The Development of the Retford Town Centre Plan

 

Retford Town Centre Plan

The Retford Town Centre Neighbourhood Planning Group (RTCNPG) recently commenced its wider public consultation phase with a stall at Retford Market on Saturday 18^th September 2021. As part of a planned programme of public appearances and communications, RTCNPG will be appearing on some of the Retford markets on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and Retford Christmas Market, over the next two months. The development of the plan is being managed by the Retford Business Forum.

The Vision for Retford Town Centre is:  

By 2037 Retford will be a safe, healthy, accessible and sustainable town centre, supporting people of all ages, which is proud of its heritage buildings and attractive to businesses as a place to grow and prosper, providing a range of employment sites and premises.

Retford town centre is future facing, the home of people and businesses looking to reduce their carbon footprint. The value of natural assets will be enhanced and extended and investment will create a rich mix of shopping, leisure, sports, health, cultural and social facilities making Retford town centre appealing as a place to live, learn, develop, work and spend quality leisure time. 

The process for constructing a Retford Town Centre Neighbourhood Plan will take place over the next 18 months completing with a referendum. Once adopted, developments within the Neighbourhood Plan Area will need to conform to the plan requirements and supporting activities will be progressed in parallel with the appropriate organisations.  

A website, social media and other communication facilities will be developed over the next three months, as funding becomes available, to enable as many people as possible, with an interest in Retford Town Centre, to be able to take part. 

My suggestion is for any local Retford Town Centre businesses to become a member of the Retford Business Forum and have your say about the way forward.
Visit the Retford Forum website here:

Retford Business Forum

I'm here to help sellers, buyers, landlords, and tenants.

Call me or drop me a message if you think I might be able to help you.

geraldbowers@thegoodea.co.uk

The Good Estate Agent – North Nottinghamshire
Tel: 01777 237310 or 07981 744003

https://www.facebook.com/thegoodestateagentnorthnottinghamshire

 

The Plan for Ordsall South - Why it must be REJECTED

 

One of the biggest issues we face in our country is ensuring that decent housing is available to everyone.  The Government’s proposed reforms to the planning system are designed to address that.

The problem is that while everyone agrees on the need for more housing almost no one agrees where those houses should be built, with so-called NIMBY’S (Not In My Back Yard) getting angry when a development is proposed near where they live.

The new planning bill aims to stop this NIMBY-ism by designating specific areas as ‘growth zones’, or ‘protected’ or as a ‘renewal’ area.

However, the Government does NOT tell local authorities where to build houses. Local councils like Bassetlaw District Council are responsible for making their own plans referred to as a Local Plan.

These Local Plans are drawn up by local government employees (Officers) and in many cases the task is subcontracted out to specialist planning consultants in the private sector.

The ideas for plans are presented to locally elected councillors who then vote on the adoption of these plans. Emphasis is then placed on the ‘Consultation Process’ with the public. Right now the Bassetlaw Local Plan is going through the consultation process.

Part of this local plan is the ‘Plan for Ordsall South’, where the council proposes to allow planning to build 1,250 new dwellings. Yes, 1,250 new builds. That is a lot of new houses. Far too many in one small area.

It is the equivalent of building the villages of Ranskill and Shireoaks and adding them on to the bottom end of Ordsall. (Ranskill currently has 607 houses and Shireoaks 645). Another way of looking at it is to take the villages of Rhodesia, North Leverton, and Walkeringham and placing them next to Ordsall.

That is why I think the plan for Ordsall South must be REJECTED.

We need to adopt a different way of thinking about development here in Bassetlaw. We need what we often refer to as a Paradigm Shift. A complete new way of thinking about something.

The Garden Village

There is some evidence that new thinking is taking place when looking at the proposed Bassetlaw Garden Village. See further details here: https://www.bassetlaw.gov.uk/media/6014/garden-village-eia-november-2020.pdf

This Garden Village is a good idea to build 750 new dwellings.

The plan for Ordsall South should be scrapped and a focus should be placed on the Garden Village Development. Why? Mainly because it will not upset any NIMBY’S. Have a look at the location here to the east of the A1 opposite five lane ends.

More New Villages

I believe we should shift thinking to focus on designing beautiful new villages and settlements.
Here in Bassetlaw we could build something different. We have plenty of open space to build new villages. If we open our minds more we could build:

·       A ‘Starter’ Village – Where we only build houses for first time buyers. This would fit perfectly with the Governments new scheme FIRST HOMES where buyers qualify for 30% or more discount off their first purchase.

·        A Gated Community Village – More bungalows are needed to house the aging population as we all live longer. Elderly residents are already looking to live in a more secure environment.

·        A ‘Self Build’ Village – There are so many who would like the opportunity to build their own house. All they need is a good land plot and the opportunity to do it. In many cases the land plots could be discounted similar to the First Homes scheme.

·         A ‘Parkland' Village – Many home owners looking for their final destination home are happy to downsize to a small manageable home like a mobile cabin or luxury lodge.

You get the idea. Let’s stop building more of the same boring template houses that you see in every town these days. We need to plan and give developers more opportunities to be adventurous with design and build methods.

Think Different

Let's tell developers to stop building houses with garages too small for modern cars to fit inside. Can you believe this is still going on today? Lets make sure developers build houses with delivery hatches built into the side of properties making it easier for delivery providers to deliver goods. Lets build roads that are wide enough for cars to park at the side and still have enough room for easy traffic flow.

Brown Field Site Developments

At the risk of incurring the wrath of those living near the former Cottam Power Station (closed in 2019), If Bassetlaw District Council decide to ignore public opinion, I still maintain this is the ideal alternative site to develop 1,250 or more houses instead of Ordsall South.

What do you think?

I'm here to help sellers, buyers, landlords, and tenants.

Call me or drop me a message if you think I might be able to help you.

geraldbowers@thegoodea.co.uk

The Good Estate Agent – North Nottinghamshire
Tel: 01777 237310 or 07981 744003

https://www.facebook.com/thegoodestateagentnorthnottinghamshire

The Plan for Ordsall South - Have Your Say

Bassetlaw District Council is asking for your comments on the plan for Ordsall South.
The plan includes the development of 1,250 new dwellings.

Residents and businesses in the Ordsall area are being asked to participate in a second public consultation on the Draft Bassetlaw Local Plan, which sets out Bassetlaw District Council’s priorities on housing, employment, regeneration and other development in the district up to the year 2037.

This latest focussed consultation is asking people to share their views on the proposed Ordsall South development following updates to the Local Plan and further proposals from the site promoter. These updates are in response to the significant feedback that the Council received during the November 2020 Local Plan consultation.

What do you think?

Please click on the link below to read more:

https://www.bassetlaw.gov.uk/media-centre/news/latest-news/council-seeks-views-on-local-plan-for-ordsall/

I'm here to help sellers, buyers, landlords, and tenants.

Call me or drop me a message if you think I might be able to help you.

geraldbowers@thegoodea.co.uk

The Good Estate Agent – North Nottinghamshire
Tel: 01777 237310 or 07981 744003

https://www.facebook.com/thegoodestateagentnorthnottinghamshire

TRINITY FIELDS, North Road, Retford - See the houses on offer.

TRINITY FIELDS – North Road, Retford – NEW DEVELOPMENT

Building will start very soon on the site to the west of North Road, Retford.
The developer Avant Homes is offering a range of 3 and 4 bedroom houses with prices from £220,000 to £370,000

See the examples, floor plans and a plan of the whole development here.

Here is the link: https://www.avanthomes.co.uk/find-your-new-home/trinity-fields/

I'm here to help sellers, buyers, landlords, and tenants.

Call me or drop me a message if you think I might be able to help you.

geraldbowers@thegoodea.co.uk

The Good Estate Agent – North Nottinghamshire
Tel: 01777 237310 or 07981 744003

https://www.facebook.com/thegoodestateagentnorthnottinghamshire

Get Ready to Claim a 30% Discount - First Time Buyers

First Homes will be life-changing for people all over the country aspiring to take their first step onto the housing ladder, by providing new homes at a discount of at least 30 percent’

This week the Minister for Housing Christopher Pincher made a statement on the future plans for helping first time buyers to purchase affordable housing. In the statement he discussed the new ‘First Homes’ scheme.

‘First Homes’ is a new initiative from the government and a very interesting way of helping more people get onto the housing ladder.

‘First Homes’ will be new builds. In some instances these homes will be earmarked for military veterans and key workers including teachers, police and others. Local authorities will have powers to decide.

30% Discount

Buyers will be able to secure these new build homes and take advantage of a minimum discount of 30% (Yes, you read that correctly). Again the level of discount will be decided by local authorities.

PLUS the discount will exist in perpetuity, meaning that generations of first-time buyers will be helped. See example below.

The scheme will start with a pilot of 1,500 houses and should be launched before the end of 2021.

An Example:

Market Price £175,000

First Homes discount of 30%

First Home buyer pays £122,500

After a few years when the owner is looking to sell, the new value of their home is say £225,000.

This is allocated to a new first time buyer or prioritised worker by the local authority, and it is sold with a 30% discount for £157,500.

What are First Homes?

• First Homes are flats and houses built on developments up and down the country. They will be no different from other properties except they will be sold with a discount of at least 30 percent.

• They will be sold to local people who want to stay in the community where they live or work but are struggling to purchase a home at market prices.

• They will be prioritised for first-time buyers, serving members and veterans of the Armed Forces, and key workers, such as nurses, police and teachers.

• The discount will be passed on to future buyers when First Homes are resold so more people can be helped onto the ladder.

How will it work?

• First Homes will be sold with a minimum discount of 30 per cent off the market price, but local areas will be able to set a larger discount to ensure the homes are affordable to local people.

• Buyers will purchase First Homes in the usual way and will have access to conventional mortgage products.

• When owners of First Homes decide to move up the ladder, their home will be independently valued. When they sell the home, the discount will be passed on to the new owner with the discount (of at least 30%) applied to the new value.

• This means homes will always be sold below market price and local communities will benefit for generations to come, with local authorities continuing to allocate these homes to first-time buyers and able to prioritise local workers.

• First Homes are for people to live in, so they will not be used as holiday homes or as buy to lets. These are for local people to take their first step onto the ladder.

When will I be able to buy a First Homes property?

The government is working to deliver First Homes as quickly as possible and currently consulting on the final design of the First Homes scheme. Look out for further details.

Helping Generation Rent

This initiative is clearly aimed at the lower or starter end of the property market with a real push to help getting generation rent onto the property ladder.

It will only help if and when we start to speed up the house building programme across the country.

There is a clear demand for first time buyer properties. This is a brave move from the government but clearly demonstrates how they are committed to helping people towards home ownership.

I'm here to help sellers, buyers, landlords, and tenants.

Call me or drop me a message if you think I might be able to help you.

geraldbowers@thegoodea.co.uk

The Good Estate Agent – North Nottinghamshire
Tel: 01777 237310 or 07981 744003

https://www.facebook.com/thegoodestateagentnorthnottinghamshire

First Time Property Buyer? Why you need to act FAST

First time buyer?

2021 has been a good year so far for first time buyers with the re-introduction of 95% mortgages.

Mortgage availability is high and lenders are doing the best to help. The government has re-introduced the help to buy scheme.

So all is good right? NO
The problem now is there isn’t enough supply in the property market to meet demand.

If you are looking to buy right now you must be ready to act very quickly.

Estate Agents know full well that properties coming onto the market at first time buyer prices will be snapped up very quickly.

Some agents are offering just a 3-4 day window of viewing opportunities and asking potential buyers to make an offer in writing by email by a given deadline.

Some first time buyers are actually begging sellers to chose them as the preferred buyer.

Naturally competition is high and many buyers are over bidding the asking price to secure the property they want.

WHAT DO FIRST TME BUYERS NEED TO CONSIDER?

1.    Have you saved enough deposit? If you don’t have the full deposit ready you will not be able to proceed and will lose out to a more savvy first time buyer who has prepared everything in advance.

2.    Do you hold a mortgage offer or mortgage offer in principle?  You MUST have a document showing a mortgage provider has approved you for a mortgage and the document shows the maximum amount they will advance.

3.    The mortgage application process needs to be smooth and quick to process. The advantage of going through a mortgage adviser makes life so much easier.

Remember to make sure you have already spoken to a solicitor or conveyancer.
When you make an offer to buy your first house, don’t set yourself up to be disappointed by not being prepared.

If you are thinking about stepping onto the property ladder or would like a conversation to help you through the process please send me a message.

I'm here to help sellers, buyers, landlords, and tenants.

Call me or drop me a message if you think I might be able to help you.

geraldbowers@thegoodea.co.uk

The Good Estate Agent – North Nottinghamshire
Tel: 01777 237310 or 07981 744003

https://www.facebook.com/thegoodestateagentnorthnottinghamshire

HOUSE SELLERS - Top Tips - Get Your Home Ready for Spring & Summer

 

Looking for some low cost and simple ways to spruce up your home to impress potential buyers? Here are seven tips to help you stand out from the competition

Spring is one of the busiest times for the property market as buyers emerge from the winter lull full of enthusiasm for their search for a new home.

The latest figures suggest the number of buyers looking for properties is healthy at the moment, having picked up following the uncertainty hindering house hunters during the Covid-19 Pandemic.

But sellers who are about to put their home on the market will still be keen to make sure their home stands out from the crowd.

To help you prioritise the items on your pre-viewing ‘to do’ list, here’s a list of top tips to ensure your house creates the right impression.

First impressions

Buyers often decide if they like a property within seconds of arriving, so kerb appeal is vital.

If necessary, spruce up your front door with a lick of paint or buy a new doorknob, brass letterbox or stainless steel house number to add a more welcoming and stylish touch.

Spring cleaning

It will come as no surprise to hear buyers are put off by anything that looks grubby, especially during the season of fresh beginnings.

Giving your house a proper Spring clean will ensure any old winter grime is removed from the property. Deep clean the carpets and make sure curtains and upholstery are dust free.

If you do this before your house is put on the market, the property will look good in the photos taken to promote the property too.

Focus on the kitchen and bathrooms

We all know kitchens and bathrooms can make or break a sale, so it’s important to make sure these rooms are at their best.

In the bathroom hide any unappealing pipework and fix tiling which looks worn. It’s a good idea to tidy away bathroom clutter such as body wash, cleaning products and toilet rolls etc to create a less personal and more minimalist space.

If your kitchen is looking shabby, you don’t need to fork out for a completely new one. Simply replace any worn work surfaces and doors. These changes could totally transform the space

Light

This is one of the easiest things you can do to impress a buyer. Dark spaces can be a turn off to buyers so letting in the light will create a welcoming effect.

Allow the sun to pour in and maximise natural light as much as possible by opening curtains and blinds and giving any dirty windows a scrub before putting your property on the market.

Minimalist Decor

Your taste in decor may not be everyone’s cup of tea and potential buyers must be able to picture themselves living in the space and not feel like an intruder in someone else’s home.

So, it’s a good idea to remove anything conveying too much personality. Keep your decoration simple and colours neutral to offer buyers a blank slate on which to build their own home.

Flowers

It’s very simple, but having fresh flowers on display is an effective way to present your house as well kept.

Flowers also play a vital role in giving rooms a lift and create a clean fragrance to greet a buyer. No matter how well your home is presented, a few simple touches with some neutral flowers will enhance the property’s appeal.

Remove pets

Pets can leave an odour and while their owner may have become immune to this, a buyer will pick up on it immediately.

Therefore, if you have pets, air the property in advance of any viewings, light a freshly-scented candle to mask any lingering smells and consider leaving your pet with a friend or family member for the duration of the viewing. 

I'm here to help sellers, buyers, landlords, and tenants.

Call me or drop me a message if you think I might be able to help you.
Find out more about my special Spring and Summer Promotion.

geraldbowers@thegoodea.co.uk

The Good Estate Agent – North Nottinghamshire
Tel: 01777 237310 or 07981 744003

https://www.facebook.com/thegoodestateagentnorthnottinghamshire