Homes and living by Gary Burt

Homes

Living &

FRI

11 SEP 2015

Find and create your dream home and lifestyle

On Location Village is the rail deal Page 2 This will entertain you Robbieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s old pad up for sale

Page 6

Up for auction

Try out the

Starter homes Cash boost for builders Page 5 Page 4

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high life

www.bristolpost.co.uk

Friday to Sunday, September 11 to 13, 2015

ON LOCATION: OLDLAND COMMON

FROM STARS TO STEAM RAILWAYS ● The village lies on the Avon Valley Railway, a three-mile long heritage railway for steam trains

LDLAND Common’s claim to fame is that it is the birthplace of the late famous astronomer Sir Bernard Lovell, who gives his name to the area’s secondary school, a designated language college opened by Lovell himself in 1972. The school was also once attended by England cricketer Marcus Trescothick, inset, and Sky TV football pundit and former Bristol Rovers FC player, Ian Holloway. There are also three primary schools and three pubs: The Crown and Horseshoe, The Cherry Tree and The Dolphin. The village lies on the Avon Valley Railway, a three-mile long heritage railway for steam trains, which runs from near Saltford to North Common, with the main station at Bitton. Oldland Common was first mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. As was common in the surrounding area, the village was involved in the

coal mining industry and had its own pit on Cowhorn Hill during the 1800s. The largest church in the village is St Anne’s, though there is also a Methodist Church and a United Reformed Church. The village is also home to the 54th Kingswood (St Anne’s) Scout Group. New residents will be glad to know that there is 4G (super-fast) internet thanks to EE, while commuters into Bristol or Bath can make use of the former railway path, now made over for cyclists and pedestrians, which passes through the area.

House prices According to Rightmove, the majority of sales in Oldland Common during the last year were detached properties, selling for an average price of £363,625. Semi-detached properties sold for an average of £243,772, with terraced properties fetching

● Astronomer Sir Bernard Lovell

● The United Reformed Church at Oldland Common

£224,571. Oldland Common, with an overall average price of £270,581 was more expensive than nearby Warmley

(£208,873) and Longwell Green (£235,944), but was cheaper than Bitton (£422,229). Overall sold prices in Oldland Com-

mon over the last year were five per cent up on the previous year and 11 per cent up on the 2012 level of £243,068.

Meet the Local World Property Team Helping you be the one in three

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What is unique about your business? What are its key strengths? What do satisfied customers say about you? And why should property sellers choose you? Whatever it is, we can get your message across. On average in this area, three estate agents are chosen to value each property that comes on to the market. We can help put you at the front of the queue.

Property Advertising Manager

Property Field Sales Executive

0117 934 3769 daren.stainton@localworld.co.uk

07825 976 075 jonathan.willis@localworld.co.uk

07715 770 573 sean.hayward@localworld.co.uk

HOUSEBUILDER OF THE YEAR

WATERSIDE LIVING A COLLECTION OF APARTMENTS WITH FOUNTAIN COURTYARD OR WATERSIDE VIEWS

With an imposing exterior and impressive modern interiors, The General now offers the best of contemporary living, close to the city centre and within walking distance of Bristol Temple Meads Station. Located on the vibrant waterfront of Bristol Harbourside, these stunning, spacious 1, 2 & 3 bedroom converted apartments offer high specification finishes with the charm and character of a Grade II Listed building.

Prices from £295,000 to £810,000 Call now to make an appointment on 0117 369 0831 Sales Suite open daily 10am to 5pm sales@cityandcountry.co.uk www.cityandcountry.co.uk The General, Guinea Street, Bristol BS1 6SY Please note that prices are correct at the time of printing and are subject to change. Show home photography is indicative only.

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Friday to Sunday, September 11 to 13, 2015

First-time buyers Level highest since recession

HE number of first-time buyers in the UK reached its highest level in July since the recession, paying an average of £161,985, some 8.9 per cent more than a year ago, according to the latest index. There were 29,700 sales of homes to first-time buyers, some 4.9 per cent above June, despite the fact that the average first-time buyer now needs a deposit of £27,975. July’s sales figure also represents a 28 per cent rise on April 2015, amounting to a 6,500 increase over the last three months, the latest First-Time Buyer Tracker index from Your Move and Reeds Rains also shows. Average deposits have increased by 10 per cent compared with July 2014’s figure of £25,429 which in cash terms

equates to a rise of £2,546. The cost of a deposit as a proportion of a first time buyer’s average income reached 71.6 per cent in July, up 3.1 per cent in one month alone and rising 5.4 per cent from a year ago. Equally, the average first-time buyer loan to value ratio (LTV) is steadily dropping. This means first-time buyers are having to pay more up front, in the form of larger deposits. July’s rate of 82.7 per cent represents a 0.5 per cent decrease on LTVs in June and a 0.2 per cent decrease on a year ago, as the size of the average deposit rises. According to Adrian Gill, director of estate agents Your Move and Reeds Rains, the post general election

bounce has given way to a more stable optimism as first-time buyers realise that the property market is at no immediate risk of being tampered with by the government. “Incentives attractive to first-time buyers such as the Help to Buy scheme are running along steadily, while further low-cost housing development is being encouraged to entice more people onto the ladder,” he said. “This month’s particularly high transaction rate is also partially due to expectations that the Bank of England may announce a rate rise sooner rather than later. “Some may have held back briefly when considering the rising deposit costs, but real wages have been growing too.”

Study offers insights into our habits THE average UK home buyer has a budget of £205,221, has owned two properties in their lifetime and is most likely to buy a three bedroom semi in the suburbs, new research shows. Most buy with a spouse or partner with just 18 per cent buying alone and of those aged 18 to 24 some 17 per cent buy their first home with friends, according to the study by Sarah Beeny’s estate agency Tepilo. Who people buy with varies from region to region, with those from Wales most likely to buy alone at 35 per cent, followed by those in the South East at 28 per cent and Yorkshire at 27 per cent. Least likely to purchase solo are those from the North East, where only three per cent do so, and London where the figure is 12 per cent. Location is the most important consideration for buyers, with 65 per cent

naming it as the top priority followed by 56 per cent stating the number of bedrooms is crucial and 41 per cent the garden. Some 34 per cent believe the layout of the property is important, 29 per cent having a kitchen/ dining room and 19 per cent want a downstairs toilet as a priority. When considering the location, buyers rate good transport links as

The Haigh Report Martin Haigh Founding partner of Bristol estate agents Haigh & Sons. A few bits of property news that have been doing the rounds this week…

New Smoke Alarm Legislation In Chaos! Government plans to introduce new rules concerning

● A fourth-floor two-bedroom flat in Kingsdown is for sale

facing the prospect of a £5,000 fine. The Lords also felt the draft was poorly worded! Despite this, it appears that the new legislation will come into force sooner rather than later, so my advice is for all landlords to install at least one smoke alarm per floor as quickly as possible, and carbon monoxide detectors too. More Government Legislation - Even More Chaos! To add even more confusion to landlords’ lives, the Government posted two official documents online this week, announcing changes to restrictions to Section 21 “no fault possession” notices.

In its final stage, the draft legislation was rejected by

Most experts appear to think the documents are written in a way that is difficult to understand without additional guidance. But the Government seems to have decided that no guidance notes are necessary.

the House of Lords on the basis that its introduction left

Good luck, everybody! Hope your interpretation is the

no time for landlords to implement the changes before

right one.

fire safety in privately rented homes by October 1 seem to be in absolute chaos this week.

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the most important deciding factor at 56 per cent. Being close to shops and supermarkets is key for 44 per cent and a low crime rate for 39 per cent. A good local pub is an important factor for 23 per cent, with 35 per cent of 18 to 24 year olds rating it as one of the top things they look for when buying a home. Three-bed properties are the most popular, with 45 per cent of buyers going for this size of property, while 27 per cent seek a two-bedroom home. A further 18 per cent opt for a four-bed, with less than five per cent buying studio and one-bedroom properties. The age of 44 is when most buyers think they have moved to their ideal home that they will spend the rest of their lives in, although 20 per cent don’t think such a thing exists, which rises to 33 per cent of those aged 55 and over.

Flats and houses go under the hammer ● A VARIETY of flats and other

properties in Bristol are on offer to anyone prepared to buy at auction later this month. A fourth-floor two-bedroom flat in Kingsdown is within walking distance of the city

centre; while another two-bedroom place in Staple Hill has just been refurbished. Two one-bedroom flats are available in the same Victorian house in Hanham. There are also two,

House Prices To Rise Further? The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has upwardly doubled its forecast for house prices and now reckons that, on average, prices will end the year 6% higher than at the start. All areas, with the exception of the North East of England, should see increases, due to a shortage of homes on the market. It’s that old devil supply and demand again. Congratulations To A Regular Reader! Three cheers to the Queen, who probably hated all the “well done, you’re getting old” accolades this week. She’s a regular reader apparently. Not of this column, obviously, as she’s not thinking about moving home just at the mo. 0117 973 5859 post@haighandsons.co.uk www.

haighandsons.co.uk ©LW

www.bristolpost.co.uk

Friday to Sunday, September 11 to 13, 2015

Cash boost £26m fund to help build starter homes

£26 million fund for house builders in the UK has been launched to pave the way for the first wave of new starter homes aimed at first time

● A three-bedroom house in Eastville is for sale

three-bedroom houses for sale, one in Speedwell and the other in Eastville, along with two flats in Georgian buildings in Bath. Finally, two development opportunities include one in Stapleton (a three-bedroom house with annexe) while in Staple Hill is a house

comprising three flats and potential to convert the attic. All lots are to be sold at Besley Hill’s auction at the BAWA Pavilion Lounge, Southmead Road, Filton, on Thursday, September 24. For further information, call 0117 970 1551.

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buyers. Communities Secretary Greg Clark said high quality homes will be available for first time buyers and the fund will make sure that a range of different types of properties can be accessed. The fund will support architects, developers, councils, housing associations and small builders to build properties that will increase the quality of design as the government delivers on its pledge to build 200,000 starter homes by 2020. It will be used to acquire brownfield sites to provide land for starter homes. Money from the sales of these sites will go back to the government, securing good value for the taxpayer. In a further move to support aspiring home owners the government has also made available up to £10 million for local authorities to prepare more brownfield land for development of starter homes. “We are committed to delivering 200,000 starter homes by the end of this Parliament, providing a real boost to aspiring young first time buyers. This competitive fund will build homes that will clearly show the wide range of new properties that will be available for first-time buyers as they take their first step on the housing ladder,” said mr Clark. “We are also helping to bring back into use more brownfield land for development, keeping the country building and delivering the homes our communities need,” he added. Helping young people achieve their dream of home ownership is a priority for the government, according to Housing Minister Brandon Lewis who added that already more than 100,000 households have been helped to buy a home through the flagship

“ We are committed to delivering 200,000 starter homes by the end of this Parliament, providing a real boost to aspiring young first time buyers. Communities Secretary Greg Clark

● Prime Minister David Cameron

has made home ownership for young people one of his priorities Help to Buy scheme and starter homes should be another game changer. “This fund will help kick start that change and show young people across the country the quality they can expect when they buy a starter home. It’s further proof that this government’s long term economic plan is on track,” he added. The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), said it will support the starter home initiative by offering its land and development expertise and this will help even more first time buyers into affordable home ownership. “We look forward to working with our key delivery partners including

councils, developers, housing associations, small builders and architects in taking this forward, through the identification and purchase of land suitable for exemplar starter home sites,” said HCA chief executive Andy Rose. According to Stephen Stone, chief executive of construction firm Crest Nicholson, the announcement will not only help first time buyers get onto the property ladder, but it will also accelerate further output across the industry at a time when housing need is at an all time high. The government’s new Housing Bill and proposed national planning policy changes will introduce a series of planning reforms that will ensure hundreds of thousands of starter homes will be built. These include requiring local authorities to plan proactively for the delivery of starter homes, maximising the release of underused brownfield land to be used for starter homes and enabling communities to allocate land for the properties through their neighbourhood plans. It will also result in proposals to ensure every reasonably sized housing site includes a proportion of starter homes being brought forward and monitoring will be carried out to see how effective local authorities are in delivering starter homes developments.

Talk to the expert. With over 60% of all internet use now coming from mobile devices, it’s crucial your site is optimised for your clients use while they are on the go. Recent changes to the Google algorithm mean websites which are not mobile friendly will suffer from a far weaker search ranking.

Property Advertising Manager

75% of mobile users use their device to carry out research.

79% of mobile users have their device with them for all but two hours of their day.

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Over 60% of users will exit a website if it is not optimised for their device.

>with NIGEL LEWIS PROPERTY TALK Eric’s pad in Provence

Robbie’s former rural retreat goes up for sale

IF YOU were an Eric Clapton fan during the 1960s then turn away now. The guitarist and songwriter, who had worldwide hits with Lay Down Sally, Layla and Wonderful Tonight, turned 70 this year. The spectacled legend has been acclaimed as a musical hero since the ‘60s and by 1967 an anonymous graffiti artist had coined the phrase ‘Clapton Is God’. He shows no sign of slowing down, still playing gigs around the globe and recently releasing an album. But getting away from it all obviously helps too, and the multi-millionaire musician is able to do just that in his various homes in Venice beach, Surrey, Antigua – and until recently this rustic stone farmhouse in Provence. He bought the 10-bedroom, nine-bathroom home near the village of Nans les Pins 12 years ago for wife Melia McEnery and

family as an antidote to life on the road and in the studio, but told the Sunday Times he no longer had the time to appreciate it. “Once you get through those gates, it’s like entering an oasis of calm,” he mused. Set in more than 10 acres, the property comes with a private tennis court, gated swimming

pool, boules pitch and cinema room, while in an annexe there’s two large independent guest rooms, both with en-suite bathrooms. The property is on the market for 2.95m Euros (around £2.18m) reduced from 3.25m Euros. www.home-hunts.com, +33 (0) 970 44 66 43

Where Fonteyn got to the pointe ONE of the greatest classical ballet dancers, Margot Fonteyn’s partnership with Rudolf Nureyev really fired the public’s imagination – the pair took 23 curtain calls after their first performance together at Covent Garden in 1962, and made headlines wherever they went.

obbie Williams has a well-documented global property empire but not everyone knows about the huge house in the country he once bought near where he was brought up. The pop star bought Old Wood some 16 years ago, paying £975,000 for the property in Betley, Cheshire before selling it on for £1.25m in 2001 at the height of his fame. Williams, who’s just about to embark on a tour of

Australia, recently moved into Michael Winner’s old pad in Holland Park, London last year with wife Ayda and their two children. It’s one of the most spectacular private homes in the capital, with 46 rooms, seven bathrooms, three kitchens, panic room, swimming pool and private cinema in the basement. He bought it for £17.5m in 2014 but had to scale down ambitious plans for a refit after a very public spat with neighbour, Led Zeppelin rocker Jimmy Page. He’s also owned an 18th century,

seven- bedroom manor in Wiltshire and lived for years in LA. Before that – after Take That split – the star lived in a London pad with best mate Jonathan Wilkes, and led a very rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle. The five-bedroom Old Wood has a private 13-acre lake with jetty, tennis court, six-hole golf course with bunkers and 12 tees. But should the owner grow tired of tee-ing off, they can always enjoy the many living rooms, grand dining room and massive kitchen. While he owned it, Williams built a leisure complex housing a pool, kitchen, gym, games and cinema room. It’s on the market for £3.2m. www.savills.co.uk, 0207 016 3718

She was the Royal Ballet’s prima ballerina until she retired, then it gave her the title of Prima Ballerina Assoluta, which she held until her death in 1991, aged 71. Her former home and London dance studio stands in a row of eight Arts and Crafts-era artists’ studios with tall chimneys, red-brick and terracotta exteriors, and enormous windows. Designed in 1891 for ‘bachelor artists’, each property in St Paul’s Studios had a bedroom, reception area and a bathroom on the ground floor for the artist, and a scullery, kitchen and bedroom in the basement for a housekeeper. The Grade II listed building in

Talgarth Road, Barons Court is now on the market for £1.4m and in need of complete renovation – it even has the long ballet mirror Fonteyn installed during her time there to perfect her posture. The house is currently set

over three levels with four large double bedrooms, two bathrooms, a large artist studio/reception, a maisonette/office area and south-facing garden. www.featherstoneleigh.co.uk, 0207 381 0319

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Churchill’s former rental T P O I H SS O G

IT’S A dilemma many of us face while the builders are in – wouldn’t it be better to just move out and rent somewhere to avoid all the dust? Even the most famous prime minister in recent history, Sir Winston Churchill, took the renting option while his home, Chartwell in Kent, was being refurbished after the war. A popular day out on the National Trust trail, Churchill bought his beloved Chartwell in 1922 and apart from the war years – when the distinctive lakes made it an easy target for the Luftwaffe – it was the great man’s home until he died in 1965. Before they moved in, Churchill had great plans for the property and hired architect Philip Tilden to modernise and extend the house. Renovations to his home were so extensive that Chartwell was completely transformed and it took workmen two years before the Churchills could move in. So the couple rented this house just outside nearby Westerham called Hosey Rigge, which Churchill nicknamed

‘Cosy Pig’, and it’s now come on the market. Dating back to the early 1900s, the six-bedroom detached country home has got stacks of period features such as sash windows, panelled doors, open fireplaces and an impressive balustraded staircase to the first floor. The elegant reception rooms and bedrooms have great views over adjoining countryside, while a heated

indoor swimming pool is glazed with a shower room, sauna room and Jacuzzi. There’s also a literary connection to the house as it was once owned by Alice Liddell, the little girl for whom Lewis Carroll wrote Alice in Wonderland. It’s up for sale at £3.5m. www.jamesmillard.co.uk, 01959 465002

Wish you were living here?

WHEN this Victorian home went under the hammer three years ago it was a real treasure trove for Pink Floyd fans. Bongo drums, tambourines and a huge homemade xylophone lay scattered around the place, while the attic housed a rare Binson Echorec 2 echo unit and lighting systems used by the band in the late ’60s. The bonnet of a band member’s Aston Martin was even buried in its overgrown garden. Former home of Mike Leonard, the rock legends’ influential former college tutor and landlord until his death earlier that year, it had barely been touched since Syd Barrett, Roger Waters and Nick Mason lived there while honing their musical skills. Leonard had worked closely with the band, creating light effects that complemented their

psychedelic sound. They went onto release concept albums Dark Side Of The Moon, Wish You Were Here and The Wall. Leonard’s ramshackle three-storey Victorian home in Highgate’s Stanhope Gardens went under the hammer in 2012 with an estimate of £1.2m and a year later, developers got

permission to build a two-storey extension. It’s now had a complete facelift and is a stylish seven-bedroom, four-bathroom property complete with Poggenpohl kitchen, under-floor heating, bi-fold doors, and landscaped garden. It’s on the market for £3m. www.kfh.co.uk, 0203 199 8048.

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BRIGHTEN UP YOUR HOME

>with DONNA PRIOR

Think olive

In this regular feature we pick a different colour or theme and give you some ideas for brightening your home. This week’s theme of olive would look good sprinkled on top of a pizza

THIS stylish olive oil pourer is worth dishing out for. Price: £33 from www.cotswoldtrading.com GIVEN the price of this tablecloth we recommend you spread it over a table rather than drying your dishes with it. Price: £55 from www.villeet campagne.co.uk

THIS cushion looks so cute it could have been knitted by your gran. Price: £62 from www.nutmegand sage.co.uk THESE diamond cut vases look lovely on top of a mantelpiece or coffee table. Price: £9 from www.alisonathome.com

THIS table lamp would look perfect in the study of any budding mad professors. Price: £225 from www.lumadirect.com

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THIS wine cabinet does the job for anyone who hasn’t got their own wine cellar. Price: £525 from www.alexanderandpearl.co.uk

THIS three-seater sofa in olive green will make you want to cancel all plans and spend a lot more time crashed out in front of the telly. Price: £799 from www.made.com

THIS rug will make your feet feel a little more comfy when you are working hard in the kitchen. Price: £69 from www.cloudberryliving.co.uk

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Phone: 0117 905 1151 Email: clifton@nightingaleproperties.co.uk Address: 177 Whiteladies Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 2RY

INTERIOR DESIGN

>with LESLEY TAYLOR

Time for an autumn renewal The change of the seasons means it’s the perfect time to refresh your home and it needn’t cost a fortune

With a neutral base in place, you can incorporate autumn-inspired accessories and soft furnishings into any scheme. Be inspired by this recent renovation project by Taylors Etc, www.taylorsetc.co.uk, 02920 358 409

Make the right decision Residential Sales & Lettings

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0117 977 4000

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Call today for your free valuation

utumn is upon us and if you’re anything like me, you will have been spending as much time as you can in your garden recently (any excuse to catch some rays), so you may have put off some of the jobs you’d been meaning to do in the inside of your house. Now that you’re going to be spending more time inside, you want your home to be looking its best, so if you feel your home is in need of a little TLC, here are some quick and affordable ways you can give each room a bit of a revamp in time for the colder months of the year. Let’s start with the hallway. This can always be a bit of a chaotic part of the home with shoes, bags, umbrellas and goodness knows what else lying around! It’s easy to just throw your stuff down as soon as you walk through the door, but this doesn’t create a good first impression of your home, so think carefully about ways to overcome this problem. Ensure the space is nice and organised with a coat rack or, space permitting, a chest that can be used to store hats, scarves and the like to keep your hallway looking as clear as possible. With so much passing traffic, the hallway is also the one area of the home that is likely to tire most quickly. If your walls are looking a little scuffed, give them a new lease of life with a lick of paint. This won’t cost the earth or take up too much of your time to do. You may also want to think about quirky little features that you can include that make a bold impression – how about painting your stairs, or fitting a stair runner to really brighten up the space? Moving onto the kitchen, there are a few updates you can do in here too. If your cabinets are looking a little dated, think about replacing the handles. You may think that it won’t make much of a difference, but believe me, it will. If you’re looking for a bit of a larger project, depending on the style of your kitchen, re-painting the doors could be another option. Look to see whether you have any grease marks on the ceiling as removing these can brighten up the room

Go for warming colours this season and choose plush, heavy fabrics for the comfort factor like this recent Taylors Etc project, www.taylorsetc.co.uk, 02920 358 409 instantly. Try to remove them using sugar soap and then apply a fresh coat of paint if you need to. If your kitchen includes a dining table you could re-upholster the chairs, or if it’s wooden, you may want to sand it down and repaint it for a fresh new look. The bathroom is similar to the kitchen in the sense that in order to give the room a complete revamp it can be an extremely costly and lengthy process. But there are still small changes you can do in the meantime. Give your tiles a clean so that they sparkle as if they were new and ensure the grout lines are free of soap-scum and mould and remove lime scale from taps and shower heads.

Try to keep this space as clutter-free as you can, so if you haven’t got adequate storage in place, think about wall-hung modular furniture or a mirrored cabinet over the basin to help keep the room neat and tidy, without taking up valuable floor space. When it comes to your living area and bedrooms, it is easiest to make your changes here. Replacing your cushions and curtains and buying a new rug can make all the difference and can really help to brighten up a space and add texture and depth. If you have a neutral décor in place a few colourful accessories will stop the space from looking bland and uninspired. To suit the autumn season, greys and burnt oranges are both ideal colour choices.

Try to make a focal point in each of these rooms, whether it is in the form of a statement piece of furniture, or a decorative mirror on the fireplace. Think about changing around the layout of these rooms if the space is available. Simply swapping the armchair and the sofa around can completely change the dynamics of a space. Feeling inspired yet? Refreshing our homes doesn’t have to cost a fortune, or take up a lot of time. A few nice little touches here and there can really make an impact. Go on; give your home a little TLC.  Lesley Taylor is an interior designer, author and full member of the BIID. www.lesleytaylor.co.uk.

Be inspired by the beautiful tones found in autumn leaves and add a decadent mustard wallpaper that will give a warming colour to your home. Taylors Etc, www.taylorsetc.co.uk, 02920 358 409

Trusted property professionals serving the community for over half a century LETTINGS AUCTION

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A V I B R A N T WAT E R F RO N T D E S T I N AT I O N

Launching September 2015: A LANDMARK DEVELOPMENT OF 50 ONE, TWO AND THREE BEDROOM WAREHOUSE APARTMENTS OVERLOOKING BRISTOL’S FLOATING HARBOUR

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ANEWSTYLE OFHARBOURLIVING

Due to high demand there is now a limited opportunity to purchase a two bedroom apartment or penthouse in beautiful wharf-style buildings. Set on Bristol’s historic harbour and within easy walking distance of Temple Meads Railway Station and the city centre, Wapping Wharf Living has been selling off-plan fast so book your appointment now.

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*Price correct at time of going to print. View of Bristol Floating Harbour not from development. Interior images of typical apartment at Wapping Wharf Living.

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Andrews takes the lead in new home marketing

HE new homes market has changed completely - and for the better - over the last few years, according to Martin Blake, newly appointed Director of Land and New Homes at Andrews. “When the market took a turn for the worse in 2008, there was very little in the way of new homes for buyers to choose from, particularly in this area,” he said. “However, recently the increase in availability in new homes has been dramatic. To offer buyers the widest choice, we work with large-volume builders as well as smaller firms. “Each relationship with a developer is very different, depending on their requirements, so everything has to be tailored. “The new homes business is not just about sales; it’s about marketing, knowing how to manage, or work with a site, coming up with ideas and making it easier for the developer. That’s why we have a dedicated sales team who only sell new homes.

“Along with marketing the properties through our branch network, we deliver a truly bespoke service to both developers and buyers. We’ve also recently strengthened this specialist team with the appointment of James Read to the role of Land and Development Manager.” In his new role, James will be responsible for identifying new land opportunities ideal for residential development across Bristol, Bath, Wiltshire and Somerset. James says: “There’s still a significant shortage of housing across the South West, especially around Bristol and Bath, so I am very much looking forward to getting land owners and developers together to agree deals that will go some way to rectifying this situation.” Andrews has also recently promoted Martin Blake to the newly created position of Director of Land and New Homes. This follows a long career at the company for Martin. Both appointments are evidence of a recovery in the house building sector,

● Among the new homes Andrews’ is marketing in Bristol is this collection at Charlton Park, Brentry and a testimony to Andrews’ confidence in it. Martin continues: “We have invested in the department massively in the last two years, recruiting a specialist team of in-house sales and marketing personnel and plenty of dedicated site negotiators. “The benefit to the client is that we can fit around their existing sales structure and optimise their scheme, while the buyers get to talk to very

experienced and knowledgeable sales negotiators about the properties. “We take an entrepreneurial approach through all aspects of our service. This means our reaction times are fast and our staff are widely available to help buyers through the maze of new-home incentive schemes, helping them to make the right choices. “It’s an incredibly exciting time right now and we are marketing a

number of sites in the South West at the moment. It’s certainly unusual to have a specialised new homes department with this level of resource to support our clients and I don’t see how you could manage new-home sales properly without one.”

● To find out more, contact the Land & New Homes team on 0117 946 1799, or email newhomesbristolandbath@andrewsonline.co.uk.

Severn Bridge Park, Beachley, Chepstow, NP16 7HQ SET ON THE RIVER WYE, WITH VIEWS OF OPEN COUNTRYSIDE AND THE SEVERN ESTUARY. “ Family businesses are the backbone of the nation’ss economy – they are our unsung heroes – and they make a massive contribution to our GDP. Tracey Bentham, family

20’x45’ Stately Albion Chatsworth Special Last Remaining New Home Situated on the largest plot on the park this home has a private block paved drive for two cars and a slabbed patio area with a rear law, The home boasts a large Lounge and Dining Room with four windows three of which are bay windows, In the Kitchen you will find plenty of cupboard space and a Utility Room with built in Washing Machine and Dryer, The Main Bathroom is fully tiled with a airing cupboard and a built in vanity unit, The Main Bedroom boasts 20 feet of wardrobe hanging space, two chests of draws and hat lockers, The En-Suite has a sky light fitted with a Velux blind and a large Shower, The Second Bedroom has built in wardrobes, hat lockers and bedside cabinets, This Home also benefits from a fully furnished Office.

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Without camping in the school grounds, you could hardly live closer to Elmlea School! 1930s 4-bed detached, in need of some updating and with scope to extend. No onward chain, EPC tbc.

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THIS WEEK'S SELLERS' TIP: It'll be that time of year again soon, when you'll need to be out with your brush sweeping up those leaves; you don't want your potential buyers slipping over, do you?

0117 973 5859 post@haighandsons.co.uk www.haighandsons.co.uk Haigh & Sons

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