Hollymead Square: Homes with Five Years of Zero Energy Bills, and Prices

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Hello everyone. For the first five years, zero energy bills. You did not misread that; today, from Essex, Hollymead Square is what we are looking at today!

For prices, taxes and the whole buying process, see our guide: UK Property Guide

Apartment types, current price range and location: see the project page

A collection of houses in the heart of the village of Newport, Essex. There are options from two bedroom bungalows to generous five bedroom houses, and most of the houses are fully detached, with a garage. But the feature that really sets the scheme apart is energy: the houses are built to such a level of efficiency that the developer gives an undertaking of zero energy bills for the first five years. While the annual bill of an apartment in London runs to thousands of pounds, that is a serious difference.

Prices

• Houses: £469,950and up
• Two bedroom bungalows and two to five bedroom houses
• House sizes: 84 m², 183 m²
• Most of the houses fully detached and with a garage
• Address: Newport, Uttlesford, Essex CB11 3PN

The comparison of floor area is striking: in London £469,950 buys you an apartment of 50 to 60 m². Here the same money buys a detached house with a garden and a garage, starting at 84 m². And with five years of no bills. the advantages of buying a new build home the right address for anyone who wants to live it in its most concrete form.

Why Hollymead Square?

Zero energy bills: what does that mean in figures?: in London the annual energy bill of a two bedroom apartment is typically in the £1,200 to £2,000 band; in a detached house that figure rises to £2,000 to £3,000. Five years with zero bills can mean a saving of between £10,000 and £15,000. If you let the property that is a very strong headline for your advertisement, and for tenants it means money straight back in their pocket.

• Audley End railway station a short distance away; a direct train to London Liverpool Street
• Stansted Airport a short distance away: direct flights to Europe
• Cambridge about half an hour by car
• Saffron Waldenthe historic centre and the schools of
• Fast access to the M11; direct to London and the north

An established village community: this is not a housing estate built from scratch. Newport is an established English village with a history of its own, and the scheme is added into that community. The schools, the pubs and the shops are already there; you are not waiting years "until the neighbourhood settles".

Daily life: village life, a city connection

In the morning by train to London from Audley End, or, if you work from home, breakfast in your garden. A walk through the village at lunchtime. A beer in the local pub in the evening. At the weekend a day in Cambridge, the market at Saffron Walden or cycling in the Essex countryside. If you want to fly to Europe, Stansted is at your door. For families with children there are strong state and private school options in the area.

Hollymead Square rental yield

This corridor of Essex has steady rental demand thanks to people commuting to London and Cambridge and workers in the sectors around Stansted. Two and three bedroom houses usually let for £1,400 to £1,900 a month, larger houses £2,000 to £2,600 a month a month. That puts the gross rental yield in the 4-4.5% band.

The real advantage here is not the gross rate but Net yield: in houses there is no high service charge as in London apartments, only a low estate charge. Zero energy bills also create a direct appeal for the tenant. For areas that work on the same logic, high yield buy to let areas is worth a look.

The standout features and the details that set Hollymead Square apart

• Zero energy bills for the first five years: a developer undertaking; a rare offer in England in this segment.
• Fully detached houses: most of the houses are independent; you do not share a wall with a neighbour.
• A garage and parking: things that are a dream in London are standard here.
• A bungalow option: for anyone who wants single storey living; a type in high demand and constrained supply in England.
• A range of 84 to 183 m²: options from a small couple to a large family.
• An established village community: the schools, pubs and shops are already there.
• A sustainable and environmentally friendly build: energy efficiency is at the centre of the scheme’s design.

Energy efficiency and comfort

This is the scheme’s strongest side and not merely a marketing sentence: what makes the zero bill undertaking possible is high performance insulation, efficient heating systems and renewable energy generation. The houses typically target the EPC A band, one step above most of the schemes in our portfolio (EPC B). As energy standards tighten in the United Kingdom, houses of this kind are the most ready for the future.

Who is buying?

Families moving out of London are the main audience for this scheme; moving from an apartment to a house with a garden on the same budget is a strong motivation. Alongside them, academics and people in the technology sector working in Cambridge, professionals around Stansted and couples approaching retirement (for the bungalows in particular). For buyers sensitive to energy costs there is a clear reason to choose it too.

Frequently asked questions

Are the zero energy bills really zero? This is a developer undertaking and its scope is set by the contract: which items it covers, on what conditions it depends and what happens after the fifth year all matter. We would suggest having these terms reviewed with your solicitor before buying; we set out the details for you too.

What is the tenure? Detached houses are usually Freehold (full ownership): different from the leasehold system on London apartments, and better for the buyer.

Is it not far from London? There is a direct train from Audley End to Liverpool Street. It is a long journey for anyone going into the office every day; for those going a few days a week and for people working from home it is very reasonable.

Can I buy as a foreign national? Yes, there is no restriction on foreign nationals buying property in the United Kingdom. For the process, our remote property purchase guide page.

Can I use a mortgage? Foreign buyers can normally borrow up to 65-75% of the value. UK mortgages for foreign nationals is worth reading.

Total cost: what you actually pay when you buy at Hollymead Square

Many overseas buyers look only at the apartment price and meet a surprise at completion. Let us work out the real cost on a £469,950 property. Stamp duty (SDLT) in the United Kingdom is banded: 0% up to £125,000, then 2%, 5%, 10% and 12%. On top of that, non-residents pay a 2% surcharge, and if you already own another home, a further 5% additional dwelling rate applies.

With a mortgage there are also valuation and bank charges, and if you let the property, management commission and income tax. The figures above are indicative, based on a £469,950 entry price; we prepare the exact calculation for your own scenario.

The Hollymead Square buying process, step by step

If you are buying from another country, the process runs like this:

• 1. Choosing the apartment and reserving it. We go through the floor plans, the aspect and the view. The apartment you choose is usually held with a reservation fee of £5,000 to £10,000.
• 2. Appointing a solicitor. An independent English property solicitor (conveyancer) is appointed. That solicitor acts for you, not for the developer.
• 3. Identity and source of funds checks. You will be asked for a passport, proof of address and documents showing the source of your funds. This step is compulsory in the United Kingdom, and having the papers ready shortens the process.
• 4. Exchange of contracts and deposit. Contracts are usually exchanged within 21 days of the reservation, with a 10% deposit. The signature can be given digitally from abroad.
• 5. Stage payments. In off plan projects these follow the payment schedule; for completed apartments the step is skipped.
• 6. Completion. The remaining balance and the stamp duty are paid and the title is registered in your name. For completed apartments this stage can take four to eight weeks.

You can run the whole process from your own country; you do not have to travel to the United Kingdom.

Risks and what to watch for

We have set out the strengths; in fairness there are points to watch as well. For Hollymead Square, these are the ones worth pausing on:

• The terms of the zero bill undertaking matter: the scope, the conditions and what happens after the fifth year are set by the contract; have it reviewed with your solicitor.
• A daily commute to London is long: there is a direct train from Audley End to Liverpool Street but it can be tiring for anyone going into the office every day.
• A car is essential: public transport in a village setting is limited; a car is essential in daily life.
• A country market: capital growth moves to a different rhythm from London, so do not expect quick gains.

None of this makes the project a bad one, but there is a wide gap between buying with your eyes open and finding out afterwards. We give every client this list up front.

How does Hollymead Square compare with the alternatives?

Before you decide, it is worth looking at the other projects in the same budget band:

• Hareshill: a collection of houses on a similar scale within a village in Hampshire.
• Hartland Village: a larger scale family scheme with a 70 acre country park.
• Trinity Point: 17 minutes to London, a higher yielding commuter alternative.

We can work out together which project fits your goal, judged on budget, intended use and exit plan. For an overview, our guide to UK property investment for international buyers is worth reading too.

Answers to the most common questions on this topic: Which UK Cities Have the Highest Rental Yields?