Developer bucks national trend with new housing scheme

Posted on October 4, 2013

Press release by Taylor French Developments regarding their new Castle Gate development in Eaton Bray.

An award-winning developer which has bucked the national trend by having a waiting list for its homes has started work on its latest housing scheme.

Taylor French Developments, based in Tring, has created 60 jobs by beginning building work on a new site in Eaton Bray.

Although work has only just started, two of the homes have already been sold and there has been massive interest in the other two. They will be completed ready for families to move in by the end of March next year.

Taylor French is keen to play its part in local community life while building work takes place, sponsoring a magic act which entertained the crowds at St Mary's Village Carnival in nearby Edlesborough in July.

The Castle Gate development, in Eaton Bray, comprises two three-bedroom semi-detached houses, one three-bedroom detached house and one four-bedroom detached house, with prices ranging from £285,000 to £375,000.

Key to Taylor French's success is its bespoke building and design service where buyers can make significant changes to the specification, depending on how far building work has progressed.

Buyers have had en suites removed or added, internal walls changed, one had an extension added (subject to planning approval), while another asked for the whole of the back of the house to be glass panelled.

Steve French, Managing Director of Taylor French, said: "Buyers can get a bespoke home. It's not just giving them a few choices for kitchen units and bathroom tiles – it really does mean they can have the home they want, to the budget they choose.

"So, in a development of five houses, it is highly unlikely that they will all be the same."

Taylor French has buyers queuing up to buy its homes and has seen its turnover double each year since 2008.

Steve said: "The last two developments we've done all sold prior to formal marketing. I don't know of any other developer who has done this in the current climate.

"We have gone from strength to strength and we believe this is because we are a very streamlined company - we don't have huge offices or hordes of people. We have a very talented team and are very competitive when it comes to building costs."

Steve French, Managing Director of Taylor French looking at the Eaton Bray site plans

On one site in Paulespury, Northamptonshire, 15 families vied to exchange contracts on just five luxury stone properties. All the homes, which cost between £300,000 and £450,000, were bought within weeks of construction work starting.

Meanwhile, a three-bedroom detached cottage, located on the village green at Little Horwood, near Buckingham, was snapped up before the construction team stepped foot on site.

Steve said: "It is unusual to have such a rush of sales on exclusive developments in this economic climate – we've even had people say they will wait for us to buy land in the area they are looking to move to, so they can move into a Taylor French home."

As confidence starts to return to the housing market in the south east, Taylor French plans to increase the number of properties it develops in the region from 100 to 250 every year.

It is currently building homes in 13 locations in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire.

The firm recently won the Best Large Development award in the Central Region Local Authority Building Control (LABC) Excellence Awards.

Taylor French focuses on smaller plots of land for development - for between one and 60 homes. About 80% of its work is developing good quality affordable homes for housing associations.

Source: Taylor French Developments