First time buyer Clive has it all at Ochre Yards

First time buyer, Clive Allan is toasting a new future as a home-owner, after becoming the first person to be accepted onto an innovative first time buyers’ scheme that puts city living into an affordable package.

The 24 year old trainee surveyor had returned to live with his parents in Ponteland after graduating from the University of Aberdeen, but has since been deemed eligible for Government agency English Partnerships’ First Time Buyer Initiative. Thanks to the scheme, Clive has been able to buy a one bedroom apartment worth £120,000 at Bellway’s Ochre Yards on Gateshead Quays.

The innovative scheme means that first-time buyers can take out a mortgage for a minimum of 50% of the value of the property, the remaining 50% being contributed by the English Partnerships, making the total mortgage costs more affordable. During the first three years there is nothing to pay on the amount the English Partnerships has contributed, and after that, buyers only pay a fee of 1% per annum and to a maximum rate of 3% after a further two years.

Buyers can also reduce the amount payable to English Partnerships at any time by making payments at the prevailing market value enabling them to reduce the Government’s entitlement and take more ownership of the property.

Clive said: “I heard about the First Time Buyer Initiative Bellway was launching with English Partnerships and thought it was an amazing opportunity, as I could not have afforded a property of this calibre in the city centre for at least another 10 years!

“As a student I rented, but after graduation my only option was to move back in with my parents, as I felt renting would have cost me a third of my income and would have simply lined another person’s pockets without letting me save for a deposit.

“The process was really straightforward, I filled in an application form and my income and current circumstances were assessed. When I was contacted to say I had been accepted onto the initiative I was over the moon – I’m now looking forward to moving in and beginning my new city lifestyle.”

Sales manager at Bellway North East, Tracy Jackson, said: “Bellway continues to support this scheme and work with English Partnerships as it’s an unbelievable offer for first-time buyers who are struggling to get on the first rung of the property ladder.”


Ochre Yards is a stunning new development of over 600 new and converted apartments all offering a combination of stylish design and high specification finishes.

Located on the banks of the Tyne overlooking Newcastle and close to the attractions putting Gateshead on the map such as The Sage Gateshead, BALTIC and the Gateshead Millennium Bridge, Ochre Yards is the perfect location to enjoy vibrant city life.

For more information, visit bellway.co.uk.