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DEC 2ND 2014
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welcome www.whathouse.coM DEC 2014 | 3
As you’ll see from the spread in this edition of WhatHouse? Local, we very recently held our flagship event for the housebuilding industry and handed out our annual WhatHouse? Awards. They are extremely coveted by the industry and if you are in the market for a brand new home, you might well find a plaque or flag proudly displaying the fact that that developer, or development, has won one of these prestigious trophies. This year’s event was the biggest we’ve held in over 30 years. This is a clear sign that the new homes industry is doing very well, which is not just good news for the attendees of our event, but for the country as a whole. Not only are these companies providing the homes that the UK desperately needs, they are also providing a substantial number of jobs. Each new home is estimated to contribute four new jobs to the economy, not just on building sites but further down the supply chain to the companies providing the materials and appliances that each property needs. Another thing that is clear from looking at all the winners (you can download a full judges’ report here www.whathouse.com/whathouse-awards-2014) is that each year, the standards get a little higher. Specifications which were exceptional just a few years ago are now much more commonplace and expectations are rising all the time. Even if you’ve never before considered buying a new home, I urge you to take a close look at our Awards winners and get a feel for the standard of new homes on the market today. You may be pleasantly surprised and impressed by what you see.
Say What? This is the final edition of WhatHouse? Local in 2014 but please don’t think for a minute that we’re putting our feet up and scoffing mince pies until the New Year. The WhatHouse? team will be working hard over the next few weeks to bring you an even better mix of features, interviews and information about your local property market in 2015.
We hope you’ve enjoyed what you’ve seen over the past few months and look forward to our first edition of 2015, which will be out on 13 January. Until then, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Keith Osborne Editor, WhatHouse?
Agent of the Week: Lucy Blythe of Savills in Telford How has the property market been in the West Midlands this year? 2014 has been a year of two halves, with a very positive start and price rises in the mid market being felt in the first six months. The second half of the year has been more challenging with the impact of the Mortgage Market Review, the threat of a mansion tax and the upcoming general election giving cause for hesitation. Having said that, we are ending the year much busier than we would normally expect to and price is still the key to a successful sale.
What do you expect to see happen in the property market over the next 12 months? The general election could be a distraction in the traditionally busy spring months, so we are anticipating an earlier market in 2015. The top end of the market may remain fairly static until the election, but is likely to pick up afterwards in the event of no mansion tax. Ahead of the election next May, what policies would you like to see brought in to help the industry? A reduction in stamp duty at all levels would certainly help the industry. Feedback from buyers tells us that the cost of moving impacts on affordability. A reduction in this cost would get more people moving, with more potentially being spent on decorating, home improvements and furniture. We have seen houses with repair liabilities remain on the market for
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TY ER OP M PR O L FR CA ER LO P E PA TH
DEC 2ND 2014
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Please tell us about some of the most prominent market trends of 2014 We have seen more buyers looking to return to their roots be it from abroad or London and the south. The gap between the city and country has never been greater and with the London market returning to more normal market conditions, we have started to see buyers moving north. We have also seen financially sound buyers purchasing before they sell their existing home. Has a shortage in the supply of quality homes been the biggest issue facing agents this year? Not in this part of the world - there are plenty of houses on the market. The biggest issue that we are facing is making sure that instructions are priced to attract interest. Buyers now search for a home in a totally different way than they did 20 years ago. Most searching is done online and therefore pricing correctly is more important than ever. It is very easy for a buyer to dismiss a property based on price
rather than picking up the phone and speaking to the agent – and this makes our job more difficult.
We have seen more buyers looking to return to their roots be it from abroad or London and the south.
Should prospective sellers move now or wait until the spring? This depends entirely on individual circumstances and urgency to sell, but in my experience the more time sellers gives themselves to market their homes the better chance they have of achieving their goals.
longer than those in good order, which implies that many buyers do not have the funds to take on renovation projects. Find out more at www.savills.co.uk ; 01952 239500
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10 | DEC 2014 www.whathouse.coM WHATHOUSE? AWARDS 2014
The WhatHouse?
Awards 2014 At a glittering event at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel on Froday 21 November, the best new homes and housebuilders in Britain were named at the WhatHouse? Awards 2014, the most prestigious awards in the industry. The 33rd WhatHouse? Awards was the biggest-ever in its history, with some 1,650 senior figures gathered in the Great Room of the five-star venue. Actor and comedian Rob Brydon presented awards in 20 categories before announcing this year’s Housebuilder of the Year - City & Country Group. The Essex-based developer also won Gold for Best Medium Housebuilder and Best Renovation, as well as a Bronze for Best Partnership Scheme. Other multiple winners included London Square, Mar City, Millgate, Octagon, Barratt Homes, Berkeley and Grainger plc. Rupert Bates, editorial director of WhatHouse?, hailed the quality of this year’s entries and winners. “This is what the best housebuilders, large and small, and their supply chains, can deliver. This is what the industry can achieve with passion and professionalism. There were a record number of entries to this year’s Awards. On the basis that nobody enters unless they believe they have a chance of winning, then every single entrant has illustrated huge pride in what has been built.”
The winners in full Housebuilder of the Year City & Country Group Best Large Housebuilder sponsored by Zoopla Property Group Gold: Redrow Silver: Barratt Bronze: Berkeley Best Medium Housebuilder sponsored by Roca Gold: City & Country Group Silver (joint): CALA Homes Mar City Homes Bronze (joint): Mount Anvil Weston Homes Best Small Housebuilder sponsored by Moneypenny Gold: Stone Homes Silver: Antler Homes Bronze (joint): London Square Octagon Sustainable Developer of the Year sponsored by Show House Gold: Linden Homes Housing Association of the Year sponsored by Local World Gold: Affinity Sutton Silver: Sovereign Housing Association Bronze (joint): L&Q Wulvern Best Starter Home sponsored by Aldermore Gold (joint): Crest Nicholson, Park Central, Birmingham Berkeley, Victory Pier, Gillingham, Kent Silver: Lovell, Bryn Celyn, Pontyclun, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales Bronze (joint): Network Living, Langhorne Place, Dollis Hill, London, NW2 L&Q, Capworth Court, Leyton, London, E10 Best House sponsored by Premier Guarantee Gold: London Square, ‘The Pembridge’, London Square Fulham, London, SW6 Silver (joint): Latis Homes, Greenfield Place, Hayes, Middlesex, UB3 Hill, Octavo Mews, West Kensington, London, W6 Bronze (joint): City Legacy Consortium, Cruden Homes, Mactaggart & Mickel Homes, CCG,
This year’s WhatHouse? Awards Gala Luncheon, which took place on Friday 21 November at the Grosvenor House Hotel on London’s Park Lane, was the biggest in its 33-year history, with 1,650 guests attending. Not only that, but there were a record number of entries, too, and the standard gets higher and higher every year. This year, there
Malcolm Group and Glasgow City Council, ‘The Hibiscus’, The Athletes’ Village, Dalmarnock, Glasgow Altin Homes, Sylvan Bint, Timperley, Cheshire Best Apartment Scheme sponsored by Warwick Estates Gold: Grainger plc, Macaulay Walk, Clapham, London, SW4 Silver (joint): United House, Paynes & Borthwick, West Greenwich, London, SE8 Catalyst by Design, Portobello Square, North Kensington, London, W10 Bronze: Millgate Homes, Westbrook House, Ascot, Berkshire Best Luxury House sponsored by Laufen Gold: Consero London, ‘Furzecroft’, St George’s Hill, Weybridge, Surrey Silver: Octagon, ‘Crossacres’, Wentworth Estate, Virginia Water, Surrey Bronze: Huntsmere, ‘Ambergates’, Alderley Edge, Cheshire Best Renovation sponsored by Zoopla Property Group Gold: City & Country, Marquess Villas, Bentley Priory, Stanmore, Middlesex Silver: Thomas Homes, Fair Mile at Cholsey Meadows, Cholsey, Oxfordshire Bronze: Linden Homes, Ashlar Court, Hammersmith, London, W6 Best Development sponsored by spicerhaart Land and New Homes Gold: Hill, The Avenue, Saffron Walden, Essex Silver: St Edward, Stanmore Place, London HA7 Bronze (joint): Grainger plc, Macaulay Walk, Clapham, London, SW4 Countryside, Abode, Great Kneighton, Cambridge Best Partnership Scheme sponsored by Virgin Media Gold: Solum Regeneration, Walthamstow Central Station, London, E17 Silver: Kier Partnership Homes, Manor Kingsway, Derby Bronze (joint): Barratt Homes, City & Country and Banner Homes (CALA Homes), Bentley Priory, Stanmore, London, HA7 Barratt London and Sainsbury’s, Fulham Riverside, London, SW6
Helen Moore of City & Country Group
were winners from all over the UK, from Bristol to Edinburgh via South Wales, Derby, Cambridge, Cheshire and Northumberland. Here’s the full list of this year’s Award winners.
Best Luxury Development sponsored by Nolte Kitchens Gold: Millgate Homes, Holland Place, Sunninghill, Berkshire Silver: UNStudio, Canaletto, Islington, London, EC1V Bronze (joint): Octagon, Long Walk Villas, Windsor, Berkshire Pennyfarthing Homes, Nautica, Milford-on-Sea, Hampshire Best Mixed-Use Development sponsored by Nicholls & Clarke Gold: Quartermile, Quartermile, Edinburgh Silver: Grainger plc, Macaulay Walk, Clapham, London, SW4 Bronze: Kier Partnership Homes, The Parade, Manor Kingsway, Derby Best Sustainable Development sponsored by Powerday Gold: Barratt, Hanham Hall, Hanham, Bristol Silver: Get Living London, East Village, Stratford, London, E20 Bronze: Morris Homes, Vista, Peterborough Best Retirement Development sponsored by Moving Made Easy Gold: Audley Retirement, Binswood, Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshireshire Silver (joint): Larkfleet Homes and Keystone Developments, The Croft, Bourne, Lincolnshire Retirement Villages Group, Charters Village, East Grinstead, West Sussex Bronze (joint): Church Retirement Living, Steeple Lodge, Boldmere, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands McCarthy & Stone, Lady Susan Court and Emma Court, Basingstoke, Hampshire Best Brownfield Development sponsored by Zoopla Property Group Gold (joint): CALA, Albert Dock, Leith, Edinburgh Grainger plc, Macaulay Walk, Clapham, London, SW4 Silver (joint): Mar City, Green Point, Colindale, London, NW9 United House, Paynes & Borthwick, Deptford, London, SE8 Bronze: London Square, London Square Fulham, London, SW6
Best Interior Design sponsored by Beko Gold: Millgate Homes, Chart Ridge, Oxted, Surrey Silver: Countryside, Plot 24, Aura, Great Kneighton, Cambridge Bronze (joint): Berkeley Homes, Maltby House, Meridian Gate, Kidbrooke Village, Greenwich, London, SE3 London Square, London Square Fulham, London, SW6 Best Exterior Design sponsored by Alexander James Interiors Gold: Barratt Homes, Hanham Hall, Bristol Silver (joint): Redrow, Kingston Riverside, Kingston, London, KT2 Hill, The Avenue, Saffron Walden, Essex Bronze: Antler Homes, Fairwater, Milford-on-Sea, Hampshire Best Landscape Design sponsored by TCL Gold (joint): Crest Nicholson, Bath Riverside, Bath St Edwards, Stanmore Place, Harrow, London, HA7 Silver: Inland Homes, Drayton Garden Village, West Drayton, London, UB7 Bronze (joint): Richstone Properties, The Pembroke, East Sheen, London, SW14 Beechcroft, Frenchlands Gate, East Horsley, Surrey
Fi more nd out ab What out each Awar House? ds wi nner www. at what ho use.c om
WHATHOUSE? AWARDS 2014 www.whathouse.coM DEC 2014 | 11
T
ake a look at just a few of the winners of this year’s WhatHouse? Awards and you’ll see features and design principles that will be making their way into the mainstream in just a few years. Here are some of our favourites, with a few words from the Awards judges explaining why they won.
Zero-carbon homes Best Exterior Design Gold and Best Sustainable Development Gold – Hanham Hall, Bristol from Barratt Homes
Look to the future now Canaletto, Islington from UNStudio
London Square Fulham from London Square
Hanham Hall has already won many awards and is a landmark development from Barratt, the first in England to achieve the 2016 zerocarbon standard. The WhatHouse? judges say: “The housebuilding industry needs exemplar schemes like Hanham Hall to act as a marker and knowledge base to drive sustainable understanding. Barratt Homes should be applauded for pushing the boundaries and setting a benchmark for sustainable living.”
Using brownfield sites Best Brownfield Development Bronze – London Square Fulham from London Square
Macaulay Walk, Clapham from Grainger plc
Aura, Great Kneighton from Countryside
While there is pressure to build the houses we need on Green Belt and undeveloped greenfield land, London Square demonstrates how to revive a former industrial trading estate. The WhatHouse? judges say: “The result is a real sense of place and tranquillity and…the underground car park a technical triumph. The materials are subtle, soft and sophisticated; the layouts lifestyle conscious. This is where green oasis meets London life.”
Street-scene landscaping Best Mixed-Use Development Bronze – The Parade, Manor Kingsway, Derby from Kier Partnership Homes The best developers are utilising a range of external designs and finishes to their mix of houses as well as creating beautiful street scenes with a bold choice of materials and landscaping. The WhatHouse? judges say: “The Parade illustrates this principle with a layout that, while integrating the car, provides a safe and attractive streetscape in which the pedestrian and cyclist have clear priority without the need for intrusive signage or the curse of speed bumps, through its sophisticated detailing use of materials and layout.”
The death of the radiator? Best Apartment Scheme Gold – Macaulay Walk, Clapham from Grainger plc
The Parade, Manor Kingsway, Derby from Kier Partnership Homes
point are here. It is also admirable that the same specification from Assael Architecture and interior specialists MMM applies across the scale, from a studio apartment to a topend penthouse.”
Selling the lifestyle Underfloor heating used to be the preserve of high-end properties, but it’s now more prevalent in developments aimed at a more modest budget, as Grainger’s multi-award winning scheme shows. The WhatHouse? judges say: “All the mod cons that you’d find included at a higher price
Best Luxury Development Silver – Canaletto, Islington from UNStudio
Hanham Hall, Bristol from Barratt Homes
The WhatHouse? judges say: “All residents have access to a 24-hour concierge, gym, pool, cinema room, games room and spa, with a private bar/dining club complete with landscaped terrace on the 24th floor. Canaletto successfully combines substance with style and sets an extremely high standard for its neighbours to match.”
Doubling up UNStudio’s futuristic tower on London’s City Road exemplifies the idea of selling more than just a property, with a host of exclusive facilities for the use of residents and their guests.
Best Interior Design Silver – Plot24, Aura, Great Kneighton from Countryside The use of double-height rooms and
mezzanines is an increasingly popular way to add a ‘wow’ factor to family homes as well as luxury apartments, used to great effect in this show home by Countryside. The WhatHouse? judges say: “This is another housebuilder that has benefited from selecting a great firm of architects and interior designers. The master bedroom has a living room and the kitchen has a gallery – what more do you want from a house? Suna Interiors has…created a Mayfair-style home in Cambridge.” Find out more about each WhatHouse? Awards winner at www.whathouse.com
12 | DEC 2014 www.whathouse.coM new HOMES
New sales centre opens at Solihull development
M
iller Homes Midlands has officially launched its brand new Solihull sales centre at Mounts Chase, giving househunters the chance to see what could be their dream home. The housebuilder opened the sales centre at the development off Aqueduct Road and High Street in Shirley on Saturday 22 November. Homebuyers are now able to visit the site and find out more about the 100 two-, three- and four-bedroom homes under construction. In a competitive housing market in the popular suburb, Miller Homes is looking to its highly regarded customer service to provide a point of differentiation to property seekers. The company was awarded five stars for customer satisfaction in the Home Builders Federation (HBF) National New Home Customer Satisfaction Survey. Pat Kimber, sales manager for Miller Homes Midlands, says: “Everything that we do is to ensure that our buyers have a positive experience with us. Our five-star rating shows how dedicated we are to ensuring that customers enjoy every step of their journey, from the initial visit to the sales centre to selecting those all important interior extras with our expert advisers, and of course moving in to their fantastic new home.”
The new phase of homes was released for sale at the launch event, with prices starting at £279,950, providing house-hunters who want to secure one of the earliest plots at the site with an appealing range of property types. Among them is the ‘Coniston’ (pictured), a four-bedroom detached home with an open-plan kitchen/breakfast room, utility room, separate dining room, en suite master bedroom and integral garage. Kimber adds: “Mounts Chase will offer buyers plenty of choice with a variety of different styles of property available. With great transport links to the heart of Birmingham this
is the ideal location for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, whilst also only being a short hop away. “Along with Miller’s five-star rating for customer satisfaction, our site manager Chris Wilson has been awarded a Seal of Excellence from the NHBC for his work in achieving the highest standard in housebuilding, so buyers can be assured they’re purchasing a fantastic new home.” For more information visit www.millerhomes.co.uk; 0808 278 6811
SPRING WALK Spring Lane, Willenhall, West Midlands, WV12 4HW 2 bedroom apartments and 2, 3 & 4 bedroom homes from £133,500
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amazing specification Visit The Birches, off Dixon Street, Wolverhampton, this weekend to view the beautiful new showhome at Contemporary kitchen with upstands this exciting development of 2, 3, & 4 bedroom homes. Integrated dishwasher & fridge/freezer Prices start from only £94,396* through Help to Buy (purchase price £117,995). SaleS office and Showhome open ThurSday To monday, 10am - 5pm
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17-11 Interior photographs from a typical showhome. * Terms and conditions apply, available on request. **En-suites to selected plots.
your home, your location
Move in for Christmas and enjoy an extra special treat on us. You don’t just have to dream about the perfect home. It’s ready and waiting for you at Bishops Manor. You can enjoy £500 worth of John Lewis vouchers** or a Marks and Spencers Christmas Hamper** if you reserve and exchange or complete before 23rd December 2014. Based on 4 & 5 bedroom homes from £425,000.
Bishops Manor, Off Tudor Hill, Sutton Coldfield B73 6BE
Book a viewing today. Call 0121 354 9271 or visit bloorhomes.com We’re open daily from 10am to 5pm.
*Help to Buy and all Bloor Homes’ incentives and schemes are subject to terms and conditions and are available on selected developments and selected plots only. Help to Buy is only available on developments in England, up to the value of £600,000 subject to contract, status and eligibility. **£500 worth of John Lewis Vouchers or a Marks and Spencers Christmas Hamper received for reservations and exchange of contracts, or completion of contracts before 23rd December 2014, offer applies to new reservations received from 8th October 2014 only. Prices and availability correct at time of going to press. Terms and conditions apply. Images shown are for illustrative purposes only and do not depict any particular plot.
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Explore all of our current and upcoming developments at www.cameronhomes.co.uk. To begin your journey, email our team at sales@cameronhomes.co.uk and discover how we can tailor a deal to suit you!
11585 Chestnut Walk WHWM 265x340 wc101114.qxp_Layout 1 10/11/2014 10:33 Page 1
HELP TO BUY AT
Chestnut Walk, Bilston 2 & 3 bedroom homes available from only
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Visit: redrow.co.uk/chestnut Call: 01902 471172 Chestnut Walk Bankfield Road, Bilston West Midlands WV14 0TW Open Daily, 10am ~ 5.30pm 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 a Redrow homes. Price 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.
18 | DEC 2014 www.whathouse.coM news
A
ccording to new data from the HomeLet Rental Index, Birmingham is among the top three least affordable major cities to rent a home. The findings, which are determined by a tenant income-to -rent ratio, show London at the top of the table, closely followed by Birmingham and Edinburgh, where tenants spend 47% of their monthly income on rent. The data shows that although monthly rental costs in Birmingham are relatively low (£550 per month, compared to £700 in Edinburgh and £1,413 in London), annual salaries are also lower than most other major cities (£18,777, compared to £23,614 and £50,193). In contrast, Plymouth (27%), Cardiff (29%) and Leeds (34%) are among the cities offering the most favourable ratios between tenant income and rental prices. Martin Totty, chief executive of Barbon Insurance Group, comments: “In some parts of the UK, such as Scotland and East Anglia, where rental prices are now falling or stagnant, the data tells us that renting in some cities in these regions is still stretching tenant affordability. “Looking at the city data against the regional and national picture would suggest that areas that were previously very much the domain of homebuyers are becoming popular areas for renters too, as families move out of cities for a better quality of life but are unable to join the property market.”
Lettings Market Insight
Birmingham among the least affordable major cities in the UK for tenants whole, prices in the West Midlands bucked the trend, showing increases of 0.6% last month. Rent prices in October averaged £660 (from £656 in September), and show a whopping 11.7% year-on-year increase (from £591 in October 2013). This regional rise is the highest in the UK, with London and East Anglia (both 8.5%) and the South East (7.3%) next in line. The overall average UK year-on-year increase stands as 7.5%, or 4.9% excluding Greater London. Responding to the findings, Martin Totty said: “The recent easing in the rental sector mirrors to some extent the autumn cooling of the house purchase market, where house price increases have begun to ease in recent months. However, with house prices having previously increased sharply in most parts of the country and little sign of an improvement in credit conditions, the rentals market looks set to continue benefiting from demand from large numbers of people priced out of buying. Rents may not continue to grow at the pace seen over the past year, but the outlook remains attractive for landlords.”
Rent costs continue to increase in the West Midlands Despite the national findings revealing rent costs on new tenancy agreements continued to fall across the UK as
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Porcelanosa tiling
Call 0845 605 7773 to find out more.
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Master bedrooms with ensuite
Alexandra Road, Tipton. Sandwell DY4 8TD alexandragrange@marcityhomes.com
Connells Office 0121 556 2338