Help for first time buyers from Countryside Properties

The Government's First Time Buyers Initiative has eased the house price burden for qualifying first time buyers at Countryside Properties' development, Stone Rise, near Bluewater in Kent.

Set around a landscaped courtyard in three small, low-rise buildings, Stone Rise comprises 26 spacious one and two bedroom apartments. Seven are already sold or reserved.

Under the First Time Buyer Initiative and in partnership with Moat, the lowest priced one-bed apartments, which start from £129,900, can be bought with a mortgage from as low as £64,950 - only 50% of the full purchase price. Two-bedroom apartments can be bought with a mortgage from as little as £79,950. Importantly the purchaser retains a 100% ownership of the property, repaying the Government's contribution at their own convenience or when they sell the property.

Stone Rise offers a contemporary Kentish architectural style with weatherboarding and white render complementing the modest scale of these low-rise buildings. Large windows and spacious layouts create bright, light and open apartments. The expansive windows and the development's elevated position allow many of the residents to enjoy views over the River Thames with the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge in the distance.

Apartments range in size from 529 sq ft to 823 sq ft and offer dual aspect kitchen/living/dining rooms. All of the two bedroom apartments have two bathrooms. The practical, modern style and open plan layouts encourage the movement of light through the apartment, helping to create an unusual sense of space. A stylish combination of wood veneer and steel continues the design theme of the development, with oak-finished kitchens, and bathrooms with crisp, white sanitaryware. There are also parking bays for each apartment, and cycle storage provided.

The apartments at Stone Rise are all expected to reach an EcoHomes rating of Very Good and illustrate Countryside Properties' commitment to sustainable development, placing environmental concerns at the forefront of innovative house building. Stone Rise incorporates efficient initiatives for energy saving and environmentally friendly construction. The apartment buildings use low energy lighting, efficient gas-fired condensing boilers, CFC- and HFC-free insulation and dual flush toilets. Recycling is central to the development, with recycling bins provided both inside and outside.

Stone Rise is located in the village of Stone, near Bluewater, Kent. It is part of the continued redevelopment and renovation of the Kent Thameside area, in which a total of 38,000 new jobs are expected to be created within the next 20 years across a wide range of sectors.

Stone Crossing station offers trains to Charing Cross in 47 minutes and Cannon Street in 45 minutes. Fastrack bus services also operate from Stone Crossing, providing buses to Bluewater in 12 minutes, Dartford in 17 minutes and Ebbsfleet International station in 25 minutes. Ebbsfleet International already provides fast services to continental Europe. In 2009, the service will take you to the new St Pancras International station in just 17 minutes.

The proximity of Stone Rise to Bluewater means that long distance travel is not necessary for a broad and diverse selection of amenities and activities. Bluewater has 330 shops, 12 screen multiplex cinema, 40 cafes, bars and restaurants and a range of outdoor activities, ranging from boating and fishing to climbing and cycling.

For more details about the apartments at Stone Rise and the range of homes available, visit Countryside-properties.com.