By Kelly Sharman, Sales and Marketing Director for Hayfield
With New Homes Week 2022 kicking-off today, Kelly Sharman, Sales and Marketing Director for Hayfield considers the benefits of buying a new home.
“The rationale for buying a brand-new home has never been more topical. The record increase in global gas prices has seen Ofgem announce a 54% increase to the energy price cap from 1st April. This is very worrying for many households. More needs to be done to quickly reduce the reliance on fossil fuels.
“The market for retrofitting existing homes to make them more energy efficient is barely scratching the surface, with few viable options available. Meanwhile the housebuilding industry is working exceptionally hard to decarbonise new homes. There is a wide range of approaches, with some developers purely adhering to current building regulations, while others – such as Hayfield – are making it a fundamental part of their DNA.
“Since 2020, all homes built at Hayfield’s new and upcoming developments have featured air source heat pumps, electric vehicle fast charging points, energy efficient underfloor heating, enhanced levels of insulation, and fibre optic broadband. With the source of energy coming into each Hayfield site being from a fossil-fuel free source, all homes at our new developments will be zero carbon ready.
“Our eco-efficient specification is delivering real savings to our customers. Residents at Hayfield Walk have realised a 10% reduction in their energy consumption on a like for like basis. Customers who change their car to an electric vehicle will benefit from much greater savings.
“So, aside from the aspirational benefits of moving to a beautiful home with a layout designed for modern living, the energy saving credentials have never been more important. Purchasers are voting with their feet, with our off-plan reservation rate at an all-time high.
“Newly launched to the market is Hayfield Park in the Bedfordshire Village of Bromham, which will feature 80 zero carbon ready houses and bungalows. In the neighbouring county of Buckinghamshire, seven two- and three-bedroom homes have been newly released as the final phase of the Hayfield Oaks development in Woburn Sands. All Hayfield schemes feature architecture inspired by traditional homes in the immediate area, combined with a premium eco-focused specification.
“For those weighing up whether to invest in a new or second-hand home, my advice would be to follow your head as well as your heart. Pay attention to EPC ratings, the challenges of potentially retrofitting an existing home with eco-friendly features, and the practicalities of installing one of the latest EV rapid charging points. Meanwhile, the number of homes the UK is building year on year is still way below government targets, which is accounting for the sky-high demand.
“For more information on Hayfield’s portfolio of eight live sites across Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Wiltshire and Worcestershire, take a look at www.hayfieldhomes.co.uk, or explore the eco-specification in person by paying a visit to one of our show homes.”
