PROPERTY P L A C E S T O L I V E , W O R K A N D P L AY
WHAT A GIFT!
above: Roger Wilkinson is celebrating a big birthday right: Walking for Hospicare are these two smiley chaps
Exeter property company Wilkinson Grant & Co is celebrating its 25th birthday. And to commemorate the occasion, it is giving support to a number of local charities. “Since we first opened for business in 1995 we have been committed to helping local charities and community groups,” says owner Roger Wilkinson. “Over the years, we have been proud to support and promote many fundraising events for a vast number of them – helping raise much needed monies for the valuable work they do in our local community. “Those charities include Exeter
NEW!
PROPERTY SECTION
AGE UK; Hospiscare; Exeter City Community Trust; Exeter YMCA: Exeter Leukemia Fund; FORCE; Balloons; Dreamaway; Headway Devon; Estuary League of Friends and Exeter Dementia Action Alliance and a number of other smaller local charities and community groups.” Wilkinson Grant & Co is inviting all of the above named charities to apply for a discretionary grant from their Wilkinson Granted Anniversary Fund. Each will receive a minimum of £250 and the maximum will be determined by sharing whatever monies are raised through their Just Giving page. For lesser-known local charities and community groups, there are fourteen more separate grants available of £50 each, available via separate application to the same fund. “Now is a particularly challenging time for such organisations and we are keen to help, calling on our clients, customers business associates and friends to join us in lending your support,” adds Roger. For more: www.wilkinsongrant.co.uk
OPEN DOORS After work halted earlier in the year, Exmouth’s newest school, the Deaf Academy, has opened its doors to students. The £10.5million Deaf Academy features cutting edge Deafspace architecture and technology designed to enhance and improve the learning for its students, who are aged from five to 25; many of whom have additional special needs. The Academy, which moved from its former home on Topsham Road in Exeter, where it has been based for almost 200 years, had been due to open earlier this year and the new build was in the final stages of completion when work was halted due to the impact of Coronavirus, and the students’ learning was taken online. Staff at the academy worked with architects, south west-based Stride Treglown in the development of the new Academy. “We undertook a lot of research, looking at other deaf schools across Europe and the United States of America, and particularly the work of the Gallaudet University in the US to understand the unique challenges and opportunities that this exciting project posed,” says Carl Harding, architect at Stride Treglown. “Everything possible has been done to create an environment which improves and enhances communication.” For more: thedeafacademy.ac.uk
PROPERTY NEWS
Market commentary from Sarah-Jane Bingham-Chic, head of residential for Savills Exeter “Prime property sales in Exeter and the wider South West intensified over the summer with new buyer registrations up 125 per cent between June and August, when compared to last year, as people activated decisions made during lockdown. Particularly sought-after, coastal properties have seen a considerable increase in demand. “Many predicted that the immediate shift in priorities seen in April was just a response to lockdown, and would be short-lived. This latest survey highlights greater commitment from people to make real changes and from June to August deals agreed by the Exeter office were up 15 per cent when compared to the same time last year. “Buyer determination to avoid compromise on lifestyle factors has boosted the appeal for a more rural lifestyle. Garden and outside space has become more important and there is a greater desire for separate home working space. “The buoyant market conditions are giving owners confidence to bring their homes to the market while buyers retain a degree of price sensitivity. Keeping buyer and seller expectations on pricing aligned will be key to maintaining the summer momentum through the autumn and beyond.” For more: www.savills.co.uk
The Deaf Academy opened its doors in September www.mediaclash.co.uk I EXETER LIVING I 59
