Homebuyers enjoy benefits of buying off-plan

A Hampshire-based housebuilder is releasing more homes for sale off-plan to meet rising demand for new housing across the area.

With all of Bellway Wessex’s currently completed homes sold, the housebuilder’s customers are increasingly buying properties at earlier stages of development – and appreciating the benefits which this brings.

The housebuilder, which has its divisional office in Ringwood, is currently building homes at six developments across Hampshire, West Sussex and Dorset, with three further developments due to open this year.

Kim Caldwell, Sales Director for Bellway Wessex, said: “The strength of the property market in the south of England has led to a shortage of completed homes for sale across the Wessex division and we’ve responded to this by releasing new plots for sale off-plan.

“Customers who’ve bought at an early stage of their home’s construction have realised there are many positive aspects to purchasing in this way.

“Buying a home before it has been built allows the buyer to have more control over the property’s fixtures and fittings, such as kitchen worktops and cupboard door styles – and knowing which plot they are going to move into allows them to track its build progress, from the walls being built to the final coat of paint being applied.”

Homes are now being sold off-plan at six Bellway Wessex developments across Dorset, Hampshire and West Sussex, with the majority of the homes available still at an early stage of the build. Three more developments will open in Hampshire, West Sussex and Wiltshire this year.

The demand for new homes seen by Bellway Wessex reflects the national strength of the property market. According to the Nationwide house price index, house prices ended 2020 5.3 per cent above the level prevailing in March, when the pandemic struck the UK.

Robert Gardner, Nationwide’s chief economist, said: “Housing demand has been buoyed by a raft of policy measures and changing preferences in the wake of the pandemic. The pandemic itself also boosted activity, as life in lockdown and changes to working patterns led many to re-evaluate their housing needs.”

Kim said: “We have seen that the pandemic has made people change what they look for, not only in their home itself, but also in the development they live on as a whole.

“Features such as larger gardens, developments with parks or public open space, and room in the house for a dedicated place to work or study, have all been added to the list of things house buyers are looking for – and we are committed to meeting the changing needs of our customers.”

For more information about homes being built and sold by Bellway Wessex, visit bellway.co.uk.