Recession busting scheme helps locals find their dream home

Carl Belch is among the first to buy a property at Home’s stunning new development at Greenfields East in Sheffield, through HomeBuy Direct. This is a government backed scheme supported by Home Group.

Carl still can’t believe his luck, as he explains: “Finding out about HomeBuy Direct has been a god send to me because it’s made my dream home affordable. I didn’t need to save for a deposit and I didn’t need a 100% mortgage, so even in this economic climate I was able to get my bank to lend me what I needed.

“I was living in rented accommodation before and without Home’s support and HomeBuy Direct I would still be struggling to save enough money for a deposit. I couldn’t be happier. What used to be Weakland estate has been transformed by Home who have built lovely houses and bungalows, its turning into a really nice community.”

“Home decided to provide HomeBuy Direct simply because it makes our excellent properties more affordable to local people,” explained Stuart Massey, SWaN Project Director. “HomeBuy Direct is particularly aimed at first-time buyers or key workers who we know want to buy a new home on our new developments in and around The Fields, but cannot afford the deposit or monthly outgoings of a full mortgage.

“The big building societies such as Royal Bank of Scotland and Halifax are signed up to HomeBuy Direct, so people should now have no problem funding the purchase of their home through this route.”

Cllr Bob McCann, Sheffield City Council's Cabinet Member for Housing and Sustainable, Safer Communities said: "I am pleased that by working with Home and the Homes and Communities Agency we can offer new, energy efficient affordable homes in this popular part of the city, and I would encourage more people to apply for the HomeBuy Direct scheme."

HomeBuy Direct is perfect for people wanting to buy a Home property who do not have large deposits and cannot afford a 100% mortgage. The scheme allows buyers to borrow 70% of the overall cost of the property, the remaining 30% is covered by Home Group and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) for the first five years.

For more information visit www.thefields.org.uk
Ends

Notes to Newsdesks/Reporters:

For further information about Greenfields or the wider development programme underway at The Fields, please contact Debbie Pack on 020 8582 2203 / 07985 339551, or email her on debbie.pack@homegroup.org.uk

For all enquiries regarding the shared ownership properties contact Home Group on 01332 268404.

The Fields – the bigger picture

The Fields forms part of Home’s £135 million scheme to create over 1,000 new homes on the former Scowerdons, Weakland (now Greenfield’s East) and Newstead sites (now Greenfield’s West) in south east Sheffield, in partnership with Sheffield City Council and the Homes and Communities Agency.

As well as being the largest regeneration project in Sheffield, the scheme is unique because of its Residents’ Charter. The Charter promises to make sure that a new home of the tenure of choice will be available for former residents who wish to return to the redeveloped estates.

SWaN is now being marketed as The Fields , with Home successfully completing 45 new properties at Greenfield’s East, and,a further 54 units at Greenfield’s West.

All new homes being built at the Fields are of excellent quality and comprise flats (no flats for sale ), 2, 3 & 4 bedroom houses with private parking and turfed rear gardens. All properties incorporate the latest in energy efficient design.

Properties are available through a variety of tenures, such as: HomeBuy Direct, Shared Ownership and private outright sale. This makes The Fields an excellent choice for local people in Sheffield wanting to rent or join the property ladder.

The Fields is well situated with great transport links, schools and the Crystal Peaks shopping centre close by.

Three-bedroom homes can be bought under the HomeBuy Direct scheme for £111,965 (full price £159,950) and four-bedroom homes for £119,000 (full price £170,000). These prices are based on a 70/30 basis.
More information about buying a home on the Greenfields East development, including arranging a tour of the show home, is available from W H Brown on 0114 247 1421.

About Home

Home is one of the UK’s leading providers of affordable housing, care and support, and is committed to creating thriving communities where people want to live. The group, which has a turnover in excess of £283m, manages 55,000 homes throughout England and Scotland and employs nearly 4,500 staff.

Home manages over 4,000 properties in its central region, from Derby to Scarborough, through a network of four regional offices. Home manages nearly 2,000 properties in Yorkshire.

www.homegroup.org.uk

More information

For further press information please contact:
Debbie Pack, PR Officer (Home Central and South)
T: 020 8582 2203
M: 07985 339551
E: debbie.pack@homegroup.org.uk