At home on the Grange
CARE and consideration for the local community was one of the main reasons for family-owned Bennett Homes being named House Builder Of The Year for the fourth time running in 2016. The National Federation of Builders award judges were particularly impressed by the transformation of an industrial brownfield site into the landscaped 17-home residential development Abbotts Grange at Forncett St Peter, 30 miles south of Norwich, in Norfolk.
Bennett Homes developments are usually a mix of family houses of varying design, plus bungalows suitable for downsizers who prefer to live in a mixed community rather than a retirement village.
And just as with any new-build property these days, the bungalows are far more energy-efficient than older homes of similar sizes so heating bills are much lower.
Similarly, like other new-builds, Bennett Homes properties come with fitted appliances in the kitchen and bathroom so not only are they up-to-date they are also under guarantee. “New homes are thermally efficient as a result of the fabric and insulation – in some cases almost six times more than older style homes – and they generate over 60 per cent fewer CO2 emissions too. These savings will have a significant effect on annual heating costs,” says Bennett Homes managing director Edward Parker.
“To further improve energy efficiency, look out for homes with the latest materials and technology such as Air Source heat pumps and underfloor heating.”
PARKER points out that the new kitchen and appliances mean there is no worry about things breaking down: “That includes heating technology and kitchen appliances,” he says.
“A new home also means no renovations, repairs or DIY. At Bennett Homes, all our properties come with a 10-year National House-Building Council Warranty for extra peace of mind and we can even provide a handyman shortly after moving-in day to carry out all those little jobs that turn a house into a home.”
Safety and security are top of the agenda too.
“New homes are designed to comply with high building standards, including secure double glazed windows, fire resistant materials, circuit breakers and smoke alarms,” says Parker.
Buying new-builds also gives you the chance to choose your own fixtures and fittings and Bennett Homes has a dedicated Customer Choices Centre at its Nowton headquarters near Bury St Edmunds in Norfolk.
Abbotts Grange has a fourbedroom bungalow for sale at £469,995 in Bennett Homes’ Blakeney design and a three-bedroom bungalow for £424,995 in its Boston design.
The Boston bungalow has a master bedroom with a walk-in dressing room and en suite bathroom, as well as another bathroom and separate toilet. There’s a separate utility room next to the kitchen and a dining room with French windows out to the garden, as well as a good-size living room and double garage.
The four-bedroom Blakeney bungalow has similar features but the kitchen and dining room are combined to provide an open-plan living space that opens out on to the garden.
For more information call 01284 766057 or go to bennett-homes.co.uk