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m opem co Pr o l fr e. ca r s Lo ape u p o the th ha w
Sept 23rd 2014
www.whathouse.com
Local
Wolverhampton town centre & surrounding areas
Blank canvas
Eight reasons to consider a new-build
Agent of the Week Peri-peri property We preview the hottest overseas destinations from The WhatHouse? Show
For all your local property news www.whathouse.com
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Local essentials
ESTATE AGENTS www.whathouse.coM Sept 2014 | 3
Welcome
Published by: Globespan Media Limited, 291-299 Borough High Street, London SE1 1JG Tel: 020 7940 1070 info@globespanmedia.com Colmore Plaza, 20 Colmore Circus,Queensway Birmingham B4 6AT Tel: 0121 2624146 www.whathouse.com Managing director: Daniel Hill Editorial director: Rupert Bates Editor: Keith Osborne ko@whathouse.co.uk Assistant editor: Stephen Maunder sm@whathouse.co.uk Designer: Peter Rogers peter@39zero.co.uk Sales director: Mark Edmondson me@whathouse.co.uk Southern sales director: Lesley Lawrence ll@whathouse.co.uk
…to the third edition of WhatHouse? Local.
There haven’t been many headlines over the past couple of weeks that were not associated with the Scottish referendum, but there was a fair bit of coverage on the new house price figures from the Office of National Statistics. The July numbers showed a 7.3% annual rise in house prices in the West Midlands, quite a way short of the 11.7% national increase, which is admittedly severely skewed by huge price surges in and around London. The adjusted average price for the West Midlands is now £198,000, up £4,000 from June and a whopping £14,000 from just a year previously.
Interestingly, across the nation, the average price paid by first-time buyers increased by 13.5% year-on-year to £209,000, demonstrating more than ever that assistance schemes such as Help to Buy and Shared Ownership are invaluable to first-timers struggling to make their savings keep up with ever-higher deposit requirements. Separately, estate agency group Countrywide reported that average rents in the Midlands went up £4 between July and August this year, from £662 to £666. Year-on-year, average rents in this region actually went down 0.6%. On a national level, the group reported five tenants chasing each rental property, up around 25% from just a year ago. Remember you can find daily news and features about the property market at www.whathouse.com. You can of course catch up with us on Facebook and Twitter (@What_House), too. We hope you find this and every issue of WhatHouse? Local a useful tool in your property search. Happy house-hunting!
Keith Osborne Editor, WhatHouse?
Sales manager (Midlands): Rebecca Vincze rv@whathouse.co.uk Sales executive (Midlands): Tori Collett tc@whathouse.co.uk Sales executive (Midlands): Wayne Smith ws@whathouse.co.uk Sales manager (London): Jay Ali ja@whathouse.co.uk Account manager: Ann Chaloner ac@whathouse.co.uk Printed by: 39zero | Citrus Distributed by: Team © 2014 Globespan Media Limited No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior written permission from the publishers. The greatest care has been taken to ensure accuracy but the publishers cannot accept responsibility for errors and omissions.
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TY ER OP M PR O L FR CA ER LO P E PA TH
SEPT 23RD 2014
www.whathouse.com
Local WOLVERHAMPTON AND WALSALL
Covering: Wolverhampton City Centre, Tettenhall, Pendeford, Penn, Bescot, Cannock Chase, Walsall Town
Blank canvas
Eight reasons to consider a new-build
Agent of the Week Peri-peri property We preview the hottest overseas destinations from The WhatHouse? Show
For all your local property news www.whathouse.com
R7134 Cover.indd 2
22/09/2014 14:04
Property Insider Landlord v Tenant: Avoiding and resolving disputes
D
emand in the lettings market continues to be strong, with a lack of quality supply in much of the UK resulting in around five tenants chasing each available property. According to recent research by Countrywide, 15% of properties now spark a bidding war and achieve more than their asking price. This demand does not mean that landlords should be complacent, however. Finding quality tenants and keeping them happy is a vital part of avoiding costly void periods. Data released last week by Property Let By Us suggests that tenants are becoming more demanding about the standard of their homes, and the government is continuing its push to adequately punish rogue landlords. Finding and keeping the ideal tenant can be tricky, and even if you have carefully vetted your new tenants before signing a contract, there is still a chance that the tenancy may end in a dispute. With an appropriate contract in place and good communication between both parties, most disputes can be solved relatively easily, and only a small minority of cases end with the intervention of the Deposit Protection Scheme or small claims court. Do your bit In addition to obtaining employment and landlord references and credit checking
approachable increases your chances of avoiding disputes. Most landlords are okay on this front, with a recent survey revealing only 12% of tenants would like their landlords to be more approachable and friendly.
your new tenants, make sure you have completed all of your legal obligations before letting the property, including obtaining a gas safety certificate and taking out landlord insurance. Also ensure that you are clear and concise when formulating the contract, avoiding common disputes such as who is responsible for dealing with mould and maintaining the upkeep of the garden. Talk it through The most common problems between landlords and tenants surround the big three – deposits, rent and repairs. In addition to ensuring that you are covered in instances of rent going missing or the property being damaged, sit down with your new tenant and discuss each other’s responsibilities. Forging a positive relationship and making yourself
Deposit protection You must place the deposits of your tenants in a Deposit Protection Scheme. These government-backed schemes ensure you will receive appropriate remuneration should your tenant fail to pay rent or damage your property. This service also acts on behalf of the tenant, ensuring they will receive a reasonable amount of their deposit back if they behave in line with the terms of their contract. In the event of a dispute at the end of the tenancy, the scheme holds the deposit and offers a free dispute resolution service until terms are agreed between the landlord and tenant. Both sides can provide evidence to support their case and an independent decision is reached. Eviction If there is no way back and evicting your tenant is the only solution, there are strict procedures you must follow to avoid illegal eviction. The gov.uk website provides a detailed guide to this process.
Power of the network, 16 Award winning offices across the region! me dium agency
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Park Lane, Wolverhampton • Semi Detached Property • Two Bedrooms • Conservatory • Double Glazing £94,950
Moreton Road, Wolverhampton • Semi Detached Property • Three Bedrooms • Living Room • Off Road Parking £119,995
Stafford Road, Wolverhampton • Semi Detached Property • Three Bedrooms • Off Road Parking • Double Glazing £145,000
Damson Wharf, Tipton • Three storey • Three Bedrooms • Family Bathroom • Off Road Parking
Broad Gauge Way • 2nd Floor Apartment • Two Bedrooms • En suite • Double Glazing £100,000
£99,950
Ladymoor Road, Bilston • Semi Detached Property • Three Bedrooms • Two Reception Rooms • Rear Extension
Noose Lane, Willenhall • Detached • Three Bedrooms • Lounge • Dining Room
£120,000
Rookery Road, Lanesfield • Semi Detached • Four Bedrooms • Two Reception Rooms • Family Bathroom
Ryton Close, Wolverhampton • Semi Detached • Three Bedrooms • Wet Room • Fully Fitted Kitchen £105,000
Prestwood Road, Wednesfield • Four Bedrooms • Two Reception Rooms • Loft Conversion • Double Glazing
OIRO £125,000
Church Walk, Penn Fields • Double Glazing • Fitted Kitchen • Enclosed Rear Garden • Great Location
£165,000
£130,000
Oxley Moor Road • Semi Detached Property • Four Bedrooms • Loft Room • Modern Fitted Kitchen
£169,000
£174,950
Rothesay Garden, Parkfields • Two Bedrooms • Large Lounge • Family Bathroom • Off Road Parking £108,995
Clothier Street, WV13 1BB • Spacious Family Townhouse • Four Bedrooms • Large Master Suite • Modern Throughout £135,000
Leighton Road, Wolverhampton • Semi Detached House • Three Bedrooms • Two Reception Rooms • Detached Double Garage £190,000
Brownhills
Cannock
Walsall
Wolverhampton
1 High Street, WS8 6ED
33 Market Place, WS11 1BS
7 Queens Parade, WS3 2EX
42 Queen Square, WV1 1TX
01543 226655
01543 500011
01922 711444
01902 267110
Newbridge Crescent • New Detached • Four Bedrooms • Two Reception Rooms • Garage OIEO £200,000
Millers Walk, Pelsall • Spacious Detached Property • Four Bedrooms • Two Reception Rooms • Detached Games Room £275,000
Lichfield Road, Brownhills • Three Bedrooms • Two Reception Rooms • Utility Room • Luxury Family Shower Room £144,995
Clark Road, Wolverhampton • Detached • Three Bedrooms • Utility Room • Spacious Garden £240,000
Lichfield Road, Brownhills • Detached Bungalow • Four Bedrooms • Large Garden • Workshop to Rear £269,950
Silver Street, Brownhills • Mid Townhouse • Two Bedrooms • Open Plan Lounge / Kitchen • Master Bedroom with En suite £139,995
Jeremy Road, Wolverhampton • Detached Dorma Bungalow • Corner Plot • Three Bedrooms • Stunning Gardens OIRO £265,000
Wood Common Grange, Pelsall • Four Bedrooms • Kitchen Diner • Conservatory • En suite £240,000
Chester Road North, Brownhills • Three Bedrooms • Kitchen • Family Bathroom • No Chain £124,950
High Hill, Essington Village • Detached Bungalow • Three Bedrooms • Fantastic Kitchen • Master Bedroom with Wet Room OIEO £299,999
Bush Grove, Pelsall • Semi Detached Home • Three Bedrooms • Family Bathroom • Double Glazing £167,500
Red Lion Avenue, Norton Canes • Semi Detached • Three Bedrooms • Kitchen / Diner • Double Glazing £122,500
For a free Market Appraisal call Your Local Office or text GOODCHILDS to 60607
Shire Lea, Shire Oak • Four Bedrooms • Family Bathroom • Guest Cloakroom • Two En suites £295,000
Ivy Grove, Brownhills • Three Bedrooms • Lounge • En suite • Conservatory £160,000
Lawn Road, Wolverhampton • First Floor Flat • One Bedroom • Double Glazing • Gas Central Heating £67,500
The power of the network - 16 award winning branches across the region High quality exposure across the whole region backed with expert marketing and promotion is the key to selling your property quickly and efficiently. 109
415
11 10
12413 1117
3129
2115 5310 824
Birmingham
Brownhills
Suite 3, 102 Colmore Row
8
6
16
14
1 Lichfield Road
01543 226 710
13
9
15
11
1
12
3
2
5
15
10
4
11
12
1
3
2
8
5
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Stafford
8
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Sutton Coldfield
01827 218 233
0121 227 5643
9
15 13
Telford
33 Church Street
01952 459 213
16
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01782 958 043
Tamworth
7
14
Stoke-on-Trent
4 Victoria Road
13
6
42 Piccadilly, Hanley
01785 338 763
5
8
01543 226 703
14 Salter Street
2
81
28 Bore Street
01908 870 213
9
56
Lichfield
Milton Keynes
7
28
0121 227 5633
207 Witan Gate East
13
35
17 York Road
01543 226 673
4
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12
Erdington
33 Market Place
01543 226 003
7
810 11 6412 14 111 16 123
Cannock
Burntwood
1 High Street
0121 227 5623
5
651113 14812 7 1661139 143715162910 5154
1 Belwell Lane
710
117 10 129 9413 15
Walsall
7 Queens Parade
01922 666 683
4115 11310 1224
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Wednesbury
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16 Upper High Street
5 High Street
42 Queen Square
For a free Market Appraisal call your local office or text GOODCHILDS to 60607
210
5
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Thinking about Selling or letting your property? Challenge us to LET your PROPERTY in ONLY 9 DAYS! ✓ Landlords get 6 month rent guarantee free of charge ✓ No Setup Fees ✓ No Let, No Fee
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01543 226710
01543 226673
01922 666683
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PRNE IC W E
W O N D E R F U L H O M E S
PRESENTS
A s u p er b d evelopment of 3 & 4 bed roo m new homes i n Wi l l en h all, Walsall
EXCL USIVE SEL L ING AGENT S
Call NOW for details:
01902 201 103 Wonderful homes built with high standards and quality finish at affordable prices
For more information on this development and others follow us at
www.wonderfulhomes.co.uk
This development is backed by the governments Help to Buy scheme
Why Rent When You Can Buy? Yo u c a n own o ne o f t he s e b r a n d new h o me s wit h as li t t le a s a
*
£7,000 deposit
5
just
% deposit
The Help to Buy scheme makes it possible to buy a brand new home with as little as a 5% deposit. With a Help to Buy equity loan the Government lends you up to 20% of the cost of your new-build home, so you’ll only need a 5% cash deposit and a 75% mortgage. You won’t be charged interest on the 20% loan for the first five years of owning your home.
Buyer’s 5% deposit
Government’s 20% loan
75% mortgage from commercial lender
£7k £28k £105k
Example House Value
£140k
The above figures and diagram are for illustrative purposes only. For specific figures and further details please contact the selling agent. *Subject to individual circumstances and terms and conditions.
12 | Sept 2014 www.whathouse.coM NEW HOMES
T
he government-backed Help to Buy scheme is credited as one of the factors for the level of interest in the Wards Bridge Gardens development of two, three- and four-bedroom properties in Wednesfield, West Midlands. Many of the people buying there have been taking advantage of the assistance scheme, which enables house-hunters to secure their home with a deposit as low as 5%. There are two options under Help to Buy: a 95% mortgage or, alternatively, a shared equity arrangement that provides a 20% equity loan, leaving the buyer to find a 75% mortgage. In the latter case, the equity loan is interest-free for five years. Help to Buy is available on new-build properties up to the value of £600,000 and there is no salary cap for homebuyers using the scheme, though since it was launched in April 2013 it has mainly been used by buyers at the bottom of the market taking their first step on the property ladder in a modestly priced home. At Wards Bridge Gardens, prices start at £154,500 for the three-bedroom Dadford semi-detached house with an open-plan lounge/dining room, a separate fitted kitchen, two double bedrooms (one with fitted wardrobes), a single bedroom and a family bathroom. House-hunters with a larger budget will find the three-bedroom ‘Easdale a more spacious option at £190,500. This is a detached house with a large lounge opening out onto the garden through French doors, a kitchen/dining room, guest cloakroom, en suite master bedroom, two further bedrooms and a
Development of the week: Wards Bridge Gardens by Taylor Wimpey
family bathroom. This house type also has driveway parking for two cars. All new homes at Wards Bridge Gardens come with a high standard specification that includes energyefficient central heating, double glazing and a fitted kitchen with integrated oven, hob and hood. Transport links from Wards Bridge Gardens are
excellent. The M6 and M54 are both within easy reach and there are regular services from nearby Wolverhampton railway station to Birmingham New Street. The local area’s amenities include several supermarkets, a cinema and bowling alley, with Wolverhampton city centre just two miles away and Birmingham just 17 miles away. Edward the Elder and St Thomas’ Primary Schools are both rated ‘good’ in their latest Ofsted inspections. Carl Cooke, regional sales and marketing director for Taylor Wimpey, says: “We’ve had an amazing response to Wards Bridge Gardens, with many buyers using the fantastic Help to Buy scheme to secure their dream home in this wonderful location. With demand showing no sign of slowing, I would encourage prospective purchasers to get in touch right away to make sure they don’t miss out!” The Sales Centre at Wards Bridge Gardens is open Thursday to Monday, from 11.00am to 5.00pm. Contact www.taylorwimpey.co.uk ; 01902 271481
Move in for
Help to Buy
Victoria Gardens Victoria Avenue x Bloxwich x WS3 3HT 3 & 4 bedroom homes from: £154,950
l Help to Buy Available l Part Exchange Considered* l Stamp Duty Paid Showhome open 11am - 5pm Friday to Wednesday Telephone: 07814 170665 or 01384 446200 www.kendrickhomes.co.uk *All offers are available on selected plots only and subject to terms and conditions. Help to Buy and Part Exchange may not be used in conjunction with each other.
Distinct Quality Since 1880
MOVE in for
NEW HOMES READY TO MOVE INTO IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS Chestnut Walk ~ Bankfield Road, Bilston, West Midlands WV14 0TW 2 & 3 bedroom homes from £99,996* with Help to Buy Visit: redrow.co.uk/chestnut
Kings Park ~ Earls Court Farm, Worcester, Worcestershire WR2 5QL 5 bedroom homes from £307,996* with Help to Buy Visit: redrow.co.uk/kings
We’ll include carpets if you move in for Christmas
Your mobile operator may charge data usage for scanning QR codes, please ensure you have the appropriate data plan. Help to Buy is a Government backed initiative in partnership with housebuilders. *Shows price with 20% loan assistance. Available on selected plots, subject to status, terms and conditions. Help To Buy cannot be used in conjunction with any other scheme. It is highly advised, for a swift, smooth transaction that an IFA/Solicitor advised by Redrow Homes is used. Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other Redrow offer. Image typical of Redrow homes. Prices correct at time of going to press. YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON A MORTGAGE OR ANY OTHER DEBT SECURED ON IT. CHECK THAT THIS MORTGAGE WILL MEET YOUR NEEDS IF YOU WANT TO MOVE OR SELL YOUR HOME OR YOU WANT YOUR FAMILY TO INHERIT IT. IF YOU ARE IN ANY DOUBT, SEEK INDEPENDENT ADVICE.
Canalside development of just 14, 3 & 4 bedroomed homes FREE CARPETS for reservations taken this weekend
PRICE FROM £129,950 OR £103,960 WITH HELP TO BUY
ONLY 5% DEPOSIT
Goscote Lane, Walsall WS3 1PE www.waltonhomes.co.uk Telephone Number: 01922 496748
Move into your new dream home with help to buy Show Home open Daily: 11am to 5pm
SPRING WALK Spring Lane, Willenhall, West Midlands, WV12 4HW 2 bedroom apartments and 2, 3 & 4 bedroom homes from £139,995
Show home now open
5% deposit is all you need
Help to Buy available
Our brand new Denford show home is now open at Spring Walk, an exciting new development in Willenhall. Priced from only £139,995, the 3 bedroom Denford is ideal for first time buyers and is available to purchase using the fabulous Help to Buy scheme, meaning you could buy this stunning new home with a 5% deposit of only £7,000. Take a look around our brand new show home, and get a feel for this superb family home. Visit our sales centre today to find out more.
Call 01902 544 473 * Taylor Wimpey terms and conditions apply. The images on this page show a typical Taylor Wimpey home and include optional upgrades at additional costs.
or visit taylorwimpey.co.uk/springwalk Sales centre open daily 10.00am – 5.00pm
Available for just
£139,995
Awarded 5 stars for customer satisfaction
St James Mews | Salop Street | Dudley | DY1 3HP
helpbuymove With Help to Buy we can get you moving in no time... • Buy with just 5% deposit • Take advantage of a competitive rate 75% mortgage • Get a 20% equity loan completely interest and payment free for the first 5 years
St James Mews. Discover your dream home from our choice of impressive three and four bedroom
3 & 4 bedroom homes
houses designed with a real sense of style and space, perfect for family living. Superbly placed for Dudley, a town where everything from shopping and schools to leisure facilities are close at hand.
from
£162,750
Call: Vera or Rachel on 01384 355 867 Click: www.bellway.co.uk Visit: St James Mews, Salop Street, Dudley DY1 3HP Open: Daily from 10.30am - 5.00pm, with late night Thurs until 7.30pm Prices correct at time of going to press. Specification on site may differ. Pictures for illustration purposes only. YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE OR ANY OTHER DEBT SECURED ON IT. Available on new build homes up to £600,000 subject to the Government ‘Help to Buy’ terms and conditions and only available to customers where a primary mortgage is secured. Not available on second, additional homes, buy-to-let or let-to-buy properties. HomeBuy agent eligibility check required. The equity loan is interest free for the first five years and needs to be a minimum of 10% of the purchase price up to a maximum of 20%. After five years, an annual fee of 1.75% of the outstanding equity loan is charged. This is increased annually by RPI plus 1%. Subject to status, terms and conditions apply.
GREAT DEALS ARE
COMING HOME SAVE THOUSANDS AND MOVE IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS! We’ve made great homes even more attractive with these superb deals. But this is for a limited period only sold on a first come, first served basis. So don’t waste any time, contact us now for more information. What’s more, the Help to Buy Scheme* and Part-exchange Service* are available with selected homes at both our developments.
Akron Gate
Ettingshall Place
Stafford Road, Wolverhampton, WV10 6DR 2, 3 and 4 bedroom homes from £95,950
Ettingshall Road, Wolverhampton, WV2 2RB 2, 3 and 4 bedroom homes from £79,950
Home of the Week Plot 3 - The Morden
Home of the week Plot 142 - The Marsh
2 bedroom home with carpets and floor coverings * NOW
2 bedroom apartment with £10,000 discount and carpets * NOW
Call 08432
Call 08444
£124,950
082802†
£79,950
901872†
MARKETING SUITES OPEN THURSDAY TO MONDAY 11AM - 6PM
FOR EXCLUSIVE OFFERS VISIT PERSIMMONHOMES.COM Imagery is for illustration purposes only. External elevations including treatments, materials, window positions and sizes are subject to change at any time. *For full details, terms and conditions for the Help to Buy Scheme and Part-exchange visit your nearest Persimmon development or log onto www.persimmonhomes.com/ offers. Available for a limited period only, subject to status. Terms and conditions apply. Some details may be subject to availability and/or stage of construction, and this offer may be withdrawn at any time without notice. This offer may not be available in conjunction with any other purchase assistance scheme, offer or promotion. Full details available on request. †Calls will be charged at five pence per minute from a BT landline and may cost considerably more from mobile and other phones. Contact your service provider for more details. Details correct at time of going to press.
*Help to Buy scheme available on selected plots only, subject to terms and conditions. Help to Buy prices based on 80% of full purchase price. Help to Buy could provide an equity loan for the remaining 20% interest free for the first 5 years. After year five, you will pay a fee on the equity loan of 1.75%, rising annually by the retail price index plus 1%. YOUR HOME IS AT RISK IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE OR ANY OTHER LOAN SECURED ON IT. Offer subject to use of a mortgage broker from Morris Homes’ panel. For full terms and conditions visit morrishomes.co.uk/offers/help-to-buy. Prices correct at time of going to press. Images representative only.
When all this style and quality is so easily mine
...that’s a Morris home. And right now it’s easier than ever to own your own Morris home. If you’re looking to move without finding a huge deposit, help is at hand with Help to Buy*.
• You only need a 5% deposit
• Qualify for a 20% interest-free government loan
• Benefit from lower monthly repayments with a 75% mortgage!
Quality homes in superb locations CLAREMONT WELLINGTON ROAD | BILSTON | WV14 6DA 3 bedroom homes from £164,750 or £131,800 with Help to Buy* 01902 490438 EDEN FIELDS CHARLES HAYWARD DRIVE | SEDGLEY WOLVERHAMPTON | WV4 6GB Last remaining 2 bedroom home at £130,750 or £104,600 with Help to Buy* 07436 810557 THE FORGE BRADES RISE | OLDBURY | B69 2HG 1, 2, 3 & 4 bedroom homes from £115,750 or £92,600 with Help to Buy* 0121 552 1160 CROMPTON PLACE LOWER CHURCH LANE | TIPTON | DY4 7PF 3 & 4 bedroom homes from £179,750 or £143,800 with Help to Buy* 0121 557 6982 WATERS EDGE ARGYLE CLOSE | WORDSLEY | DY8 4AA 2, 3 & 4 bedroom homes Coming soon 0845 601 5667
For more Morris developments... visit morrishomes.co.uk
morrishomes.co.uk Morris. UK’s No.1 for customer satisfaction