With energy prices predicted to rise by 5% this autumn and for the following two years according to the Bank of England, leading developer Countryside Maritime highlights the savings that can be made by choosing a new property at its latest phase of new homes on St Mary’s Island in Chatham, Kent, known as The Fishing Village.
The three and four bedroom houses and one and two bedroom apartments at The Fishing Village have an EcoHomes rating of ‘very good’ and are highly energy and water efficient. Helping to save money, as well as reducing carbon emissions, compared to the average older homes in the Britain which waste £1 in every £3 spent on energy, these properties are around 6.5 times more energy efficient than those built just 30 years ago.
Eco features include highly efficient gas fired condensing boilers and energy efficient downlighters in the kitchens, bathrooms and en suites. The properties also have water savings features such as water butts and dual flush toilets.
Tony Travers, Managing Director of Countryside Properties’ New Homes and Communities division, comments: “During the winter months, homeowners can be assured that having to turn down the thermostat to save money isn’t necessary. The properties at The Fishing Village not only benefit from highly effective insulation and double glazed windows, but also have an excellent range of energy efficient features designed to keep costs down and ensure people keep warm this autumn and winter.”
Designed to reflect traditional Kentish architecture with a touch of contemporary style, the new homes at The Fishing Village feature a range of pastel colour weather boarded facades with contrasting pale stone brickwork and white render. Previously seen in an earlier phase, these new homes mark the return of these popular properties to the island.
The three and four bedroom homes offer a variety of layouts and give buyers a selection of flexible living spaces to suit their requirements. The Stirling is a stunning four bedroom home that provides 1,470 sq ft of accommodation including a spacious living room, with double doors opening into the separate dining room which is an ideal place for entertaining. There is also a fully fitted contemporary kitchen and adjacent utility room. Outside, the integral garage is accessible from the main house and the shed in the rear garden comes complete with a cycle rack.
On the first floor, the four double bedrooms are all spaciously designed, with en-suite shower rooms to the master and guest bedrooms. The master suite also features fitted wardrobes, while the main family bathroom includes a double ended bath.
All properties are finished to an excellent specification, including a fully fitted contemporary kitchen with chocolate oak and ivory gloss finished units, laminate worksurfaces and glass splashbacks. The range of integrated appliances includes a fridge/freezer, washer dryer, dishwasher, oven and microwave. The bathrooms and en-suites offer stylish white sanitaryware with chrome mixer taps and ceramic wall and floor tiling.
The great news for buyers is that all of the properties are available through Help to Buy, the Government initiative which enables buyers to purchase a new home with a mortgage of just 75% of the cost of the property, provided they can put down a 5% deposit. Those who qualify will be eligible for an equity loan worth up to 20% of the value of the property, funded by the government, which will be interest-free for the first five years. There is no cap on the maximum amount someone can earn to be eligible.
The Fishing Village is situated on St Mary’s Island – Britain’s only strategically planned island community which forms part of Chatham Maritime, the regeneration scheme being sensitively built on part of the Historic Naval Dockyard.
Now an established community, the island offers a wide range of amenities, including a doctor’s surgery, community centre and primary school, as well as a network of cycle and footpaths around the island. Just over the bridge, the additional facilities include shops, restaurants, cinema, university campus and leisure facilities.
Ideally located to enjoy the greatly enhanced transport connections, St Mary’s Island is located near Ebbsfleet International, where the fastest connections to London include trains to Stratford in 12 minutes and St Pancras in 17 minutes. Eurostar services to the Continent include trains to Paris in around two hours. By road, the island is within a short drive of both the A2 and the M2, providing access into London and down to Dover.
Guide prices start at £250,000 for a three bedroom house at The Fishing Village. Under ‘Help to Buy’, a 5% deposit of £12,500 is required, a mortgage to be arranged for £187,500 and the balance of £50,000 is provided by the ‘Help to Buy’ equity loan.
