New year boost for homebuyers in Oakham from Larkfleet Homes and Government Firstbuy Scheme

Larkfleet Homes has launched a government-backed scheme to help people in Oakham take the first steps onto the ‘property ladder’ in 2012.

With the help of FirstBuy, a government scheme to provide first-time buyers with the chance to take up a five-year interest-free loan, first-time buyers could own a Larkfleet home sooner than they thought.

With house and rental prices in the Oakham area rising – the Land Registry reported a 0.9 per cent increase in house prices in Rutland during September and this trend may continue into next year – purchasing a Larkfleet property in Oakham could even be cheaper than renting a property with the help of the government scheme.

Both Larkfleet Homes and FirstBuy can help homebuyers lower the amount they need for a deposit and, if they are eligible first time buyers, this could lead to a more affordable mortgage. Certain mortgage lenders will also allow homebuyers to buy through the FirstBuy scheme without a deposit (subject to terms and conditions).

A number of FirstBuy properties will be located on phase one of the Larkfleet Group’s Oakham North development, a major expansion of Oakham for which development company Hawksmead, part of the Larkfleet Group, has already secured outline consent.

Hawksmead was recently granted planning approval for 143 new homes as part of the Oakham North development. In total, 1,100 high quality homes could eventually be constructed over 15 years in ten phases.

The planning approval for Oakham North, a sustainable urban extension, also includes a continuing care retirement community, a care home, around 30 acres of offices as well as parks and open spaces, children’s play areas and a new local centre. Planning approval also includes improved transport links with new cycle, footpath and bus routes.

Rutland County Council also recently voted to approve outline planning permission for a hotel and detailed planning permission for an adjoining 180-seat Marston’s Inns and Taverns pub restaurant on the site.

Larkfleet sales director Jason Colmer commented: “With Larkfleet Homes and FirstBuy, homebuyers may find it more financially viable to buy a property than rent. Buying a property in a sought-after area such as Oakham means that homebuyers are likely to get a sound return on their investment in years to come.”Larkfleet Homes believes that its building methods allow homebuyers to gain extra added value in the long term due to the energy-efficiency that is built into the fabric of its properties.

Larkfleet often uses timber frame construction to make its properties more energy-efficient than those constructed by other housebuilders. Properties on phase one of the Oakham North site will also include renewable energy technology to allow homeowners to benefit from lower running costs.

News story 3rd January 2012

Hawksmead seeks partner for new hotel site

Hawksmead is looking for a partner to help develop and thenoperate a 60 bedroom hotel in Oakham, Rutland.

Rutland County Council recently unanimously voted to approve outline planningpermission for the hotel, detailed planning permission for an adjoining180-cover Marston's Inns and Taverns pub restaurant and reserved mattersapproval for 143 new homes. These new developments are all part of a major expansion of the town for which Hawksmead has already secured outline consent.

In total, 1,100 high quality homes could eventually be constructed over 15 years in ten phases.

The planning approval for Oakham North, a sustainable urban extension, also includes a continuing care retirement community, a care home, around 30 acres of offices as well as parks and open spaces, children's play areas and a new local centre. Planning approval also includes improved transport links with new cycle, footpath and bus routes.

Oakham is a picturesque rural market town in the county of Rutland and lies to the west of Rutland Water, one of the largest man-made lakes in Europe, whichis a major tourist attraction. The town boasts an excellent location as it is positioned between the cities of Peterborough and Leicester.

The Oakham North development is located on land between the Oakham bypass and Barleythorpe Road in Oakham, Rutland.

Integral parts of the proposals for the development are a new permanentenhanced and enlarged home for the Rutland County Show and new improved facilities for the town's football, rugby and other clubs.

Paul Bywater, strategic projects director at Hawksmead, said: 'We are delighted that planning permission has been granted for a hotel and Marston's pub restaurant. Local people will be able to benefit from these facilities and they will complement the overall Oakham North development.'

'Hawksmead is now looking for a quality hotel partner to deliver the hotel aspart of completion of phase 1 of the Oakham North site. I am looking forward to seeing work begin on this development as we move from a conceptual planning stage to gaining detailed planning consents.'

Tina Moorhouse, acquisitions manager north-west for Marston's Inns and Taverns, said: 'The hotel and the pub restaurant will be complementary and both will be important parts of this expansion of Oakham. The proposed pub restaurant will create between 40 and 50 new jobs for the area. This development is part of our plan to build 25 new family pub restaurants across the UK in 2012. They are all designed to provide great value and a relaxing environment.

News story 19th December 2011

Registered address: Hawksmead Ltd, Larkfleet House, Falcon Way, Bourne, Lincs, PE10 0FF