If you’re on the edge of Ely it’s a bit less expensive; if you’re by the river or by the cathedral then it’s an awful lot more. So you can get between 50 and 100 per cent more for your money.”

First-time buyers would be looking to pay from £125,000 for an apartment on the outskirts of town, with three-bedroom homes priced from £180,000. Bigger, detached houses start at £300,000 outside the city centre and considerably more within it.

With demand predicted to rise still further, Ely will need more housing to cater for its growing population. Just as well, therefore, that while the city may be steeped in tradition, it is not resistant to change. While little will change in the centre itself, some 3,000 new homes are planned to the north of the Princess of Wales Hospital over the next 20 years or so. To cope with the substantial increase in population, new shops and schools are also being added.

How will the city cope? With ease, believe local property experts. The area has been undervalued for some time, thinks Gregory Van Dicks, particularly on the outskirts, and prices are likely to increase quicker than in the past. Carmel Luff is going one step further.

Currently looking for a property to buy herself, she believes there’s never been a better time to invest. “Once the infrastructure gets here, the prices will catch up,” she says. And when estate agents dip their own toes in the water, it’s definitely time to sit up and listen.

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£250,000

£485,000

1) The Boat House, Littleport

2) Hill House, Coveney

A detached riverside property between Littleport Marina and the River Great Ouse, with boat mooring and views of the river and surrounding countryside.

Approached via a private road, and with a three- to five-minute walk to the train station, it offers three bedrooms, with a bathroom on the ground floor, an openplan vaulted living space and balconies to the front and rear. There’s a paved terrace and decking, plus a single garage.

Contact Pocock & Shaw www.pocock.co.uk

A spacious six-bedroom detached house in the village of Coveney which dates back to 1780 (with later extensions). The property has a drawing room, utility room, pantry and a good-sized cellar, along with en-suite bathroom facilities in two of the bedrooms. Coveney is a small, peaceful village located just three miles west of Ely and approximately 20 miles north of Cambridge, offering easy access to the A14 and A11.

Contact Jackson-Stops & Staff www.jackson-stops.co.uk

£270,000

£399,995

3) Broad Street, Ely

4) Elmfield Road, Ely

A period end of terrace property with three double bedrooms (one en suite) in a great central location close to the railway station and popular waterside area. This property was converted from its previous incarnation, a bakery, a while back into a spacious home comprising an entrance hallway with a feature vaulted ceiling, cloakroom, kitchen/breakfast room, lounge, dining room and family bathroom.

There is a courtyard style garden and offroad parking.

Contact Cheffins www.cheffins.co.uk

A large, detached home in central Ely boasting an orangery, four reception rooms and four large double bedrooms.

A continental-style paved garden with circular paving, flower beds and French doors opening out onto the lawn make it ideal for utilising and enjoying the well-kept garden all year round.

The location is another big draw, with schools and the city’s nice range of local amenities nearby. The property comes with a double garage.

Contact Haart www.haart.co.uk

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words Jennifer Shelton

BOOMTOWN Bulletin

All the latest from Cambridge’s new property developments

Skanska: Bringing Scandinavian values to Cambridge A Swedish property company is bringing Scandinavian principles in eco housebuilding to Cambridge, creating homes that are proving popular with both buyers and higher powers in the property profession.

Skanska recently set up its first UK base in Cambridge and is currently building the cutting-edge Seven Acres development just south of the city. The houses and apartments are possibly the most eco friendly in town, surpassing UK requirements for sustainability and featuring larger than average rooms and other clever hidden benefits like PV panels and sun pipes.

Homes by Skanska scooped the Eco Living trophy at this year’s Evening Standard New Homes Awards, which recognised design and layout across a range of new home developments in the south of England.

Suzanne Aplin, sales and marketing director, commented: “This is our third award for this development this year, and these accolades are a real testament to the way in which British homebuyers have embraced the principles of ecologically sound Swedish design and craftsmanship.” Meanwhile buyers have voted with their feet, with 48 homes of the 51 released having already sold.

So what are these Scandinavian principles, and why are they so appealing to us Brits?

Jason Collard, development director at Skanska, explains a little more about the ethos of the company.

“When we started, it was a case of looking at the key drivers for homeowners,” he says.

“A better quality home, a well-designed home and something a little bit bigger than the average house were all important, so we focused on these.

“We also looked at the homes Skanska was building in Sweden. Nordic homes are

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generally larger, and they connect well with the external environment – ie. there’s a greater emphasis on gardens and terraces. At our Seven Acres site, we’ve got terraces on multiple layers, where we’re trying to bring the inside out.

“We also made a conscious decision to increase the ceiling heights, as a lot of people who buy these properties are moving from big Victorian terraces, with high ceilings. This means the doors and windows are taller, creating a much brighter atmosphere overall.”

Skanska also puts a strong focus on ecocredentials, another Nordic trend.

“All our homes are Code 4, with one a Code 5 for sustainability, whereas the UK mandatory level is Code 3,” explains Jason.

“One of the key areas the code looks at is energy usage and the carbon footprint of the home, so we’ve made sure they’re really well insulated and use less energy, which in turn costs less for the owner. That’s the problem with the old Victorian houses, they’re very draughty and take a lot to heat.”

Skanska’s homes are all well insulated, and use a mechanical ventilation system which warms fresh air as it comes in.

“I think people are looking at our homes and thinking, yes, I can live here: my fuel costs

will be lower and in doing so I’m making a positive contribution to the environment,” says Jason.

“At the moment, I’d say we’re about 25 years behind Scandinavia in terms of energy usage and carbon levels. I think it’s because it’s so much colder there in the winter – so they’re forced to focus more on insulation.

However I think we can learn a lot from the way they deliver new housing, which is what we’re trying to do. We can’t get away from the fact that things are changing, and we should all do our bit, whether that’s teaching our children to recycle or going to the next level and buying a sustainable home.”

Apartments at Skanska’s Seven Acres site in Trumpington start at £235,000; four-bed townhouses at £650,000. www.skanska.co.uk

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Marque unveils Show home The first show home at The Marque is due to be unveiled this month. Launching on 4 July, the sunny, spacious two-bedroom apartment is a fine example of the standard of living at The Marque, Cambridge’s tallest ever residential development.

The show home features a striking monochromatic palette of greys and charcoals, combined with warm tones of copper, bronze and tan, resulting in an elegant and sophisticated design that is reminiscent of high-end hotels, softened with bespoke wallpapers, with stunning and luxurious fabrics throughout.

All apartments feature open-plan living spaces, natural, sustainable materials and well-appointed fixtures and fittings. The majority also have their own balconies or terraces, secure underground parking, bike

storage and use of shared private landscaped courtyard gardens.

Buyers have shown significant interest in The Marque, enthused by the sleek ‘hotel living’ on offer, which marries luxury with convenience. The development offers a 24hour concierge service, private landscaped gardens and a state-of-the-art resident-only gym. The development is located within the city’s key regeneration zone, just minutes from the station and within walking distance of the historic city centre.

The first apartments at The Marque will be ready to move into by early 2014, and prices start at £250,000 for a one-bedroom apartment. For further information and to register your interest, contact Savills on 01223 347092, Bidwells on 01223 841842 or visit www.themarque-cambridge.com

Myth and majesty at Ceres

Planning battle brings positive result A local charity is getting a new bus thanks to a generous developer. Weston Homes donated legal costs won from Cambridge City Council after it refused planning permission for a new development, Veritas. The donation, which will help children throughout the wider community, brings a costly and lengthy battle with town planners to a positive conclusion.

Bob Weston, Chairman of Weston Homes, handed over the keys of a new Sunshine Coach to the Variety Club of Britain last month, to be used by children at Highfield School, Cambridge.

“It does excellent work helping children in difficult circumstances across the country,” says Bob. “The donation of the coach was a no-brainer – I always intended to give back to the community, whatever the outcome of our appeal settlement. Cambridge has always

been close to my heart and Veritas is the second residential project we’ve undertaken to provide much-needed homes.”

In February 2012, plans for the Veritas scheme were rejected by the Planning Committee of Cambridge, arguing that the majority of the properties were one- or twobedroom flats, catering to only one type of buyer. Councillors were also concerned about the concentration of the affordable homes.

Weston Homes submitted amended plans, but stood firm on the grounds that the homes were designed to assist the majority of ordinary hard-working people in Cambridge struggling to get on the property ladder.

When complete, Veritas will create 136 new homes, including 54 vital affordable homes. Prices from £239,995. www.weston-homes.com/veritas

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A sense of community is starting to emerge at Ceres, the new development by Cambridge station, designed by awardwinning London architects PTEa. Ceres – named after the goddess of agriculture and fertility – incorporates four buildings, including the iconic Spillers Mill, which will be sympathetically restored.

All apartments (one, two or three bedrooms) have modern interiors and a fantastic location within this up-andcoming, well-connected area. Parking is available for purchase with selected apartments, and cycle storage is provided.

Surrounded by parks and piazzas, Ceres is just a 20-minute walk from Market Square.

Prices start at £204,950 for a studio, £246,750 for a one-bedroom apartment, £324,500 for a two-bed and £549,950 for a three-bed duplex apartment. Call Hill Residential on 0844 225 1977. www.ceres-cb1.com

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