LOCATION
HOUGHTON REGIS (LUTON) Linmere
DARTFORD Copperhouse Green
Bellway London’s town centre development comprises studio, one, two, and three bedroom apartments, with balconies and parking available at selected plots. The development has close
Barratt Homes is offering three bedroom homes as part of a wider consortium in Houghton Regis, with over 5,000 homes, schools, parks and a community cafe. The development boasts
90 acres of public open space, 17 play areas for the community, electric car charging points and new community allotments. Located within ve minutes of the M1, the nearest railway stations are Leighton Buzzard, Leagrave and Luton Airport Parkway.
access to local shops and schools, and its views consist of the local 26-acre Central Park, making it ideal for rst time buyers, families and commuters alike. Dartford railway station is only a 10-minute walk away.
bellway.co.uk/new-homes/thames-gateway/copperhouse-green 01322 950 625
barratthomes.co.uk/new-homes/dev000965-barratt-homes-at-linmere 0333 060 8017
but still well below the average of nearby London (£490,235). With excellent rail connections into the capital, including via the Elizabeth Line, it’s an attractive option for commuters and for growing families seeking more space. There is also a strong employment market in the town itself, with the "UK’s Silicon Valley", along the M4 corridor, bringing high-tech jobs to the area. SANDWELL Sandwell, in the West Midlands, comes in third with first time buyers making up 73% of all properties purchased with a mortgage last year, compared to 71% in 2020. Properties here are significantly cheaper than the British average at £179,058, and also around £40,000 below the average for the West Midlands (£221,307). This is another area that has undergone significant economic regeneration and business investment in recent years and it is well-connected by major road networks (including the M5 and M6 motorways) and good rail links.The borough also boasts 1,200 hectares of parks and green spaces, making it particularly popular with young families. Change is happening. The 2020s are looking positive for both the market as a whole and for first time buyers. Lloyds Banking Group (through Halifax and Lloyds Bank) recently announced First-time Buyer Boost, an improved loan-to-income (LTI) multiple for all eligible first time buyers. The boost allows first timers to borrow up to 5.5 times their household annual income, up from 4.49 times. Based on a household income of £50,000 and a deposit of 10%, this will increase the maximum loan available from around £224,500 to around £275,000 (a 22% increase). Getting on the ladder just got easier, so it’s the perfect time to think about where you want to spend the rest of this decade.
CASE STUDY
First time buyers Sebastian , 39, and Joanna , 35, have purchased a two bedroom apartment at Bellway London’s Copperhouse Green development in Dartford after renting in the capital for over 10 years. Sebastian, a head chef, and Joanna, a retail team leader, took advantage of a £13,673 deposit contribution from the housebuilder which, added to their own £19,995 savings, gave
them a 10% deposit. “There is no way we could have bought this fabulous apartment without Bellway London giving us a deposit contribution,” says Joanna.
The husband and wife originally came to the UK 11 years ago to work and save for their wedding back home in Poland. “Within a year or so we had saved enough to pay for the wedding. After we got married, we decided to move back to the UK because we loved it so much and thought we could build a nice life there,” says Joanna. When the couple decided they wanted to buy a home, having both secured higher paying jobs, they worked hard to save again. Joanna says, “We saved every penny we could for two years then decided we might have enough to look at buying our own home.” As the couple both work in central London, location was everything. Joanna and Sebastian had heard good things about Dartford so decided to take a day trip. “After a spot of window shopping, we walked to the huge Central Park to relax and on the way out we saw a sign that told us that Bellway was building apartments at Copperhouse Green, just around the corner. We went straight to the development and fell in love with the location and the look of the buildings. We both knew it was the place we wanted to live.” Having now moved in they couldn’t be happier. Joanna’s commute to Oxford Street has remained the same at about one hour and 10 minutes while Sebastian’s journey is now just 45 minutes. “Instead of having a view of the busy Streatham High Road, we look out over the gorgeous Central Park. When I sit out on the balcony of our fth- oor apartment now I don’t have to block out the sounds of sirens and traf c with headphones because all I hear is birdsong. It’s wonderful. We actually moved into this apartment – our dream home – on 19 July, which was our 10th wedding anniversary. Living here is the best present we could ever have given ourselves. It’s as if we are meant to be here and we love it.”
First Time Buyer December 2024/January 2025 23
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