Isle of Wight becomes property hot-spot

The Isle of Wight previously conjured up the image of quaint seaside resorts but the island is fast becoming a fashionable place to live with highly sought-after property hotspots. Cowes, on the northern coast of the island, is experiencing some of the most exciting changes.

As one of the top three regatta venues in the world, the town is attracting some of the most stylish developments as well as famous residents including Dame Ellen MacArthur.

Award winning housebuilder Barratt Homes has just launched its Cowes development Nautiqua, a prestigious collection of contemporary apartments and houses on the junction of Queens Road and Mornington Road.

The select development of 15 high specification waterfront homes, includes spacious two bedroom apartments and luxury four bedroom houses. It has attracted substantial interest because of its excellent setting - with the majority of properties boasting outstanding coastal views with fantastic terraces or balconies.

Starting from £420,000 for an apartment and up to £1.3 million for the luxurious 2,559sq ft house, many of the properties at Nautiqua overlook the waterfront and offer some of the best views of yachting on the island – and a perfect position to watch the Cowes Week races.

The family friendly Solent Beach adjoins the southern side of the site, a short walk from the development.

“Cowes is a fantastic location to invest in,” said Catherine Ferguson Barratt Homes sales director based at the site, “the Old Town of West Cowes is very pretty and there are some excellent restaurants and boutiques.

“It is also very famous for Cowes Week and its accessible sailing opportunities. The lifestyle here is more peaceful and calmer than on the mainland and with 60 miles of coast, beautiful countryside and lots of sunshine – it has a very romantic aura.”

Cowes is a gateway to the island with regular ferry services, taking less than half an hour to get to the mainland. There is a growing number of commuters who live on the island and travel back and forth over the Solent to work in southern England.

“The island is within a couple of hours of London, yet offers a completely different and highly desirable way of life,” added Catherine.

Nautiqua has been designed to appeal to professional couples and families, looking for exclusive, modern houses, and to those searching for a luxurious holiday home in a fabulous setting overlooking the sea.

For the ultimate of ease to residents, and particularly convenient for second homeowners, the private grounds, as well as communal space, will be maintained by an island management company to ensure the highest standards.

To the north and west of Nautiqua lie residential properties and to the east is a public open space. There are a number of schools in the area, including primary and secondary establishments and nearby Cowes town centre offers good amenities, shops, pubs and restaurants.

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