Halfway to heaven at Skyline

Award-winning housebuilder, Barratt West Midlands has joined forces with Birmingham City Council to give local homebuyers the chance own a brand new apartment at a discount of 50 per cent. Barratt has launched a new low cost housing scheme, which has been designed to assist homebuyers working or living in Birmingham onto the property ladder by offering them the opportunity to buy a new apartment at its £44 million Skyline development on Bath Row at half its market value.

David Child Sales Director for Barratt commented, “The UK has a serious shortage of good quality affordable housing, so we are extremely excited to be able to offer this housing scheme to new buyers in Birmingham, which is one of the few in the city that allows people to buy a brand new home at such a significant discount.

“It means that buyers who have traditionally struggled to make it to home ownership are more able than ever to get on to the property ladder at a price they can afford, whilst still owning 100 per cent of the property. So often first-time buyers are told that the only way to owning their own home is to compromise but with the low cost homes a stylish, city lifestyle is possible.”

Ten one- and two-bedroom apartments at Skyline have been earmarked for the scheme. Purchasers eligible for the scheme must already live or work within Birmingham and if applying solo, earn £25k or less or £40k if two people want to buy jointly.

This scheme is not shared ownership, which means that no rent has to be paid on the remaining 50%. Nor does the second half have to be paid back at a later date. The property must remain at the same percentage for all future re-sales, ensuring that there is a good supply of low cost homes for years to come.

Councillor John Lines, Cabinet Member for Housing at Birmingham City Council said, “We are very pleased to be working with Barratt at such a high-profile apartment scheme. Low-cost home-ownership initiatives like this are key to increasing housing supply, they can help achieve more inclusive, mixed-income communities and contribute to economic and social stability.

“Due to house price increases we are beginning to negotiate more deals like this one where the discount is significant.”

David Child continued, “Skyline is our latest city centre project here in Birmingham and builds on our twenty-five-year history of new homes development within Birmingham.”

Skyline comprises a range of one- and two-bedroom modern apartments within six separate blocks. The apartments boast secure parking, a video entry system, undercroft parking and balconies or terraces, some with views to the adjacent Peace Gardens and St Thomas Church.

A commercial unit is incorporated into the ground floor, which Barratt anticipates will be occupied by an express-style supermarket later this year.

Prices for the low cost homes range from £74,795 to £98,700. There are two brand new show apartments open for viewings at Skyline.

For further information log on to Barratthomes.co.uk.