cambridge property edition october

CAMBRIDGE’S HOTTEST POSTCODE

Brought to you by Cambridge Edition OCTOBER 2013Brought to you by Cambridge Edition OCTOBER 2013

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Property Edition | October 2013 | 3SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

elcome to this month’s Property Edition, your in-depth insight into what’s going on in the local property market. We like

to bring you a good spread of interesting properties each month, and this time we’ve got some real corkers to have a nosey at. There are several converted schools and chapels around Cambridge, and we’ve found one in Fordham, near Newmarket, which is currently in need of an owner. Take a look on page 11.

If you need more space to suit a growing family, have a look at the lovely Manor Farm in Comberton, which offers spacious, versatile accommodation just west of Cambridge. Dating originally from the 17th century, it has been beautifully updated and stands comfortably within gardens of just over an acre. Read more on pages 16-17.

We’ve included our regular ‘Town and Country’ feature, offering two properties of a similar price bracket: one with all the benefits

that a central Cambridge property brings and another a little further out. We tend to think we know which camp we fall into – are you a born city slicker or a country mouse? – but it’s always worth seeing what’s on the other side.

News from the new development front this month concerns the completion of Parkside Place, now ready for its first occupants. The iconic building, which includes the new Cambridge Fire Station, has an unrivalled position overlooking Parker’s Piece and is sure to be filled up in no time.

And just for a bit of fun back in August, Cambridge’s leading estate agents swapped suits and ties for shorts and t-shirts to indulge in a little friendly rivalry at the Bidwells Annual Punting Challenge. If estate agents are known for rivalry on the street, it’s nothing compared to their competitive spirit on the river. Several questionable tactics were employed as the teams fought for the much-coveted title.

We hope you enjoy the issue!

WELCOME

WELCOME TOPROPERTY EDITION

COVER IMAGEThe property on this month's cover is located on High Street, Balsham and is currently on the market for £1.75 million. A smart family home, it benefits from a quiet village location within easy reach of Cambridge and Saffron Walden. For more information or to arrange a viewing, contact Savills on 01223 347147 or visit www.savills.com KEY ACCOUNTS MANAGERGeorge Pearson 01223 499464 [email protected]

JENNIFER SHELTON, FEATURES EDITOR [email protected] 01223 499463

10 | Property Edition | October 2013 SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

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PROPERTY NEWSEdition takes a look at the latest happenings in the buzzing local property market

WORDS JENNIFER SHELTON

The annual Bidwells Punting Challenge saw local estate agents going head to head on the water once again in a bid to be crowned champions. This year the winners were Barker Storey Matthews, having got off to a good start leaving the other punters in a bit of a jam. The carnage continued upstream with many cheating tactics: shoes were stolen, extra paddles were employed – anything to try and gain the 2013 title.

Newcomers Strutt & Parker didn’t give up, resulting in one rather soggy agent who took one for the team and jumped into the River Cam to ‘swim’ the boat to the finish line – anything to avoid finishing in last place!

RIVALRY ON THE RIVER

TOWN & COUNTRY

TOWNHigh Street, TrumpingtonOn the market for £1.75 million, this Georgian property occupies a beautiful south-city location, close to the railway station, the town centre and some highly-regarded schools. It comes with four/five reception rooms, a kitchen and cloakroom, a lower ground-floor sewing room and storage rooms, six potential bedrooms and a potential bathroom.

The house was used by an interior design company and is currently classed as B1 usage (the owner has applied for C3 residential use), but would make a fantastic family home. It has a range of original features, gardens and a double garage. Contact Savills on 01223 347147. www.savills.co.uk

COUNTRYHigh Street, BalshamA ballroom, conservatory and large garden are part of the package with this property in Balsham, around ten miles east of Cambridge. A fine village house in good decorative order, it offers six bedrooms, four reception rooms, a kitchen equipped with an AGA and a beautiful garden of around an acre, including a large lawn and partly-walled garden area. The village has two pubs, a butcher’s shop and small post office/shop, while Saffron Walden is just down the road.

A guide price of £1.75 million is invited – contact Savills on 01223 347147.www.savills.co.uk

Strutt & Parker held their tenth National Open House Day on 28 September, inviting would-be buyers to visit properties across the county.

The last Strutt & Parker Open House Day in spring generated over £80 million worth of offers, while the autumn event saw over 12,200 buyers view more than 670 properties for sale. After the event, Belinda Holmes-Smith from Strutt & Parker said: “Participating in an Open House Day is a great way of placing your property in the best possible position,

with a good chance of serious buyers coming through the door and making offers.” In previous events, the estate agents have found that buyers tend to look at properties that they previously might not have considered.

For buyers who are living increasingly busy lives, the time savings made through seeing that number of houses in one day help them condense their search down considerably. For details of the next event, visit: www.struttandparker.com

Strutt & Parker Open House Day


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We all know Cambridge is an expensive place to house-hunt, but look a little further out and you might find that you get more for your money, with country cottages in particular competing favourably with other regions.

Property consultancy Carter Jonas has just published its Country Index 2013, which looked at the values of cottages in our area (defined as having three bedrooms, detached with a smallish garden and parking).

The research covered the regional reach of 16 residential offices, all of which are in areas traditionally associated with country houses,

whatever their size. Cambridgeshire ranked fifth with an average price of £575,000 – considerably below Oxfordshire which occupied the top spot with the most expensive at £695,000. Hampshire equivalents in the remit of Carter Jonas’ Basingstoke and Winchester offices were at £675,000 and £600,000 respectively.

At the opposite end of the table, Shrewsbury in Shropshire and Bangor in North Wales were ranked 15th and 16th with cottage values at £325,000 and £300,000. Stuart Harris, Carter Jonas partner, said: “Cambridge city centre is definitely a hot spot in the property

market for sure, but those looking for a country cottage lifestyle can seek and find it in locations in the surrounding area for an average price that is much lower than some of the more conventional home county equivalent locations on offer.

“That being said, there is a distinction to be drawn between locations in our county – north and south and even within neighbouring parishes – when it comes to price. Even for those looking for a countryside cottage, access to amenities and transport still counts and this will be reflected in the advised guide price.”

Case studies

COTTAGES

WALNUT COTTAGE IN GREAT WILBRAHAM is a three-bedroom thatched cottage. It has been extended and modernised with contemporary finishes throughout and has enclosed rear gardens. Guide price £325,000.

THE CHAPELA former chapel has come onto the market with Jackson-Stops & Staff, offering a home with unique charm and character. Situated in Fordham, The Chapel offers spacious, sympathetically-converted accommodation, including a light and airy main reception room, divided into a living area with woodburner, dining area and kitchen. There are three bedrooms, including a master bedroom with dressing room and en-suite. A further one-bedroom annexe is also included.

Outside there is a lawn and plenty of driveway parking. The property has a guide price of £399,950 – for more information call 01638 662231. www.jackson-stops.co.uk

Both Lilley Cottage and Walnut Cottage are available for sale through Carter Jonas’ Cambridge office. Contact 01223 368771 www.carterjonas.co.uk

W

£550,000

AM is a three-

£325,000

p0w£399,950

LILLEY COTTAGE IN WITHERSFIELD is a four-bedroom period house close to the village green. It has been sympathetically restored throughout with an enclosed garden with fruit trees. Guide price £550,000.


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et in beautiful gardens of just over an acre in size, this property in Green End, Comberton, would make a

wonderful family home. Manor Farm dates from the mid 17th

century, with later work taking place in 1687, and is Grade II listed. The property has been sympathetically updated in recent years to create a beautiful home with accommodation over three floors, providing plenty of versatility. Downstairs, there is a large drawing room with exposed timbers and an inglenook fireplace, a further dining room, kitchen/breakfast room with AGA range, while

five bedrooms and three en-suites can be found upstairs.

There are also two excellent self-contained studio flats in the attic space, with kitchenette, bathroom and sloping ceilings lending plenty of character.

The meticulously well-kept gardens are a particularly special feature of this picture-perfect property and include sweeping, south-facing lawns, mature trees, an ornamental pond and a paved terrace leading out from the sitting room and dining room. There is also a grass tennis court, a detached outbuilding in the shape of a former coach house and even a four-car garage.

CombertonManor Farm


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Comberton, situated just west of Cambridge, is a well-served Cambridgeshire village with a range of local amenities, including a post office/shop, butcher’s, church, pub, doctors and dentist, as well as a primary school and highly regarded village college. Cambridge and Royston are just down the road, both with mainline rail stations, providing links to London. It also offers good links to the M11.

A guide price of £1.35 million is invited for this charming home.

Contact Bidwells on 01223 841842 or visit www.bidwells.co.uk

£1.35 million

Guide price

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With businesses moving in and a host of gleaming new residential developments, the Station Road area is changing beyond recognition. This month, we survey the city's hottest postcode

t’s safe to assume that most properties within walking distance of a train station will be relatively well sought-after,

and in Cambridge, that’s certainly the case. With Kings Cross just 45 minutes down the line, Cambridge is within easy commuting distance for city workers. Add to that its proximity to top local schools and it’s no wonder CB1 is one of the most popular and valuable postcodes in the city.

The railway area of a city also shoulders a heavy responsibility in creating a good first impression for new arrivals. For most visitors, Cambridge’s reputation precedes it; which is fortunate really as, until recently, the station area has done

little to represent what our city has to offer. In 2011, plans to transform Station Road and surrounding streets were realised as Brookgate set to work on CB1, its 26-acre ‘gateway to the city’. Since then, buildings have been shooting up at a dizzying pace, creating new apartments, offices and student accommodation, in addition to the traditional Victorian terraces.

While this all sounds very futuristic, an eye is being kept on the past, too. One of the most iconic buildings, Spillers Mill, is currently being restored to create apartments in keeping with the character of this former flour mill. Spillers Mill is part of the development now known as Ceres, a residential cluster with a park, piazza and

cafés which is now almost fully occupied, with the Mill set to launch next year.

“The new development brings new life to the CB1 station area, which is our gateway to Cambridge,” says David Bentley, partner at Bidwells and specialist in the New Homes Industry. “Ceres has a vibrant feel to it with its social areas and parks making it an oasis in a bustling part of the city.”

Students are being thought of too, with a £40 million deal to create more student accommodation for Anglia Ruskin University going through.

Widely known as a cycling city, bike culture is a huge part of Cambridge, with more than 50 per cent of Cambridge

CB1


SPOTLIGHT ON

The Ceres development by Hill Residential

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residents using a bike at least once a week, according to Cambridge Cycling Campaign. But anyone who’s attempted to leave their bike at Cambridge Station will know it’s almost impossible to find a space. Model Lily Cole, who had her bike stolen during her time studying at Cambridge University, called the mass of bikes ‘a cesspit of cycles’ – and we’re inclined to agree. Brookgate have proposed an answer in the shape of a brand new 2,900-space cycle park, situated beneath a new 230-bed hotel. It would be the largest cycle park in the UK, costing £2.5 million.

Sven Töpel, chief executive of Brookgate, said: “Receiving planning permission for the cycle park and hotel is great news and takes us a step closer to the delivery of a new Station Square and the major improvements to the transport interchange. The proposals have been well received by the local cycling community and will deliver significant public benefits, supporting our vision of creating an exciting city centre quarter for Cambridge.”

The CB1 area has also received a boost from Tesco Pension Fund, which has agreed a £32 million funding deal for Twenty Two Station Road – Brookgate’s 64,490sq ft office development on, as the name suggests, Station Road. Construction started this summer, aiming for completion in 2015. Jenny Buck at Tesco Pension Investment commented: “This investment is in line with our strategy to purchase well-located, high-quality property assets in growth centres like Cambridge.”

One of the big news stories for CB1 was Microsoft’s acquisition of the six-storey HQ building at 21 Station Road, which now makes up the main base for its entire European Research headquarters. According to Sven, it was a decision that “demonstrates the development’s ability to create an environment capable of meeting the very specific requirements of a world-leading company in the ever-growing technology sector.

“Retaining a firm of this calibre will help Cambridge to strengthen its competitive

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The Ceres development by Hill Residential

The Microsoft Research Centre

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1) CeresSeveral properties are still available at Ceres if you are quick, starting from a two-bedroom apartment at £494,950, and rising to fifth floor, two-bedroom apartments from £529,950.

The £494,950 apartments each offer two bedrooms, a stylish bathroom and an open-plan kitchen/living area. Cycle storage is also available with each one, and car parking is available with certain, selected properties.Contact Bidwells on 01223 841842. www.ceres-cb1.com

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WHAT CAN I GET FOR MY MONEY?

2) Argyle StreetOriginal floorboards, fireplaces and other features give great charm to this two-bedroom property in Argyle Street. Beautifully presented, it has been improved in recent years and offers a living/dining room, kitchen, two bedrooms and a bathroom, plus a Mediterranean-style garden area. Offers in the region of £350,000 are invited. Contact TuckerGardner on 01223 350800.www.tuckergardner.com

3) Warkworth StreetOffers over £900,000 were invited for this ten-bedroom terraced house in Warkworth Street, which was sold recently. Ideally located for the station and city centre, it makes an fantastic investment property. It provides an entrance hall and communal landings with ten individual letting rooms with kitchenettes and communal, refitted bathrooms. It retains some original features and there is a garden and garage outside. Contact Saint Andrews Bureau on 01223 352170.www.sab.co.uk

£900,000

status, and will galvanise regeneration of the city centre.”

There are those who aren’t as enamoured with the transformation, however. Over the past year, residents have been campaigning to save the historic Wilton Terrace from being bulldozed to make way for more offices. Plans would see the Victorian houses, thought to be

the work of the architect who designed Cambridge Corn Exchange, replaced with eight- and nine-storey office blocks.

Author David Jones doesn’t disguise his views in his book, Hideous Cambridge: A City Mutilated, in which he criticises developers across the city for building unaffordable apartments for London commuters and international investors.

Jeremy Newsum, executive trustee of the Grosvenor Estate property portfolio, spoke at a recent seminar to discuss Cambridge’s future. In it, he pointed out that: “If Britain is to succeed in the 21st century, greater Cambridge must be in the vanguard. Most importantly we have to plan for growth and allow for change, using long-term thinking.”

£350,000

SOLD

£494,950

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We may be blessed with a buoyant local market, but selling your home is seldom a smooth ride. Local experts offer some words of wisdom to help you through the process iven the rocketing property market in our area, you can’t blame homeowners thinking of selling their gaff for seeing the

process in fairly simple terms. Pick a price, stick a ‘For Sale’ board up, sit back and wait for the offers to come rolling in. And that’s it, isn’t it? Well, up to a point.

You won’t find local experts disagreeing about the vibrant state of the property landscape. It’s definitely a case of come on in, the market’s lovely. “It’s very good at the moment,” says Ed Meyer, head of residential sales at Savills, Cambridge. “There’s a lack of stock on the market and buyers are there.”

And as Stuart Harris, partner at Carter Jonas confirms, the boom may have its epicentre in our city but it’s one that’s rapidly rippling outwards. “Not very long ago, the Cambridge market was predictably going nicely but it was still sticky in the villages. Now, we’re seeing some improvement with much more fluid movement on properties in areas where, six or eight months ago, it was still pretty slow.”

He stresses, however, that while the market’s buzzing, vendors do, nonetheless, need to do a fair bit of prepping to ensure that they achieve the smoothest possible sale in the quickest possible time.

It starts with getting both your home and your paperwork into shipshape order and ensuring that you’ve got the right team in place, from solicitor or licensed conveyancer to estate agent and, if you need to borrow to finance your next home move, a mortgage lender.

Many mortgages these days are portable, meaning you can transfer them when you move. As Michelle Stevens, business development manager at the Cambridge Building Society explains, it is essential to find your original paperwork early on so you know just what the terms and conditions are, how they might impact

WORDS CHARLOTTE PHILLIPS

SELLING YOUR HOME

A GUIDE TO

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on your next home move, and what you need to consider, particularly if you’re contemplating taking on a bigger loan.

“You also need to understand what your attitude to risk is,” she points out. “It’s no good trotting along and picking yourself a nice tracker product and not really understanding the implications of that. Getting professional advice is important.” It’s all too easy to get caught up in the excitement of finding your dream home, she says, and a reality check helps avoid early onset disappointment. These days, lenders take a careful look not just at would-

be borrowers’ income but their financial outgoings, too. One potential customer, for example, had a horse to support – a delightful pastime but, at £600 a month, an expensive one that substantially affected the amount Michelle and her team were prepared to lend.

“You may be thinking ‘I want to go from a two-bedroom terrace to a four-bedroom detached’, but actually when you go and sit in front of your lender and they assess your financial situation, they may say they can only lend you an extra £40,000 – which isn’t sufficient for you to make the step you want at that point.”

It’s also sensible to think about signing up a solicitor at an early stage. Understandably, some sellers are reluctant to take the plunge – and incur costs – before an offer has been made. The benefits of thinking ahead, however, can be substantial, explains Roslyn Sweeney, director of property law firm Houlden Sweeney which opened in April this year. “Some people come in and see us before they’ve actually agreed a sale because you can start the process early.”

The team know the area inside out – something online firms won’t necessarily be able to offer – and pride themselves on getting to know their clients thoroughly, too.

Getting ahead of the game can work wonders for reducing potential stress levels. Take title deeds. Not everyone knows where theirs are and, in rare instances, some properties may not even be registered with the Land Registry.

Prompt completion of the Property Information Form (the A to Z of a property’s status that covers everything from boundaries to alterations) at an early stage means that potential problems can be ironed out without the risk that they will hold up a sale at the last minute. “We can say that the buyers’ solicitor is going to ask for a copy of this guarantee, this report or that building control document. Getting those prepared early means that you can pre-empt the enquiries that are going to be raised.”

Ed Meyer of Savills is also a fan of advance planning. “The worst thing that can happen when you sell a property is you think ‘we’re getting there, we’re

Ensure that you’ve gotthe right team in place,from solicitor to theestate agent

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getting there’, and at the last minute, all the additional queries rock up on your solicitor’s doorstep and then they’ve got all those questions to ask you.”

He cites a recent vendor whose house had several possible issues, ranging from previous settlement to proximity to a planned development. A bit of intensive advance work meant not just that the sale went through without a last-minute panic but that the buyer’s solicitor didn’t raise a single enquiry. “It’s unheard of,” Ed says.

Paperwork in place, it’s also important to consider the practical issues of maximising property appeal. Estate agents, with their local knowledge and expert eye for what buyers are after, can often be an invaluable asset when it comes to advice that will speed the sale along. Sometimes, they may even advise you to wait a while before putting your home on the market in order to realise a higher price.

“The market has its times of year when it’s optimum for some properties,” says Stuart Harris of Carter Jonas. “If you’ve got a property with really nice gardens, land or grounds generally, it’s fair to say that launching as we’re going into the winter months isn’t always the best thing to do.”

Talking to property experts early on can also avoid extensive and unnecessary refurbishment. Popular though TV property

shows are, they may inspire thoughts of extensive – and expensive – makeovers that are often unnecessary.

“The problem is that all these TV programmes which show the work that can be done to unlock value tend to fuel this obsession we have with doing homes up in order to sell them. It doesn’t always work like that,” says Stuart Harris. It’s often much more sensible to keep any changes on a smaller scale and let your buyers do their own thing when it comes to kitchens and bathrooms. Failure to do so can result in pointless expenditure. The sight of a discarded Smallbone kitchen on a skip – and it does happen – says it all, Stuart Harris reckons.

Instead of going over the top with renovations, focus on making first appearances count, thinks Ed Meyer. Boost greenery outside the front door and make sure weeds in the drive are ruthlessly axed. Inside, he says, “Declutter, give your home a spruce, a paint and a clean and free up the spaces. Just make it look as attractive as you possibly can.”

In short, there’s no doubt that sellers in our area are currently on to a good thing. Planning ahead by signing up your mortgage provider, solicitor and estate agent and listening to their advice can, however, make it an even better one.

Keep any changes on a smaller scale and let buyersdo their own thing with kitchens and bathrooms

1. Appoint a solicitorYou should appoint a solicitor early on and, if possible, before you have agreed a sale. Look for a solicitor who has Conveyancing Quality Scheme Accreditation and remember cheapest isn’t necessarily best There will be lots of forms for you to complete, and these can be sent to you in advance of you agreeing a sale. It’s worth remembering that your solicitor will have regular dealings with local estate agents and can assist you in choosing the right agent to market your property.

2. Locate your title deedsYour title deeds will be required to prepare the draft contract. If you have a mortgage, the deeds may be with your lender or with the solicitor who acted for you when you purchased the property.

3. Organise your paperworkYour solicitor will need a copy of any paperwork relating to works you or your predecessor have undertaken at the property, including planning permissions, building regulations approvals, certificates of compliance for any electrical, plumbing or glazing works, guarantees and warranties.

4. TimescalesDiscuss and agree realistic timescales with your buyer. There is no point in agreeing to exchange contracts within 21 days if you are part of a long chain.

5. RemovalsDon’t book your removals until you are told to. Some removal companies will allow you to make a provisional booking once a completion date has been agreed in principle, however your buyer is not committed to buying your property until contracts have been exchanged.

Property law solicitors Houlden Sweeney offer their top five tips for a

smooth sale

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BOOMTOWN BULLETIN


All the latest from Cambridge’s new property developments

Leckhampton Gardens, a stylish new development for Cambridge, has proved there’s a demand for quality new homes with all four properties being sold within two weeks of going on the market. Agents TuckerGardner knew it was a development that would sell quickly, but were surprised at the number of enquiries.

“We were so inundated with enquiries and interested parties that each one of the four properties was sold over the guide price,” said New Homes sales manager, Oliver Hughes.

Situated in the sought-after Newnham area of Cambridge, Leckhampton Gardens is a flagship project from Identified Developments, designed to bring the advantages of the village and the city to a single location. The scheme features four detached, contemporary three-storey homes, with a gross development value

in excess of £5.5 million. Set in a prime position in a leafy cul-de-sac bordering on college playing fields, it’s just minutes from the heart of the city.

“From the outset we worked closely with our architects to create something really special for this desirable area of Cambridge,” said the director of Identified Developments, Tony De Simone.

Each of these exclusive luxury homes offers around 2,800 square feet (including garage/workshop) of thoughtfully designed living space, leading to enclosed private gardens with background forestry and landscaping.

Steps have also been taken to ensure the homes meet and even exceed today’s stringent green criteria; you’ll even find a number of nature-friendly features including bat boxes and swift boxes.www.identifieddevelopments.com

STYLISH NEW HOMES FOR NEWNHAM

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The development of apartments above the new fire station at Parkside Place is now ready and waiting to welcome new owners. Glenn Howells Architects’ mixed-use development, comprising a community fire station, commercial unit and residential apartments in central Cambridge, is now complete, providing luxury living right in the heart of the city – with Parker’s Piece as an impressive front garden.

Located on the site of the existing Cambridge Fire Station, this development includes four residential buildings, housing 99 luxury apartments and a retail unit, centred on a raised, private courtyard.

The development provides Cambridge with its newest and most prestigious urban architectural addition and is ideally located for easy access to the central colleges, parks and main shopping and entertainment areas.

Parkside Place provides 60% private housing and 40% affordable, with one impressive two-bedroom penthouse apartment, offering some wonderful views.

A contemporary nod to Cambridge’s vernacular, Glenn Howells Architects has used three key materials: buff-coloured pre-cast concrete and stone cladding, complemented by bands of bronze-anodised aluminium that adds a touch of luxury and provides an indication of the quality interiors. Ample glazing allows for all views across the parks and historic rooftops to be maximised.www.parkside-place.com

HOT TO TROT AT PARKSIDE PLACE

Aspirational livingProperties are proving popular at Aspire, the new development in Cherry Hinton by Bloor Homes. Well placed just south of the city boundary, within a thriving community, the development benefits from good, reliable transport connections and lots of nearby amenities.

Distinctly contemporary, the properties are designed for modern life with flexible living spaces, en-suites and two to five bedrooms. Homes are being snapped up fast, however, with just the five-bedroom homes remaining.

Cherry Hinton boasts a leisure club, library, health centre and lots of open space, plus it’s the setting for the annual Cambridge Folk Festival – one of the country’s most celebrated music festivals. For more information on the homes, visit the website. www.bloorhomes.com/developments/aspire

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The mayor of Cambridge, Councillor Paul Saunders, declared the newly installed Silva Park in Great Kneighton open last month.

Silva Park, at Countryside Properties’ new Novo development in Trumpington, is the second of three parks to be completed, adding approximately two acres of parkland on the new homes development. The mayor commented: “Cambridge is experiencing an exciting phase with considerable growth on its boundary. We are privileged to have the opportunity to welcome new people, as well as providing Cambridge residents with something new and exciting. The developments support my council’s vision for a city that is good to live and work in – and where people matter. I am thrilled to see this beautiful green space open for the local and wider community to enjoy in the years to come.”

Jamie Woodrow of Countryside Properties added: “It’s unusual to find a development with so much green space

and it explains why the homes at Novo have been so popular with families.”

Novo, within Great Kneighton, also benefits from a good network of cycle paths to Cambridge city centre, Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the Biomedical Campus, plus the Cambridge Guided Bus is just moments away, which

offers fast and frequent links into the city. A range of two- to four-bedroom properties are available at Novo and three- and four-bed houses have just been released. Prices range from £335,000 to £489,000. For more information call Countryside Properties on 01223 842039. www.novocambridge.com

The Cambridge EffectAs the autumn selling season gets underway, there are a number of new forces in play on the local housing market, according to local property experts.

While not denying that Cambridge’s connectivity to London is still a feature of the market, Carter Jonas believes that many purchasers are attracted to Cambridge for its own sake, with the most canny eager to act in the coming months in light of the summer’s economic data, the city’s attractiveness as a business destination and rising house prices. Stuart Harris, partner and head of residential sales in Carter Jonas’s Cambridge office, explains, “More positive economic news in the UK during the summer portends a

sustainable economic recovery, and we’ve been seeing property investors coming to the fore now in anticipation of more bricks for their bucks.

“Good schools and ‘quality of life’ have always attracted purchasers to Cambridge – whether to nest or invest. But now, in addition to the reputation for academic excellence, the presence of big business in new locations in the city is an added driver in the property market.

“The £330 million investment by AstraZeneca in its new global R&D centre at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus is an example of the kind of ‘Cambridge effect’ which influences the local property market. How can bringing 2,000 jobs to Cambridge not have an effect on the housing market in the city and its necklace of villages and market towns?”

He added: “With Phase VI of the Science Park, £40 million expansion plans for Granta Park and the potential for new, high-quality commercial space that the plans for Cambridge’s second railway station could unlock in the northern fringe of the city, the ‘Cambridge effect’ serves

to reinforce the city’s London connection – both crucial drivers of current and future property prospects here.”

Similar points were expressed at a recent seminar held by Bidwells. In the ‘Cambridge phenomenon’ seminar, experts looked at why Cambridge is such a fast-rising star within the employment, research and housebuilding industry, and what opportunities and challenges this poses for the future of the city. Bidwells believe the ‘Cambridge phenomenon’ is best described by Bill Gates in his foreword to a book published last year: “The concentration of intellectual talent, the spirit of curiosity and the openers to new ideas and the constant infusion of talented young people combine to create a powerful alchemy.”

Jeremy Newsum, executive trustee of the Grosvenor Estate, discussed the city’s future, concluding that: “If Britain is to succeed in the 21st century, greater Cambridge must be in the vanguard. Most importantly we have to plan for growth and allow for change, using long-term thinking.”

Keeping it green

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