Lida Cucina appointed Contract Agent and retail distributor for hand-built kitchen manufacturer Charles Yorke

by Sophie Evans United Kingdom Lida Cucina

Lida Cucina is pleased to announce that it has been appointed by luxury kitchen manufacturer, Charles Yorke Ltd to fulfil the role of contracts division for the southern half of the UK.

Enquiries from house builders and property developers will be passed to Lida Cucina where they will be handled with the care and dedication for which Lida Cucina is renowned.

Charles Yorke Ltd creates beautiful furniture by combining traditional cabinet making techniques, with state of the art technology and the finest hand selected materials. A wide variety of material and finishes are available including traditional hand painted, combined with glass, leather and sustainably sourced timbers.

For many years Lida Cucina has been successfully designing and installing the finest contemporary Italian kitchens from its own “Tailor Made Collection”. The company can now announce that it has recently expanded its range to include hand-built kitchens by expert English manufacturer Charles Yorke.

This traditional range enables Lida Cucina to offer handcrafted kitchens to those clients who prefer a more classic look. The company’s “Tailor Made (Modern) Collection” already offers one of the widest ranges of profiles and doors currently available, and the addition of a traditional option enables Lida Cucina to create timeless and elegant kitchens in specially selected timber and hand-painted finishes.

“It is also with great pride that I can reveal the “Kensington” kitchen which is completely exclusive to Lida Cucina. Designed by one of our top designers, and manufactured by Charles Yorke, it can only be seen in our Berkshire Showroom.

This beautiful, timeless and classic kitchen with a hint of contemporary styling is suitable both for modern or traditional settings, and is available with two door variations and in a wide selection of timbers and hand painted finishes.

Our teams of expert designers are renowned for their attention to detail and for creating personalised kitchens and fitted furniture tailored to the lifestyle of their clients – whether traditional or modern. We look forward to continued success with this exciting collaboration between Lida Cucina and Charles Yorke.”

John Harvey, Managing Director, Lida Cucina

For more information and high-resolution digital imagery, please contact

Sandra Hendry at Lida Cucina

Tel:0118 924 1608

Email: sandra@lidacucina.co.uk

Birmingham property market ahead of the Capital as demand outweighs supply by 15 to 1

by Sophie Evans United Kingdom Surrenden Invest

Birmingham ranked higher than London in relation to house price growth (Knight Frank)
In Birmingham we have experienced an increasing level of interest, approximately 15 buyers to every unit (Surrenden Invest)
New “B5” development on Birmingham’s Southside offers highly sought after B1 postcode (Surrenden Invest)

With the new tax year now in full swing many B2L investors will be reassessing their portfolios and future residential offerings in relation to the government’s removal of financial relief.

How much of an impact this will have on the UK’s property market is yet to be determined. However, many cities across the country are still providing investors with enticing opportunities, sure to encourage a positive year for the market.

And currently it’s the UK’s regional cities with the most to offer. According to Knight Frank’s most recent Global Residential Cities Index, both Birmingham and Manchester are ranked higher than London in relation to house price growth.

Jonathan Stephens, Managing Director of property consultancy Surrenden Invest, is confident that the introduction of the government’s tax changes will not dampen the growing positivity surrounding the UK’s regional property market. He explains,

“Whilst there may be a slight sense of uncertainty surrounding the B2L market as these tax changes are introduced, we expect them to deter only a minimal amount of investors, with the majority of the market continuing as normal. We have just launched a number of exciting projects that will appeal to great deal of investors and ensure a consistent growth within the market.

“In Birmingham alone we have experienced an increasing level of interest, with approximately 15 buyers to every unit available. And this demand does not look set to falter anytime soon. Birmingham is benefiting from substantial investment in infrastructure and development and extensive job creation as many businesses move to the city. We would expect demand to continue on a positive trajectory, especially in prime, central locations in both Birmingham and Manchester.”

Surrenden Invest’s most recent addition to the Birmingham market is the contemporary “B5” development on the city’s Southside, boasting the sought after B1 postcode. This area attracts a wealth of young families, professionals and tourists who are all keen to experience its creative and urban atmosphere.

The iconic Bull Ring Shopping Centre is just a couple of minutes’ walk away and with New Street station only a 5 minute walk away, “B5” offers an excellent living opportunity to a growing rental market. With prices starting from just £155,000, all 100 apartments have been specifically designed for the shared rental market and will include features such as video entry access control, custom built kitchens and hard wood flooring.

For more information, visit www.surrendeninvest.com or contact Surrenden Invest on 0203 3726 499.

easyMarkets releases brand new trading app

by Charly United Kingdom World easyMarkets

Industry pioneer easyMarkets have launched their brand-new trading app, a unique, free to download mobile app, based on their award-winning web-platform.

“We have come full circle from launching the world’s first web-based trading platform in 2001 to entering today’s fast paced era with the launch of our trading app. This is as always, another investment in our traders’ best interest and it is specifically designed to make their trading experience easier and integrated in their every-day lives.”

Nikos Antoniades, CEO, easyMarkets

The app promises to be fast, simple and easy – a tagline which carries the promise easyMarkets made to traders and kept for nearly two decades. Even prior to an official launch, the app has been very well received by 6000 active users.

“The easyMarkets mobile application was developed natively for both Android and iOS to maximize its responsiveness and provide our users with the best possible look and feel.

“It supports a broad range of functionality beyond trading, pricing and market news. Funding, withdrawing and reporting, enable the user to enjoy the complete easyMarkets experience on their mobile device. The new easyMarkets app is able to fully replace the desktop experience for its users.”

Alexander St Louis, CIO, easyMarkets

What sets this app apart from other trading apps is its ability to visually and contextually organize features in the most straightforward way. Traders are equipped with several market analysis and risk management tools as they make buy and sell decisions. They can also use easyMarkets’ unique trading tool, dealCancellation*, which for a fee, allows them to undo any losing trade within 60 minutes.

In a time of unparalleled demand for access to information through push notifications, the easyMarkets app taps into that need by providing traders with the ability to enable price notifications and receive around-the-clock alerts about the moves, highs and lows of trading assets.

Among many great features, the app provides graphs, live market news, a financial calendar and easyMarkets’ Inside Viewer which shows the direction fellow easyMarkets’ traders are favoring on a chosen asset.

Several upgrades are in the works which will allow further personalization based on trader preference, and continuous enhancement of user experience.

The easyMarkets trading app is available for download on iOS and Android, in English and Chinese and will soon become available in other languages.

For further details, visit www.easymarkets.com, email pr@easymarkets.com or call +44 203 1500 748.

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Risk Warning: Forward Rate Agreements, Options and CFDs (OTC Trading) are leveraged products that carry a substantial risk of loss up to your invested capital and may not be suitable for everyone. Please ensure that you fully understand the risks involved and do not invest money you cannot afford to lose. Please refer to our full risk disclaimer. EF Worldwide Ltd

Homes in bloom – RHS Chelsea Flower Show’s influence on this summer’s essential interior design trends

by Charly United Kingdom Alexander James Interior Design

The plant world is the true winner at Chelsea each year (Clifford Stanley Landscape Contractors)
Nature is the big interior design trend this summer (Alexander James Interior Design)
Greenery is 2017’s colour of the year (Pantone)

The most exciting event of the gardening calendar, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, is set to take place on 23-27 May 2017. This year’s show is seeking to be “the best gardening event in the world,” according to RHS Director of Shows Nick Mattingley.

It’s a lofty goal, but one that is also realistic. The Chelsea Flower Show inspires millions every year and influences everything from bouquet trends to interior design.

“The Chelsea Flower Show is where high street fashion meets ‘haute couture’ in the natural world. Conscientious traditional horticulturalists battle it out with contemporary modernists to see who will bag the glory. Regardless of who takes home Gold, Silver or Bronze, the plant world is always the true winner at Chelsea each year. The clipped box edged borders, evergreen backdrops and roses growing up through aromatic lavender give a delicious and sumptuous effect that can’t help but inspire.”

Clifford Stanley, RHS Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medal Winner, Clifford Stanley Landscape Contractors

The inspirational blooms and scents of the Chelsea Show won’t only appear in people’s homes via their TV screens this year. Interior designer Stacey Sibley has worked alongside Clifford on a number of key projects for Alexander James Interior Design. While Clifford takes care of exterior elements, Stacey has identified the influences of nature as the big interiors trend this summer.

Finishes, colours and textures all hark back to nature, along with dramatic floral prints and, of course, huge vases of stunning blooms.

‘Greenery’ is Pantone’s colour of the year for 2017, resulting in plenty of green in the interior world. Designers are also poised and ready to absorb the most beautiful elements of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show into their creative vision as the spring turns into summer, with interior design reflecting the best that the RHS show has to offer.

“Even a home in the busiest of cities can offer an oasis of peace with the right interior. The reflection of nature in art, colour schemes and decorative touches can instantly change the whole mood of a room. This summer, nature-inspired prints, such as the close-up Dahlia petals featured at the Trowbridge Gallery, are a wonderful way to bring the outdoors indoors for maximum effect. And when it comes to colours and textures, think stone, wood and greenery in abundance.”

Stacey Sibley, Creative Director, Alexander James Interior Design

Those lacking the green fingers to compete at Chelsea – or even to keep a guzmania alive – need not despair. Stacey recommends faux plants and silk flowers for capturing the essence of nature without the risk of browning leaves and wilted blooms. John Lewis has an extremely well-priced collection at present, including some delightful metallic pots, which Alexander James’ Stacey Sibley has flagged as another of this summer’s top trends.

“The natural world brings with it a sense of calm and sanctuary, and the Chelsea Flower Show is a wonderful reminder of that. As our daily lives seem ever busier, bringing nature into the home is a wonderful way to fight the stress of modern life and appreciate the beauty of the world around us.”

Stacey Sibley, Creative Director, Alexander James Interior Design

For more information, visit Alexander James Interior Design at www.aji.co.uk, email info@aji.co.uk or call 020 7887 7604.

UK versus Europe – where to invest as Brexit unfolds

by Charly United Kingdom Aspen Woolf, easyMarkets, Kyero.com, Properties of the World

Currency fluctuations put volatility at the heart of many sectors (easyMarkets)
UK property investment offers exciting opportunities in new sectors (Properties of the World)
Spanish property investment provides long term lifestyle benefits (Kyero.com)
UK’s fundamental shortage of housing unaffected by Brexit (Aspen Woolf)

The UK will be very publicly facing off against the EU over the coming two years. Whether you voted for or against the split, the political and financial implications of the UK’s decision to leave the EU are huge. Now, Prime Minister Theresa May has called a snap election called for 8 June, in order for the Conservatives to take advantage of their largest lead in the polls over Labour in nine years (according to YouGov). Sterling’s turbulent journey since the Leave vote doesn’t look set to enter calmer waters anytime soon.

“Sterling will be one of the most responsive barometers to the political machinations of the Brexit process. While many sectors will be affected by the UK leaving the EU, few react in real-time in quite the same way that currency markets do. The impact of changes in the pound’s value is felt in myriad ways, putting volatility at the heart of many sectors over the coming years.”

James Trescothick, Chief Global Strategist, easyMarkets

Property investment is certainly one sector that is sensitive to sterling’s shifting value. So should buyers be looking to pick up property in the UK right now, or investing their funds elsewhere? Sector experts’ opinions are divided.

“Those buying in pounds may find their second home overseas is suddenly worth a great deal more – or less – as the pound and the euro dance around each other. The same is true of the pound and the dollar, with the US experiencing its own unique style of political upheaval right now. UK buyers seeking stability from their investment might find it prudent to seek out domestic property investment opportunities over the next couple of years.”

Jean Liggett, CEO of visionary property investment consultancy Properties of the World

Liggett points out that domestic property investment still offers a wide range of opportunities. The UK’s hotel and care home sectors are offering some of the most exciting property investment possibilities at present.

While UK hotel investments often come with the benefit of two or more weeks’ use per year, many investors want a property that comes with the promise of sunshine, and continue to look overseas to make their money work for them.

“The fact that investors can pick up a property in Spain, use it themselves whenever they want, then leave it to their children as an inheritance or sell it a few years down the line, means that many British buyers are looking beyond short term currency fluctuations and pushing their pounds into properties in the Spanish sunshine. UK visitors to Kyero.com surged by over 30% in the year to March 2017, demonstrating that many are looking at investment in Spanish second homes over the longer term. The comparatively low cost of property in Spain also means that UK buyers can get more for their money when they invest abroad.”

Richard Speigal, Head of Research at Spanish property portal Kyero.com

For those seeking a purely financial investment, with no lifestyle benefits attached, the stability offered by buying in pounds is certainly a strong draw at present. The UK’s buy-to-let sector continues to perform well and the nation’s city centres look set to remain short of homes for many years, irrespective of Brexit.

“The UK’s decision to part ways with the EU does nothing to change the fundamentals of this country’s housing shortage. That shortage, along with a shift from ownership to renting, is driving demand for city centre homes like never before – and Brexit has done nothing to change that. Each year the UK falls further behind its target number of homes and until that alters, the logic of domestic buy-to-let investment is clear.”

Oliver Ramsden, Director of Aspen Woolf

Ultimately, then, the decision on where to invest as the Brexit process unfolds will depend on the kind of benefits that individual property investors are seeking to get out of their investments, as well as how short or long term their outlook may be.

On the market:

Gramont House – care home investment from £75,000, based on a sustainable and ethical business model. 8% NET returns for 25 years, with four exit strategies and two purchase options. (Available through Properties of the World.)

Alicante penthouse – three bedroom, two bathroom penthouse apartment with large pool and tennis court on site. 600m from the beach. €185,000. (Available through Kyero.com.)

Eldon Grove – a refurbished, Grade II listed building housing 45 one, two and three bedroom apartments. Designed by experienced and successful architects. Prices from £94,950 with 7% NET yield assured for two years. (Available through Aspen Woolf.)

For more information, please contact:

easyMarkets: +44 203 1500 748 or www.easymarkets.com

Properties of the World: +44 (0)20 7624 5555 or www.propertiesoftheworld.co.uk

Kyero: www.kyero.com

Aspen Woolf: +44 203 176 0060 or www.aspenwoolf.co.uk

Risk warning: Forward Rate Agreements, Options and CFDs (OTC Trading) are leveraged products that carry a substantial risk of loss up to your invested capital and may not be suitable for everyone. Please ensure that you understand fully the risks involved and do not invest money you cannot afford to lose. Our group of companies through its subsidiaries is licensed by the Cyprus Securities & Exchange Commission (Easy Forex Trading Ltd- CySEC, License Number 079/07), which has been passported in the European Union through the MiFID Directive and in Australia by ASIC (Easy Markets Pty Ltd -AFS license No. 246566).

EXCLUSIVE: British students outnumber Chinese students in UK PBSA sites for the first time

by Sophie Evans United Kingdom Collegiate AC

Exclusive data from leading student accommodation operator reveals top 5 resident nationalities
British students lead the way for the first time, with Chinese students following close behind (Collegiate AC)
“More and more British students actively seek out higher quality living accommodation for their university years” (CEO, Collegiate AC)

Collegiate AC is leading the way in luxury purpose built student accommodation in the UK. New data reveals the demographics of their residents and exactly who is enjoying the superb facilities that the operator provides.

With first class sites located in 23 towns and cities across the UK, Collegiate AC is well established and according to new data collected by the company, UK residents, for the first time, are the number one occupants.

In the 2016/17 academic year 25% of all Collegiate AC student residents are British with Chinese and Thai students in second and third position respectively.

In comparison to Collegiate’s 2015 student nationality statistics, there has been a notable increase in British residents, from 23% to 26%.

Greek students have interestingly entered the top 5 for the first time in 2016/17, accounting for 3% of all Collegiate residents.

The top 5 resident nationalities at Collegiate AC for 2016/17 are as follows:

British – 25.77%
Chinese – 25.62%
Thai – 4.08%
Greek – 3.44%
Malaysian – 3.41%

“Collegiate’s doors are open to students of every nationality and we are committed to ensuring that each and every student feels at home. For many years, Chinese students have been our most prolific residents but this is now changing as more and more British students actively seek out higher quality living accommodation for their university years.”

Heriberto Cuanalo, CEO of Collegiate AC

A perfect example of a friendly and welcoming atmosphere at Collegiate AC, is the site in Newcastle. Plummer House is part of the Fusion Collection, this offers breath-taking facilities at the heart of the city such as a private on-site cinema, gym, games room and VIP bar.

From £140 per week, the fantastic location is just 10-minute walk from Newcastle University and the exclusive design-led apartments, with high speed broadband and Wi-Fi throughout, are thriving with likeminded students.

For more information, visit www.collegiate-ac.com or contact Collegiate AC on 01235 250 140.

Construction Update: Beaumont Square set to welcome Plymouth students this September

by Charly United Kingdom Aspen Woolf

Brand new Beaumont Square residence set for completion in August 2017
Colossal £266 million investment programme set to transform Plymouth, will no doubt enhance its attraction to students (Aspen Woolf)
Investors benefit from an assured 3-year NET return of 8% as early as September, with students to move in for the upcoming academic year (Aspen Woolf)

With the current academic year nearing its exam led conclusion, students will be looking to their accommodation options for September. And with demand vastly outweighing supply, new and existing students will be keen to secure a spot for themselves.

As key university cities continue to attract thousands of students every year, it’s no surprise that many B2L investors are turning to Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA). According to figures from HESA, the coastal set Plymouth University was home to 23,155 students in the 15/16 academic year alone. Highlighting an incredibly buoyant market for those investing in PBSA in the city.

To answer this ongoing demand, Oliver Ramsden Director of Aspen Woolf, leaders in providing wealth building opportunities for investors of all levels through property, is delighted to confirm that their brand new Beaumont Square accommodation will be ready for students to move in this September. He comments,

“Plymouth will be the location for a vast array of investment projects over the forthcoming months and years. The colossal £266 million investment programme set to transform the city centre, will no doubt enhance Plymouth’s attraction as a place for students to complete their studies.

“The greater number of students choosing Plymouth will in turn increase the number of student beds required, with PBSA emerging as the savvy investment option. With work on the internal walls of block B due to be complete by the end of next week, we are confident that our Beaumont Square residence is on track for completion as soon as August. Meaning students will be able to choose the luxury accommodation from September 2017.”

Located in an idyllic location, Beaumont Square is less than a mile away from Plymouth University, the bustling city centre and the beautiful harbour of this coastal city with prices starting from just £78,500 for the exclusive studio apartments.

Oliver continues,

“Those investing in Beaumont Square can benefit from an assured 3-year NET return of 8% as early as September, with completion of the development allowing students to move in for the upcoming academic year.”

Every apartment will be offered fully furnished to prospective student tenants and the building will benefit from high end hotel apartment style finishes. Residents will also be able to enjoy an array of additional facilities including a laundry room, staffed reception area and the security of 24-hour CCTV.

For more information, visit www.aspenwoolf.co.uk or contact Aspen Woolf on +44(0) 203 176 0060.

The art of interior design – creating the picture-perfect home

by Sophie Evans United Kingdom Alexander James Interior Design

“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see” (Edgar Degas)
“Art plays a fundamental role in interior design – no scheme is complete without it” (Alexander James Interior Design)
Use art to echo a room’s theme and balance it perfectly with lighting for maximum impact (Alexander James)
Damien Hirst print featured in London’s Landmark Place show home (Alexander James)

Art lovers are in for a treat this year, with London’s Lisson Gallery celebrating its 50^th birthday with a magnificent series of exhibitions and events. The National Gallery – the UK’s most visited gallery, with well over 6.2 million visitors in 2016, according to the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions – is also offering something special, with Cagnacci’s Repentant Magdalene, the Michelangelo and Sebastiano exhibition and a Rubens and Rembrandt feature all running concurrently.

However, if we are to believe the words of Edgar Degas, then “Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” It is a concept that is familiar to every successful interior designer – those with the powers to make others see an overall vision that is greater than the sum of its parts.

“Art plays a fundamental role in interior design. Paintings, prints and sculptures are essential to completing a decorative scheme and have to be planned in as part of the overall look and feel of a property. These are not things to be left to chance and then picked out at the last minute.”

Stacey Sibley, Creative Director, Alexander James Interior Design

Having worked in interior design for 24 years, Alexander James’ Stacey Sibley is well versed in finding the right artwork to tie together all the elements of a room, from fabrics to colour palette to furniture.

Art can both echo the theme of the room and inspire it. This Beaconsfield family home, dressed by the Alexander James team, displays the concept beautifully, with artworks reflecting the colours, textures and themes of the rooms in which they feature.

For those looking for a uniquely artistic home, engaging the services of a local artist can be a wonderful way to obtain bespoke artwork. Furnishing the artist with a swatch of cushion fabric, key colour samples or a mood board can allow him or her to draw together all aspects of the design.

In the Beaconsfield home, for example, the open plan living room features beautiful, bespoke artwork designed to fade from bold to light and inspired by the accent cushions, which feature a bold oil painting inspired fabric designed by artist Jessica Zoob for Romo.

Nor is it just private homes in which art plays an important role. Working closely with developers has emphasised to the Alexander James team how essential artworks are when dressing show homes. At Landmark Place in London, their interior designers embraced the use of art by purchasing a limited edition Damien Hirst print for the show home.

‘The Souls III’ is one of a 15-piece signed edition purchased by Alexander James Interior Design as part of their dressing of the stunning new show home. The print is currently on loan to Landmark Place’s developer, Barratt Homes, enabling art to be taken to the next level in show home design.

Whether it’s a Damien Hirst print or the work of a talented, up-and-coming local artist, placing art perfectly is almost as important a skill as choosing the right pieces, according to Alexander James’ Stacey Sibley. She recommends balancing art and furniture by aligning artwork with a sideboard or console table and bordering it with side lamps to highlight it. The right framing is also essential, as is balancing the frame with the lamps and other furniture around it.

Hanging artwork at the right level is also essential. The centre of the image should ideally be at eye level. However, for informal seating areas, hanging the artwork low will make the space feel more cosy and intimate. Hanging artwork in clusters can also work well.

“Gallery walls are a great way to occupy vast and open wall spaces, especially stairwells which are usually quite bare. Grouping several frames in various sizes, styles and orientations gives a really creative look and allows you to add more whenever you like.

“You can also take inspiration from the environment around your home. If you live in a rural area, seek inspiration from the surrounding trees and greenery, with botanical prints or natural paintings. Likewise, if your home has an interesting history, this can inspire the artwork. If the house has been rejuvenated, perhaps use old architectural drawings to accessorise the scheme.”

Stacey Sibley, Creative Director, Alexander James Interior Design

For more information, visit Alexander James Interior Design at www.aji.co.uk, email info@aji.co.uk or call 020 7887 7604.

Liverpool lights the way as savvy investors head to the north of the city

by Sophie Evans United Kingdom Aspen Woolf

Top tip for investors looking to Liverpool in 2017/8 is to head north of the city centre, around the Vauxhall area (Aspen Woolf)
One to watch is L3 postcode, it will be very different in 5-10 years’ time (Aspen Woolf)
New Eldon Grove carefully designed to preserve the heritage of the site while serving the needs of a new generation (Aspen Woolf)

As momentum for the Northern Powerhouse builds, more and more investors are looking to the north of the country. However, Oliver Ramsden, Founder & Director of Aspen Woolf, leaders in providing wealth building opportunities for investors through property, believes investors should take it one step further, looking to the north of Liverpool’s bustling city centre to uncover hidden gems of its property market.

We spoke with Oliver after his most recent visit to Liverpool in relation to the changes taking place throughout the city, and which postcodes are showing the most promise to investors.

“What makes Liverpool unique is its young population, nearly 45% of the city is under 30, and many are young professionals and renters looking for quality accommodation that is still lacking in many of the city’s central postcodes.

“For investors, the trick is to spot the next hotspots early. While in Liverpool I spent a significant amount of time walking around the dock area, checking on different builds and their progress, and even for someone that travels to and from Liverpool often, the change I’ve seen in such a short time is simply astounding. The Baltic Triangle, The Georgian Quarter, The Docks, all these areas that stagnated in the past are all thriving now. It was really exciting to see.

“Our top tip for investors looking to Liverpool in 2017/8 is to head north of the city centre, around the Vauxhall area. The area is benefitting from a wealth of investment with road expansions, new train stations, a brand new football ground and new cruise terminal to boot. We’ve witnessed a huge spike in planning applications granted in the area, which is always a good indication.

“The L3 postcode will be very different in 5-10 years’ time. Prices are still low but that won’t last long if we’re to go by what’s happened in other parts of Liverpool in the past 5 years.”

One property set to benefit from its L3 postcode is Aspen Woolf’s Eldon Grove. Having provided some of the best pre-war social housing built by Liverpool city council, Eldon Grove set a new standard for the whole country and was officially opened by the Countess of Derby in 1912.

The layout, with its central square, well-maintained garden and bandstand, along with the chocolate-box look, helped create a vibrant community, lifting up some of Liverpool’s poorest residents.

Incorporating three original Grade II-listed blocks alongside three new blocks of stylish and contemporary apartments, New Eldon Grove has been carefully designed to preserve the heritage of the site while serving the needs of a new generation. Comprised of 45 apartments including 1,2 and 3 bedroom units, New Eldon Grove is Set within peaceful surroundings, yet on the edge of the vibrant Liverpool city centre.

Apartments situated in the original blocks have been re-imagined for 21st century living, with fully modernised fitted kitchens and bathrooms, while benefiting from the character of the Tudor buildings, with mullioned bay windows and their own front doors leading from the external walkways.

New Eldon Grove residents will also benefit from a community garden and shared landscaping, as well as parking, bicycle storage and secured entrance hallways. From just £94,950, with ready to rent furniture packs available, New Eldon Grove provides investors with an assured 2-year NET rental of 7%.

For more information, visit http://www.aspenwoolf.co.uk/ or contact Aspen Woolf on +44 203 176 0060.

Derelict to desirable: Regeneration breathes new life into Manchester’s Wilburn Basin

by Charly United Kingdom Surrenden Invest

Wilburn Basin offers investors an average price per sq ft 30% lower than similar developments (Surrenden Invest)
When complete Wilburn Basin will comprise four distinct blocks varying in height from 8 to 21 storeys (Surrenden Invest)
Phase one already complete and rented out and the second due this summer (Surrenden Invest)

It was only a short time ago that Manchester’s Wilburn Street Basin was nothing more than a neglected patch of wasteland. However, the area has recently experienced a radical transformation and is now home to a contemporary residential hub.

Surrenden Invest, a property consultancy at the forefront of this movement, believe Manchester’s thriving property market has led to areas outside the city centre undergoing significant redevelopment. Managing Director Jonathan Stephens explains,

“Areas of the city historically seen as outside the core are now providing investors with all the amenities and quality of prime central but at a much lower price point. The Wilburn Basin is the perfect example.

“Falling on the Salford side of the Irwell means that investors are looking at an average price per square foot that is 30% lower than similar developments within a couple of minutes’ walk.”

Wilburn Basin is a brand-new residence situated on the historic River Irwell Basin. It offers an attractive waterside setting to residents in the city centre, within a short walking distance of the central business district and its excellent array of shops and leisure facilities.

When complete Wilburn Basin will be comprised of four distinct blocks varying in height from 8 to 21 storeys which offer fantastic views across the city, setting a new benchmark for combining city centre living with high quality facilities and private amenity space.

Jonathan continues,

“Wilburn Basin is a project investors can go into with complete confidence with the first phase already complete and rented out, and the second phase completing this summer, whilst also benefitting from the experience and build quality of Manchester’s largest developer.

“This is an area earmarked for substantial capital growth and given the location, will be perfectly suited to take advantage of both Media City and the city centre.”

From just £165,000, all apartments are built to a high specification with Porcelanosa kitchens and Villeroy and Boch sanitaryware. Additional facilities include a private gym, cinema room, a ‘boutique’ hotel style reception with 24 hour concierge and a residents’ lounge. As well as architecturally landscaped gardens and courtyard.