Awards keep coming for Redrow's £60k homes

Homes designed to help first time buyers get a foothold on the property ladder – sometimes for less than £60,000 - have won yet another national award. Redrow’s innovative Debut range, which boasts flagship starter homes across the country has successfully taken the lead in this often ignored sector of the property market and has been repeatedly recognised for its efforts.

The latest award to be bestowed on Debut is the title of ‘Best Initiative to Aid First Time Buyers and Key Workers at the 2007 Housebuilding Innovation Awards, organised by the Home Builders’ Federation and backed by Housebuilder magazine.

The awards ceremony was hosted by Michael Portillo at the Millenium Mayfair Hotel in London to promote the importance of innovation within the housing industry.

A panel of judges praised Redrow for creating “attractive and affordable” developments and preventing investors from moving in and renting out or selling houses on to buyers at a higher price.

They remarked: “The winner in this category is Redrow’s Debut range of affordable starter homes, which emerged early in the race to create the £60,000 home. Not only are the prices of Debut within reach of the first time buyer or key worker, but Redrow has also created a 10% deferred payment ‘Easibuy’ option to aid first time buyers and has banned investors from buying.

“Redrow has also set up a maintenance management company for communal areas, which will be important in keeping the developments attractive.”

Redrow has already won numerous national and regional awards for its price-busting Debut product, including a 2007 Business in the Community Award for Excellence; the title of Major Housebuilder of the Year in the 2006 Building awards for success in helping first time buyers onto the property ladder whilst still maintaining a healthy profit margin; and Best Starter Home at last year’s What House? awards.

Debut’s award-winning formula comes as a result of efficient land use, high quality design to create a contemporary choice of one and two-bedroom homes, the use of modern methods of construction including a lightweight structural steel frame, shared outdoor space, communal heating and hot water systems and other energy saving or sustainable features.

Simon Bennett, Redrow’s group marketing director, comments: “We’re extremely pleased with this latest award success but more importantly we’re delighted that, thanks to Debut, hundreds of young people are now on the property ladder who previously felt they had no chance of affording a home of their own.”

As well as low prices, a single monthly service charge covers all external maintenance, as well as water, gas and electricity use and buildings insurance – helping to make it easier for first time home owners to manage their finances.

Customers can also take advantage of Easibuy, which allows people to defer 10% of the property price for up to 10 years, interest-free – this fixed sum amount can be paid back in monthly instalments, occasional lump sums or in full at any time during 10 years. Finally, a legal framework is in place to prevent buy-to-let investors from snapping up the Debut homes.

Around the UK, Debut developments are currently available or coming soon at Chorley, in Lancashire, Selby, North Yorkshire, Lincoln, in Lincolnshire, Hilton, Derbyshire, Burton-upon-Trent, in Staffs, North Cornelly, Merthyr Tydfil and Newport, in South Wales, and at Filton, north Bristol. Schemes have been successfully completed in Rugby, Warwickshire, Castle Vale, Birmingham, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs, and Ewloe, Flintshire.

Information about Redrow’s Debut product, including forthcoming and existing developments can be found at Debutbyredrow.co.uk, which also includes video walk-throughs of many of the property designs.