Sometimes a development comes along that ticks every box when it comes to buyer trends and preferences. In the Reading suburb of Calcot, Fairfields from Bellway Homes does precisely that. The new development aligns perfectly with Savills’ 2021 projections[1], in particular buyers’ continued desire to find a home that meets their immediate requirements rather than their future ones.
With a third lockdown upon us, buyers continue to prioritise space when it comes to finding a new home. As part of Bellway’s Artisan Collection, Fairfields offers plentiful space indoors and out, with this stunning collection of apartments and houses benefiting from balconies, terraces or gardens. Buyers looking to escape London are particularly likely to be drawn to such a luxury of greenery as 21% of London properties have no garden, while those that do have some of the smallest in the country[2].
The show home has now officially launched at Fairfields and interest has been high. Emma Jones, sales and marketing director at Bellway Thames Valley, comments:
“We have had a huge amount of attention already at this development, with many buyers securing their homes off plan and taking advantage of being able to make some key decisions on interior finishes. Our show home has created even greater interest for homebuyers and we are pre-booking appointments with all COVID health and safety requirements strictly enforced.
“The way that we use our homes has changed significantly over the past year, as has what we want from them. With superior quality fixtures and fittings, the houses and apartments at Fairfields are perfectly suited to these new buyer mindset trends. Our generously sized external spaces are complemented by walking trails and parkland areas across the development; there’s a real emphasis on greenery and the natural environment.”
Fairfields is a prime location for buyers looking for a more countrified lifestyle away from a city centre. The 119 homes include one- and two-bedroom apartments and two, three and four-bedroom houses of varying architectural styles are thoughtfully laid out to create an inviting neighbourhood vibe. Calcot itself is one of Reading’s most attractive suburbs, providing everything that ex-Londoners could wish for, while still providing access to central London by both train (Theale station is five minutes from Fairfields) and car in well under an hour.
With spacious interiors that provide plenty of room for a dedicated desk or home office, depending on the property, Fairfields is also spot on when it comes to meeting the needs of the vastly increased number of remote workers that the UK is now home to. That number is expected to double pre-pandemic levels in 2021, thanks in part to the fact that home workers have proven in many cases to be incredibly productive[3].
Andy Richardson, managing director at Edward Thomas Interiors, designers of the Fairfields show homes adds: “It was a really significant part of the brief to showcase how these homes would actually be lived in, so we’ve included workspaces in multiple rooms to highlight how different areas can be used for working, studying or learning. We’ve also been able to reference the rising importance of nature and being outdoors through the use of eco-style wooden furniture, natural fabrics such as cotton and linen, a dark green colour palette, plenty of house plants and playful themes to the children’s bedrooms including cycling and bumblebees.”
As homes at Fairfields are available off-plan, buyers have the option to create a bespoke, personal feel (dependent on build stage) by choosing one of a selection of interior finishes, further enhancing the development’s appeal. Interested buyers can take a virtual tour via the Bellway Homes website.
In terms of location, Fairfields has it all. Calcot Infant School and Nursery and Calcot Junior School are less than a mile away, while local shops and amenities abound. Reading is just ten minutes away, with its own wealth of shops and dining options, from shopping centres and well-known restaurant chains to independent boutiques and the Michelin starred L’Ortolan.