Discover the benefits of downsizing with Larkfleet's Open Weekend

Larkfleet Homes is holding a special open weekend at its Spinney House development in Yaxley, Cambridgeshire, for those interested in downsizing from their current property.

On Saturday 31 August and Sunday 1 September, Larkfleet staff will be on hand at Spinney House from 10:00 in the morning to 17:00 in the afternoon to give guided tours of the development and talk visitors through the financial and social benefits downsizing can offer. There is no need to book in advance interested visitors are very welcome to just turn up on the day.

Information on Larkfleet's popular assisted move and part exchange options also will be available for potential buyers.

All those who attend the open weekend in Yaxley will get free tickets to a musical event at The Croft, another of Larkfleet?s over 55s developments in Bourne, Lincolnshire, on 14 September. The event will include a Q&A session from music legend Kiki Dee and a musical performance from local Motown and soul band, Motor City Vipers.

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Post sale, Director visit to new homeowners

Larkfleet Homes is continuing to underline its commitment to being a company offering personal service with a promise that every house buyer will get a personal visit from a director of the company within weeks of moving in.

Managing director Karl Hick says: 'We are committed to providing house buyers with great customer service before, during and after their house sale has been completed.'

From identifying which financial assistance schemes homeowners may qualify for and helping buyers find a mortgage, to advising on décor to personalise a new property, Larkfleet's sales teams at its development sites are there to help homebuyers every step of the way.

As the final stage of that process, members of its senior management team visit new homeowners within six weeks of them moving into their new home long after the sale has been completed.

Larkfleet directors personally visit new Larkfleet homeowners in order to establish that they are settling in well and there are no outstanding 'issues' regarding the property.

By doing this, any issues are automatically 'escalated' to the very top of the company and homeowners can rest assured that, in the unlikely event of there being any problems, they will be resolved quickly and efficiently.

Karl commented: 'Larkfleet understands the need for good customer care and going that extra mile after all, buying a new home and the moving-in process that follows is one of the most stressful times in a person's life.

'Our team, from sales advisors on site to directors at the head of company, work together to ensure that the experience is as pleasant and stress-free as possible.

'We are aware that there is a 'settling in' period for many homebuyers where some niggles may come to the forefront. Our director visits add 'that personal touch' and mean that we can ensure that our customers are happy from start to finish and beyond of the buying process.

Larkfleet has several developments across the East of England and East Midlands, including Rutland, Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire that all offer a variety of properties for homebuyers.

Larkfleet's Abbeyfields development in Bourne and its Leighfield Park development in Oakham now offer the government's new Help to Buy scheme which allows homebuyers to potentially own 100 per cent of their new home with just a 75 per cent mortgage and 5 per cent deposit.

With the Help to Buy scheme, after homebuyers have provided a five per cent deposit and obtained a conventional mortgage for just 75 per cent of the purchase price, they will receive an equity loan from the government for the remaining 20 per cent (subject to approval). The equity loan is interest free for five years and can be repaid at any time or on the sale of the home.

The Help to Buy scheme is different to other government schemes as it is not just available to first-time buyers. Current homeowners selling to buy a new home can also benefit from the scheme and there is no cap on household income in order to be eligible. Furthermore, there is no restriction on the number of bedrooms a property may have, so in theory a single person could purchase a four-bedroom property with the Help to Buy scheme.

Pleasecontact a sales advisor on 01778 391550 for more information on how the Help to Buy scheme could help you.

The Homeowners club

The Homeowners club reward

The Homeowners is a reware scheme enables you to get discounts at hundreds of companies throughout the UK. This is just to say thank you for buying a Larkfleet Property!

All members of your family can use this card, just take it along to the outlet where you wish to use it, and present it before payment!

Just what you need after buying a new property!

Restored Manor House to provide perfect setting

Housebuilder Larkfleet Homes is celebrating summertime with a very English afternoon of tea and cakes on Sunday 18 August at The Croft , a lifestyle living development for the over 55s in Bourne, Lincolnshire.

As part of The Croft development, a historic manor house has been restored to its former glory and stylishly refurbished to form a communal ‘hub’ for residents.

All visitors to The Croft between 12:00 and 16:00 on Sunday 18 August will be able to enjoy a complimentary cup of tea or coffee and a choice of delicious cakes in the restored manor house. The lounge and patio areas will provide the ideal location for residents and visitors to enjoy the refreshments.

Although plenty of cakes will be provided by Larkfleet, visitors and residents of The Croft are encouraged to bring along their own homemade efforts as well for others to share and eat. Larkfleet will award small prizes to the best cake bakers.

The manor house has already hosted a variety of activities for residents and local people in its stylish communal facilities. There is a full schedule of community events planned throughout 2013 and homeowners at The Croft are already organising their own community groups and clubs.

Larkfleet managing director Karl Hick said: “We aim to offer a variety of activities and events at The Croft manor house for both residents and visitors. This afternoon tea and cakes event offers the perfect opportunity for visitors to appreciate the community feel of the development and what it offers residents on a daily basis.”

The Croft development consists of 69 one and two-bedroom bungalows and two and three-bedroom chalets arranged around attractively landscaped courtyards.

As The Croft is right in the centre of Bourne, many local amenities including a local supermarket, a doctor’s surgery and a bus stop are only a short walk away, as are many shops and restaurants.

The sales team at The Croft understands that different homebuyers’ financial circumstances are varied so it has developed a range of finance schemes and options which it can tailor to suit individual buyers.

For example, if purchasers need help to sell their existing property, Larkfleet, as part of its ‘assisted move scheme’ will provide valuations for their home from two local estate agents. When the current market value is agreed, Larkfleet then manages the process of selling the existing home, right through to exchange of contracts – including liaising with the agents, advertising and negotiating with prospective purchasers. On completion of the sale of the existing home and the purchase of a new home at The Croft, Larkfleet will also pay the estate agents’ fees.

In addition, on selected plots, homebuyers can agree to pay only a percentage of the purchase price and the remaining amount is then provided as an interest-free equity loan by Larkfleet, only repayable when the property is sold.

And if people want to really get a feel for the quality homes Larkfleet provides, The Croft offers homebuyers the opportunity to ‘try out’ a Larkfleet property for a weekend – or perhaps even longer.

Larkfleet’s ‘try before you buy’ scheme is perfect for those homebuyers who wish to spend a little longer learning about the area and Larkfleet properties. Larkfleet has put together an informative guide on Bourne so that customers staying in the ‘try before you buy’ property at The Croft can take full advantage of the local area.

Bourne is located only 11 miles from the historic town of Stamford, which was recently voted ‘the best place to live in Britain’ by The Sunday Times newspaper. Excellent public transport in the area means that residents in Bourne can easily enjoy Stamford’s mix of ancient and modern architecture, various cultural offerings, independent boutiques and fantastic restaurants and bars – without the top-end property costs that Stamford demands.

The Croft is a joint venture between Larkfleet Homes and Keystone Developments.

Call the sales team on 01778 426995, pop in to the sales office located on North Road in Bourne for more information.

Larkfleet weekend event will offer Rutland homebuyers free advice

Sustainable housebuilder Larkfleet Homes will be offering advice to homebuyers caught in a chain of buyers and sellers during a special weekend on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 July.

Sales advisors will be available all weekend at Larkfleet Homes Leighfield Park development in Oakham to talk to buyers who are looking to purchase a property, but are struggling to sell their current home, about ways to break free of the property chain.

For example, Larkfleet could take a homeowner's existing property in part-exchange for a new Larkfleet home. The company's part exchange scheme not only means that purchasers avoid being part of a chain but also that there are no estate agents? fees for selling their current property.

Karl Hick, Larkfleet's managing director, commented: 'I would urge anyone looking to purchase a property with a home still to sell to visit our Leighfield Park development in Oakham on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 July and find out how our part exchange scheme or other buying options could work for them.'

There will also be a community BBQ for current residents at Leighfield Park on Saturday 20 July. Prospective buyers visiting the site are welcome to attend the event to experience the community feel of the development.

Leighfield Park is the first phase of Oakham Heights, Larkfleet?s major urban expansion of Oakham, located on land between the Oakham bypass and Barleythorpe Road. The development currently offers traditionally-styled three, four and five-bedroom properties with prices starting from just £184,995 for a three-bedroom home.

The development is aimed at families looking for a stylish, traditional home that allows them to enjoy rural life while still benefiting from good transport links to surrounding towns and cities.

All 143 properties at Leighfield Park will have solar PV (photovoltaic) panels fitted as standard so homebuyers can benefit from reduced energy bills and generate an income from selling their excess energy to the grid under the government's Feed in Tariff scheme. The PV panels will produce electricity from daylight, generating useable power even on cloudy days.

Larkfleet provides allotment gardens for residents at Leighfield Park to encourage a sustainable lifestyle and community and also has an electric car charging point on site for resident and public use.

The government's Help to Buy scheme is available at Leighfield Park which allows homebuyers to potentially own 100 per cent of their new home with just a 75 per cent mortgage and 5 per cent deposit.

The Help to Buy scheme is different to other government schemes as it is not just available to first-time buyers. Current homeowners selling to buy a new home can also benefit from the scheme and there is no cap on household income in order to be eligible.

And if people want to really get a feel for the quality homes Larkfleet provides in Oakham, Leighfield Park offers homebuyers the opportunity to 'try out' a fully furnished Larkfleet property for a weekend or perhaps even longer.

Larkfleet's 'try before you buy' scheme is perfect for those homebuyers who wish to spend a little longer learning about the area and Larkfleet properties. Larkfleet has put together an informative guide on Oakham so that customers staying in the 'try before you buy' property at Leighfield Park can take full advantage of the local area.

Oakham is located only 11 miles from the historic town of Stamford, which was recently voted 'the best place to live in Britain' by The Sunday Times newspaper. Excellent public transport in the area means that residents in Oakham can easily enjoy Stamford's mix of ancient and modern architecture, various cultural offerings, independent boutiques and fantastic restaurants and bars as well as all that Oakham has to offer.

For details of the weekend event at Leighfield Park, call 01572 722 262.

We are celebrating Andy Murray's win at Wimbledon!

To celebrate the win at Wimbledon Larkfleet Homes are holding a Strawberries and Cream weekend at The Croft, Bourne! This will be held on Saturday the 13th and Sunday the 14th of July.

Although the tennis has officially ended, the sales team here at The Croft will be serving delicious strawberry's and cream from 12pm to 4pm on both Saturday and Sunday free of charge, as part of Larkfleet's extended Wimbledon Celebrations.

A selection of fun garden games including Giant Jenga and Connect4 and many more will be avaliable for visitors to play.

Residents at The Croft are welcome to bring their friends and family along!

We hope to see you there!

LABC Awards 2013

We have won the award for: 

Best Large Housing Development - Cardinal Close development, Billingborough.

View photos from Larkfleet Homes Leighfield Park housing development!

Below are some picture of the housing development in Leighfield Park, Oakham.

To view more photos of this development and the latest news from Larkfleet Homes, visit there Facebook page.

Leighfield Park house

Just one example of a kitchen

Leighfield Park Allotments

Larkfleet to serve an ace with British Wimbledon winner

Larkfleet Homes hopes to celebrate a British tennis victory with a Wimbledon themed weekend on Saturday and Sunday 13-14 July at The Croft, a lifestyle living development for the over 55s in Bourne, Lincolnshire.

Although the tennis competition officially ends on Sunday 7 July, Larkfleet is hoping a British Wimbledon champion will sustain national tennis fever for one more week at its renovated manor house on the site.

Instead of aces, visitors to The Croft sales office will be served delicious strawberries and cream from 12:00 to 16:00 on both Saturday and Sunday completely free of charge, as part of Larkfleet’s extended Wimbledon celebrations.

To continue the sporting theme, a selection of fun garden games including Giant Jenga and Connect4, as well as croquet, boules and skittles will also be available for visitors to play.

A historic manor house at The Croft has been restored to its former glory and the stylish lounge and patio areas will provide the perfect summer setting for the event.

Residents at The Croft are also welcome to bring friends and family along to join staff and visitors.

Larkfleet managing director Karl Hick said: “We will be rallying behind the British players throughout Wimbledon fortnight but, win or lose, we will be celebrating the spirit of the event at The Croft the following week.

“The manor house forms the ‘hub’ of The Croft development and has already played host to a variety of activities for residents and local people including craft afternoons, wine and cheese tasting sessions and flower arranging classes. This strawberries and cream event will be the perfect opportunity for visitors to appreciate the communal function of the manor house and what it offers residents at The Croft on a daily basis.”

The Croft development consists of 69 one and two-bedroom bungalows and two and three-bedroom chalets arranged around attractively landscaped courtyards.

As The Croft is right in the centre of Bourne, many local amenities including a local supermarket, a doctor’s surgery and a bus stop are only a short walk away, as are many shops and restaurants.

The sales team at The Croft understands that different homebuyers’ financial circumstances are varied so it has developed a range of finance schemes and options which it can tailor to suit individual buyers.

For example, if purchasers need help to sell their existing property, Larkfleet, as part of its ‘assisted move scheme’ will provide valuations for their home from two local estate agents. When the current market value is agreed, Larkfleet then manages the process of selling the existing home, right through to exchange of contracts – including liaising with the agents, advertising and negotiating with prospective purchasers. On completion of the sale of the existing home and the purchase of a new home at The Croft, Larkfleet will also pay the estate agents’ fees.

In addition, on selected plots, homebuyers can agree to pay only a percentage of the purchase price and the remaining amount is then provided as an interest-free equity loan by Larkfleet, only repayable when the property is sold.

And if people want to really get a feel for the quality homes Larkfleet provides, The Croft offers homebuyers the opportunity to ‘try out’ a Larkfleet property for a weekend – or perhaps even longer.

Larkfleet’s ‘try before you buy’ scheme is perfect for those homebuyers who wish to spend a little longer learning about the area and Larkfleet properties. Larkfleet has put together an informative guide on Bourne so that customers staying in the ‘try before you buy’ property at The Croft can take full advantage of the local area.

Bourne is located only 11 miles from the historic town of Stamford, which was recently voted ‘the best place to live in Britain’ by The Sunday Times newspaper. Excellent public transport in the area means that residents in Bourne can easily enjoy Stamford’s mix of ancient and modern architecture, various cultural offerings, independent boutiques and fantastic restaurants and bars – without the top-end property costs that Stamford demands.

The Croft is a joint venture between Larkfleet Homes and Keystone Developments.

Call the sales team on 01778 426995, pop in to the sales office located on North Road in Bourne or visit www.thecroftbourne.co.uk for more information.

Larkfleet to build affordable homes in multi-million pound development

Larkfleet Homes has started work on a £6.8 million project that will see a disused former allotment site transformed into affordable housing for local people.

The site, located on Monarch Avenue in Fletton, Peterborough, will comprise 59 new affordable two and three-bedroom family homes targeted at those struggling to get onto the housing ladder.

Home Group, one of the UK’s largest providers of affordable housing, will offer 29 of the properties for affordable rent and the remaining 30 for shared ownership.

The disused allotment site on Monarch Avenue was formerly owned by Peterborough City Council which has worked closely in partnership with Home Group and Larkfleet Homes to facilitate the development.

The 59 affordable properties will go a long way to meet the need for affordable housing in the Peterborough area. According to a 2012 report by the National Housing Federation, there are around 7,650 households in Peterborough on housing waiting lists. The average cost of a home in the area is £153,426 and the average salary is £19,932. However the salary needed to buy an average home with a 75 per cent mortgage is £32,877.

Karl Hick, managing director of Larkfleet Homes, commented: “Larkfleet is committed to helping local people get onto the housing ladder. This project is making a real contribution to meeting local housing need by providing high-quality homes on land that was surplus to other requirements. It is a demonstration of how a local authority, a housing association and the private sector can work in partnership to benefit local people.”

Jackie Beazley, Home Group project manager, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Larkfleet Homes and Peterborough City Council to increase affordable housing provision in the area.

“As a not for profit housing provider Home Group places great importance on providing high quality homes for people and creating desirable neighbourhoods.”

The development will include four phases and work is expected to be completed by the end of 2014.

House hunting 'Larkfleet style'

Larkfleet Homes has launched a new scheme to enable homebuyers to view its developments in the easiest and most comfortable way possible. As part of the housebuilder’s new ‘chauffeur service’, Larkfleet is offering to collect potential homebuyers from various train stations in the East of England and East Midlands – or in some cases their current home town – and take them on their very own tour of its developments across Lincolnshire, Rutland and Cambridgeshire.

Larkfleet’s own branded vehicle will transport homebuyers to as many sites as they wish – the perfect option for homebuyers who are not familiar with the area but are interested in relocating, or even those who know the area but want a stress-free new home search.

During their chauffeured tours, homebuyers can spend time speaking to sales staff in the different Larkfleet showhomes and learn more about what Larkfleet has to offer at its different developments.

This scheme will significantly reduce the travel costs incurred by homebuyers who would normally visit showhomes in their own vehicles and allows them to enjoy a relaxed, informed and personal viewing experience.

Larkfleet managing director Karl Hick commented: “At Larkfleet, we understand that searching for your next home can be time-consuming – and expensive when travel costs are taken into account! With our chauffeur service, homebuyers can sit back and relax as they get to know the local area and what Larkfleet developments have to offer.

“We believe this chauffeur service sets us apart from other housebuilders in the area and highlights our commitment to quality customer care.”

In addition, if potential homebuyers purchase a Larkfleet property after enjoying its chauffeur service, Larkfleet will reimburse the new homeowners for any additional travel costs (such as train fares).

Larkfleet now offers the government’s new ‘Help to Buy’ scheme on selected developments which allows homebuyers to potentially own 100 per cent of their new home with just a 75 per cent mortgage and 5 per cent deposit.Current homeowners selling to buy a new home can also benefit from the scheme and there is no cap on household income in order to be eligible. Furthermore, there is no restriction on the number of bedrooms a property may have, so in theory a single person could purchase a four-bedroom property with the Help to Buy scheme.

For more details on Larkfleet developments and its chauffeur service, please contact a sales advisor on 01778 391550.

Terms and conditions apply to this promotion.

It's a family affair

When Pat Crabb visited his son Norman who lives near Bourne, Lincolnshire, last year he never guessed that it would result in a 130 mile move north from his home in Clacton-on-Sea to the market town for both himself and his sister Molly Gentry within 12 months.

However, during his trip Pat decided to take a look at The Croft development to see whether it could offer him the new life he sought closer to his son following the loss of his wife.

The Croft is an age exclusive development for the over 55's which is being developed by Larkfleet Homes and Keystone Developments. It comprises 68 one and two-bedroom bungalows and two and three-bedroom chalet-style bungalows set around attractively landscaped courtyards.

Pat immediately 'fell' for the development which 'struck a chord with him from his first visit' to such an extent he never looked at any other developments. Pat returned to Clacton and showed The Croft's brochure to his sister Molly Gentry.

'I wasn't really thinking of moving but when Pat showed me the brochure I really liked the look of the development and thought it would be nice to live near Pat and his son as they are the only family I have, so I decided to make the move too,' explained Molly.

Molly put her existing house up for sale using Larkfleet's Ezy-move scheme, which helps buyers to sell their existing home. The scheme can include providing assistance with getting valuations right through to the exchange of contracts and, on completion of the sale, Larkfleet will also pay the estate agent's fees.

In order to make his own move, Pat used Larkfleet's Ezy-share scheme to buy his new home. 

'The Ezy-share scheme worked really well and meant I was able to buy the property I wanted. It was cost effective, too, as it is an interest free loan, which is only repayable when the property is sold,' added Pat.

The scheme offers buyers the ability to buy a property for typically 85 per cent of the purchase price and then borrow the remaining 15 per cent as an interest-free equity loan from Larkfleet.

Having received an offer for his Clacton home within four weeks, Pat was swiftly able to move into his new one-bedroom 'Browning' style bungalow.

Pat explained: 'The Croft is just right for me, it offers me an ideal location close to my son, as well as the ability to be independent whilst being part of a community.

'The property itself offers me everything I need, as it is well set out and has lots of storage space. This, coupled with the fact that everything is new and therefore requires little upkeep and all the external grounds maintenance is taken care of, means my life is a lot easier now.'

The Croft is built in the grounds of a former manor house and offers residents a secluded and tranquil environment, with no through traffic and a community feel. The former manor house has been fully restored and is now the hub of the development, featuring a residents' lounge, kitchen and library all of which can be used for social events and activities.

 Molly who will move into her property this month (June) added: 'I will definitely be using the manor house facilities, I really enjoy getting out and meeting people. The social aspect of The Croft appealed to me from day one, as it is lovely having the option of mixing with neighbours and the manor has been so well decorated it will be a pleasure to use.

'The addition of a guest suite in the manor house is a further bonus, as it means that even though both Pat and I have brought one-bedroom homes we can still have friends and family to stay, which is very handy.'

Set in the heart of historic Bourne, The Croft offers easy access to the local amenities including the town's bustling centre which has shops, cafes, restaurants and supermarkets, all of which are only a short walk away.

The added convenience of good public transport links means Lincolnshire's gems such as Stamford - recently nominated by The Sunday Times as the best place to live in Britain - are also within easy reach.

'We both really like Stamford and I am sure Pat and I will be making trips there and being able to get there on the bus means we don't need to rely on anyone. It's the ability to do things like that together, while still living apart and independently from each other, which has made this move so appealing for me,' added Molly.

Larkfleet is offering a range of incentive packages at The Croft which can be tailor made to suit the needs of individual buyers, including a £1,000 cash back for buyers who recommend the site to a family member or friend.

So as Molly Gentry moves in, Pat Crabb is able to bank a £1,000 cheque from Larkfleet as a 'thank you' for introducing his sister to The Croft.

For more details on Larkfleet developments, please contact a sales advisor on 01778 391550.

Call the sales team on 01778 426995, pop in to the sales office located on North Road in Bourne for more information.

Treat your dad to wine and cake this Fathers' Day

Larkfleet Homes is providing a special Father’s Day treat for visitors to its sales offices on Sunday 16 June.

To celebrate Father’s Day, visitors who bring their fathers to Larkfleet sales offices in Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire or Rutland can enjoy a very different house hunting experience as cakes and a glass of wine – or tea or coffee – will be available for them to enjoy whilst learning about the development.

Larkfleet managing director Karl Hick said: “The offer is open to sons, daughters and dads of any age – so even fathers who visit with their toddlers can enjoy cake and wine too. And I am sure there will be enough to share with mums and children too – though the wine will be for adults only!”

Larkfleet has properties to suit a variety of needs and also offers a selection of financial incentive schemes for buyers in a range of different circumstances.

For example, Larkfleet’s Ezy-give scheme aims to help young people own their first home by allowing parents, family or friends to pay 20 per cent of the purchase price.

Through the Ezy-give scheme, the homebuyers will have a smaller mortgage and a lower interest rate while the relative or friend lending the money gets a 5 per cent return for five years after the purchase.

Larkfleet is welcoming all homebuyers to its developments to enjoy the Father’s Day refreshments – particularly those whose parents may be thinking of ‘downsizing’ and purchasing an age-exclusive property as well as those who may be interested in taking advantage of its Ezy-give scheme and owning their own house with a little help from their family.

Karl Hick added: “It may be just the right moment to ask mum and dad, while they are enjoying a Father’s Day treat, if they could help you with the purchase of a home like the one they are sitting in!” The Croft, in Bourne, Lincolnshire, developed by Larkfleet Homes and Keystone Developments, and Spinney House in Yaxley, Cambridgeshire, both offer modern and stylish properties for the over 55s.

The Croft consists of 69 one and two-bedroom bungalows and two and three-bedroom chalets arranged around attractively landscaped courtyards. A renovated manor house acts as the ‘hub’ of the development – perfect for housing community activities or hobby groups.

Spinney House has two high-quality, modern one-bedroom apartments left for sale and boasts quiet, attractive grounds complete with outside patio and seating areas.

Larkfleet’s Abbeyfields development is located on the old Co-op site on Spalding Road in Bourne, Lincolnshire, and comprises two and three-bedroom properties with prices starting at just £124,995.

Leighfield Park is the first phase of Oakham Heights, Larkfleet’s major urban expansion of Oakham, located on land between the Oakham bypass and Barleythorpe Road. The development currently offers traditionally-styled three, four and five-bedroom properties starting from £184,995.

The Coppice development – located on the Orchard Field site in Deeping St James – is now in its second phase of development and offers 12 two and three-bedroom properties for sale.

As part of phase two of Glen Grange in Pinchbeck, 29 additional two and three-bedroom homes will be constructed, helping to further meet the need for rural housing – especially for local people looking to purchase their first property.

Solar photovoltatic (PV) panels will be fitted as standard to every property constructed at Glen Grange and Leighfield Park, and to selected properties at Abbeyfields and The Coppice, so homebuyers can benefit from reduced energy bills. The PV panels will produce electricity from daylight, generating useable power even on cloudy days.

Karl Hick said: “Larkfleet has a variety of different properties across its developments – there is something to suit everyone. Our Ezy-give scheme is a great way for parents to help their children onto the housing ladder. Our developments for the over 55s also offer a fantastic opportunity for the people to release equity in their current home and ‘downsize’ – without compromising on the quality of their property or lifestyle.”

Contact Larkfleet on 01778 391550 for more information about its developments.

Sales offices are open from 09:00 until 17:00 daily – apart from Abbeyfields, The Coppice and Leighfield Park which are open until 18:30 on Thursdays.

Retirement living in style

The Croft (Bourne, Lincolnshire) offer exclusive retirement living for the over 55's, set within a secure community with all the freedom you want. There is a manor house situated in the heart of the development, with a residents lounge, kitchen, meeting room, library and a guest suite for visitors are just some of the things this exclusive development offer. Also with the external maintenance and upkeep of your property taken care of you can relax in the communal facilities.

There are frequent transport links to the surrounding areas, and facilities like the shops, restaurants and supermarkets within a short walk of the development.

Contact us now for more information about this development.

Local woman's ten minute phone call

Peterborough-based marketing communications company Metrix Marketing has made a ten minute phone call extremely lucrative for one lucky Oakham resident.

During March and April this year, Metrix carried out some market research that invited people buying and selling houses to talk about their experiences searching for a new home.

The market research, sponsored by Larkfleet Homes, asked homebuyers how easy they found the hunt for their ideal home and what housebuilders could do to improve their offering – from the houses themselves through to the way information is presented on websites.

Everyone who took part in the research had their name entered into a draw and Oakham resident Alison Sharp’s details were drawn from over 100 entries to win the £1,000 prize.

Like all participants, Alison took part in a brief, ten minute telephone call in which she talked to Metrix about her experience of looking for a new home. As an Oakham resident, Alison’s feedback involved a discussion of Larkfleet’s Leighfield Park showhome just outside the town and how impressed she was with the quality of the development and helpful sales team.

Alison said: “I can’t quite believe that I have won! The market research was very easy to take part in and I was happy to give my views to try and help improve the home buying process for others. A ten minute phone call was well worth this fantastic prize!”

Hannah Thomas from Metrix Marketing presented Alison with her prize money at Larkfleet Homes’ Leighfield Park development in Oakham. She said: “I am really pleased to present Alison with her prize money. We valued the views of all our market research participants and the collated information will be very helpful in informing the future design and marketing of new-build homes – benefiting both housebuilders and housebuyers in the future.”

Larkfleet Homes’ Leighfield Park development in Oakham is aimed at families looking for a stylish, traditional home that allows them to enjoy rural life while still benefiting from good transport links to surrounding towns and cities.

The development currently offers traditionally-styled three, four and five-bedroom properties with prices starting from just £184,995 for a three-bedroom property.

All 143 properties at Leighfield Park will have solar PV (photovoltaic) panels fitted as standard so homebuyers can benefit from reduced energy bills. The PV panels will produce electricity from daylight, generating useable power even on cloudy days.

Larkfleet will also provide allotment gardens for residents to encourage a sustainable lifestyle and community. Larkfleet now offers the government’s new ‘Help to Buy’ scheme at its Leighfield Park development. The Help to Buy scheme allows homebuyers to potentially own 100 per cent of their new home with just a 75 per cent mortgage and 5 per cent deposit.

Leighfield Park, located between the Oakham bypass and Barleythorpe Road, is the first phase of Oakham Heights, Larkfleet’s major urban expansion of Oakham.

For further details on Leighfield Park, please call 01572 722 262

Larkfleet and Bourne school provide school lunches

Housebuilder and developer Larkfleet Homes and Bourne Abbey Church of England Primary Academy have worked together to raise funds for a school in Kenya.

Over the recent Easter holidays, Larkfleet organised a special ‘Easter egg hunt’ around its Abbeyfields showhome, located on Spalding Road in Bourne, for all pupils at the local school.

For every pupil that took part in the Easter egg treasure hunt, Larkfleet pledged to make a £2.50 donation to local group Friends of Nyansakia which raises money for an impoverished community in Nyansakia, Kenya.

In total Larkfleet donated £120 to the Friends of Nyansakia which will go directly to the local primary school in Kenya. The donation is enough to provide 48 Kenyan school children with a school dinner for an entire month.

Helen Jones, Larkfleet’s marketing director and governor at the school, presented £120 to Martin McKenna from the Friends of Nyansakia in a special school assembly.

During the assembly, Thomas Lawson, a Year 5 pupil at the Bourne school was selected at random from all Easter egg hunt participants to win a special chocolate prize.

Karl Hick, managing director of Larkfleet Homes, commented: “It has been a pleasure to work with Bourne Abbey Church of England Primary Academy to raise money for the school in Nyansakia. I am delighted with how many pupils took part in the Easter egg hunt and the money raised will go a very long way. Larkfleet looks forward to helping the school raise more funds for the Friends of Nyansakia later in the year.” 

Larkfleet’s Abbeyfields development comprises two and three-bedroom properties with prices starting at just £124,995. The development is ideal for first-time buyers and young growing families looking to invest in a larger home.

Selected properties at Abbeyfields have solar PV (photovoltaic) panels fitted as standard so homebuyers can benefit from reduced energy bills. The PV panels produce electricity from daylight, generating useable power even on cloudy days.

At Abbeyfields, homebuyers can bridge the deposit gap by taking advantage of the government-backed Help to Buy and NewBuy schemes to secure a mortgage with a deposit of as little as five per cent of the purchase price.

Larkfleet has several developments across the East Midlands and East of England including Bourne, Pinchbeck and Deeping (Lincolnshire), Peterborough (Cambridgeshire) and Oakham (Rutland) which offer plenty of choice for those looking to purchase a home.

For more details on Larkfleet developments, pleasecontact a sales advisor on 01778 391550. Terms and conditions apply to any promotions.

'Late night house hunting'

In another sign of confidence returning to the housing market, local housebuilder Larkfleet Homes has extended the opening times of its sales offices at several developments across the East of England and East Midlands.

Larkfleet’s sales offices were previously open from 10:00 to 17:00 each day. However, sales offices will now be open until 18:30 every Thursday – giving potential home buyers more time during the week to talk though their housing needs with sales staff.

The new Thursday opening hours will be especially useful for those who work a ‘nine to five’ day and would not previously have had the opportunity to visit a Larkfleet sales office during the working week.

With sales offices opening until 18:30 once a week, every week, homebuyers can pop in on their way home from work, leaving more time at the weekends to spend time doing things they enjoy.

Larkfleet managing director Karl Hick commented: “At Larkfleet, we try to make the buying process as convenient and stress-free as possible for our customers. We hope that these new opening times will give some added flexibility for people wishing to visit our sales offices. Not everyone wants to spend their precious weekend time house hunting.

“By offering this later opening time on a Thursday, our homebuyers can pop into a sales office during the week, without having to take any time off work – this is especially useful if they are in the middle of the buying process and require some first hand advice or an update from one of our sales teams. The longer opening hours will also help our sales teams keep up with the many enquires they receive on a weekly basis.”

Larkfleet’s Abbeyfields development in Bourne and The Coppice in Deeping St James, as well as its Leighfield Park development in Oakham will now be open until 18:30 on Thursdays.

The government’s new Help to Buy scheme which allows homebuyers to potentially own 100 per cent of their new home with just a 75 per cent mortgage and 5 per cent deposit. is available on properties at Abbeyfields, Leighfield Park and The Coppice.

With the Help to Buy scheme, after homebuyers have provided a five per cent deposit and obtained a conventional mortgage for just 75 per cent of the purchase price, they will receive an equity loan from the government for the remaining 20 per cent (subject to approval). The equity loan is interest free for five years and can be repaid at any time or on the sale of the home.

The Help to Buy scheme is different to other government schemes as it is not just available to first-time buyers. Current homeowners selling to buy a new home can also benefit from the scheme and there is no cap on household income in order to be eligible. Furthermore, there is no restriction on the number of bedrooms a property may have, so in theory a single person could purchase a four-bedroom property with the Help to Buy scheme.

Larkfleet’s Abbeyfields development is located on the old Co-op site on Spalding Road in Bourne, Lincolnshire, and comprises two and three-bedroom properties with prices starting at just £124,995.

Leighfield Park is the first phase of Oakham Heights, Larkfleet’s major urban expansion of Oakham, located on land between the Oakham bypass and Barleythorpe Road. The development currently offers traditionally-styled three, four and five-bedroom properties starting from £184,995.

Larkfleet is providing allotment gardens for residents at Leighfield Park to encourage a sustainable lifestyle and community. An electric car charging unit is also available on site for residents to use.

The Coppice development – located on the Orchard Field site in Deeping St James – offers 12 two and three-bedroom properties for sale.

Solar photovoltatic (PV) panels will be fitted as standard to every property constructed at The Coppice and Leighfield Park, and to selected properties at Abbeyfields, so homebuyers can benefit from reduced energy bills. The PV panels will produce electricity from daylight, generating useable power even on cloudy days.


Terms and conditions apply to the Help to Buy scheme. Please visit the Larkfleet Homes contact a sales advisor on 01778 391550 for more information on how the Help to Buy scheme could help you.

Larkfleet steams into summer

Larkfleet Homesis treating residents at one of its developments in Bourne to an afternoon on the Nene Valley Railway – and sales office visitors can come along too, completely free of charge!
Larkfleet is organising the trip on behalf of residents at The Croft, a lifestyle living development for the over 55s, but has some additional pairs of tickets to offer to any potential homebuyers who visit its sales office before the end of May.

The Nene Valley Railway trip will take place on Thursday 6 June. As part of the trip, visitors can join Larkfleet and The Croft residents for an enjoyable afternoon aboard a historic steam engine whilst learning about the railway’s history and enjoying the picturesque surroundings of the Nene Valley area. Afternoon cream tea will be served aboard the train.

All people have to do to claim their free tickets for the Nene Valley Railway trip is to visit The Croft sales office, located on North Road in Bourne, which is open between 10:00 and 17:00 daily. There are only a limited number of spaces available to non-residents, however, and places will be reserved on a first come, first served basis.

In conjunction with the Nene Valley Railway trip, Larkfleet has also launched its ‘Rawnsley Steaming Summer Deal’ and is offering its Rawnsley housetype – a two-bedroom chalet bungalow – for just £189,995, as well as providing buyers with £5,000 towards extras from it’s Just for You range.

The Just for You range enables homebuyers to make their new home as individual as they are – whether it is alternative taps, extra sockets, fireplaces, carpets, curtains or light fittings. Larkfleet’s donation of £5,000 will get buyers well on their way to personalising a new home.

Karl Hick, managing director of Larkfleet Homes, said: “The Croft offers enjoyable community living that allows residents to embrace their interests and hobbies. We have held many popular community events in the past at The Croft but this trip on the Nene Valley Railway offers something a little different.

“I would urge anyone who is interested in the trip to visit the sales office as soon as they can to take advantage of this free opportunity to enjoy and learn more about the UK’s leading steam engine and locomotive attraction.”

The Croft encourages independent lifestyles and offers modern and stylish properties to suit its residents’ needs.

The development consists of 68 one and two-bedroom bungalows and two and three-bedroom chalets arranged around attractively landscaped courtyards. A renovated historic manor house on site serves as the community ‘hub’ and also houses a two-bedroom apartment.

The Croft is being marketed as not only a place to live but as a community of like-minded people who enjoy a lifestyle full of possibilities. Homeowners at The Croft are able to live the life they want to lead, in a secure environment.

Larkfleet understands that different homebuyers’ financial circumstances are varied so it has developed a range of finance schemes and options which it can tailor to suit individual buyers.

For example, if purchasers need help to sell their existing property, Larkfleet, as part of its ‘assisted move scheme’ will provide valuations for their home from two local estate agents. When the current market value is agreed, Larkfleet then manages the process of selling the existing home, right through to exchange of contracts – including liaising with the agents, advertising and negotiating with prospective purchasers. On completion of the sale of the existing home and the purchase of a new home at The Croft, Larkfleet will also pay the estate agents’ fees.

Some homebuyers need a little extra help in order to buy a property. Larkfleet’s independent financial advisors and solicitors will work with buyers in arranging the purchase in the most economical and tax-efficient way.

In addition, on selected plots at The Croft, homebuyers can agree to pay only a percentage of the purchase price and the remaining amount is then provided as an interest-free equity loan by Larkfleet, only repayable when the property is sold.

Nene Valley Railway is the UK’s leading steam engine and locomotive attraction, based at Peterborough’s Nene Valley Station, and covering the stations of Ferry Meadows, Orton Mere, Yarwell Junction, and Wansford.

Call the sales team on 01778 426995, pop in to the sales office located on North Road in Bourne or visitfor more information on the development or the Nene Valley Railway trip.

Reserve a Larkfleet property in Oakham today

Larkfleet Homes is offering ‘fast track completions’ on selected homes at its Leighfield Park development in Oakham during May.

Larkfleet currently has several properties on the site complete and ‘ready’ for homebuyers to move into. If the properties are reserved now, buyers could be in their new properties by the end of June – just in time for summer!

The Leighfield Park development is aimed at families looking for a stylish, traditional home that allows them to enjoy rural life while still benefiting from good transport links to surrounding towns and cities.

The development currently offers traditionally-styled three, four and five-bedroom properties with prices starting from just £184,995 for a three-bedroom property.

All 143 properties at Leighfield Park will have solar PV (photovoltaic) panels fitted as standard so homebuyers can benefit from reduced energy bills. The PV panels will produce electricity from daylight, generating useable power even on cloudy days. Larkfleet will also provide allotment gardens for residents to encourage a sustainable lifestyle and community.

Larkfleet can not only help homebuyers secure their ideal home sooner than they think, they could also own a new home for less than they imagine as Larkfleet now offers the government’s new ‘Help to Buy’ scheme at its Leighfield Park development.

The Help to Buy scheme allows homebuyers to potentially own 100 per cent of their new home with just a 75 per cent mortgage and 5 per cent deposit.

With the new scheme, after homebuyers have provided a five per cent deposit and obtained a conventional mortgage for just 75 per cent of the purchase price, they will receive an equity loan from the government for the remaining 20 per cent (subject to approval). The equity loan is interest free for five years and can be repaid at any time or on the sale of the home.

The Help to Buy scheme is different to some other government schemes as it is not just available to first-time buyers. Current homeowners selling to buy a new home can also benefit from the scheme and there is no cap on household income in order to be eligible. Furthermore, there is no restriction on the number of bedrooms a property may have, so in theory a single person could purchase a four-bedroom property with the Help to Buy scheme.

Karl Hick, Larkfleet’s managing director, commented: “I would urge anyone looking to purchase a property to visit our Leighfield Park development in Oakham and find out what Larkfleet has to offer. We understand the financial circumstances of our buyers vary so we have several schemes, including the new government Help to Buy scheme, available to assist buyers. Many buyers may discover that they could own their own Larkfleet property much sooner – and for less – than they think.”

Leighfield Park, located between the Oakham bypass and Barleythorpe Road, is the first phase of Oakham Heights, Larkfleet’s major urban expansion of Oakham.

For further details on Leighfield Park, please call 01572 722 262.

The Croft (Bourne Lincolnshire)

The Croft is an age exclusive community development for those who are aged 55 plus.

The Croft offers facilities to those who live there, including within the heart a historic manner house. Residents have access to a lounge , kitchen, meeting room, library, and a guest suite for visitors. There is also an estate manger on site, who is happy to help with any assistance which you require.

There are many local amenities within the local area including a wide variety of shops, restaurants, and a local supermarket. Only a short walk away there is a doctors surgery and a bus stop with regular buses through the town.

The Croft offers a selection of 68 one and two-bedroom bungalows with three bedroom chalet bungalows for those who prefer more space. Click here to view floor plans and information about the properties available to you.

Contact our team to find out how we can help you secure a property, and the help and schemes available to you as a resident.

Homeowners Club

The Homeowners Club is something we've set up as a thank you for buying a Larkfleet Home. We've created a 'Money Saving card' to enable you to receive discounts at hundreds of different companies throughout the UK. As an extra incentive if you recommend a friend to buy a new Larkfleet Home and they buy a home you could receive £1,000 as a thank you (see below for more details). For more details on the card please look at the information below.

Click here to find out more on what the homeowner club offers to you and your family when a Larkfleet home has been purchased.

Terms and conditions apply.

Help to Buy

You can enjoy owning a new Larkfleet property much sooner - and for less than you think - thanks to the government's new 'Help to Buy' scheme.

The Help to Buy scheme could allow you to own 100 per cent of a new Larkfleet home with just a 75 per cent mortgage and 5 per cent deposit!

With the new scheme, after you have provided a 5 per cent deposit and obtained a conventional mortgage for just 75 per cent of the purchase price, you will receive an equity loan from the government for the remaining 20 per cent (subject to approval). The equity loan is interest free for five years. Every year after this, you will be charged interest on the loan starting at 1.75 per cent of the equity loan value in the sixth year. You can repay the equity loan at any time but you must repay it if you sell your home.

The Help to Buy scheme is different to some other government schemes as it is not just available to first-time buyers. Current homeowners selling to buy a new home can also benefit from the scheme and there is no cap on household income in order to be eligible. Furthermore, there is no restriction on the number of bedrooms a property may have, so in theory a single person could purchase a four-bedroom property with the Help to Buy scheme.

Find out how Help to Buy could work for you by calling one of our sales advisors on 01778 391550.

Sustainable building suppliers

Larkfleet Group companies put their money where their mouths were when it came to investing in sustainable energy solutions – and are now making and saving hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels installed by Larkfleet on their own roofs at Larkfleet House in Bourne and Spitfire Park in Market Deeping are significantly exceeding projected returns in terms of electricity generated, energy savings and income generation.

The installations, which include a mix of thin-film and standard PV panels, are generating 12 per cent more electricity than predicted. This means that the companies will save more than £140,000 in electricity bills over the next 25 years while also producing an income of more than £1.25 million from the sale of electricity.

PV panels produce electricity from daylight, generating useable power even on cloudy days.

There are 240 crystalline panels fitted on the roof of builders’ merchant Deepings Building & Plumbing Supplies. Installed by sister company Lark Energy in May 2012, the whole scheme was predicted to generate around 43,600 kWh of electricity annually but has actually produced over 49,000 kWh in its first full year of operation.

The roof at adjacent Kestrel Timber Frameis fitted with 108 thin film PV panels that have generated over 10,300 kWh in their first twelve months of operation.

Jonathan Selwyn, managing director of Lark Energy which is also part of the Larkfleet Group based at Spitfire Park, said:

“The solar installations on our own buildings, and the hundreds we have installed for our commercial customers, are providing firm evidence that renewable energy solutions continue to make great commercial and environmental sense for businesses.

“Although the government has reduced feed in tariffs over the last three years, this has been more than offset by reductions in installation costs and rising energy bills.

“As a result, our commercial customers are achieving a significant return on investment from their installations and we have seen significant growth in our commercial business over the first quarter of this year.”

Lark Energy offers a complete service for large-scale roof-top PV installations on industrial and commercial buildings while Deepings Building & Plumbing Supplies provides a similar service for domestic installations.

In addition to solar PV there are a number of other sustainable energy solutions installed at Spitfire Park including a wind turbine, a ground source heat pump and a rainwater harvesting system.

Deepings Building & Plumbing Supplies director Ian Greenfield said: “We like to gain real operating experience of our products ourselves before offering them to customers. We have been delighted with the performance of the PV installations on our roof which are making a real contribution to cutting our energy costs and CO2 emissions.”

'New Homes better than old'

Karl Hick, managing director of Larkfleet Homes, says home buyers should look beyond the price when thinking about buying a new home – because a newly-built house will be cheaper to run than a previously occupied home. Writing on theEasternNewHomeBuyer blog he says:

“When you are buying a car you have two options – a brand new vehicle or a used one.

“When you are buying a home you have a similar choice – and in many ways, the reasons why you would opt for one rather than the other are similar. A new house comes with a range of benefits. “

However, unlike a car, a new house will cost pretty much the same as a used one. There is no great financial benefit in buying second-hand.”

Among the benefits of buying new, says Karl, are a guarantee, the fact that you won’t need to make repairs to cover ‘wear and tear’ for several years, and a range of schemes to help meet the costs of purchase – including money from the government – which are not available on anything except new-build homes.

In addition, he points out, the running costs are likely to be much lower with a new house than an old one. For example, houses are now built with much higher standards of insulation than they were only a few years ago. Your ‘running costs’ in gas and electricity bills could be £600 per year less with a new home than a used one built in the 1970s.

And with gas and electricity prices rising every year, that £600 saving will go on rising year on year as well.

Then there is the cost of decoration. Karl says: “You may be lucky and move into a second hand home which has been decorated throughout in ways that match your taste. It is much more likely that you will move in and want to start redecorating straight away.

“With a new home you have a ‘blank canvas’ and, with many builders, if you start your discussions early enough – before the house is completed – you can specify everything from paint colours to the choice of kitchen units. Carpets, cookers, kitchen appliances and other fittings (all brand new, of course!) can usually be included in the purchase price.”

Get 'Help to Buy' a new Larkfleet property

With the new scheme, after homebuyers have provided a five per cent deposit and obtained a conventional mortgage for just 75 per cent of the purchase price, they will receive an equity loan from the government for the remaining 20 per cent (subject to approval). The equity loan is interest free for five years and can be repaid at any time or on the sale of the home.

The Help to Buy scheme is different to other government schemes as it is not just available to first-time buyers. Current homeowners selling to buy a new home can also benefit from the scheme and there is no cap on household income in order to be eligible. Furthermore, there is no restriction on the number of bedrooms a property may have, so in theory a single person could purchase a four-bedroom property with the Help to Buy scheme.

Larkfleet managing director Karl Hick commented: “We are delighted to offer the government’s Help to Buy scheme on many of our properties. This furthers our commitment to help first-time buyers, or existing owners simply wanting a new property, to purchase the home of their dreams.

“With Help to Buy, homebuyers can effectively own 100 per cent of a property with just a 75 per cent mortgage and 5 per cent deposit. This will be a great help to many people struggling in the current housing market.”

The government’s Help to Buy scheme is available on properties at Larkfleet’s Abbeyfields development in Bourne (Lincolnshire), its Leighfield Park development in Oakham (Rutland) and The Coppice development in Deeping St James (Lincolnshire).

Larkfleet’s Abbeyfields development is located on the old Co-op site on Spalding Road in Bourne, Lincolnshire, and comprises two and three-bedroom properties with prices starting at just £124,995.

Leighfield Park is the first phase of Oakham Heights, Larkfleet’s major urban expansion of Oakham, located on land between the Oakham bypass and Barleythorpe Road. The development currently offers traditionally-styled three, four and five-bedroom properties starting from £184,995.

Larkfleet is providing allotment gardens for residents at Leighfield Park to encourage a sustainable lifestyle and community. An electric car charging unit is also available on site for residents to use.

The Coppice development – located on the Orchard Field site in Deeping St James – offers 12 two and three-bedroom properties for sale.

Solar photovoltatic (PV) panels will be fitted as standard to every property constructed at The Coppice and Leighfield Park, and to selected properties at Abbeyfields, so homebuyers can benefit from reduced energy bills. The PV panels will produce electricity from daylight, generating useable power even on cloudy days.

Larkfleet also currently offers the government’s NewBuy scheme on some of its developments.

NewBuy is a government-backed ‘mortgage indemnity’ scheme that aims to help people with smaller deposits buy a new-build home. NewBuy allows homebuyers to get a mortgage with a deposit of as little as five per cent of the purchase price. The lenders participating in the scheme will then provide a mortgage of up to 95 per cent of the purchase price if homebuyers meet their qualifying criteria.

Terms and conditions apply to the Help to Buy scheme. Please contact a sales advisor on 01778 391550 for more information on how the Help to Buy scheme could help you.

Uk's largest Solar Farm

The UK’s largest solar farm has been built and successfully connected and commissioned at the site of a former World War II airfield in Leicestershire.
The 34MWp solar project at Wymeswold Airfield was developed by Lark Energy and the landowner Prestwold Estates and was funded and is owned by Hazel Capital.

Consisting of some 130,000 solar panels positioned on land between the old runways, and covering an area of c.150 acres, the project was built in less than 8 weeks and was connected and commissioned before changes in ROCs took place at the end of March 2013.

The airfield is currently being used for a mixture of agricultural, leisure and sporting uses. These include a driving experience operator, which uses a race track running directly through the solar farm development, an HGV training centre, a kite club, and various athletics and equestrian events. None of the current users are affected by the operational solar farm, demonstrating how a solar farm can co-exist successfully with other land uses.

Lark Energy developed the site and worked closely with the Prestwold Estate, Charnwood Borough Council, the local parish councils and the local community in developing its plans and received planning permission at a council planning committee on 8 November 2012.

Hazel Capital financed the construction of the £35 million project and S.A.G. Solarstrom led the construction with the assistance of Lark Energy, Modus Utilities and Prestwold Farm and its local contractors. Western Power Distribution, the distribution network operator, was instrumental in enabling the project to be connected to the electricity network.

The solar farm builds on Lark Energy’s track record of developing and constructing some 60MWp of solar projects over the past two years. The company will shortly start construction on a further 65MWp of consented projects.

Hazel Capital and the funds it manages have financed over 110MW of ground-mounted solar PV projects since 2011.

Jonathan Selwyn, managing director of Lark Energy, commented: “Lark Energy has been delighted to work with the Prestwold Estate and Hazel Capital in developing this unique project. As the largest solar farm in the UK, the project has not been without its challenges, both technical and weather related. It is a testament to the teamwork of the various parties involved in its development and delivery that it was completed and connected on time.

“We are committed to developing a large portfolio of solar projects in the UK over the coming years and see a bright future for this growing industry”.

Edward Packe-Drury-Lowe, estate manager said: “It has been a pleasure working with the team at Lark Energy to develop the site. Prestwold Farms and other local contractors were pleased to work closely with Hazel Capital and SAG Solarstrom to enable the delivery of the project on time and were assisted ably by our land agents Mather Jamie. The solar park will add another diversification to the Prestwold Estate with energy joining food production and leisure”.

Ben Guest, managing partner of Hazel Capital, stated “We are delighted to be involved in this large, first-of-its-kind project in the UK. We believe that larger industrial sites make great locations for solar projects going forward in the UK. I want to thank Edward Packe-Drury-Lowe, Lark Energy, SAG Solarstrom, Western Power Distribution and the Hazel Capital team for their huge effort in getting this project finished on time.”

Housebuilder behind application for Grantham homes

The housebuilder behind plans to build a 1,300-home estate at Manthorpe (just north of Grantham) held an opening ceremony of a renovated manor house at The Croft, a lifestyle living development for the over 55s in Bourne, Lincolnshire. The existing manor house has been restored to its former glory by Larkfleet Homes, part of the Larkfleet Group, as part of The Croft development. Now that refurbishment work is complete, senior members of staff from Larkfleet Homes, development partner Keystone Developments, residents and special guests were invited to the official opening of the historic building.

David Palmer - a regular face on daytime antique shows such as 'Flog It!' and 'Antiques Roadshow' - cut a ribbon to signal the manor house 'officially' open. Karl Hick, managing director of Larkfleet Homes and Bob Walder, CEO of Keystone's parent company Longhurst Group, each delivered a short speech.

Karl Hick said: 'This opening ceremony marks the culmination of months of hard work by Keystone Developments and Larkfleet Homes and I am delighted that the manor house is now officially complete and open for residents to enjoy t
o the full.'

Bob Walder commented: 'Building homes is only part of the equation - building communities is much more important in the long term. The restoration of The Croft will help create a strong community spirit in providing a focal point for residents to meet and get to know each other.'

The manor house has already hosted a variety of free-of-charge activities for residents and local people including craft afternoons, wine and cheese tasting sessions and flower arranging classes. There is a full schedule of community events planned at the manor house throughout 2013 and homeowners are already organising their own community groups and clubs.

The Croft consists of 69 one and two-bedroom bungalows and two and three-bedroom chalets arranged around attractively landscaped courtyards.

Larkfleet has developed a range of finance schemes and options which it can tailor to suit individual buyers.

For example, if purchasers need help to sell their existing property, Larkfleet, as part of its 'assisted move scheme' will provide valuations for their home from two local estate agents. When the current market value is agreed, Larkfleet then manages the process of selling the existing home, right through to exchange of contracts - including liaising with the agents, advertising and negotiating with prospective purchasers. On completion of the sale of the existing home and the purchase of a new home at The Croft, Larkfleet will also pay the estate agents' fees.

In addition, on selected plots at The Croft, homebuyers can agree to pay only a percentage of the purchase price and the remaining amount is then provided as an interest-free equity loan by Larkfleet, only repayable when the property is sold.

The proposed Larkfleet development between Manthorpe estate and Belton Woods golf course was first rejected in January 2011 by South Kesteven District Council's development control committee. The refusal was most recently upheld by Secretary of State Eric Pickles and then the High Court - decisions with which Larkfleet was incredibly disappointed.

The plan for the development itself included a care retirement community and a neighbourhood centre including a primary school and a health care facility as well as shops and a pub or hotel - improving the level and variety of services currently available in the area and for local communities.

Furthermore, Larkfleet recently introduced a new Community Fund scheme which directly benefits the communities where it has developments.

For every house built as a part of a new development, Larkfleet now donates a set sum to the Fund. If Larkfleet was to develop in Manthorpe, this sum would total tens of thousands of pounds.

In instances where the Fund is utilised, Larkfleet is adamant that local people should decide how the money is spent, whether that be on enhancing public open spaces, improving village amenities or providing some other community benefit - the opportunities are endless.

For more information on Larkfleet's developments, call 01778 391550

Antiques celebrity officially opens community 'hub'

Larkfleet Homes and Keystone Developments, held an opening ceremony of a renovated manor house at The Croft, a lifestyle living development for the over 55s in Bourne, Lincolnshire.

The existing manor house has been restored to its former glory as part of The Croft development. Now that refurbishment work is complete, senior members of staff from Keystone Developments and Larkfleet Homes, residents and special guests were invited to the official opening of the historic building.

David Palmer of Batemans Auctioneers in Stamford – and a regular face on daytime antique shows such as ‘Flog It!’ and ‘Antiques Roadshow’ – cut a ribbon to signal the manor house ‘officially’ open.

Karl Hick, managing director of Larkfleet Homes and Bob Walder, CEO of Keystone’s parent company Longhurst Group, each delivered a short speech. Karl Hick said: “This opening ceremony marks the culmination of months of hard work by Keystone Developments and Larkfleet Homes and I am delighted that the manor house is now officially complete and open for residents to enjoy to the full.”

Bob Walder commented: “Building homes is only part of the equation – building communities is much more important in the long term. The restoration of The Croft will help create a strong community spirit in providing a focal point for residents to meet and get to know each other.”

The manor house has already hosted a variety of activities for residents and local people including craft afternoons, wine and cheese tasting sessions and flower arranging classes. There is a full schedule of community events planned at the manor house throughout 2013 and homeowners are already organising their own community groups and clubs.

The Croft development consists of 69 one and two-bedroom bungalows and two and three-bedroom chalets arranged around attractively landscaped courtyards.

As The Croft is right in the centre of Bourne, many local amenities including a local supermarket, a doctor’s surgery and a bus stop are only a short walk away, as are many shops and restaurants.

The sales team at The Croft understands that different homebuyers’ financial circumstances are varied so it has developed a range of finance schemes and options which it can tailor to suit individual buyers.

For example, if purchasers need help to sell their existing property, Larkfleet, as part of its ‘assisted move scheme’ will provide valuations for their home from two local estate agents. When the current market value is agreed, Larkfleet then manages the process of selling the existing home, right through to exchange of contracts – including liaising with the agents, advertising and negotiating with prospective purchasers. On completion of the sale of the existing home and the purchase of a new home at The Croft, Larkfleet will also pay the estate agents’ fees.

In addition, on selected plots, homebuyers can agree to pay only a percentage of the purchase price and the remaining amount is then provided as an interest-free equity loan by Larkfleet, only repayable when the property is sold.

Bourne is located only 11 miles from the historic town of Stamford, which was recently voted ‘the best place to live in Britain’ by The Sunday Times newspaper. Excellent public transport in the area means that residents in Bourne can easily enjoy Stamford’s mix of ancient and modern architecture, various cultural offerings, independent boutiques and fantastic restaurants and bars – without the top-end property costs that Stamford demands.

Call the sales team on 01778 426995, pop in to the sales office located on North Road in Bourne or visit www.thecroftbourne.co.uk for more information.