One of the first families to move into an innovative first time buyers’ development have been given the keys to their new home.
Karl Kaighin, 29, partner Julie and their 21-month-old daughter Sophie thought they would never have the chance to buy a home of their own.
Thanks to the government’s house purchase assistance scheme they are the proud owners of a three-bed property on the Hampton Farm development on New Castletown Road in Douglas.
The Haven Homes development comprises 16 three-bedroom houses, 12 two-bedroom properties and eight flats of an eye-catching Scandinavian-style design, with no two properties identical. A buyer has been found for all 28 houses, even before the final 12 have been completed.
Following the proposed demolition of some older Douglas Council-owned properties, the plan is to build five new first time buyers’ homes in the same style plus three dwellings for the council which will be rented out on the private market like the buildings they replaced.
MEA wayleave officer Mr Kaighin said he had been paying £1,000 a month for private rented accommodation.
He said: ‘When we were informed that our application to purchase one of the houses on the Hampton Farm development had been successful, we were ecstatic.
‘Given the current economic climate, we thought we would never have the opportunity to purchase a home that we could call our own. The biggest problem is paying rent and saving for a deposit at the same time.’
Social Care Minister Chris Robertshaw presented a bouquet of flowers to the new occupants.
He said: ‘When you go somewhere new it either feels right or doesn’t feel right. For me this feels absolutely right.
‘The layout is very nice and the presentation of the houses is absolutely excellent. This is not another same again, same again development.
‘I’m sure it will be something we will see more of in the future.’
Haven Homes director David Lewis said: ‘Since acquiring the site from Douglas Borough Council, Haven Homes has focused on providing a unique housing development that would offer high quality construction at affordable prices.
‘The original design brief to our architect, Hugh Logan, was simply “make it different, make it count”.
‘We feel Hugh and his team certainly achieved the brief, and we are delighted with the standard and feel of the completed dwellings.
‘We are very proud of the development and look forward to future development opportunities where we would hope to deliver equally striking homes on other sites around the island.’
Three bedroom properties on Hampton Farm are marketed at £150,000 – the maximum allowed under the house purchase assistance scheme – while the two-bedroom versions are sold for £144,000 and two-bedroom flats fetched £132,500.
For details of the first time buyer register or house purchase assistance scheme, contact 685955 or visit www.gov.im/socialcare/housing/first
