There are definite advantages to purchasing new-build homes, particularly if they’re built by a developer committed to accessibility.

Another consequence of our aging population is that more and more people have started to demand provision for accessibility and facilities suitable for disabled people within their homes. Although existing housing stock can be adapted or converted, the new-build market appears to be moving more enthusiastically towards providing homes with universal design – as well as more specific disability-friendly features.

Disabled people and their carers may not even realise that such developers exist. A report by property website, www.TheHouseShop.com identified as far back as 2015, that one of the major problems was a lack of information about the availability of accessible homes in the mainstream – something that The House Shop and other organisations have begun to specialise in tackling. For instance, you may not even realise that 10% of all new developments are required to be accessible in line with the Government’s ‘Lifetime Standards’ regulations.

Setting the standard for adapted apartment living

A selection of new apartments in south London are being built specifically to meet the needs of wheelchair users.

Fairview New Homes is currently building a collection of one, two and three-bedroom apartments at Venue, off William Booth Road in Anerley, which includes a total of 28 wheelchair adapted properties.

Venue’s accessible properties are all two-bedroom apartments which each include an additional room for charging and storing a powerchair, and a spacious layout with clear turning circles throughout.

The outdoor parts of the development will have shallow gradients, enabling wheelchair access to the garden area, play area and car park.

Design

Main Board Director for Fairview, Jeremy Gee said: “Our development at Anerley has been carefully designed to provide an inclusive and accommodating environment for people who use a wheelchair.

Our adapted apartments will be extremely spacious, with clear access routes across all rooms and lift access to properties which aren’t on the ground floor of the development. Each of the 28 accessible homes at Venue will have its own dedicated car parking space within close proximity to the blocks in which they are located, while the scheme’s shallow gradients will offer easy access to the development’s communal outdoor areas.”

Venue provides excellent accessibility to local amenities, with James Dixon Primary School, Anerley station, a supermarket, petrol station, health facilities and Anerley Town Hall all within easy reach from William Booth Road.

For more information about the wheelchair adapted apartments at Venue, tel: 0808 159 6930 or visit: www.fairview.co.uk

Brighton Beach On Your Doorstep – A new home on the South coast.

Pier Point House, Brighton, is an exciting new development of apartments with a range of wheelchair accessible homes that will be available on a shared ownership basis.

Pier Point House is situated at the junction of Morley Street and Circus Street, near the centre of Brighton. The development will create a new streetscape along Circus Street – a bright and light-filled modern building with varied scales and styles that pays homage to Brighton’s architectural heritage.

Centrally located in the beautiful town of Brighton, Pier Point House is the ideal opportunity to buy a specially designed new home on England’s south coast.

Our homes have been created with practicality and functionality in mind from the beginning. Living spaces, kitchens and bedrooms are designed with plenty of space and all apartments meet the

London GLA’s Wheelchair Accessible Housing Standards. In addition, all our homes feature tasteful modern exteriors, contemporary interiors, and energy-efficient design.

Relaxation

When it comes to entertainment, Brighton has a huge variety of opportunities for fun, leisure and relaxation. Head down to the beach and the Palace Pier for some sun; restore your energy with great food at Franco Manca or Bill’s; check out pubs like The Craft Beer Co and the Pitcher and Piano; catch a show at Komedia or the Theatre Royal; or see a new blockbuster at the Odeon. Attractions nearby include Stanmer Park, Sea Life, the i360 and Brighton’s many museums and art galleries – you’ll never run out of things to do here.

With rail services to Central London taking just over an hour, it is the ideal location for access to both the seaside and the big city – perfect for first-time buyers, singles, couples or young families.

For Further information please call: 0300 100 0309 or visit: www.clarionhg.com/sharedownership

Finding Your Way Home

Properties listed on The House Shop website with disability-friendly features such as level access shower rooms, ground floor bathrooms or adapted kitchens etc are ‘flagged’ enabling buyers to search and find suitable homes for sale. www.thehouseshop.com

Advantages of buying a new-build

There are definite advantages to purchasing new-build properties, particularly if you have specific needs that need to be incorporated into your home. For instance, you may be able to buy ‘off-plan’ and be invited to stipulate the property’s layout and select specific accessible fittings for say, bathroom and kitchen – and when purchasing through specialist developers, you’ll be able to discuss the universal features that are included in the price.

Other advantages of buying new property are that new homes are built to the latest specifications, so it’s highly unlikely you’ll have any problems requiring repairs and so on for a number of years – and that they tend to be more energy efficient – saving you money on fuel bills. Furthermore, new-build homes come with a 10-year National House-Building Council (NHBC) warranty covering structural defects. (Most developers will also provide their own two-year warranty.)

During the purchasing process with a new-build you’ll also benefit from having no upward ‘chain’ to deal with, making things happen much quicker and smoother for you. (If you buy ‘off-plan’ before your property is finished, it could actually be worth more than you paid for it on the day you move in.)

Attempting to turn an outdated property into an accessible home through adaptation can suddenly seem like a lot of trouble in comparison to searching out the right home from the right developer.