Why rent when mum and dad can buy?

Students are becoming increasingly choosy and have high expectations when it comes to selecting their university pad. With a competitive rental market in many university towns the guarantee of good quality accommodation for students is slim. Rather than fork out to line the pockets of other landlords, students at the University of Kent could buy a Bellway apartment at The Old Tannery right in the heart of Canterbury.

With one- and two- bedroom apartments priced from only £160,000, not only will parents be securing their son or daughters living accommodation for three years, but they could also earn a positive cash-flow from future lettings.

Lyn Neale, Sales Director of Bellway Thames Gateway South, said: “Purchasing a home for your child is a wise economic strategy. We are currently offering tailor-made deals to enable students or their parents to purchase a fabulous new apartment in time for the 2008/09 academic year.

Located within the city walls in a conservation area, the development of 453 new homes is an exciting new residential quarter for the city, centred around a public piazza lined with shops, restaurants and live work units.

Bellway’s design allowed for the retention of 18 of the historic former tannery buildings, some of which are Grade II listed, to save as much of the character and industrial heritage of the site as possible.

Combining brick block roads, traditional style street lighting and wood framed sash windows on many homes, The Old Tannery is a seamless and integrated part of the future development of the heart of Canterbury. The architecture provides a modern interpretation of well-known and well-loved styles.

Designs provide the essential feeling of comfort and homeliness and yet bring a modern approach with light, airy interiors which reflect the style that we expect from new homes in the 21st Century. By using traditional Canterbury building materials of brick, tile hanging, render and timber boarding the external appearance of the development has been enhanced as has the varied city roofscape for which Canterbury is famous.

This is one of the most exciting residential schemes in Kent as it is situated within Canterbury’s historic city walls and just a short walk from the Cathedral, railway stations and Canterbury town centre.

The development centres on a public piazza - Tannery Square – which will feature a riverside wine bar/restaurant, four retail/commercial shop units and three live/work units. A series of streets and lanes accommodating the new residential buildings will radiate from the piazza.

In recognition of the industrial character of the site, some 18 historic buildings have been retained for conversion, with the former warehouse building and drying shed to be converted into a 61-bedroom hotel. A riverside walk will be built to link the scheme to Greyfriars Gardens and the town centre, giving people access to an area of the city that has remained in private hands for over 150 years.

The marketing suite and show flat are open daily from 10am – 5pm. Alternatively, visit Bellway.co.uk for further details.