Discounts for NHS workers! Developers offer gesture to key staff

To do their bit during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, two housebuilders are offering discounts on their developments for key workers.

Below, we explore what is being offered.

Developer acts to thank frontline staff

Weston Homes, a Denham-based UK property developer specialising in new homes and apartments for sale in London and the South East, is providing a special price discount of £5,000 on its homes across London and the Home Counties that are reserved/purchased by NHS staff and other key workers from the armed forces, emergency services or education sector. 

The move is part of a wider initiative by Weston Homes to display thanks to key workers, which also includes supplying bottled water to NHS hospitals and NHS responders from the company’s employees.

Weston Homes says it is providing the special price discount to NHS doctors, nurses and other emergency service workers, plus teachers or active/veteran members of the British armed forces, when they reserve an apartment at any Weston Homes development where new homes are available for sale.

The firm, in association with Great Dunmow Round Table, have also acquired over 30,000 bottles of water which Weston Homes is storing and distributing to the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow.

As a result of the Covid-19 outbreak, NHS staff and critically ill patients need bottled water rather than water in jars and cups in order to help minimise the spread of infection.

To aid the fight against the virus, Weston Homes employees have also volunteered to help as NHS responders, with the housebuilder giving these NHS volunteers use of Weston company cars and paying the cost of petrol to help them with this essential work.

Weston Homes has also launched 360 degree ‘virtual tours’ at its various new homes developments to make sure that homes can be viewed safely and remotely by key workers. The ‘virtual tours’ enable people via a smartphone, tablet or PC/Mac to view and remotely tour on-screen dressed show homes from the safety of their own home.

Those requesting a ‘virtual tour’ are sent an encrypted link which connects their viewing screen with that of a Weston Homes sales agent, allowing them to ask questions and have an interactive tour with the agent, just as they would in normal circumstances.

“The NHS and other key workers are heroes helping to save lives, keep essential services open and battle Covid-19,” Bob Weston, chairman and chief executive of Weston Homes, said.

“In these unprecedented times we want to show our gratitude for these key workers and to be able to help the NHS where we can, hence the bottled water provision to the hospitals, the NHS responders and the special discounts.”                        

‘Virtual tours’ of show homes are available at a wide range of Weston Homes developments, including The Denham Film Studios in Denham (outer London), Springfield Park in Kent, Watford Cross in Watford (outer London) and Fletton Quays in Peterborough, with prices starting from £172,000.

For further information or to book a guided tour, you can visit www.weston-homes.com.

Reductions for essential workers

A Milton Keynes-based property developer is supporting essential workers with reductions on all homes at its sites in Bedford and Barkway.

The new incentive, which offers a £10,000 reduction to assist all those providing key services during the Covid-19 pandemic, is intended as a ‘tribute to their magnanimous efforts’ say Storey Homes.

The concession is on offer to buyers at De Montfort Place (Bedford) and Birch Meadow (Barkway). 

Katy Jordan, managing director at Storey Homes, said: “We believe in giving back. Showing gratitude to the amazing people who have held the country together with their indispensable care and expertise is a priority for Storey Homes right now.”

She added: “Homes have never been more important and we want to show our gratitude and offer support that our essential workers and their families might benefit from once we make it through this difficult time.”

Since lockdown, space at home has become a valued commodity and - whilst the offer applies to Storey Homes’ complete range of houses - it coincides with the launch of its freshly completed 5-bedroom properties at Birch Meadow.

These ‘generous homes’ benefit from extensive open-plan kitchens, spacious luxury bedrooms and an abundance of open green space. Set within a select development of just twelve detached and semi-detached homes, Birch Meadow is situated on the edge of the ‘tranquil village’ of Barkway. 

De Montfort Place, meanwhile, is located in a ‘sought-after’ conservation area, and offers spacious rooms and carefully considered layouts. Set in a gated development, the homes have been ‘built to a high specification whilst enhancing the neighbouring architecture’.

A short distance away from Bedford town centre, an up-and-coming town well-known for its riverside setting and local shops, the homes at De Montford Place benefit from private parking and communal gardens, while tennis courts and a play area are situated behind the development. 

“Both developments are also ideally positioned for business travel. With Bedford train station just a 10-minute walk away and major motorways close-by, De Montfort Place offers convenience for commuters to London and the neighbouring city of Cambridge,” Storey Homes says. “Meanwhile, residents at Birch Meadow benefit from peaceful country living alongside easy access to Royston station, which offers a regular fast service to London.”