3 Towers - Emmeline, Christabel and Sylvia
2008
Architects: Union North

URBAN SPLASH LAUNCHES FLATS FOR FIRST TIME BUYERS IN MANCHESTER CITY CENTRE April 08



Award winning property developer Urban Splash is offering flats in Sylvia, one of three converted tower blocks in Manchester city centre to first time buyers through the governments First Time Buyers Initiative (FTBI). The flats go on sale on Saturday 26 April 2008 and prices start from £97,000 or £48,500 for a minimum 50% purchase on the FTBI*.

There are 63 one and two bedroom flats in Sylvia, located on Dalton Street just off Rochdale Road, about five minutes from the centre of the city. Urban Splash has converted three 1960’s former council tower blocks into new homes, Emmeline and Christabel the other two blocks are sold and completed.

The three tower blocks have been named Emmeline, Christabel and Sylvia in recognition of the Pankhurst’s – three Mancuian heroines who pioneered the Suffragette movement which lead to women receiving the right to vote 80 years ago. Each building contains images and information about the women and their names are writ large in signs at the top of each block.

The flats in Sylvia come complete with retro style kitchens, full fitted bathrooms, timber flooring to the living room and kitchen spaces with carpets in the bedrooms. A private secure parking space is also included in the price of the flat.

Outside the old grey concrete panels have been replaced with bright wooden cladding and new floor to ceiling windows replace the former small balconies. This provides great views of Manchester city centre and the surrounding countryside.

The scheme is very close to the River Irk and Irk Valley which is a rare piece of greenery in the city, there’s lots of wildlife and walks to enjoy. Flats will be ready to occupy by the end of 2008.

“Urban Splash believes the flats in Sylvia are ideally suited to first time buyers,” said Nicola Wallis, sales director, Urban Splash. “They have great views over Manchester and the countryside, and are just a short walk from the city centre.”


First Time Buyers Initiative

English Partnerships’ First Time Buyers Initiative is part of the Government’s Homebuy scheme to help 120,000 people into home ownership through a range of affordable options. It enables eligible first time buyers to contribute a minimum 50 per cent towards the full purchase price of a new home through an affordable mortgage, with English Partnerships contributing the rest.

First time buyers can then ‘staircase’ to repay English Partnerships contribution at any time, and after three years, will start to pay a fee to English Partnerships based on the contribution made. When owners sell their FTBI home, they will repay all of the assistance from a share of the total sale proceeds. So, if the FTBI assistance was a 25% contribution, the repayment will be 25% of the total value when it is sold.

“We want to make the process as straight forward as possible for people buying through the First Time Buyers Initiative,” said Nicola. “As buying your first home is one of the biggest decisions of your life, to be able to offer more people the opportunity to do that through schemes like FTBI is fantastic. At Urban Splash we want people to enjoy living in our homes and FTBI is proving a great success at helping first time buyers on to the property ladder.”

People interested in buying a flat in Sylvia through FTBI will need to complete an application procedure to make sure they meet the necessary criteria. People will need to have completed this process before they will be able to reserve an apartment. To start the process people should visit www.3towers.co.uk and follow the directions for FTBI.

Urban Splash will be opening its sales suite and show apartment for Sylvia from 11am - 6pm on Monday 21 April and every day through to Saturday 26 April 08. Urban Splash will provide a bank of solicitors and Independent Financial Advisors to assist purchasers with the ins and outs of buying a property.

People will be able to reserve apartments in Sylvia from 11am Saturday 26 April 2008.
Residential Sales - 0333 666 9999
www.urbansplash.co.uk

*Reduced purchase price based on the maximum assistance a qualifying buyer could secure from the First Time Buyers Initiative. 50% is the maximum government contribution. Some eligible buyers will qualify for lower levels of assistance. Eligibility conditions apply. When owners sell their FTBI home, they will repay the governments contribution by way of a share of the future sale proceeds.



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Manchester Housing

Deansgate Apartments

The show apartment for Sylvia will be ready for you to view from Monday 14 April 08. In advance of the general sales open week, local people who qualify for FTBI will be invited to see the apartment and ask any questions they have that week before being able to reserve on Saturday 19 April. The show apartment will be open from 11am-6pm from Monday 14 April through to Saturday 19 April for local people.

Sylvia is the second Urban Splash scheme to take part in FTBI. The first, Chimney Pot Park, Langworthy was part of the initial pilot scheme for the FTBI (and the only one in the north). Last July 91 houses were sold through FTBI at Chimney Pot Park. Urban Splash can provide case studies of people who have bought in that scheme if required.

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