Shared Ownership in Sought After Harpenden

Over the last year, a widely reported exodus out of London into commuter hotspots has resulted in a spike in property prices, with the sought after town of Harpenden seeing a sharp increase in home costs. A result, the average deposit to purchase a home in the desirable Hertfordshire town stands at £77,577. Creating much needed affordable housing in the area, Catalyst have launched Roan Place, where buyers can purchase a home with a deposit of just £6,900, more than 10 times less than the average local deposit.

 

A development in high demand, just a handful of one-bedroom apartments remain at Roan Place, providing an opportunity for first time buyers to get on to the ladder in the affluent area.

 

Ideally situated for young professionals and commuters, the homes offer an attractive balance of country and city living. Harpenden High Street is a 12 minute walk from Roan Place, as is Harpenden Train Station, giving residents the option of two buzzing locations, whilst the variety of parkland near the means buyers have the countryside on their doorstep.

 

Surrounded by the sought-after Hertfordshire green space, the well located homes are situated along the edge of Westfield Park, an expansive open park with a children’s play area and basketball court. Directly opposite the homes is an entrance to The Nickey Line, a leafy 7 mile long footpath and cycle way on a former railway line, giving residents a wide variety of countryside walking routes.

 

Continuing the character of this green neighbourhood, Roan Place provides fantastic access to outside space with two communal gardens. Each apartment includes a private balcony, and houses include private gardens, giving each resident their own slice of the outdoors.

 

Steve Pickering, Head of Sales and Marketing (Counties) at Catalyst, comments: “Moving out of London into the Home Counties is a well-trodden path for many families seeking a well-connected neighbourhood with extra space for growing families. However, in the aftermath of the pandemic, it’s no longer just families wanting to make this move – young first time buyers are now making the same jump, perhaps a few years earlier than they would have before.”

 

The one bedroom Shared Ownership apartments available at Roan Place are perfect for younger purchasers. Since we launched earlier in the Autumn, demand has been really strong for the homes here. We’ve had interest from buyers who are still be living at home with mum and dad, seeking a place of their own, as well as those in flat shares or looking to move out of London”

 

Helping first-time buyers get on to the property ladder, Shared Ownership is a Government-backed scheme which allows purchasers to buy a percentage share of the property, and pay rent on the remaining portion. Buyers only require a deposit and mortgage to cover the share they are purchasing, helping those with lower savings and income to buy their first home. As and when they can afford to, buyers can purchase larger shares in their home until they own their home outright, through a process called staircasing.

 

All homes feature symphony linear kitchens and integrated Zanussi appliances including a dishwasher, electric hob, single oven, extractor hood, fridge/freezer and washing machine.

 

Each home also comes with at least one allocated parking spot, so residents can make the most of the local area. For instance, Heartwood Forest is just an 11-minute drive away, whilst the Harpenden High Street is a 3 minute drive from Roan Place, where residents can find Rothamsted Park a 56 Acre green space, with a recently opened gym, theatre and play park.

 

Named one of Britain’s top ten shopping locations**, Harpenden’s local high street is well equipped with a diverse range of shops, restaurants and pubs. Independent vendors, such as B.J. Copestick sit alongside larger retailers like Marks and Spencer and Pizza Express, giving residents a fantastic range of amenities at their disposal. The high street is also home to a wide range of independent pubs and restaurants, all providing a countryside feel for residents to relax in.

 

Harpenden is well-connected with trains into central London taking 26-minutes, whilst for international travel Luton Airport is just 7 miles away.

 

Prices for the remaining homes at Roan Place start from £138,000 for a 40% share of a one bedroom apartment (FMV: £345,000).

 

For more information, visit: catalyst.homes