Rutland County Council Chief to officially open new Larkfleet showhome complex in Oakham

09 August 2012

Helen Briggs, chief executive of Rutland County Council, will officially open a new showhome complex at Leighfield Park in Oakham at an opening ceremony on Monday 13 August between 12:30 and 14:30.

Leighfield Park is the first phase of Oakham Heights, a major urban expansion of Oakham being built by the Larkfleet Group on land between the Oakham bypass and Barleythorpe Road.

Ms Briggs will be joined by senior Larkfleet staff, members of Rutland County Council and Oakham Town Council and other guests at the opening ceremony.

The new showhome complex developed by Larkfleet Homescomprises three properties including a fully furnished three-bedroom Windsor property type. The Windsor boasts an open plan kitchen, diner and lounge area and three bedrooms including one with an en-suite shower room.

Also available to view on the showhome complex will be a four-bedroom Sandown property type that has a large kitchen with separate utility room, spacious lounge and four good-sized bedrooms also including an en-suite shower room.

Karl Hick, Larkfleet?s managing director, commented: 'We are very much looking forward to having the new showhome complex at Leighfield Park opened by Helen Briggs. The complex allows visitors to really see the style and quality of the properties that will be available on the development. I urge any homebuyers interested in purchasing a property in the Oakham area to visit our new showhome complex in Oakham Heights to see what is on offer.'

Leighfield Park will offer traditional styled two, three, four and five-bedroom properties starting from £143,995.

The development is aimed at families looking for a stylish and traditional home that allows them to enjoy rural life while still benefiting from good transport links to surrounding towns and cities.

All 143 properties at Leighfield Park will have solar PV (photovoltaic) panels fitted as standard so homebuyers can benefit from reduced energy bills. The PV panels will produce electricity from daylight, generating useable power even on cloudy days. Larkfleet will also make allotments available for all residents at the current market value in order to encourage a sustainable lifestyle and community.

Some properties on the Leighfield Park development will be available through the government-backed FirstBuy scheme. With the help of FirstBuy, homebuyers have the chance to take up a five-year interest-free loan meaning they could own a Larkfleet home sooner than they thought. Purchasing a Larkfleet property in Oakham could even be cheaper than renting a property with the help of FirstBuy.

Larkfleet's new innovative 'try before you buy' scheme allows customers currently living outside the area to stay in a fully furnished and equipped Larkfleet property in Oakham, for a weekend - or maybe longer - so that they can really get a feel for the quality properties Larkfleet provides and the benefits of the local area.

On the housebuilder's Stable Yard development in Oakham, which is adjacent to Leighfield Park, Larkfleet is offering homebuyers the opportunity 'test run' a property.

By offering its 'try before you buy' scheme to potential customers, Larkfleet hopes to give a 'helping hand' to those thinking of moving to the Oakham area. The fully furnished nature of Larkfleet's 'try before you buy' property within its existing development will help make the important search for a new home a little less stressful.

Larkfleet Homes' managing director, Karl Hick, commented: 'Larkfleet's 'try before you buy' scheme is a great opportunity for potential homebuyers to really experience life in a Larkfleet property. Larkfleet has put together an informative guide for the Oakham area so that our 'try before you buy' customers can take advantage of all that the local area has to offer. This scheme is ideal for those potential buyers from outside the area or even overseas who are thinking seriously about relocating.'

In addition to new housing, the overall planning approval for Oakham Heights includes a continuing care retirement community, a care home and around 30 acres of offices as well as parks and open spaces, children's play areas and a new local centre. Planning approval also includes improved transport links with new cycle, footpath and bus routes.

In total, 1,100 high quality homes could eventually be constructed over 15 years in ten phases.

Integral parts of the proposals for the development are a new permanent enhanced and enlarged home for the Rutland County Show and new improved facilities for the town?s football, rugby and other clubs.

Rutland County Council also recently approved planning permission for a hotel and an adjoining Marston's Inns and Taverns pub/restaurant.

For more information on Leighfield Park please contact 01572 722262.