Award-winning new homes developer Weston Homes is delighted to announce a significant 50% sales success in 16 months since launch at Edinburgh Way, in the thriving Essex town of Harlow, as buyers continue to seek open space after the pandemic.
Edinburgh Way comprises 361 new apartments across five new residential buildings on the doorstep of rolling countryside named Moore, Godfrey, Ackroyd, Austin and Hepworth. Austin and Hepworth provide one- and two-bedroom apartments and Moore, Godfrey and Ackroyd provide one, two- and three-bedroom apartments.
With health and wellbeing at the heart of the masterplan, the new neighbourhood overlooks the River Stort and overlooks open countryside with most apartments also having their own private balcony or terrace. Beyond the River Stort miles of rolling countryside provide easy access for walkers and cyclists to immerse themselves in nature. For golfers, it’s a short drive to the Manor of Groves hotel and golf course to the east with the Lea Valley in the other direction and beauty spots such as RSPB Rye Meads wetlands and nature reserve.
Edinburgh Way is also ideally positioned for City commuters, ‘working-from-homers’ and those employed in the enterprise zone of Harlow, which is home to giant multi-national conglomerates such as GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and US tech firm Pitney Bowes. The development is just a two-minute walk to Harlow train station with a regular commuter service that reaches London Liverpool Street in under 30 minutes. Harlow also has impressive internet speeds of 68.1Mbps – the fifth fastest in the country.
Due to its proximity to the capital, juxtaposed with outstanding countryside, Harlow saw an unprecedented rise in housing demand over the early part of the pandemic with sales soaring by 117% (according to Savills data). It was the highest performing town in Essex based on increase in home sales as buyers moved out of London to take advantage of the behavioural shift of working-from-home.
Each of the apartments at Edinburgh Way have been finished to Weston Homes’ signature premium specification. Purchasers have a choice of oak effect strip flooring to entrance halls, living, kitchen and dining areas, cloakrooms and luxurious carpets to bedrooms. Designer kitchens include stainless steel electric ovens, ceramic hob and integrated fridge/ freezer, washer/dryer and dishwasher. Buyers also get a choice of quartz stone worktops and up stands and a wide range of designer Oakwood Kitchen units.
Luxurious en-suite bathrooms include Fascino digitally controlled Smart taps, showers, baths and mirrors with LED lighting as well as heated chrome towel rails, integrated vanity storage and a choice of RAK Ceramics porcelain wall and floor tiles.
In an era of rising living costs and energy prices, the affordability of Edinburgh Way is improved by the availability of Help to Buy. The Government-backed scheme which has been running since 2013 finishes in March 2023. Subject to eligibility criteria, terms and conditions, the scheme allows first-time buyers to buy their home with a deposit of 5% and a Help to Buy equity loan of up to 20% on selected apartments, further adding to the ease for first-time buyers to get onto the property ladder with Weston Homes. To further help first-time buyers, Weston Homes’ unique First Time Secure Buy (FTSB) initiative is another tool to help people buy their first home.
The FTSB scheme gives security and peace of mind, with a full refund of the reservation fee and exchange deposit should a buyer’s circumstances change prior to legal completion, subject to terms and conditions. The FTSB scheme allows first-time buyers to reserve a home off-plan for just a £500 reservation fee, only requires a 5% exchange deposit and then, six months before build completion, the buyer can apply for a mortgage. Should the value of the property increase in the time between reservation and build completion, buyers will only pay the price agreed.
Edinburgh Way is competitively priced to help buyers of all ages, from first-time buyers keen to live in a home of their own to downsizers who want to move into a friendly, ready-made community. Prices start from £230,000 – which is £41,000 below the national house price of £271,000 (according to the Office of National Statistics) – even though the new development is being built in one of the most desirable counties in the high-demand region of the southeast.
Suzanne Alpin, Group Sales & Marketing Director at Weston Homes says
“This extraordinary flurry of sales activity has happened in just 16 months and over the course of the covid-19 crisis, reflecting and meeting the obvious need of home movers to buy close to nature in the English countryside, while in walking distance of amenities and culture, within a well-connected town – both in terms of transport and the internet. Edinburgh Way provides an exceptional opportunity to purchase an affordable home in a fast growing and sought-after area. The combination of sensible pricing, Help to Buy and our very own First Time Secure Buy scheme, along with the desirability and convenience of the location, has driven high sales in such a short period of time. “
Prices at Edinburgh Way start from £233,500 for a one-bedroom apartment, £318,500 for a two-bedroom apartment. The marketing suite and show home are open 7 days a week from 10am to 5pm. For further information please call Weston Homes on 01279 964 785.
