'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.”