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EU Referendum – should we stay or should we go?

March 31, 2016 Property News 0

The referendum on whether the UK remains in the European Union will take place on 23 June this year.

Historically, Ipsos MORI polls show that in the 1970s and 1980s there was significant desire from the British public to leave the EU, but more recently polls have suggested a fairly even split between those ‘for’ and ‘against.’

At its recent Prospects for Property 2016 conference, Strutt & Parker clients were asked whether they thought the UK would leave the EU, and an overwhelming 86% responded with a ‘No’.

Stephanie McMahon, Head of Research at Strutt & Parker has investigated what the possible impact on the property market could be if the UK votes to leave the EU. She said: “The only thing we can be sure of at the present time is that no one genuinely knows what the impact of an EU exit would be, and we have to be careful not to make this a binary event – should we exit the negotiations around trade and movement of people will be extensive and ongoing. That said, in the short term it is anticipated that a period of uncertainty will persist in the run up to 23 June as the world awaits the outcome of the vote.

“Residential markets are highly influenced by uncertainty and London in particular would feel the effect of nervous buyers, the consequence of which is likely to be a drop in trading, particularly foreign investment. However, further across the UK, the impact is likely to be less, apart from in areas where high numbers of workers are employed in international businesses.”

In the longer term over the five years post-Brexit, domestic household wealth and confidence may be impacted, influencing housing decisions. If exit results in less immigration into the UK, some pressure may be taken off the demand side of the housing market, reducing inflation. For London, sterling devaluations could be positive as property becomes cheaper for foreign buyers.

George Burnand of Strutt & Parker’s Winchester office, said: “Brexit is an ever-evolving subject and the full impact on the property market from the vote is impossible to predict. We would advise those who are keen to move home over the next year to hold their nerve and continue with their plans; certainly the evidence from the first few weeks of campaigning is that buyers are still buying and we have seen an increase in new registrations.

“The Winchester houses we have launched over the last few weeks have received a huge amount of interest with guide price offers being made.”

George concludes: “Good local school catchments and how far from the station are still what people want to talk about long before whether we should be in or out!”…

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Stunning extension adds to Victorian home

March 24, 2016 Property News 0
Stunning extension adds to Victorian home

Stunning extension adds to Victorian home

This outstanding townhouse occupies a prime position overlooking Oram’s Arbour in Winchester and has a breath-taking glass extension to the rear which adds a stunning contemporary twist to this period home. The position could not be bettered, just five minutes’ walk from the station with the High Street and local schools and amenities also easily reached on foot from here.

On the lower ground floor the extension has allowed a fabulous open plan kitchen with plenty of space for dining and with full height glazed doors opening to a paved terrace and garden. There is also a utility room and cloakroom on this floor.

At the front of the house is an off road parking space on a paved area and the front door opens to an entrance hall, family room and magnificent sitting room behind, which enjoys amazing architectural frameless glazing across the rear and roof allowing masses of natural light into this room and fabulous rooftop views.

There are four good bedrooms and two bathrooms over the top two floors; plenty of space for a demanding family.

Belgarum says the property is becoming available from May so this is the perfect time to get a move lined up. The house is offered on an unfurnished basis at a monthly rent of £2,750 and enquiries should be directed to Belgarum on 01962 844460.

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Part of historic rural estate

March 24, 2016 Property News 0
Part of historic rural estate

Part of historic rural estate

This wonderful period cottage is set within the exclusive Preshaw Estate near Upham. This is a superb location to explore the beautiful countryside and there are good links to Winchester, Petersfield and Southampton.

Surrounded by its own beautiful gardens the cottage sits well in the estate and there are far reaching views across the South Downs and farmland, with nothing to obscure the view from the access driveway than fields and sheep.

Spacious and flexible accommodation is arranged over two floors and the refurbishment has been carried out to a high standard with quality fittings throughout. The sitting room has a large log burning stove and there is a separate spacious dining room. The kitchen is fabulous with an array of traditional cabinets together with all modern conveniences, leaving plenty of room for casual dining.

Upstairs are three double bedrooms, two with en suites and a further family bathroom. Another room on the first floor, accessed via its own staircase and with a vaulted ceiling, is ideal as a study, fourth bedroom or dressing room.

Enclosed gardens frame the cottage to the front and rear and private parking is provided.

Charters in Alresford says that the property can be made available furnished or unfurnished and a monthly rent of £2,300 is asked.

Contact Charters to make an appointment to view on 01962 734633

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Leisure pursuits aplenty at Studwell Lodge

March 24, 2016 Property News 0
Leisure pursuits aplenty at Studwell Lodge

Leisure pursuits aplenty at Studwell Lodge

A significant Georgian house of almost nine thousand square feet, beautifully located within the heart of the Meon Valley, has much to offer not only in terms of accommodation but also a range of leisure pursuits.

Nestling within a couple of acres of beautiful gardens, additional acreage is laid out as paddocks which lead down to the river and single bank fishing rights. A hard tennis court is discreetly positioned, beyond which is a pond, terraced rose beds and lawn with adjacent summerhouse.

The Meon Valley has a range of outdoor pursuits including walking and good riding country, with a cricket club in Droxford, golf at Swanmore and Corhampton and sailing nearby at Hamble and The Solent.

Studwell Lodge has been wonderfully restored and upon entering the hallway there is a sense of space and light with an impressive full height window overlooking the grounds. A feature curved staircase rises from an inner reception hall and connects the two principal floors of the house.

Four elegant reception rooms all have open fireplaces, sash windows and shutters and for those who enjoy baking and spoiling the family and guests with culinary delights, the kitchen will hold great appeal with its bespoke cabinets designed around an Aga and a large central island. This room connects with the outside on the east and west aspects and also flows through to a versatile glazed area which is currently arranged as a gym and leads through to an extensive conservatory, ideal for extravagant parties.

Eight bedrooms are accompanied by six bathrooms on the first floor with two further bedrooms and a bathroom on the top floor.

For car enthusiasts there is garaging and a large carport.

Savills quotes a guide price of £2,650,000 for Studwell Lodge and further enquiries are available by calling the Winchester office on 01962 841842

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And now for something extraordinary

March 24, 2016 Property News 0
And now for something extraordinary

And now for something extraordinary

This lovingly and meticulously remodelled home offers thoughtfully designed and stylish accommodation in an appealing location. The resulting property is proof that stunning design can go hand-in-hand with practical living. There is much to excite and please the family here, from spacious, bright rooms to delightful, large and level gardens.

The house has been re-designed to ensure it is flooded with natural light and the brief from the owners focussed on living at the rear of the house as much as possible, so that the family could enjoy the outlook and the rear garden. This has certainly been achieved with the principal reception spaces arranged across the rear of the house, behind immense windows and glazed, folding doors.

The fixtures and fittings are excellent quality including engineered oak floors on the ground floor, and Geberit bathroom fittings. The list of substantial works undertaken includes re-plumbing, rewiring, triple glazed windows, extending and reconfiguring, as well as producing a stunning and intriguing cedar and render clad frontage.

The square hall leads through to the two principal living areas of the sitting room and the superb open plan kitchen which has dining and living space. These distinct areas interconnect and also flow easily to a decked area on the same level which further extends the living space through the summer. There is also a study, cloakroom and utility room with access through to the double length garage.

A balance has been achieved upstairs with four good size bedrooms. The master bedroom has a stylish shower room with underfloor heating and limestone tiles. The family bathroom is smartly finished with marble tiling.

The large, level garden at the rear is delightful and perfectly dressed for Easter viewings with an array of spring bulbs clearly on show.

Beautifully positioned on a quiet road, just moments from Waitrose and other shops and facilities on Stoney Lane, the house is also well placed for all three Winchester secondary schools and countryside walks that are almost on the doorstep.

Contact Winkworth to arrange a viewing on 01962 866777. A price of £975,000 is quoted.

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Perfect country retreat

March 24, 2016 Property News 0

This exquisite thatched farmhouse has much of its architectural heritage clearly on display with magnificent beams, timbers and framework throughout the spacious interior. Parish records show that in 1631 a farmer called Hatchett lived in this former hall house in Farley Street at Nether Wallop and in recent years a fascinating cradled pulley system for feeding livestock, believed to be hundreds of years old, was discovered in the attic.

Hatchetts Farmhouse is now much more domesticated and stands in about a third of an acre of mature landscaped gardens in this popular village which is five miles from Stockbridge and equal distance between the cathedral cities of Salisbury and Winchester.

Beautifully presented the house offers well planned accommodation over two floors with a fabulous inglenook fireplace with log burning stove in the triple aspect sitting room and French doors opening into a conservatory which enables the garden to be enjoyed throughout the year.

A separate dining room has an open walkway into the kitchen/breakfast room and a rear lobby has a utility area and doors to a study, cloakroom and the rear garden.

The master bedroom suite on the first floor is superb with a lobby area opening to the main bedroom with a dressing room and shower room beyond. Three further bedrooms, all with lovely exposed timbers and framework, share the family bathroom.

The gardens are a particularly fine feature of the property, having been transformed by the current owners over many years. High hedging secludes the front of the house and climbing roses, wisteria and clematis smother the elevations with beautiful colour in the summer. Broad timber gates open at the side to a driveway leading to parking and the garage and a paved patio at the rear has a pergola and pathways leading through lawns to the rest of the garden.

Outbuildings include a former calving barn and a garage and workshop with a fabulous room above ideal as an office, games room or artist’s studio.

Nether Wallop is a lovely village with a primary school, church, village hall and public house, all essential amenities that encourage a sense of community with other villages nearby and excellent walks in the pretty countryside and at Danebury Iron Age hillfort. A mainline station at Grateley provides a good service into Waterloo.

Evans & Partridge in Stockbridge says this is a charming cottage, full of character with numerous exposed beams, timbers and framework. Offers are invited around £850,000 for the freehold and an appointment to view can be made by calling the agent on 01264 810702.…