REGISTRATION is open for twelve luxurious homes at significantly discounted prices for those currently on East Lothian Council’s housing waiting list and other first time buyers in the local area.

The innovative project allows people who fall under East Lothian Council’s housing priority ranking system to be in with a chance of purchasing an affordable home built by one of Scotland’s most renowned developers, CALA Homes.
An exclusive sales event is scheduled to take place on Friday 8^th January where applicants will have one final chance to register for the affordable homes initiative, before the closing date on Sunday10^th January.

The properties are set to be sold for up to 43% below market value – meaning savings of up to £85,000 to help those who may otherwise be unable to purchase or move at this time, with costs ranging from £91,694 for a one bedroom apartment to £156,300 for a two bedroom bungalow.

CALA Homes expects the offer to be hugely popular, with the lucky purchasers moving into the Gilsland Mews development in North Berwick as early as the summer of 2016.

The move is the first of its type since East Lothian Council’s January announcement of its intention to work with housing developers to offer discounted properties, predominantly to first time buyers on modest incomes to help them step up onto the open market.

At Gilsland Mews, the homebuilder has agreed to deliver 12 affordable properties alongside the 36 family homes in the main development, which quickly sold out in 2014. The affordable homes will include two-bedroom flats, bungalows, one bedroom cottage flats and three bed semi-detached homes.

Sarah Stanger, Sales and Marketing Director at CALA Homes (East) said: “We have been trying to solve the planning requirement for affordable housing at Gilsland Mews for a long time, so we are naturally delighted it is now coming to fruition and we are encouraging people who fit the criteria to sign up.

“The problems of affordability have been well-documented and those problems are compounded in a town like North Berwick where house prices are above the East Lothian average.

“We believe this affordable homes initiative offers greater variety than the usual social renting option. As well as addressing the needs of families and first time buyers, it is also an appropriate solution for North Berwick.”

Under the new format, the percentage difference between the discounted price of a property and its market value would be secured by a standard security in favour of East Lothian Council. Successful applicants who later want to sell the property would have to do so with a resale value at the same percentage discount – and if no buyer can be found the council would get first refusal to buy the property.

People currently on East Lothian Council’s housing waiting list will be eligible to apply for an affordable home, as long as they can secure a mortgage for the discounted properties, which will be sold on a fixed price basis. Applicants who meet all the criteria will be selected and approved by East Lothian Council.

CALA Homes has started work on the new homes and plans for purchasers to be moving in during summer of 2016.

Derek Lawson, Land Director with CALA Homes (East), added: “The reputation of CALA has been built on the quality of the homes we deliver and that is what these buyers will be getting – complete with the full CALA customer care package.

“This really will be an outstanding opportunity for those who would normally be priced out of buying their first home in North Berwick. We expect it to be a huge success and certainly expect this is a model we will be looking to repeat across East Lothian on future sites.”

CALA Homes is urging people to get in touch now to avoid missing the chance to submit the applications before the closing date. Full details of the development and the eligibility criteria can be found here:

https://www.cala.co.uk/homes-for-sale/east-of-scotland/gilsland-mews or call CALA Sales Advisors Emma Harper and Jannette Mackay on 01620 671 969.

ENDS

For further information visit www.cala.co.uk

-Ends- 

For further media information, please contact:

For further media information, please contact www.holyroodpr.co.uk on 0131 561 2244 or info@holyroodpr.co.uk