
Senior Members of Dorset Council visited two new communities built by Pennyfarthing Homes, Oakwood Grove and Potters Wood, located in Alderholt and Verwood, on 30th January. The visit provided a hands-on look at the government’s First Homes scheme in action, with Cllr Gill Taylor, Cabinet Member of Health & Housing in attendance, as well as Gary Messenger, Interim Head of Housing at Dorset Council, Cllr Spencer Flowers and Cllr Toni Coombs.
The First Homes scheme is designed to help first-time buyers step onto the property ladder more affordably. Delivered in partnership with local councils, the scheme prioritises key workers, local buyers, households on lower income brackets, and members of the armed forces and their families. First Homes are sold at a minimum 30% discount off their full market value, with the discount remaining in place for the property’s lifetime, ensuring future generations can also benefit. Demonstrating their commitment to the initiative, Pennyfarthing Homes has implemented a total of 31 First Homes in past and current developments and has 83 more planned for the future.
Matt Dukes, Managing Director at Pennyfarthing Homes, who also participated in the tour of the developments, comments: “It was a pleasure to welcome Dorset Council to Oakwood Grove and Potters Wood. We were thrilled to showcase the value of the First Homes scheme and the high quality of properties available to local first-time buyers. As a business that remains firmly committed to the family values on which it was founded back in 1977, Pennyfarthing is delighted to be supporting so many local buyers to take that all-important first step onto the property ladder here in Dorset.”
Gill Taylor, Cabinet Member for Health and Housing said: “It’s challenging to get on the property ladder in Dorset, but First Homes gives people the opportunity to do just that and to live, work and raise their families locally. Prioritising key workers and local residents will help the local economy and retain skills, along with the long-standing connections people have to the area.
“The First Homes model complements other tenures of affordable housing, such as rented and shared ownership homes, and we are fully supportive of increasing the supply of all these tenures.”
Potters Wood is in the charming town of Verwood, surrounded by nature, with the Blashford Lakes nature reserve, Avon Heath country park and Moors Valley country park and forest on the doorstep. Potters Wood has added its own greenery to the area, as part of a beautiful new community of homes, encompassing houses, bungalows and apartments. The latter form part of the First Homes scheme, with both one- and two-bedroom apartments available to purchase at a significant discount for eligible buyers.
Oakwood Grove in Alderholt is also a picturesque Dorset village in a stunning rural setting. Pennyfarthing’s new apartments and houses are surrounded by nature, with the New Forest National Park within easy reach and the Bournemouth coast just 25 minutes away by car. The smart red brickwork and sophisticated grey weatherboarding of the apartments echo the architectural heritage of the local area, while interiors have been designed to provide spacious, open plan living with plenty of natural light. First Home buyers can choose between one- and two-bedroom apartments, with a selection of ground floor properties benefitting from having their own front door.
Visitors to both sites enjoyed the lush greenery and tranquil atmosphere of the new communities. At Oakwood Grove, a tour of the show home displayed the exceptional quality and meticulous attention to detail that define every Pennyfarthing property, while Senior Members of Dorset Council were given an exclusive preview of one of the First Homes set to be completed this week at Potters Wood.
For more information on Oakwood Grove, please call 01425 563 223, visit https://www.pennyfarthinghomes.co.uk/development/oakwood-grove-alderholt/ or email oakwoodgrove@pennyfarthinghomes.co.uk.
For more information on Potters Wood, please call 01202 403 144, visit https://www.pennyfarthinghomes.co.uk/development/potters-wood-verwood-dorset/ or email potterswood@pennyfarthinghomes.co.uk.