20 December 2013
Six separate ‘self finish’ projects are set to start on site early in the New Year in Oxfordshire. And the first occupants could be in their low cost homes by this time next year.
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The initiative, pioneered by Cherwell District Council, involves a mixture of brand new build homes, and the refurbishment or conversion of existing buildings. On each the council is offering a £10,000-£15,000 discount to the purchasers in return for them doing the final fitting of bathrooms and kitchens, the landscaping, tiling and decoration.
The council can also provide a five year interest free loan for up to 20% of the purchase cost, so purchasers only have to find an initial 5% deposit. The lowest priced one bedroom apartment is just £90,000.
The six schemes include:
21 new two and three-bedroom homes at Newton Close – This project (plan, left) is on the doorstep of the Bicester Outlet Village.
Here a two bed property will cost £190,000, the largest three bedroom home works out at £255,000. The properties will be available as watertight ‘shells’.
In exchange for the discount the new owners will be responsible for fitting the kitchen and bathroom units, doors, architraves and skirting boards, landscaping the gardens, painting/ decorating and the final fix on the plumbing and electrics.
The properties are available on a shared ownership basis with a minimum purchase price of 75 per cent.
Fourteen of the homes have already been reserved.
30 one and two-bedroom new apartments on London Road, Bicester – This new build scheme has been re-christened as ‘Coach House Mews’. The flats will cost between £120,000 and £180,000.
18 new two and three-bedroom houses at Lincoln House, Banbury – These new properties will be arranged in a ‘Close’ with off road parking and gardens. Prices here range from £150-£195,000.
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Proposed street elevation, ‘Coach House Mews’, London Road, Bicester |
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Proposed street elevation, Lincoln House, Banbury |
Four one and two bed flats at Broughton Road, Banbury – this is a refurbishment scheme with prices from £112,500.
Four new two bed houses at Juniper Court, Banbury – this project involves refurbishing a listed building. The homes will cost £145,000 each.
Five one and two bed flats at 1 West Street, Banbury – here the refurbished units range from £90-£125,000.
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Broughton Road, Banbury |
Juniper Court, Banbury |
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Artist’s impression of homes at West Street, Banbury |
The refurbished properties at Broughton Road, Juniper Court and West Street are all within Banbury’s conservation area.
All the ‘self finish’ homes are aimed at local people on modest incomes – typically families need to live or work in the area and earn less than £60,000 a year to be eligible. For those that are unsure about their skills the council is organising training sessions on things like how to fit bathrooms and kitchens, these sessions will be held every Saturday and Sunday throughout 2014.
For more information about any of the ‘self finish’ opportunities contact Cherwell’s Build! team on 01295 221615 or by e-mail.
The council is also planning to provide a number of serviced building plots on a number of sites in both Banbury and Bicester, and it is also promoting the huge Graven Hill project – which could see more than 1,000 self build opportunities on a former MoD site to the south of Bicester. There is more information about this project on the official Graven Hill website where any interest can also be registered.
