£245 million residential transformation spearheads phase II of Renfrew Riverside project

10 Nov 2006

Spearheading one of Renfrew's, and indeed Scotland's most significant waterfront transformations to date, the master plan for the £245 million investment by five of the UK's leading property developers was unveiled for the first time today - 11th October 2006.

Spanning a vast 105 acre site of derelict waterfront land, which stretches from Braehead Shopping Centre to Renfrew Town Centre, the massive investment which is one of the biggest residential build projects and highest residential investments in the Clyde waterfront regeneration to date, will create a whole new residential community for Renfrew - 'Ferry Village, Braehead'.  (Please see key details on housebuilder plans at end of the release).

The five housebuilders, who are major players in the UK market - Bett Homes, George Wimpey, Miller Homes (Scotland West), Sovereign House Fairbriar Homes and Strathclyde Homes, will initially create upward of 2000 new homes with a five year plan in place, boosting the local economy and helping enhance the wider appeal of the Clyde waterfront on a global basis.

Forming part of the mass transformation of the River Clyde Waterfront which stretches 13km from Glasgow city centre to Erskine and which has been subject to intensive activity over the last decade, the multi million pound development will bring a mix of apartments, villas, townhouses and penthouses to the area, appealing to a broad spectrum of buyers and undoubtedly attracting interest from investors.

'Ferry Village' forms part of the Phase II of the Renfrew Riverside transformation - Phase 1 being the hugely successful £300m development of Braehead Shopping Centre,  Retail Park, Ikea, Titanium Business Park and New Audi Experience, which was developed by Capital Shopping Centres (CSC) in the late 1990's and attracts around 20 million visitors per year. Porcelanosa and Xscape are the most recent developments to date.

Ferry Village will provide the residential element, which will complete the unrivalled mix of retail, leisure and commercial business aspects of the Renfrewshire Riverside regeneration.

Speaking on behalf of the group of five developers, Sales and Marketing Director for Bett Homes (Central Scotland) Lorraine Clelland said: "Ferry Village is one of central Scotland's most significant residential developments and Bett, alongside Miller, George Wimpey, Sovereign House Fairbriar and Strathclyde are proud to be part of the project.

"Phase I of Renfrew Riverside brought a wealth of leisure, retail and commercial opportunities to the area and now we are continuing the story by building a diverse mix of properties which will ultimately provide househunters with real choice and range.

"We believe strongly in the regeneration of the Clyde and are showing this with our investment and commitment to Ferry Village. The project will create thousands of jobs over the next five years boosting the local economy and strengthening the community of Renfrew and Braehead even further".

Cllr Jim Harkins, Leader of Renfrewshire Council said: "The Council is delighted to see the launch of Phase 2 of the Renfrewshire Riverside project, with strong commitment from five of the country's foremost housebuilders. The range and quality of housing proposed is of the highest level and will greatly extend the choice of homes in our area. This extensive residential development will contribute in a major way to the complete regeneration of this important area of riverside".

Additionally, £15million of advance infrastructure has been invested by the Renfrew Riverside partnership into the Phase II area, creating roads, parks and walkways. Underpinning the entire project this private/public partnership comprises, CSC, Renfrewshire Council, Scottish Enterprise Renfrewshire, Clydeport and Park Lane, and was formed to see the 10 year project through to final delivery.

With George Wimpey already on site and selling, and the four new developers and five year masterplan now unveiled, construction and sales from the newly announced housebuilders are due to commence from October 2006 onwards. The properties, which are just a stone's throw from Braehead Shopping Centre, have prime position flanking vast expanses of land on both sides of the Kings Inch Boulevard and working to connect Renfrew Town Centre and Braehead. Excellent commuter links to the M8, Glasgow International Airport and Glasgow city centre enhance the location even further.

Interest for the development is being registered now. To register details please visit www.ferryvillage.com or telephone 0870 725 2627.

Please visit www.renfrewriverside.co.uk for more information.

HOUSEBUILDER KEY DETAIL

BETT HOMES

Part of the UK wide Gladedale Group and one of Scotland's leading and most well established housebuilders, Bett Homes is investing circa £50 million in Ferry Village, building 401 properties. This includes a mix of 156 two and three bedroom apartments, 158 two, three and four bedroom townhouses and 87 four and five bedroom detached homes.

Work is due to commence late 2006 with sales anticipated from late 2006/early 2007 onwards.

Lorraine Clelland - Sales & Marketing Director for Bett Homes (Central Scotland) Ltd said:

"Ferry Village at Braehead is a fantastic opportunity to create a new community which has excellent motorway links and easy access to the city, not to mention the  wide scope of all types of leisure and recreation facilities on the doorstep of the development which really are first class.

"Appealing to all target markets we are building a mix of properties which range from apartments and townhouses to family sized detached homes - there is something everyone, which is a perfect reflection of Renfrew Riverside as a whole and what it has to offer. With a modern, contemporary ethos running throughout the mix of our homes we are creating a truly desirable lifestyle at Ferry Village which will be second to none".

MILLER HOMES

Miller Homes is a division of the multi-faceted Miller Group and is the UK's largest, privately owned property development company, building homes throughout the whole of the UK.

Miller Homes is investing £35 million in Ferry Village building a mix of 260 apartments in total, including a range of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, two and three-bedroom duplexes and two and three-bedroom penthouses in 6 apartment blocks.

Work is due to commence late 2006 with sales anticipated from late 2006/early 2007 onwards.

Margaret Cumming, Managing Director for Miller Homes (Scotland West) said:

"Miller Homes is both excited and committed to our involvement in this extensive re-development of Renfrew Riverside, which is one of the most important regeneration initiatives in recent years, not just in Renfrew, but in the West of Scotland.

"Ferry Village at Braehead will breathe new life into the area, complimenting the excellent leisure facilities on offer and creating a vibrant and thriving location in which to make your home.  With this in mind, our development has been designed to reflect the rebirth of the area and deliver the design flair that should define living within this dynamic location".

GEORGE WIMPEY

George Wimpey Plc is dedicated house building company with 125 years experience and an unparalleled record in the house building industry.

George Wimpey is investing circa £40 million in Ferry Village and has been building on site since late 2004.  A mix of two and three bedroom apartments and three-bedroom townhouses are currently available for sale, with prices ranging from £139,000 to £350,000. Three show apartments are open for viewing (along with the sales centre) seven days from 10am to 5pm.  There will be 385 properties in total. Please telephone the sales centre on 0141 886 5598 for more information.

Michelle Logie, Sales and Marketing Director for George Wimpey said:

"Ferry Village is a wonderful location with great infrastructure, unrivalled leisure facilities and is a superb opportunity for George Wimpey to be part of the creation of a very unique residential area in Renfrew.

"We are proud to be part of the transformation of the River Clyde and as the first housebuilder on site, building from late 2004, have a great feel for the area. We will continue to offer a diverse range of properties which provide househunters with truly excellent homes in a location which is full of vibrancy and life - we currently have three showhomes open, which perfectly showcase the quality of property at Ferry Village".

SOVEREIGN HOUSE FAIRBRIAR HOMES

With a growing hold on the Scottish house building market and established in 2004 Sovereign House Developments who are building throughout the central belt of Scotland have entered into a joint venture with Fairbriar plc to develop out Ferry Village. Fairbriar have been established for 30 years and are building throughout the UK.

Sovereign House Fairbrair will be building one, two and three bedroom apartments, three bedroom penthouses and four-bedroom townhouses and are investing in excess of £35 million in the project.

There will be 190 properties in total and work is due to commence in late 2006/early 2007.

Colin McLachlan, Director of Sovereign House Fairbriar said:

"Ferry Village is an excellent location for Sovereign House Fairbriar to be part of, due to various factors including the fantastic new riverside setting on the River Clyde, the close proximity of a whole host of leisure facilities and a great location close to the motorway.

"The whole area and regeneration of Renfrew Riverside is very dynamic and is the ideal opportunity for Sovereign, which is working in joint venture partnership with Fairbriar, to be part of one of the most exciting waterfront developments to date. Our properties provide a real choice for househunters and offer a fantastic opportunity to live in a new riverside setting on the Clyde."

STRATHCLYDE HOMES

Strathclyde Homes has been established since 1988, rapidly growing into a major player in the housebuilding market in Scotland. Strathclyde Homes also incorporates commercial and residential lettings.

At Ferry Village, Strathclyde Homes will be building one, two and three bedroom apartments, two, three and four bedroom townhouses and three and four bedroom detached villas. Strathclyde will be building 455 properties at Ferry Village and are investing circa £85 million in the project.

Work is due to commence late 2006 with sales anticipated from late 2006/early 2007 onwards.

Neil Gaffney, Senior Sales & Marketing Manager for Strathclyde Homes said: "

"Ferry Village is a major development for Strathclyde Homes and a very exciting residential offering due to the diversity of property we will be building and a location which provides every leisure and retail offering imaginable.

"Ferry Village as part of the transformation of Renfrew Riverside is one the most innovative developments to date covering an immense area of land and bringing yet another part of the Clyde back to life".

RENFREW RIVERSIDE PARTNERSHIP: COMMENT

Brian Clarke, Joint Managing Director of Park Lane and part of the Renfrew Riverside partnership said: "Renfrew Riverside is now delivering genuine mixed use regeneration.  I am delighted with the launch of Ferry Village with five quality house builders, which is a significant milestone in this project."

Rosemary Coles, Group Development Manager for Capital Shopping Centres (CSC) said: "The launch of Ferry Village is an important further step in the creation of a new mixed use community at Braehead. CSC have already made a significant investment in new infrastructure to service the area which has paved the way for further investment by the Ferry Village housebuilders which follows on from the opening of Xscape and the brand new Clyde View Park". 

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