House hunters will need to be quick off the mark if they want to grab a stylish and affordable new home in Kiltarlity, writes Susan Welsh
Since the start of the year, there’s been a flurry of activity at the Balgate Mill development in the semi-rural village of Kiltarlity with house-hunters beating a steady path to view the properties being built by William Gray Homes.
As anyone who has viewed one of the three or four-bedroom homes available there will tell you, you get can an awful lot of house for your money, especially when compared to what your money might buy elsewhere.
Work on the stylish development began last year and several of the smart, Scandinavian-style homes have already been snapped up. Currently available in the present phase is a four-bedroom Beaufort showhome, which can be bought fully furnished for the very reasonable fixed price of £179,995.
But for those with young families looking to move up the property ladder, or perhaps older buyers looking to downsize from perhaps an expensive-to-run older property, the two three-bedroom mid-terrace Aigas-style homes – plots number 22 and 23 – offer an even better value deal. These homes offer well thought out accommodation which cleverly utilises all the space that’s available to create a home with lots of storage space and are priced from just £154,995.
As you can see from these photographs which show how a three-bedroom home would look when fully furnished, the design and decor is modern and stylish with lots of natural light flooding in to create a bright and airy home. The open-plan layout of the kitchen, dining room and lounge is at the heart of these three-bedroom homes while the main focus of this space is a magnificent wood-burning stove. The central heating is run off this efficient and sustainable wood-burning stove, and there’s an option to add additional heaters.
The lay out of this space is such that it is ideal for entertaining, but equally well suited for those with young children. Full-height windows provide plenty of light in the main living area while there’s a glass door offering quick and easy access to the fully-enclosed back garden.
All three bedrooms are either double or twin rooms and each has fitted wardrobes. There is also a useful study area on the first-floor landing and a separate WC and cloakroom. There are three substantial hall cupboards in total including a laundry cupboard which is already plumbed for a washing machine and airing cupboard which houses the pressurised hot water tank. The family bathroom, on the ground floor, benefits from an overbath, good-quality shower which runs off the mains water supply.
The timber-frame homes have slate roofs and are clad in larch and from outside look similar to small, country cottages. But like Dr Who’s Tardis, they are deceptively large inside. Sustainable materials have been used to create simple but stylish homes which offer a modern twist on Scottish building. Those buying here can look forward to low energy costs as the homes have excellent insulation, double glazing throughout and solar panels which help cut energy costs.
There’s a lock-bloc drive outside each home which can accommodate two vehicles, while the rear gardens on this terrace are all gated, fenced and come with a purpose-built wood store and look out on to a landscaped communal playing area which will be completed in due course.
The Balgate Mill development in the village of Kiltarlity offers the best of both worlds as it is close to Inverness, yet offers a safe environment with a real sense of country living. Bordered at the rear by the grounds of Beaufort Castle, it’s a particularly tranquil setting. The village has a real sense of community and has a well-supported primary school, village hall and shinty team plus a regular bus service. Only 10 miles from Inverness city centre, it’s less than five minutes from Beauly, which is a bustling little place with everything you could possibly need, set around an attractive square.
Karine Macrae, from selling agent Tailormade Moves, said: “We have had lots of interest in the development and the feedback we are getting from viewers is that these homes are really good value for money and they’re impressed with the high-end finish. Subject to meeting the criteria, buyers may also be able to take advantage of the Government’s Help to Buy scheme which makes them an even better deal.”
The Government’s Help to Buy scheme may make it possible to buy a new-build or existing home priced up to £600,000 with as little as a 5% deposit. For full details visit www.helptobuy.org.uk. Those wishing to view either the three-bedroom homes or four-bedroom showhome at Balgate Mill, Kiltarlity should contact Morna McKinnon on 01463 233218 or 07765 250 242.