First time buyers secure a slice of history

Nicholas and Emma Larkins recently purchased their very first home at Royal Clarence Marina, a new development by Berkeley Homes in Portsmouth Harbour.

The couple purchased The South Gatehouse, a bespoke one-bedroom refurbished property, adjacent to the grand ceremonial gates at Flagstaff Green; these historical and imposing gates are the epitome of Regency elegance and they put the development of Royal Clarence Marina in a class of its own. The South Gatehouse is just one home within a cluster of stunning period properties set around a landscaped courtyard, just a moment’s stroll from the peaceful waters’ edge.

Berkeley Homes enabled Nicholas and Emma to put their first foot on the property ladder by making a contribution to the deposit required; a sum of money which otherwise would have prevented them from securing a new home.

The couple had previously been renting a property together in Oxfordshire, but wanted to move closer to Nicholas’ place of work in Gosport as an aircraft engineer. “We realised that we had been throwing our money away on renting, paying someone else’s mortgage and decided it was time to start paying a mortgage of our own” said Nicholas.

After looking at other developments in the area, Nicholas and Emma decided to visit Royal Clarence Marina. “The one-bedroom home we liked was completely finished and ready to move into. The sales team were fantastic, they helped us to ensure that the buying process went smoothly and quickly. We were able to move in just three weeks later!” said Emma.

“Royal Clarence Marina offers us everything we could possibly want; and our family and friends love it. In time the area will be abuzz with new restaurants and being situated close to Gosport’s town centre and Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth there are plenty of shops and amenities on offer,” comments Nicholas.

Combining old with new, Royal Clarence Marina forms part of the regeneration of Portsmouth Harbour and offers a choice of refurbished and contemporary new homes amidst relics of Royal Naval past such as the 19th century Victory and Warrior war ships across the harbour.

Royal Clarence Marina is perfectly situated for access to the surrounding neighbourhoods. The shops and facilities of Gosport are on the doorstep, the harbour ferry or Royal Clarence Marina’s own Water Taxi provides direct access to the shops, restaurants and bars at Gunwharf Quays in approximately four minutes. Portsmouth Harbour railway station, situated next to Gunwharf Quays, is an important transport terminal for the area with a bus interchange, ferry services to Gosport, the Isle of Wight and Europe and a fast railway service to London Waterloo.

Kerry Jordan, Sales Manager comments: “We are delighted with the success of Royal Clarence Marina; the development is really taking shape now. There is an independent late night ferry service operating between our development and Gunwharf Quays so that anyone who wishes to ‘trip the light fantastic’ at the bars, restaurants and clubs on the other side of the water can be sure that they can get home safely!”

Royal Clarence Marina is within close proximity to the M27 which offers accessibility to London via the M3, A3, Southampton airport and Portsmouth and Southampton’s ferry terminals.

Prices for the apartments at Royal Clarence Marina start from £180,000 for a one bedroom mews house, with two and three bedroom apartments also available.

For more information visit the website: Royal-clarence-marina.co.uk.

Information on all Berkeley Homes developments can be found on the website Berkeleyhomes.co.uk.