Buyers queue up to get hands on ‘locals only’ flats
SCORES of people queued for hours in pouring rain to get their hands on ‘locals-only’ flats in the city centre.
A total of 50 off-plan apartments were up for grabs at Crusader Mill in Ancoats – reserved for people who live and work in Manchester.
Developers Capital and Centric want to stop investors siphoning the flats off.
The first 20 ‘locals-only’ units in the renovated Victorian mill were sold last year, and there was such a huge demand that more were released on Saturday.
Josh MacGregor, a 27-year-old pilot, was one of the first to line upin the queue on Chapeltown Street, just before 8am.
The first-time buyer said: “What attracted me to the property was that it’s not open to investors.
“There aren’t really many other flats up for sale and a lot of the newer builds are sold off to foreign investors before they are even built.
“[The developers] also want to make it a community, which is important. There’s more chance of getting to know your neighbours.”
Linda Sinclair, a specs artwork co-ordinator, also queued up along with around 50 others.
The 31-year-old is renting a flat near Victoria Station and is eager to get on the property ladder.
She said: “I have been searching for a flat to buy in Manchester for ages. This was recommended by a friend. I got really excited about it. It’s in a good area, and the flats are spacious. There should be more flats available for people who will actually live here. It’s very rare.”
One of the first people to put a deposit down on a flat, which will available in September next year, was Nam Day, 31, an executive assistant who recently moved up from London. She queued from about 8am, and was beaming from ear to ear after snapping up a spacious £230,000 one-bed flat.
She said: “It’s a good location and I like the idea of there being a good community. [Capital and Centric] are going to hold a lot of events here, so we can get to know our neighbours. I have just come from London, where you often don’t know who your neighbour is. I also love the history of the mill.”
Tim Heatley, one of the founders of Capital and Centric, said the company advertised the flats by posting flyers through the doors of neighbouring properties. He said: “We want to create a vibrant community, who will spend money in the community. You get a much better sense of ownership and stewardship that way. A lot of the developments you see in the city centre are solely for investors. Owner occupiers don’t get a look in.
“In the 12 months since we held the last open day, we thought more developers would follow our lead, but they haven’t.”