If you’ve had your fill of fixer-uppers and the constant upkeep that many period properties demand, or if you’re someone who hankers after a home that’s never belonged to anyone but you, new-builds are the way to go. Energy efficient and often with designs that reference the county’s heritage, there are plenty to choose from at hot spots across Kent
Want to wake up to the sound of waves on the beach and live the high life in every sense of the word? The six prime penthouses that sit atop the attractive beachside development at Shoreline, Folkestone, might well appeal. A wealth of outside spaces, including private balconies, terraces and roof gardens plus direct beach access, mean owners can certainly make the most of the location. As for inside, not only can you anticipate oodles of space (two of the penthouses offer over 1,900 sq. ft. of accommodation across two floors), you’ll also find beautifully fitted interiors, floor-to-ceiling triple-glazed windows, state-of-the-art appliances plus features such as a spiral staircase that leads to a ‘sky’ bedroom from which there are sea views all the way to France. There’s a 24/7 concierge service and private cleaning, plus of course the delights of Folkestone itself, including the Harbour Arm and brightly-painted Creative Quarter with its buzzy, arty vibe are just a short walk away. With all this up for grabs, prices for The Shoreline Penthouse Collection range from £1.950 million to £2.995 million. shorelinefolkestone.co.uk
RAINHAM FAMILY HOMES
Away from the sea is a collection of 20 three-bedroom homes in Rainham built by Kent-based Fernham Homes, all set across the road from a well-regarded primary school, within landscaped grounds and just a short walk from the train station – a good bet for commuters with young families, then. Prices from £425,000. fernham-homes.co.uk
CRANBROOK
Highly rated for its schools, with gorgeous countryside on the doorstep and the pretty, lively town a delight in itself, Cranbrook has always had appeal. Launched earlier this year, Hartley Acres from award-winning builders The Hill Group features two-to- five-bedroom, energy-efficient homes. With a nod to the area’s architectural heritage, many of the houses are tile hung and the still-at-building-stage Crane House, for instance, will echo the shape of Kent's iconic oasts. With some homes still available, prices tart from £429,950 for a two-bedroom detached house. hill.co.uk
BESPOKE BARNS
Also keeping it traditional on the aesthetics front are the four-bedroom bespoke barn-style houses built by Dandara at The Russetts, in Hawkhurst – though interiors here are decidely contemporary: think airy and light-filled living areas and fully integrated appliances. The homes also benefit from air-source heat pumps, roof-mounted PV panels, energy-efficient heating and EV charge points, with visitor EV charging points to be found throughout the development. As well as having their own landscaped gardens, residents here can also make use of a large public open space, featuring leafy woodland areas and a five-acre meadow. Children’s play facilities mean added appeal for families. Prices start at £370,000 for a two-bedroom home; dandara.com/new-homes-for-sale/new-homes-kent/the-russetts
A CLASSIC CONVERSION
For a genuine case of "old meets new" look to the impressive conversion of an authentic Dutch Barn, the last remaining home for sale of the six created at Tatlingbury Farm on the Hadlow Estate, near Tonbridge. Owners Kate and Harry Teacher were keen to breathe new life into working farm buildings, documented as being in use here from the 19th until the end of the 20th centuries, describing their plans as,‘a passion project.’ Says Kate: ‘I was determined to find a new purpose for the disused buildings, to enhance their appearance and provide much-needed housing’,
Still evident in the four-bedroom Dutch Barn - built like the others at Tatlingbury by local firm AB Canham - is its original steel skeleton, while an exceptional finish inside includes 1,700 square feet of living space, quartz stone worktops, integrated Bosch appliances, spa-inspired bathrooms and a large private garden with views over the Hadlow Estate’s wildflower meadow and orchards. The Dutch Barn is priced at £975,000 knightfrank.co.uk
KENT’S NEW GARDEN CITY
Ebbsfleet Garden City – the first Garden City to be created in over 100 years – is certainly an ongoing property hotspot within the county, with plans to create up to 15,000 homes on the 2,500 acres of former brownfield land, close to Ebbsfleet International station and under a 20- minute train ride from London St Pancras. And here’s a lovely Ebbsfleet tale that shows just how important having your own place and a sense of community is to many of us, with one couple Adam and Jodie Davies, cancelling their dream white wedding to buy their first home together. Due to tie the knot in a glamorous ceremony at a luxury venue, they instead opted for a more low-key wedding and used the £10,000 they had saved towards it as part of a deposit to purchase their three-bedroom dream home at Bellway Homes’s Alkerden Heights development in the Garden City.
And operations manager Jodie was even given a ‘guard of honour’ by Bellway staff when she left her new £449,000 home at Alkerden Heights to get married to Adam at the local register office back in June. Says Jodie, ‘I had no idea they were going to do that for me. It was organised by the sales advisor Rachel who knew that we had cancelled our big wedding day so we could buy the house.’
ebbsfleetgardencity.org.uk; Bellway.co.uk
