A George Wimpey Manchester development in Blackburn is trialling a new initiative where fixed management fees are abolished, with neighbours taking shared responsibility for the upkeep of communal areas instead.
The scheme is being piloted at The Orchard, a George Wimpey development of two, three, five and six bedroom homes on Laburnum Road in the town.
At most new homes developments, buyers agree to pay a management fee to cover the maintenance of shared areas. Usually, this forms part of the contract they sign when buying the house.
At The Orchard however, this obligation has been removed*. Instead, neighbouring properties will cover maintenance costs between them for shared areas as they arise, rather than pay a fixed amount every year.
George Wimpey Manchester sales & marketing director Anthony Mansfield said the move is in response to customer feedback at The Orchard.
“The cost of ongoing maintenance of a new development has to be paid for somewhere down the line, but potential purchasers at The Orchard told us they were strongly opposed to traditional management fees. They wanted a more flexible approach to covering these costs. That’s why we are trialling this new scheme,” he explained.
The pilot scheme is a good example of how the company has been working with the local community to develop the right types of homes and offers for the area.
George Wimpey has been consulting with local people since plans for The Orchard were first introduced. It has held a number of public meetings and has also spoken to many local residents and community groups directly to make sure the new homes that are being built at the development are right for the local community.
Government minister and MP for Blackburn Jack Straw even visited the site earlier this year to hear about the new homes being built and the schemes being put in place to ensure there was something to offer everyone in the area, from first time buyers trying to get their foot on the property ladder to growing families looking for extra rooms.
A fantastic range of properties, quiet residential surroundings and close proximity to Blackburn town centre makes The Orchard a highly appealing proposition for housebuyers. The development’s location in Little Harwood provides the perfect location for families, young couples and professionals alike.
Two bedroom apartments at The Orchard are priced from £47,497. Five bedroom, three storey houses start at just £209,995.
See Also: Property News (6680), The Orchard (2), Blackburn (3), George Wimpey (77), George Wimpey Manchester (7), Laburnum Road (1)
Date Published: 30 October 2009
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