Buyers Flock To New Homes Launch In Dereham

Strong demand for new homes built by one of Norfolk’s leading house builders saw more than a third of the initial release of new homes sold in the launch weekend.

Abel Homes launched the show home at its latest site at The Carriages in Dereham, with an initial release of two-, three- and four-bedroom homes with prices ranging from £260,000 to £500,000.

The Watton-based firm is building a total of 216 energy-efficient family homes on the site, on Swanton Road to the northeast of the town.  A quarter of the new homes will be provided as affordable homes.

“This was a very busy launch weekend indeed,” said Clare Cornish, sales and marketing manager at Abel Homes.  “It just goes to show that there is strong demand for energy-efficient, high-quality new homes in Dereham.”

First in the queue to buy one of the new homes was first-time buyer couple Zac Kirby and Freya Budgett, who rushed to the site direct from work on launch day to secure their chosen two-bedroom home.

This will be their first home, but not their first experience of living in an Abel home – as Freya has lived for the past five years with her mum Clair, who lives in a house in Bawdeswell which was also built by the firm.

“Having seen how my mum was treated by Abels, and experienced the quality of her home, we knew we wanted to live in a house built by them,” said Freya, who works as a teacher.

Three things really attracted us to buying from them.  The first was the amazing customer service, both when my mum went through the buying process in the middle of lockdown, and as Zac and I have navigated buying our first home.

“Also, as first-time buyers, the fact that Abel Homes are so energy-efficient and therefore economical to run is a big plus point.  And lastly, we have been really impressed with the quality of both the design and the construction of my mum’s home, so we knew it had to be an Abel Homes house.”

Freya and Zac, who works as a tyre technician, will be moving into their new home later in the summer.  “We are so excited – reserving our home was a real pinch-me moment.  We have both worked really hard to save to buy our first home, so it’s a really proud moment for us.  It will mean everything to have our own home.”

The new homes at The Carriages will all have the top ‘A’ rating for energy efficiency, including features such as photo-voltaic solar panels, air source heat pumps, underfloor heating, triple glazing and high levels of insulation.  Each home will also feature direct fibre broadband alongside an electric car charging point.

The new site will include public open spaces, including a multi-use games area, as well as a piece of public artwork commissioned from a local artist – something which Abel Homes has installed on every site it has built since 2008.

Details of the new homes at The Carriages in Dereham can be found at www.abelhomes.co.uk/developments/swanton-road-dereham.  The show home and sales office are open Thursday to Monday, 10am-4pm.