Shared ownership provides housing solution in Shinfield

Syd and Maureen Taylor, 72 and 59, are the latest couple to buy a new home in Shinfield at the successful Beaufort Grange by Thames Valley Housing. The popularity of these new homes has been high and there are now only four properties remaining, available through the New Build HomeBuy part-buy, part-rent government-led initiative.

Syd and Maureen bought their new apartment at Beaufort Grange to live near their young family. Their old house in Derbyshire had been on the market for over a year and during this time they were living with their daughter in Shinfield, but the house wasn’t big enough for everyone. They realised they needed their own base close by so they could be on call whenever needed.

Maureen comments: “We had never been able to consider buying a new home closer to Reading because property prices get more and more expensive as you travel south from Derbyshire. We simply couldn’t afford to move out of our daughter’s house and into our own home nearby, even though we needed to be in the area to help my daughter with our two grandchildren.”

However, after a little research on the internet, Syd and Maureen found out about shared ownership through Thames Valley Housing and discovered they could actually afford a home close to Reading. They have now been able to buy a 45% share in their two-bedroom ground-floor apartment at Beaufort Grange in Shinfield, which is down the road from their daughter’s house and near a number of parks and playgrounds in the area to take their grandchildren to.

Syd, a retired pharmacy delivery driver, adds: “Beaufort Grange is perfect for us, as we are close to the centre of Reading and can easily travel into London or the south coast. The surrounding area is beautiful and we really enjoy taking walks in the countryside, either just us two or with the grandchildren.”

“The Thames Valley team have been very helpful throughout the whole process and we are really looking forward to moving into our new home. It will make the world of difference to the whole family to be so close to each other, but not on top of each other, and we can even have the little ones to sleep over in our second bedroom to really give their parents a well-earned rest,” concludes Syd.

All apartments at Beaufort Grange have a contemporary open plan kitchen with an integrated fridge-freezer and washer-dryer, modern bathroom suites, and carpet and flooring throughout. Each home has allocated parking.

Shinfield is a popular village, close to the historic town of Wokingham and metropolitan Reading. Beaufort Grange, situated on the leafy outskirts of Shinfield, offers good connections for road commuters, with access via the A329 and A33 and Junction 11 of the M4 motorway. Heathrow airport and the M25 are only 40 minutes away along the M4.

Reading, less than 15 minutes’ drive from Shinfield, is a vibrant town with excellent shopping, restaurants and sports facilities. There is also a 20-screen cinema and the popular Hexagon theatre, as well as the home of Reading football, the Madjeski Stadium.

Prices at Beaufort Grange start from £63,000 for a 45% share in a one-bedroom apartment priced at £140,000.

Following the success of Beaufort Grange, Thames Valley Housing has launched more new homes at Chatsworth Gate in nearby Winnersh, also in the borough of Wokingham. With just 11 spacious two-bedroom apartments in the centre of the village, Thames Valley Housing expects these homes to sell quickly.

Niki Turner, Assistant Director (Sales & Marketing) at Thames Valley Housing, comments: “Following the success of Beaufort Grange, it is great to be working with the local council on another project to provide residents of Wokingham the chance to buy a new home affordably at Chatsworth Gate. Buying property in the areas surrounding Reading can be expensive, especially for first time buyers, so we are aiming to help people onto the property ladder and into spacious, high quality homes”.

Prices at Chatsworth Gate start from £86,625 for a 45% share in a two-bedroom apartment priced at £192,500.

The new homes at Beaufort Grange and Chatsworth Gate are available through the New Build HomeBuy part-buy, part-rent government-led initiative, aimed at helping first time buyers, and those looking for help to buy their own home, get on the property ladder. To apply for this scheme, purchasers need to have an annual household income of between £18,000 and £60,000. Priority will be given to those living in the Wokingham local authority.